NFL Review: Week 12
Sunday of Week 12 was a bit of a strange one. Weird games everywhere, some unexpected blowouts, some very low-scoring dour affairs, some surprisingly exciting shootouts… It’s just another Sunday in the NFL.
The two major stories though, are the Sunday Night battle in the AFC North, where both teams seemed more intend on giving away turnovers than scoring points, and the “OBJ-Bowl” in Green Bay, between two of the NFCs top contenders. Let’s dive in.
Packers Humble The Rams
The Cheeseheads are happy heading into their Bye week. The Packers moved to 9-3 with a big win over one of their fellow contenders for the NFC crown. Weirdly, Aaron Rodgers’ little toe was the headline for much of the buildup to this one, but he seemed to be just fine when he pump-faked the life out of Jalen Ramsey and scooted round him to the corner of the end zone for another rushing TD.
Rodgers’ health is obviously imperative to the success of this team… which makes the last few weeks all the more frustrating. Regardless of my thoughts on his “immunised” comments, it’s hard to not credit Rodgers for continuing to perform at the MVP level he was at last season. He makes play after play, throw after throw, and continues to make the Packers front office VERY uncomfortable about the fact that they were close to letting him walk away from the team. He is the team.
Spare a thought for AJ Dillon also, the Uber-quadded RB who did much of the heavy lifting yesterday, despite Aaron Jones’ return from a short injury absence. Dillon’s production in both the run and pass game does lead you to wonder if the Packers will eventually go with him as the lead back, as talented as Jones is. This was a big win for the Packers, who now move into 2nd overall in the NFC, and do have the head to head tiebreaker over the current 1 seed incumbent, the Arizona Cardinals. Matt LaFleur’s guys look set to make another deep run towards the Lombardi this year.
But where to start with the Rams…?! It’s just not working right now. They’ve added Von Miller to the defense and yet got torched for 30+ again… The running game with Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel just isn’t quite working, and the Packers were able to key in on Cooper Kupp and limit his productivity. Van Jefferson caught a long one from Matthew Stafford, but that one play made the first half look a little bit more even than it actually was in reality.
Yes, it was nice to see OBJ finally find some actual relevancy in the NFL again. His long TD grab gave the Rams some hope late on, but would prove to be ineffectual on the outcome. If LA are going to be successful, he’s going to have to play a major role. The loss of Robert Woods – who Troy Aikman ridiculously labelled a “Top 3 receiver in the league” – has hit them hard. Don’t get me wrong, Woods is a very talented player… but top 3?! Adams, Hopkins, Kupp, Jefferson, Thielen, Chase, Evans, Cooper, Lamb, Metcalf, Hill… I don’t see a spot in the top 10 being possible there, let alone top 3… And I’ve probably missed a couple names off that list too.
But anyway, Woods being gone has clearly impacted both Stafford AND McVay, and the Rams are 0-3 in their last 3. If they’re going to reach SoFi in February… the Rams need to get it together fast. They still have to play the Cardinals, Vikings Ravens, & surging 49ers before the season is over. It would be unthinkable if this SuperTeam missed the playoffs – and I don’t think they will – but they need to right the ship as soon as possible. Fortunately, they play Jacksonville next week… Green Bay will head to their Bye full of confidence, and hoping that this year might finally be the year they get over the NFC Title Game hump.
4 INTs... And A Win!?
Well… to win when you throw 4 interceptions… you have to know it was a weird game. When the league’s leading rushing offense (averaging over 150 yards per game), rushes for less than 50 yards, with the other defense’s premier run stuffer not playing… you have confirmation it was a weird game. Certain matchups in sports always feel like must-see television; appointment viewing. I’m talking Manchester United vs Liverpool, Celtic vs Rangers, the Lakers vs the Celtics, Nadal vs Federer, Australia vs New Zealand in rugby… there’s ALWAYS chaos and you never quite know what’s going to happen.
The Ravens vs the Browns is headed that way. After last year’s unforgettable duel on Monday Night Football, they’ve followed it up with a very weird Sunday night game that won’t go down as a classic, but will certainly stay in the memory for just how outright weird it was. There was a period in the second quarter where the teams actually played Hot Potato with the ball; there were 4 turnovers in 7 plays at one point, and 5 total in the quarter.
The Baltimore Ravens had to both bemoan and thank Lamar Jackson for this win last night. Jackson had a couple of baffling INTs, but equally provided more than enough elusive magical moments to frustrate the pass rush of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, including a couple of circus throws to his favourite target Mark Andrews.
The Andrews Touchdown in the 3rd quarter was so demoralising for the Browns that you could have forgiven them for folding. Jackson scrambled for his life before throwing off his back foot, across his body, to the middle of the field… to a wide open Andrews in the end zone. This one play showed that, with Jackson, you live with the bad, because the good far outweighs it. The Ravens are now the Number 1 seed in the AFC.
This was a heartbreaker for the Browns, who now sit at 6-6, and face a scrap to secure the playoff spot that was all but guaranteed (from the looks of things) before the season started. Yes, they’ve been brutalised by injuries all year long, and none more relevant that the fact that Baker Mayfield appears to be hobbling to the side of the field after every drive finishes.
I’ve been loud and proud in saying I’m #TeamBaker and that’s not gonna change here folks. He’s tough. He’s trying so hard to bring success to Cleveland – almost certainly too hard at times – and has been unlucky in a number of very close spots, this being one of them. Whilst the Browns’ run game stalled, Mayfield carried the baton in the passing game and, one egregious fumble aside, had a clean game.
Jarvis Landry was the main receiving threat, going over 100 yards for the first time this season, on his birthday no less, but David Njoku’s miraculous TD “catch” – which probably wasn’t a catch – gave the Browns some life late on. Mayfield’s accuracy wasn’t the best (18/37), but he was often faced with 3rd and Long’s which required a bit of “heave and hope” with the run stalling.
The loss of Jack Conklin early on definitely impacted Cleveland, and could be really problematic moving forward into the final stage of this season. The Browns run-in… is tough. Bye week now, Ravens again, Raiders, Packers, Steelers, Bengals. The Browns are going to have to go 3-2 or better in those 5 games to grab and AFC Wildcard spot.
Quick Hits
- Not a good day for Jalen Hurts. This Eagles team should be handedly beating that Giants team, but alas – a defensive stalemate. Hurts will need to be better than 3 INTs in order to satisfy the rowdy Philadelphia fan base. That said… the rest of the Eagles schedule!? It’s rather tasty. Lots of wins waiting there for the taking. Philly could very well still be a playoff team this season.
- Daniel Jones and Joe Judge continue to hang onto their jobs… and SOMEHOW the New York Football Giants are only 1… yes ONE game back from the playoffs in the NFC. What in the hell is happening.?!
- Joe Burrow and the Bengals put a straight BEATING on the Steelers. Big Ben looked lost. Joe Mixon was unbelievable. Ja’Marr Chase didn’t even have a big game and the Bengals scored 41. Huh!? This Cincy team is clearly ascending… and this Steelers team looks like it’s headed for a rebuild. This feels like it is destined to be Roethlisberger’s last ride, and whilst it’s a shame that it’s not going to end in a playoff berth, they really don’t deserve anything else right now. They’re the 4th best team in the AFC North. What more can you say?
- Robert Saleh got another win for New York! The Jets are – clearly – awful, and in big time rebuilding mode, but Saleh has enough about him to inspire hope for the future. The big question is… does Zach Wilson?! Jury is still out…
- Free Brandin Cooks. Please. Do the right thing Houston.
- What a game between the Buccaneers and the Colts. Leonard “I put the 4 in” Fournette carried the load as Brady struggled to connect with his receivers for what feels like the first time all year long. The Buccaneers have so many ways they can beat you… it’s really not fair.
- Give credit to Carson Wentz and the Colts. This was a big showing from them. Yes, ultimately a heartbreaking loss, but they went toe to toe with the Big Dogs of the NFC and kept swinging. If only Wentz could eliminate the turnovers in big moments…
- Ugh… the Patriots might be back… next question… *crying*
- The Titans are decimated by injuries right now. Can they stay afloat until AJ Brown and Julio Jones get back!? Hard to tell right now.
- The Falcons beat the Jaguars. Irrelevant.
- Are the Dolphins… good again!? Maybe. Do you know how frustrating it is as a Dolphins fans to see a clear route to a 9-8 season now, and know that if you’d just beaten the useless f%%EDITORCONTENT%%amp;^ing Jaguars in London… that you might be a playoff team!? Ugh.
- Well… that’s not the Cam Newton Carolina wanted to see… Bad day for him. Does feel like the Panthers may really make a run at Deshaun Watson in the offseason…
- This Broncos team makes absolutely no sense to me. They beat both the Cowboys and (on Sunday) the Chargers fairly comfortably, but lose to far inferior teams. No sense. Surprisingly, they’re still in the hunt for the AFC West crown… Massive game vs Kansas City next week.
- Justin Herbert must hate playing against Patrick Surtain already… that’s going to be a great battle for a number of years. The Chargers’ inconsistency is really harming their playoff chances. Need to bounce back against the Bengals next week.
- Are the 49ers the team nobody wants to play right now? Very possibly. Is Deebo Samuel a better running back than a wide receiver? Very possibly. Is Kirk Cousins still a fraud who will line up under his guard rather than his center at a pivotal time in the game? Absolutely.
MNF Prediction: (Season Record: 8-6)
Back after a truly atrocious 1-3 overall week of picks (The Giants, Lions & Cowboys on thanksgiving SUCK)… Let’s give this another go…
Monday Night Football tonight is not the most exciting of games, nor does it really have much relevancy to the end-of-season shake-up but IF either of these teams wants to make the latest of “run the table” attempts and try to drag themselves back into the playoff picture, then it has to start immediately.
As a perennial playoff team, Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks are not used to finding themselves four games below .500 at any time, let alone beyond the halfway point of the season. It’s been a rough one. Star running back Chris Carson managed to play in just a handful of games before eventually succumbing to a season ending neck injury, and we all know about Russell Wilson’s miraculous recovery from a broken finger.
That said, with stars like Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf on the outside, this team should be performing at a much higher level than it has. Defensively they’ve been woeful, with Jamal Adams not hitting the heights that were expected when Seattle traded for him. They’re gonna need some Russ magic to make anything of what feels like a doomed 2021 campaign.
On the other hand, you’ve got defending NFC East champions, the Washington Football Team, who having snuck their way to a division crown last year, have done everything in their power to absolutely throw it away this time round. Chase Young’s injury aside, the much-hyped defense has totally flattered to deceive, and an early injury to new QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has meant it’s been the Taylor Heinicke show once again. Heinicke – to his credit – has done exceptionally well to keep this team afloat, and in most of their games. Antonio Gibson hasn’t been as productive as he was a year ago, but Terry McLaurin continues to develop into one of the best WRs in the league.
It’s a very hard one to call, but I’m going to back the team that A). I like more, and B). has the better QB… could Pete Carroll conjure up a magic winning sequence one more time?
Official Prediction: Seattle Seahawks.
Week 13 Preview
Well, we’re in the EndGame now… We’re we’ll and truly on the road to playoffs, with plenty of twists and turns still to come as we head towards So-Fi stadium in February.
Week 13 gives us a number of marquee matchups, starting with a chance to see the Dallas Cowboys in prime time on Thursday night against a reeling New Orleans Saints team. Then, on Sunday, we’ve got another big AFC North clash as the Ravens travel to the Steelers. I also like the look of Chargers vs Bengals as arguably the game of the early window.
As previously mentioned, we have a real litmus test of the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football as they head to Arrowhead to face a rested Mahomes and his gang of merry unstoppable weapons. BUT – without a shadow of a doubt – the headline game is next Monday Night. AFC East. 1 vs 2. Little Brother vs Evil Empire. Bills vs Patriots. It’s going to be electric. Okay, as always, thanks for reading my ramblings. I’m @CallumJDSquires on Twitter and Instagram. Come say hey. Stay safe and healthy. Cheers.
