The byes are done, so it was a full week of games in the NFL, along with the traditional Thanksgiving Day contests. Here are my thoughts on the week that was...
Vikings over Lions-
Minnesota pretty much locked up the NFC North with their Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit. The Vikes will be a dangerous team in the playoffs with their defense. At 9-2, they are trying to secure one of the two playoff byes and a playoff game at home. QB Teddy Bridgewater remains on the bench, and what will happen to Sam Bradford if/when he is ready to return for the playoffs? Detroit may not win their division, but I give them a good shot at a wild card spot, even though losing at home to Minnesota was a tough loss. The Lions face two road games in a row, first at Baltimore, then at Tampa Bay. The Vikings play the second of a three-game road trip at suddenly-hot Atlanta.
Chargers over Cowboys-
Heaven for Eagles fans, Dallas losing twice in a week. If the Chargers didn't have a\n injured kicker the score would've been even worse. LA , after going 0-4 to open the season, is now suddenly 5-6 and only one game behind AFC West division-leading Kansas City. Dallas is in chaos, after a 13-3 season, crumbling to 5-6.Their owner is hated, their key players are injured or suspended with no depth, and their quarterback may be a one-year wonder. The Chargers have the lowly Browns and Redskins at home the next two weeks and can make a case for the AFC West lead. Dallas has Washington at home on Thursday night.Two ugly 5-6 teams- winner barely is alive for a wild card berth; loser goes home until 2018.
Redskins over Giants-
Washington beat a crummy Giants team with ease. Washington is 5-6 and remains on life-support for a wild card slot. New York slides to 2-9 and should fire Coach McAdoo after the season ends. Washington takes on rival Dallas on Thursday Night in a must-win situation, before going to Los Angeles to face the surging chargers. Either way the "Skins are done. Stick a fork in them.The Giants only seem to be able to beat AFC West teams ( their only two victories are over Denver and Kansas City). They travel to Oakland this week.
Falcons over Buccaneers-
Matt Ryan and crew are suddenly playing well, with crucial division games ahead. If not the NFC South, Atlanta would be a dangerous wild card team to beat. The Bucs lose yet again in what must be a frustrating season for the once-promising young Bucs. Atlanta plays their second home game in a row (out of three) when they face tough Minnesota (in what could be a potential playoff match-up).Tampa Bay goes to chilly Green Bay this weekend.
Bengals over Browns-
A meaningless battle of Ohio, the Bengals are wildly inconsistent, while Cleveland goes 0-11 and is hopeless. Will they win a game this season? They play the Chargers in LA, come home for the Packers and Ravens, then finish on the road with Chicago and Pittsburgh.Cincinnati has two key home games in the next two weeks, with division-leading Pittsburgh and the Bears.
Titans over Colts-
Tennessee and Jacksonville are tied at 7-4 for the AFC South lead. Indianapolis is playing out the string, wondering if QB Andrew Luck will ever be back. The Titans have a downtrodden Houston Texans team coming into Tennessee this week, before going back on the road for two more games. The Titans key game will be their last- at home against the Jaguars. Indy goes to Jacksonville this week.
Seahawks over 49'ers-
Seattle expectedly beat San Francisco to stay a game behind the Rams in NFC West. They take on the Eagles this Sunday night at home. Seattle is proving to be good, and should earn a wild card spot if they can't beat out the Rams, but not as good as in previous years. Meanwhile, the Niners play the Bears in a game that no one will care about.
Raiders over Broncos-
Oakland stays alive in AFC West, tied with the Chargers, one game behind the Chiefs. Denver lost again and are starting to fire front office people already. A big comedown form a team only a few seasons removed from a Super Bowl championship. Without a real quarterback, John Elway and the broncos are going no where fast. The Raiders can climb to .500 with a win over the awful Giants, while Denver tries to snap their losing streak with a game at Miami.
Rams over Saints-
The Game of the Week, the Rams climbed to 8-3 with an impressive home victory over Drew Brees and the hot Saints. LA lost Robert Woods, but they look for real. How far will they go? This week to Arizona for a key NFC West game. The Saints try to rebound with a home game against Carolina. By the way, the Saints play the Falcons twice in the coming weeks, which may decide the division winner.
Bills over Chiefs-
Buffalo wins away from cold Buffalo, a surprise victory at Arrowhead over the slumping Chiefs. The Bills put Tyron Taylor back at QB and came out with a win, which moves their record to 6-5.They won't beat out New England for the AFC East, but they do have a shot at the playoffs as a wild card team. What's wrong with Kansas City? After starting 5-0, they are suddenly 6-5 and barely hanging on to their division lead. The season is now for Buffalo, which has its next three games at home, starting with the Patriots. Beat New England, Indy and Miami (winnable games) and suddenly you're 9-5. For KC, they play the Jets at the Meadowlands ( where they recently lost to the Giants), then have three straight home games.
Patriots over Dolphins-
It's that time of the year, and the Pats are making their playoff push. Their key game will be in week 15 at Pittsburgh, which should be for home field advantage in the playoffs. Miami is a mess.New England starts a three-game road trip with a huge game at Buffalo this weekend, while the Dolphins host Denver. Miami then has New England and Buffalo, so if they have any remote hopes of making the playoffs, the time is now to start winning.
Panthers over Jets-
Carolina barely escaped in New York, hanging in the NFC South race and wild card run. The Jets, after a surprising start, are turning back into the Jets, although they are playing teams tough. The Panthers have a major game this weekend against the Saints in New Orleans The Jets host Kansas City this week.
Eagles over Bears-
So, the Birds move to 10-1 after destroying yet another club. They fly to Seattle for a Sunday Night clash with the Seahawks. Chicago looked awful, and despite some impressive wins this season, notably against the Steelers and Panthers, are stuck in no mans' land with a 3-8 record. Da Bears host San Francisco at Soldier Field this Sunday afternoon.
Cardinals over Jaguars-
Arizona pulled out a win at home over Jacksonville last Sunday. The Cards sit at 5-6 and still without QB Carson Palmer. They have an unlikely shot at the wild card. The Jags fell into a tied for the AFC South crown, 7-4 with the Titans. The Jags go to Tennessee on the final game of the season, probably with the division hanging in the balance. Next week they return to Jacksonville to face the Colts. Arizona has the second of three straight home games on Sunday with the Rams.
Ravens over Texans-
Baltimore, at 6-5, are technically in the playoff hunt. But they are three games behind Pittsburgh for their division lead ( already losing to the Steelers- in Baltimore) and the Ravens have been so inconsistent, can they hold up to win a wild card spot? After QB DeShaun Watson went down with a season-ending injury, with J.J. Watt also out, Houston went to hell. Baltimore is at home this week against Detroit, before traveling to Pittsburgh for revenge next week. Houston goes to Tennessee to get stomped on again this weekend.
Steelers over Packers-
Pittsburgh squeezed out a late win over Green Bay on Sunday night, going 9-2 in the process. They all but have the AFC North title wrapped up. Now they are going for most wins to grab home field advantage in the playoffs away from New England. After Aaron Rodgers got hurt, the Pack were done. Pittsburgh goes to Cincinnati this week, before returning home for two games. Green Bay goes home to Lambeau Field to face Tampa Bay before hitting the road again.
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