NFL Week 12

Week 12 of the NFL season is over, and the playoff picture has started to take shape. With the postseason only five weeks away, many games this week had major playoff overtones. Many teams from last years’ postseason are falling apart, forcing me to be a therapist for my two friends who love the Eagles and Vikings. I’ve had to accept the fate of my mediocre 49ers, as many other fanbases are being hit with reality too.

The scores this week were: Bears over Lions 23-16, Cowboys over Redskins 31-23, Saints over Falcons 31-17, Browns over Bengals 35-20, Seahawks over Panthers 30-27, Bucs over 49ers 27-9, Ravens over Raiders 34-17, Eagles over Giants 25-22, Patriots over Jets 27-13, Bills over Jaguars 24-21, Chargers over Cardinals 45-10, Colts over Dolphins 27-24, Broncos over Steelers 24-17, Vikings over Packers 24-17, Texans over Titans 34-17.

Not every game was exciting, but even some of the bad games produces cool storylines. In the Chargers’ 45-10 win over the Cardinals, Phillip Rivers finished with a near flawless stat line of 259 yards and 3 TDs on 28-29 passing. The 8-3 Chargers look primed for a Wildcard spot, and games like this show how dangerous they can be moving forward. Unfortunately Melvin Gordon suffered an MCL sprain, but he could possibly return before the playoffs. Louisville rookie Lamar Jackson made his second start for the Ravens, and he showed all the promise they hoped he would. Although he is still raw as a passer, his athleticism makes him a project worth committing to. He ran for 71 yards, one week after running for 119. His running opened things up for Gus Edwards, who had 118 yards on 23 carries. Jackson is like Colin Kaepernick, who sparked the Niners initially when he became their starter. Baltimore showed more interest in Kaep than most other teams, so maybe they envisioned changing styles then. I also found myself amused that Odell Beckham Jr. missed another drive to get fluids, the fourth time this season he had to do so. Albeit one drive, this is an odd phenomenon that puts his commitment into question. Considering he recently said he dislikes water due to the “squishy” stomach feeling it gives him, it appears the franchise receiver does not understand hydration. The Texans bludgeoned the Titans Monday night, when they took total control after falling behind 10 in the opening minutes.

Thanksgiving was this past week, so fans like me had a full plate Thursday (pun intended). Anyway, the games were interesting sort of, but most have some intrigue now because of the playoffs looming. In the first game, the Bears showed tremendous fight despite unfortunate circumstances. Mitchell Trubisky missed the game with a shoulder injury, and he may miss more. Chicago was forced to start Chase Daniel, who had only made two starts in his nine year career. Daniel had a very impressive stat line (27-37, 230 yards, 3 TDs, 0 picks), considering the situation. Detroit looked stagnant on offense, probably due to rookie sensation Kerryon Johnson’s knee injury. He was carrying the team all year, and now top receiver Marvin Jones is hurt as well. Detroit has some real issues to address moving forward.

Dallas needed a Turkey Day win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and they responded. Washington looked like they had the fast track to win the NFC East a few weeks ago at 5-2, but the injury to Alex Smith has changed that. Dallas came through, and their newfound offense played a big part. Dak Prescott looked comfortable, and the offense was able to surpass 400 yards. Amari Cooper looked to be worth the first round pick, as he had 180 yards on eight receptions. That’s 22.5 YPC. He may not be the greatest receiver ever in a vacuum, but he is the exact piece Dallas’ offense was missing. Clearly not having a number one like Dez Bryant was problematic, but it looks like Cooper has effectively filled this role. Zeke Elliott ran for 120+ in his third straight week, so recommitting to the run has been working. Washington looked listless on defense, which may also be due to the Smith injury. This team was built around ball control, Smith’s specialty. Without him, the holes in their defense are easier to expose. Dallas won the clock battle by seven minutes, and Colt McCoy threw three picks. Washington lacked in mostly every statistical category. They had 331 total yards to Dallas 404, 80 rushing yards to 146, and was plus three in turnovers. The Skins were once mighty, but they may have fallen evidently.

The night game between the Saints and Falcons was the most lopsided, although it could have been competitive. It started with a head scratcher; Atlanta deferred to the second half after winning the coin toss. The Saints scored a TD on their opening drive, which set the tone the out the gate. Drew Brees only threw for 171 yards, showing how committed to the run the Saints have become. Kamara and Ingram combined for 137 yards, and Taysom Hill even added 13. The Falcons almost played well enough to win, but they came up just short. Fumbles by Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley ultimately cost them. Atlanta lost three fumbles inside the Saints red zone, a recipe for disaster every time. Defensive head coaches are being phased out, and Dan Quinn is one of them. Maybe it’s time for Atlanta to hit the reset button. For the Saints, simplicity works. Fortunately Sean Payton does what’s best for the team, regardless of outside expectations.

In the NFC playoff race, the South and West divisions are all but clinched. The first place teams, the Saints and Rams respectively, are both 10-1. Although all four teams in the NFC North still have a mathematical chance, the Bears have started to separate themselves at 8-3. Aaron Rodgers and the 4-6-1 Packers appear to be done after their loss this week, and Minnesota is unpredictable. The Vikings (6-4-1) still have a legit chance, but it will be a difficult path. The NFC East is basically wide open, sans the Giants, as the three top teams are all within a game of each other.

In the AFC, the fight for the six seed is going to be intense. The Bengals, Ravens, Dolphins, Colts, Titans all were 5-5 entering week 12. Seeds six through eleven (Ravens, Colts, Titans, Bengals, Broncos, Dolphins) all have five or six wins. Indy beat Miami this week, huge considering both teams had the same record. Speaking of the Colts . . .

Andrew Luck made possibly the signature play of his career late Sunday. On 3rd and 9 from their own 43 yard line, Luck evaded a fervent pass rush and threw to a wide open Chester Rogers for 34-yards. Luck kept his eyes downfield the whole time, the sign of a true veteran. He played very well up to that point, and that play sealed the win. Before this drive, Luck threw a TD to Eric Ebron to tie the game. The Colts trailed by 10 late, but Luck willed his team to victory. I told my readers to be scared of Indy when they were 3-5, due to their huge strides running the ball and on defense. They have now won five straight, and Luck had not been sacked for 239 straight passes before this game. Although there were long stretches where the offense was stagnant, they played their best football when it counted. Miami did do a lot of things well in this game. They scored a TD on their opening drive, the first time they’ve done so all year. Asthe game progressed, the Dolphins established their running game. Their one-two punch of Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore took its toll on the Colts’ defense. Gore softened the defense up with his bruising style, opening up lanes for Drake to get big plays. Drake had 96 total yards, and Gore had 67 rushing. Miami should have ultimately won this game, but they disappeared in crunch time. They had two three and outs mid-fourth quarter, which gave Indy enough time for the comeback. Miami severely lost the clock battle late, when all they had to do was get a couple first downs. They obviously have talent, but something is keeping them from making real steps forward. QB maybe?

The Steelers showed signs of life against Denver early, highlighted by a Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster 97-yard TD catch early in the third quarter. As electrifying as this play was, Pittsburgh’s offense went dormant thereafter. They got into the red zone multiple times, but the questionably threw the ball in running situations. Last week against the Jags, Big Ben scored the winning TD after improvising on a pass by running. Their last play this week was an inexplicable goal line pass, where the play fell apart when the hot read was covered. Pittsburgh seemingly should have a better record, but analytics cannot account for poor play calling. Denver got off to a bad start, but they’re clearly trending upward now. They are now 5-6, and have won two straight. The defense is looking like its old self, with Von Miller hitting his stride and rookie Bradley Chubb coming into his own. Undrafted rookie RB Phillip Lindsay had a season high 110 rushing yards. He didn’t have any receiving yards, which has been a part of his previous games. This shows his versatility, which could bode well moving forward.

Vikings-Packers was another game with huge playoff significance, and Minnesota clearly played better. Aaron Rodgers looked healthier that he has the last few weeks, but the ineptitude of the offense continues to be obvious. Coach McCarthy continues to misuse Rodgers and mismanage timeouts, which is why he’s allegedly on the hot seat. Not to mention the egregious muffed punt down 10 in the 4th. Green Bay had multiple delay of games, including a critical one toward the end of the third quarter. It was on third down, so they had to attempt a long pass which ultimately ended in a sack. Rodgers had wide open receiver for a touchdown with two and a half minutes left, but he overthrew him. They kicked a field goal and never touched the ball again. The Packers squandered their last chance at gaining momentum. Kirk Cousins had his best passer rating as a Viking Sunday, going 29-38 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He outplayed Rodgers and made smart decisions all game. I said early in the year that Cousins is very polished despite his unexciting nature. He heavily targeted his top three receivers in Thielen, Diggs, and Rudolph, completing 85% of his passes to them. Thielen set a team record for most 100-yard games in a season with nine. Minnesota controlled the clock effectively, winning the time of possession battle by nearly ten minutes. They played well in their defensive secondary as well. Rodgers is a superstar, but the team around him does not appear to have much NFL talent. The Vikings are still alive for the wildcard, and I believe they have a real chance if Cousins keeps his play up.

The Browns struck early and often against Cincy, and they never looked back. Baker Mayfield continues to look more comfortable since the coaching change, and he did so out of the gate. He was consistently hitting check downs, which opened up the middle of the field. His decision making was superb. Cleveland scored TDs on their first three drives. The 28 first half points were the most Cleveland scored in a first half since 1991 (I was one year old). Mayfield finished 19-26 with 258 yards and four TDs. Cincy looked out of sorts all game, and their chances all but died when Andy Dalton was injured. The Bengals are now 5-6, so this loss severely hurts their playoff chances. The Browns looked inspired, and they were having fun. From an amazing play fake by Mayfield, to the David Njoku touchdown where the Browns carried him into the endzone, everything went right. This added emotion may have stemmed from ex-coach Hue Jackson’s presence on the Cincinnati sideline. It was awkward considering he was coaching the Browns only a few weeks ago, and he left for a division rival. Damarious Randall gave Jackson the ball after a pick. Mayfield seemed unhappy with the situation, essentially calling Jackson a sellout in his postgame press conference. Jackson should have been a distraction for Cleveland, but it may have been worse for his current team.

Seahawks-Panthers was another early playoff game, and Carolina fell just short. Despite producing a season high 475 yards, they had missed opportunities like a botched 4th and 2 from the five yard line. Considering they lead most of the game, they should have been able to win. Both of Carolina’s top playmakers had huge performances, making the loss more frustrating. Newton was 24-29 with 255 yards and a TD. Christian McCaffrey had a whopping 229 total yards on 27 touches. 
Seattle was not overly, but they found a way to win. Their run game never really got going, but Russell Wilson took control with his ability to make big plays. They strung together a 14 play drive in the 4th, which was aided by a Chris Carson fourth-down conversion. After Carolina broke the tie with a McCaffrey TD, Wilson responded with a big TD pass on 4th and 3 from the Carolina 35 yard line. After Carolina missed the go ahead FG, Wilson hit Tyler Lockett on a 43 yard pass that set them up for the game winning FG. Wilson has shown late game heroics throughout his career, so the outcome is not too surprising. I believe Carolina is the bigger story. They are on the cusp of greatness, but something always seems to hold them back. They need to figure out how to get out of their own way. As for Seattle, this win may have given them the necessary confidence to make a real run down the stretch. They could be a scary matchup in the playoffs. Wilson and crew are former champs after all. . .

NFL Week 10

Week 10 of the NFL season is over with, and the playoff picture is just starting to hatch. There are five AFC teams with three or fewer losses (KC, Pittsburgh, New England, Houston, LA Chargers), and all should be able to make the playoffs barring collapse. Although the NFC is more tightly packed right now, the Rams and Saints look like locks to be the top two seeds. The Bears are currently the third seed, and they are a significant drop off from the other two.

The scores this week were: Steelers over Panthers 52-21, Bears over Lions 34-22, Redskins over Bucs 16-3, Titans over Patriots 34-10, Chiefs over Cardinals 26-14, Bills over Jets 41-10, Saints over Bengals 51-14, Browns over Falcons 28-16, Colts over Jaguars 29-26, Chargers over Raiders 20-6, Packers over Dolphins 31-12, Rams over Seahawks 36-31, Cowboys over Eagles 27-20, Giants over 49ers 27-23.

The Rams-Seahawks game was an exciting watch, considering how much better LA is record wise. Both offenses looked good early, with a total of 21 points being scored in the first quarter (LA got into their red zone at the end of the quarter and made a FG to start the second). Although it was not their best game, the Rams still played soundly. Jared Goff was 28-39 with 318 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Todd Gurley was solid as well, tallying 120 yards and a TD on 16 carries. He also had three catches for 40 yards. Unfortunately they lost Cooper Kupp to a knee injury, possibly for the year. Seattle came out aggressive, and their two early touchdowns put rare early pressure on the Rams. Seattle frequently ran a package with extra tackle George Fant, which helped spark their running game. Russell Wilson finished with three touchdowns, and rushed for 92 yards. He played well down the stretch, and almost orchestrated a comeback. Although the offense was stagnant at times, Russell Wilson was able to find running lanes when the Rams dropped everybody in coverage. Both teams made a bunch of key plays, so it seemed like whoever made the least amount of mistakes would win. Seattle made their fatal error when Rams’ newly acquired Dante Fowler made up for previous costly penalties with a strip sack on Wilson. LA would recover and take a 12-point lead on the next drive. The deficit would be too much to overcome. Although the Rams won, they left a lot to be desired on defense. Not to mention the lack of discipline, as they took multiple dumb penalties throughout the game. They got Fowler to resolve their outside pass rush, but his mercurial personality might make him a net negative. The Rams are still elite, but this week certainly provided some teachable moments for Coach McVay.

Philly-Dallas was a game of two reeling teams trying to stay in playoff contention, and the Cowboys wanted it more. They made just enough plays to win, including a game-saving tackle by star rookie Leighton Vander Esch at the end. Instead of trying to prove that Dak Prescott is a franchise QB, Dallas played smart. They kept the gameplan simple, and heavily leaned on the legs of Ezekiel Elliott. They did not ask Dak to do too much, and he did not turn the ball over as a result. This is the approach Dallas should have moving forward. Although the o-line has taken steps backward this year, Zeke is still a superstar that can carry the team. Philly played well offensively in the second half, but they did nothing in the first. They only scored three points, and never found any type of rhythm. They would eventually tie the game late before losing the lead for good, which made the slow start even more crucial. Had they play decently in the beginning, they probably would have won. This is not uncommon for the Eagles; they’ve only scored 21 total first quarter points all year. Unless you have an elite defense, this type of play does not work. They did lose their OC and QB coach from last year, so that may have something to do with it. Super Bowl hangover is a common phenomenon, but the Eagles are one loss away from potentially letting the season slip away.

The Chiefs did not look overly impressive in their win against the Cards this week, but that is the nature of professional football. Arizona came out inspired, but the Chiefs were able to hold them off. Patrick Mahomes broke the Chiefs’ franchise record for TD passes in a season, but the game itself was unimpressive by his standards. His 249 passing yards were his lowest of the season. Fortunately for KC, the Cards are bad. Arizona did nothing on offense, so the Chiefs won without much drama. They may have been playing down to the opponent, so I expect them to look like their old selves against Rams on Monday.

A few weeks ago, I said the Colts had found their stride and their o-line is healthy and looks elite. Not only did they spring the running game for 81 yards, but they did not allow a sack for the fourth straight week. Eric Ebron was constantly running free, and Andrew Luck exploited the Jags seemingly every time they blew a coverage. The Jaguars look lost, having lost five straight games. Blake Bortles has truly been a disappointment, but now everyone must shoulder the blame. Defense has been their calling card over the last few years, but they allowed a lofty 306 yards and four TDs in the first half. They were constantly out of position, making it very easy for Andrew Luck to find open receivers. Despite many positives, not everything went swimmingly for the Colts. All of their 29 points came in the first half. It appeared they tried to go conservative and sit on the lead, which almost cost them the game. Both teams looked confused on defense, but that’s more of a shock for Jacksonville than Indy. Since the Colts did not come into the season with high expectations, what they did Sunday was ultimately a step forward.

The recent coaching changes in Cleveland seemed to signal complete chaos, but that looks to have been the appropriate decision. Off the bat, the Browns offense looked simpler and easier for Baker Mayfield to manage. Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were fired because their conflicts became a distraction, so the new environment may be exactly what Mayfield needed. Whereas Jackson and Haley were fighting over offensive concepts, new OC Freddie Kitchens now has complete control. Mayfield had a stretch where he completed nine straight passes, but a costly pick was thrown on a HB pass. The offense was clicking up to that point, but they appeared to give momentum back to Atlanta on the botched trick play. The Falcons started the subsequent drive on their own 40, and they scored the go-ahead TD soon after. However, the Browns showed poise before halftime and scored a TD on the next drive. When it was all said and done, the Browns played well enough to win. Baker Mayfield was 17-20 with 216 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie Nick Chubb, who became the starting RB a few weeks ago when Carlos Hyde was traded to Jacksonville, stepped up as well with 92 yards on the ground. Although the yard total seems small, the fact he was so efficient bodes well for the team moving forward. Possibly Mayfield’s most impressive play was a 15-yard completion to Antonio Callaway out of his own endzone. This showed a level of poise rarely seen in rookie quarterbacks. The drive stalled out, but he avoided something catastrophic like a safety or a turnover. Browns fans should be happy today since it appears the team has successfully turned the page. Maybe Jets ownership should pay attention. Speaking of which . . .

The Jets may as well have not gotten on the bus Sunday, and Todd Bowles may be out of a job soon. The lowly Buffalo Bills looked like a superteam, even though starting QB Matt Barkley was only added to the roster twelve days before. Barkley’s last start was two seasons ago. LeSean McCoy is having one of his worst seasons, but he looked like his old self and ran for 113 yards. Buffalo even threw a TD to an offensive lineman. The score was 31-3 at halftime, so the Jets never competed. Bowles should not be the scapegoat for how this season has dissolved so quickly, but he should still be fired. The development of Sam Darnold is paramount to the organization, so Bowles’ defensive background makes him non-ideal anyway. Most teams with young QBs are going with young offensive head coaches. If Darnold was playing well and the team was competitive, Bowles would get the benefit of the doubt. But after Sunday, I see no reason he should stay. Reportedly the Jets think firing him midseason would be a distraction, but it cannot be worse than getting ravaged by one of the worst teams in the league. Just saying.

There were a bunch of blowouts this week, as a matter of fact. Carolina was dismantled by Pittsburgh, allowing TDs to seven different Steelers and a perfect passer rating for Big Ben. The Saints had 509 total yards against Cincy, and scored on nine of their ten offensive possessions. The Bucs accomplished the rare feat of having 400 yards against Washington, but only scoring three points. Of their five red zone trips, they had two turnovers and two missed field goals. Although the Redskins are not very exciting, the stabilizing force of Alex Smith seems to be a good fit, as they find themselves in first place. The Packers struggled against the Dolphins early, but they quickly decided to ride RB Aaron Jones, and they never looked back. The Bears-Lions game was not as close as the score indicates, as the Bears scored four TDs on their first four drives. Mitchell Trubisky threw for a career high 355 yards. Anything good Detroit did came in garbage time. Possibly the most surprising outcome of the weekend was what the Titans did to the Patriots. This was rookie coach Mike Vrabel’s first game against his former team, so the emotion was evident. Tennessee controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and Marcus Mariota looked great (despite his inconsistency in the past). After the game, Titans and ex-Patriots RB Dion Lewis called out his former team for being “cheap” for not re-signing him. Go figure.

NFL Week 8

The NFL season is now halfway over, and reality has set in for most teams and fanbases. The Giants have finally accepted their limitations, the Browns fired their coach, and Jameis Winston got benched after throwing four picks. The Jets stink, the Colts have turned things around, and some players care more about their own egos than winning.

The scores this week were: Texans over Dolphins 42-23, Eagles over Jaguars 24-18, Panthers over Ravens 36-21, Chiefs over Broncos 30-23, Steelers over Browns 33-18, Seahawks over Lions 28-14, Bengals over Bucs 37-34, Bears over Jets 24-10, Redskins over Giants 20-13, Colts over Raiders 42-28, Cardinals over 49ers 18-15, Rams over Packers 29-27, Saints over Vikings 30-20, Patriots over Bills 25-6.

The Rams are 8-0, which seems rare in recent memory. They have only needed one fourth quarter comeback all year, so almost all of their wins have been convincing. Todd Gurley is a star, finishing with 195 total yards this week. He ran for 208 two weeks ago. Aaron Donald got off to a slow start, but now has eight sacks after adding two this week. The possibility of going 16-0 is on the table, but that is unlikely due to their tough second half schedule. Their biggest liability moving forward is CB Marcus Peters. The former Pro Bowler has struggled mightily this year, with his penchant for allowing big plays. The Rams were very active this offseason, so it would not be surprising if they added a corner before the trade deadline. Their next three games are against the Saints, Seahawks and Chiefs. If they win all those, I’ll feel comfortable predicting them to win the Super Bowl.

Speaking of the Rams, they needed some good fortune against Green Bay this week. It looked like the Packers were going to have another chance for late magic, but the football gods had different plans. This was a relatively low scoring game, mostly due to great QB pressure from both teams. The Rams trailed 10-0 at one point. It ended up being a see saw affair where the Packers had a chance to drive the field and win late. However, Ty Montgomery inexplicably ran the kick return out of the endzone and subsequently fumbled. Even worse, he apparently decided to defy the coaches after he got upset about being taken out at RB on a previous drive. Aaron Rodgers was deprived a chance at handing the Rams their first loss, and he was visibly agitated on the sideline. Albeit just one game, this loss may cause some upheaval in the locker room. Montgomery could be cut, and questions about Mike McCarthy’s leadership are now being raised. This could all be a non-issue in a few weeks, but this is a rare speed bump for a seemingly well run franchise.

All of a sudden, here come the Colts. This team is healthy for the first time in a while, and everything is starting to click. The o-line looks great all of a sudden. This has made life easier for Andrew Luck, and Marlon Mack has turned into a top level back. Mack ran for 132 yards, one week after running for 126 (he is the first Colt to run for 100 yards in consecutive games since Joseph Addai in 2007). Luck did a great job spreading the ball around. All three of his tight ends caught a TD, and newly acquired Dontrelle Inman contributed with 52 receiving yards. The team is 3-5, but lately they have looked better than the record indicates. It appears Coach Frank Reich has corrected some issues, so this team could be a real threat down the stretch.

The Cleveland Browns decided to clean house. Their 2-5-1 start isn’t horrific considering they doubled their win total from the previous two years, but I guess GM John Dorsey has seen enough. He fired HC Hue Jackson, followed by the axing of OC Todd Haley. Their controversial DC Gregg Williams (see bountygate) is the interim coach, and the Browns optimism that fans and myself had is gone now. It seem the main reason these firings happened now is because Jackson and Haley were clashing, which could hold back Baker Mayfield’s development. Some of this tension was on display during HBO’s Hard Knocks. Jackson and Haley are both offensive coaches, so this kind of back-and-forth can be make life abstruse for Mayfield. Also, things got worse when Jackson suggested he should get more involved in the offense last week. The friction became unbearable at that point, so this is where they find themselves. Chaos is no stranger to the city of Cleveland, so whoever the next coach is will have his work cut out for him.

Jameis Winston is bad. In more ways than one. I thought he may be done during the preseason due to his off the field issues, but he served his three game suspension and won his starting job back. Since then, he has thrown ten picks. He is tied for most in the league despite playing three less games. He threw two picks in each of his previous three starts. He got benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick Sunday after throwing 4 more, and he could possibly be done. Fitzpatrick played very well for the rest of the game, and Tampa scored 18 unanswered points to it. Tampa announced Fitzy will start the next game, but what does the future hold? Winston was a first overall pick and supposed to be the starter for years to come. Moving on from him will been a huge admission of failure, but it seems they don’t have a choice. Keep in mind, many wanted him gone for reasons other than his play.

New York football fans are a depressed bunch this year. The Giants are 1-7, and they may finally be forced to bench Eli Manning. He has struggled all year, and his performance Sunday was particularly bad. He was 30-47 for 316 yards with a touchdown and two picks, most of which came in garbage time. More importantly, he was 2 of 14 on third down, and 1 for 4 in the red zone. The Giants offense has been allergic to the end zone, and Eli is the guy running the show. A full-fledged rebuild may be around the corner for Big Blue. They traded Snacks Harrison and Eli Apple, and they’re apparently shopping OBJ, Landon Collins, and Janoris Jenkins. The thing is, this rebuild could have started earlier. The Giants had high hopes for this season, despite winning three games last year. They convinced themselves they could turn things around quickly, and that Eli was still a star. Both are severely untrue, so hitting the reset button looks like their only option. Maybe they will take finding their QB of the future seriously now. The Jets played the Bears minus Khalil Mack this week, and their offense was straight abysmal. They only produced 207 total yards, they were three of 14 on third down, and had six three and outs. The running game averaged 1.8 yards per carry, and the receivers could not get open at all. They also had several drives stifled by false start penalties, of which they had five. Sam Darnold has clear ability, but the situation around him is hindering his growth. HC Todd Bowles is on the hot seat most likely, considering that young offensive coaches are the trend now. Especially considering that Darnold’s development it the number one priority for the organization. I doubt anything will happen midseason, but it would be shocking if Bowles is back next year.

NFL Week 7

Kickers, blowouts, and questionable decisions were the themes of Week 7. Only a few games were particularly exciting, but a rare big midseason trade occurred. The Cowboys acquired Amari Cooper from the Raiders for a first round pick. One can never tell how a midseason trade will work out, but it should help considering he is a huge talent upgrade. He will fill the number one receiver role for Dallas vacated by Dez Bryant.

The scores this week were:
Broncos over Cardinals 45-10, Chargers over Titans 20-19, Colts over Bills 37-5, Panthers over Eagles 21-17, Bucs over Browns 26-23 (OT), Lions over Dolphins 32-21, Texans over Jaguars 20-7, Vikings over Jets 37-17, Patriots over Bears 38-31, Saints over Ravens 24-23, Redskins over Cowboys 20-17, Rams over 49ers 39-10, Chiefs over Bengals 45-10, Falcons over Giants 23-20.

Both the Ravens-Saints game and the Cowboys-Redskins games came down to controversial/interesting kicks. Dallas kicker Brett Maher missed a 52 yarder that would have been from 47 if not for a phantom illegal procedure penalty on the previous play. The Ravens scored a potential game tying touchdown against the Saints, but lost on Justin Tucker’s only missed extra point of his career (he was 222 of 222 before that). 

Despite their disappointing loss, the Ravens appear to be a legitimate team. They stand at 4-3, but their superior defense has them in contention every game. The 11 sack performance they put up against Tennessee last week may have felt like a fluke, but the Titans’ o-line is one of the best in the league. Coming into Sunday, the Ravens defense only allowed 12.8 points per game. They stymied a superb Saints offense, which gained no traction whatsoever until the very end of the first half. It seemingly took forever, but the Saints’ finally took off in the fourth quarter and scored 17 points. The Saints were constantly aggressive, and went for it on fourth down several times. They recognized Baltimore’s ability to control the clock, so they attempted to take control themselves. Although it did not work early on, Sean Payton’s aggressiveness gave his team confidence in the end.

Another week, and yet another overtime game for the Browns. It’s getting ridiculous at this point; four of their seven games this year have ended in extras. This one also was decided by a kicker, as Chandler Catanzaro of the Bucs hit a 60 yard game winning field goal after missing one from 40 at the end of regulation. Baker Mayfield’s expression afterward said it all. Jameis Winston had one of those games where he produced a lot of yards, but also made key mistakes. He finished with over 400 total yards, but he played poorly down the stretch and had three turnovers. It seems the Bucs would have easily lost if they were not playing against a truly cursed franchise. Cleveland showed flashes of why they’re on the rise, but learning how to win regularly may take some time. Mayfield showed flashes of greatness, but the offense stalled too often. Second round pick Nick Chubb had 80 rushing yards in his first start post-Carlos Hyde, which is promising. Don’t forget he had 105 yards on three carries week 4 against the Raiders. Cleveland also had 14 penalties. That is not a formula for winning football.

Sean Payton was applauded for his boldness this week, but some coaches get carried away. The Titans fell victim, as they were another team that lost a close game they shouldn’t have. They had a chance to tie and go to OT, but that did not happen. Head coach Mike Vrabel decided to go for two after the potential tying TD, only to have it backfire. Pundits will debate over whether or not this was a good idea. I think it’s crazy quite frankly. People will defend him by saying he believed his team would convert the play, but one could also say he did not trust the team enough to win in OT. Certainly things are the norm for a reason. I believe Vrabel is a really good coach, but he got too clever for his own good here. Tennessee did what they had to do late to tie the game, but it was all for naught. Considering these two teams may be competing for a playoff spot, losing the tiebreaker could hurt Tennessee down the road. The Chargers won their fourth straight game Sunday, and they are starting to mimic the Air Coryell days. Tyrell Williams, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams had 245 combined receiving yards. Tyrell had a 75 yard TD in the first quarter, and Mike had one for 55 yards in the third. They were up 17-6 at this point had to hang on until the end. They were a two-point conversion away from blowing this stellar offensive performance, and facing a similar fate to the Eagles. But they won, so all is well in Los Angeles for now. Speaking of which, the Rams unsurprisingly crushed the 49ers.

The Patriots keep finding ways to win, even if it takes some luck. Chicago was inches away from tying the game on the final play, as Mitchell Trubisky connected with Kevin White on a Hail Mary and watched him get tackled at the one yard line. Had they tied it and eventually won, Trubisky’s flaws would have been forgotten and he would be a hero this week. Instead, it was just another close loss. Trubisky looked good, and particularly impressed with his 81 rushing yards. He made smart decisions, and he took off running when plays broke down instead of forcing bad passes. He still did look inaccurate at times, so the jury is still out on Trubisky’s ability moving forward. He seems Bortles-esque at times. The Pats fell behind early, but a 95-yard kick return and a blocked punt for a TD allowed them to take control. They have been utilizing their running game very effectively recently, but that was derailed with Sony Michel’s leg injury. He had three straight 100-yard games before going down. Jeremy Hill and Rex Burkhead are out for the year, so they need to sign another back soon. One positive for the offense has been Josh Gordon, who finished with 100 yards on four catches. Although he has not been able to make a constant impact yet, he is getting more comfortable every week. He may turn out to be the deep threat this team desperately needed. Chicago’s defense carried them the first 4 weeks, but they’ve allowed 69 points the last two. Khalil Mack is playing with a bum ankle, but that can’t be the only reason. If they don’t fix these problems soon, that defense will become just a big waste of money.

The Chiefs and Bengals played Sunday night, and only one team showed up. The Chiefs came in hungry after losing their only game to the Pats last week, and they pounced early. Their already stellar offense had its best game of the year, racking up 551 total yards (319 coming in the first half). Patrick Mahomes had his sixth straight 300 yard game, and Kareem Hunt impressed with 141 total yards and three touchdowns. The Bengals had an opportunity to show that they are finally credible, but they put up a stinker. This game was supposed to be a shootout, but the Bengal offense did not hold up their end of the bargain. Cincy only produced 235 yards against a horrendous Chiefs defense that ranks last in the league. Andy Dalton was pressured routinely, and they only achieved eight first downs on their first five drives. They were trailing 38-7 only minutes into the third quarter. A bad pick six and an embarrassing failed fake punt only added insult to injury. I guess I should have known this game would be a blowout; Cincy is 1-9 on Sunday Night Football under Marvin Lewis. Their primetime atrocity is a microcosm of their inability to win any game that matters. Remember how I said Lewis may be the problem?

The defending champions did not accord themselves well this week either. The Eagles dominated the Panthers for the first three quarters, and then everything switched. Carolina erased a 17-0 fourth quarter deficit and scored 21 unanswered. Cam Newton played unbelievably down the stretch, amassing 201 yards and two TDs on 16-22 passing in the fourth. His clutch gene showed up, making up for his no-show up to that point. Despite the outcome, Carson Wentz played very well. He finished 30-37 with 310 yards and two touchdowns. He did a great job of getting Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery involved all game, as they combined for 226 receiving yards. The offense could have done more to secure the win, but the defense folded in a dreadful way. Not the type of effort you’d expect from the defending champions. 

It is fair to say you have a chance in nearly any game if you only allow 20 points. That cannot be said for the Jaguars, whoseoffense hit a new low Sunday. Blake Bortles only had 61 yards and two fumbles before being benched in the quarter. The running attack is awful, and newly acquired RB Carlos Hyde was not eligible to play this week. Apparently the team was fighting with each other after the game, so the frustration has apparently boiled over. Cody Kessler is not a competent backup to Bortles, so this team is stuck right now. They have to seriously consider trading for a QB midseason, but it’s amazing a team who almost made the Super Bowl last year is in that spot. I guess I was wrong about Leonard Fournette being a crutch. The offense is off in the Atlantic Ocean without him. 

The Lions have been looking for a consistent running game since Barry Sanders retired, and it looks like they may have finally found it. They rushed for 248 yards Sunday, 158 of which coming courtesy of rookie Kerryon Johnson. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry, and LeGarrette Blount added 50 yards and a TD himself. Miami was lost on defense and were shredded all game. Miami looked good in offense with Brock Osweiler as QB, as he consistently moved the ball early. Injuries at wide receiver, however, left his options thin down the stretch. Osweiler did not play lights out, but he is not the reason Miami lost. If Miami wants to complete for a roster spot, they may need to add a skill player via trade.

The Vikings’ win over the Jets was predictable based on where both teams currently stand. Both played average by their standards, and the superior Vikings won handily. Kirk Cousins, who has been Mr. Consistency all year, had a subpar game. He was held in check until he took off mid third quarter. When it was all said and done, Minnesota took care of business. Adam Thielen had another great game, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards.
The Jets were totally stagnant on offense, unsurprisingly because Minnesota’s defense may have been their biggest challenge yet. Sam Darnold looked inaccurate all game, finishing 17-42 with 206 yards and three interceptions. To be fair, it was the California kid’s first bad climate game, and he was playing from behind. Darnold is still on track to be a star one day, but Sunday was a reminder that he’s not the savior just yet. 

Speaking of the Big Apple, the final game of the week was yet another no-show for the Giants’ offense. They looked good at times, and got Odell involved, but they only mustered three points until the last five minutes of the game. They looked as bad as possible in the red zone, highlighted by a terrible rollout play on fourth down on Atlanta’s one yard line. Eli Manning looked like he was in a good rhythm, but he was constantly throwing to checkdowns because he was being pressured. Basically the story of every Giants game. For all the fans who’ve jumped ship, this game did nothing to restore hope. So Monday Night was mundane for Big Blue, one could say.

NFL Week 6

Many teams impressed this week, but some teams didn’t show up. The Titans, Browns, Jaguars, and Giants were all extremely disappointing. Tennessee was held to 106 total yards, and allowed Marcus Mariota to be sacked 11 times. Baker Mayfield had his mobility limited, and the Browns’ offense could not adjust. Jacksonville looked totally unprepared to play Dallas. And the Giants proved they should have drafted a QB, since Saquon Barkley has a stellar game, and the team was still trounced.

The scores this week were:
Eagles over Giants 34-13, Dolphins over Bears 31-28 (OT), Texans over Bills 20-13, Falcons over Bucs 34-29, Vikings over Cardinals 27-17, Chargers over Browns 38-14, Jets over Colts 42-34, Redskins over Panthers 23-17, Seahawks over Raiders 27-3, Steelers over Bengals 28-21, Rams over Broncos 23-20, Cowboys over Jags 40-7, Ravens over Titans 21-0, Patriots over Chief 43-40, Packers over 49ers 33-30.

Fortunately for the football gods, the top teams looked as advertised this weekend. The Rams are now the only undefeated team in the league with the Chiefs losing, and they showed they can win ugly. The passing game was held in check, largely due to Cooper Kupp being injured. Jared Goff was sacked five times, led by a breakout three sack performance by Denver’s Bradley Chubb. Like good teams do, the Rams adapted and rode the ground game. Todd Gurley finished with a whopping 208 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. He was the first Ram to rush for 200 yards since Marshall Faulk did it in 2001. Denver had chances, but settling for field goals instead of touchdowns ultimately did them in. The Rams got off to a slow start, but they are so good it doesn’t matter. Great teams know how to win regardless of circumstance.

The Patriots-Chiefs game may have been an AFC championship preview, and it lived up to the billing. 83 total points were scored, KC made a thrilling comeback, and the game came down to who had the ball last. The Pats continued to roll on offense, and the emergence of the running game is a big reason why. The duo of Sony Michel and James White carried the load, combining for 145 yards. (Michel has 316 yards in his last three games) The offense now looks complete for the first time this year, aided by Julian Edelman’s return and the acquisition of Josh Gordon. Although teams are taking Gronk out of the mix, New England is moving the ball in other ways.

The Chiefs played well, but their slow start dug them into an early hole. The Pats did a good job of limiting Travis Kelce early, constantly shadowing and bumping him at the line. The Chiefs only had 9 points at halftime, but they took off after that. They trailed by 15 at halftime, but they outscored the Pats 17-3 in the third quarter. Due to Mahomes’ bazooka arm, and the athleticism of Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt, the offense can score in bunches most of the time. As well as the Chiefs played in the second half, the Patriots are too good to spot them a lead.

Pittsburgh has owned Cincinnati in their rivalry for years, making this loss even more crushing for the Bengals. They almost came back to win, but lost on the final drive. Pittsburgh took control early, and played an extremely physical game. James Connor had 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Several Bengals’ defenders left the game with bumps and bruises. Pittsburgh had a balanced passing attack as well, with Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster each finishing with 100 yards. Cincinnati played much better down the stretch, but they showed why they never seem to be able to get over the hump. Despite rattling off three big plays, Joe Mixon only finished with 64 yards. His talent is undeniable, but Cincy underused him for some reason. He should be a bell cow for this offense. It seems like they want to be an elite passing attack like Pittsburgh, but they should go with what’s working. I’ve said for years that the Bengals should consider moving on from Marvin Lewis as their coach. Maybe a young innovative coach could take then to the next level.

The Jets had a great win against the Colts, and the actually were constant two weeks in a row. They had some great fortune early, with Morris Claiborne getting a pick six off a bobbled screen on the second play of the game. Andrew Luck came close to throwing another one on the next possession, but then proceeded to string together a stellar touchdown drive. Sam Darnold looked mediocre for the Jets early, and he threw yet another careless pick when he severely under threw his target on a deep throw. However, this turned out to be his best game of the year. He completed 80% of his passes, and he’s getting better at spreading the ball around. Jermaine Kearse 94 yards on a career-high nine catches. He had been a non-factor all season, so his emergence was a pleasant surprise.

The Jets had a huge goal line stand to start the second quarter. Had Indy scored and taken the lead, they would have likely seized all the momentum. This is an example of the Colts continuing trend of shooting themselves in the foot early in games. Luck almost made a comeback late, but the hole theydug for themselves was too big. This is mostly due to their lack of talent on offense. Andrew Luck looks like the star he was supposed to be since being drafted #1 overall, but he team is not helping much. Marlon Mack’s 72 rushing yards in the second half give signs for optimism, but this team has a long way to go.

The Cowboys were on the verge of total implosion coming into this week, but boy did they respond. Their 40-7 drubbing of the Jags may have been the biggest surprise of the week. They got off to a fast start, piling up 251 yards and 17 first downs in the first half. They scored on their first four drives of the game. They were leading 24-0 at halftime, and the game was effectively over. Dak Prescott looked more comfortable than he has all year, and he actually ran the ball like he did his rookie year. He finished with 82 rushing yards on 11 carries. Dallas showed great balance, keeping Ezekiel Elliott and Cole Beasley involved all game.

The Jags looked like a legit Super Bowl contender a few weeks back, but now their issues are coming to light. Their o-line is mediocre, and Blake Bortles struggles when pressured. The defense was understandably torched by KC last week, but they followed it up with a worse performance against Dallas offense which has been atrocious. Leonard Fournette’s injury has been a problem, but I’m not sure his return will fix all of their recent issues. I cannot say Dallas fixed all their problems either. Not having center Travis Frederick is evident in the pass blocking department. The center is the most important lineman when it comes to identifying where the pressure is coming from, and the backup is clearly struggling. Also, teams will start preparing for Prescott like he’s a real quarterback again. Time will tell if he can play like this in consecutive weeks.

The Eagles had gotten off to a slow start after winning the Super Bowl last year, but they seem to have found their stride now. Carson Wentz was clearly shaking off his post-injury cobwebs, and he’s looking more and more like himself every week. On Thursday, he finished 26 of 36 with 278 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. More impressively, they scored touchdowns on four of six red zone trips. They had 24 points at halftime, more than they had scored in a game all year. Surprisingly, the backfield tandem of Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement admirably filled in for the injured Jay Ajayi. Coupled with the way they assaulted Eli Manning, it was a great team win for Philly. With that said, the New York Giants really can’t get out of their own way. Many pundits said they should have drafted a quarterback instead of Saquon Barkley, and this game showed why. Barkley had a wonderful game (130 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards), yet his team was still blown out. Eli Manning threw a pick in his second pass of the game. Philly started the drive in their own red zone, and got an easy touchdown. They scored again quickly, jumping ahead 14-3 in the blink of an eye. The Giants looked explosive at times, courtesy of the aforementioned Barkley. But they were 4 of 14 on third down, and started the game 0 for 8. When you are already playing from behind, and drives stall early, coming back becomes futile. Odell Beckham Jr, who is supposed to carry this offense, was held to only 44 yards. Philly did a good job of blanketing him all night. Outside of Barkley, the Giants have no big play ability whatsoever. Poor o-line has made many excuse Eli’s play, but Carson Wentz played very well under similar pressure. Eli is immobile, which makes him a dinosaur in today’s high octane game. Almost every QB in the NFL can escape the pocket and make plays with their legs. He needs to get the ball out of his hand quickly, like he did his first year with Coach McAdoo. Screens and swing routes are not going to cut it. Unfortunately, all teams need to do is blitz him heavily and it’s over.

The Browns came out against the Chargers with the same level of energy they’ve had lately, but things changed after Baker Mayfield hurt his ankle running out of bounds. He was visibly limping afterward, and his play struggled. He was far less mobile, and looked inaccurate on medium and deep passes. He did look like himself later on, but his receivers dropped passes in big spots. Their receiving group has not stepped up in general, and Jarvis Landry’s lack of big play ability doesn’t help either. Antonio Callaway was supposed to be their deep threat after cutting the troubled Josh Gordon, but his rookie inexperience is showing. Cleveland is vastly improved, but they have not yet learned how to win consistently. Unsurprising considering their recent history.

The Chargers did not play the greatest game early on, but big plays by Tyrell Williams allowed them to take control. In the second quarter, he had receptions for 44, 45, and 29 yards. He is becoming a superstar, yet the average fan doesn’t know his name. Coupled with their dominant day rushing the ball as well, led by Melvin Gordon’s 132 yards and 3 touchdowns, they left the Browns with no answers. 

I hate to end on a somber note, but two teams lost their owners in the past few days. Chargers owner Alex Spanos died of dementia complications at age 95, and Seahawks owner Paul Allen died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 65. R.I.P.