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.