Week 15 Recap

(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

New York Jets @ Los Angeles Rams (23-20 Jets)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The New York Jets got a win! I didn’t think I’d have a chance to say that phrase in the year 2020, but here we are. After losing the first 13 games of the season, the Jets traveled out west and beat the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams were a team that I was very hard on before the season started. We discussed their offseason on Episode 6 of the TFINS podcast (26:10). The Rams surpassed my expectations on the season overall, and they currently hold a wildcard spot with the second best record in the NFC West. 

My concerns with the Rams in the preseason were centered around their offensive line. I thought that they had an unproven offensive line, and they did not make enough changes in the offseason to get good play up front. I’ll give credit to the Rams’ coaching staff, as their offensive line has been one of the better units in the NFL. Despite the o-line’s great season, they were outplayed on Sunday afternoon against New York.

The Jets defensive line is a young and athletic bunch. Their success starts in the middle with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. After a slow rookie season, Williams has come to play as a sophomore. He recorded his 7th sack of the season in this game. Williams was also good against the run, making plays early and often. 

Pressure up the middle is always a difficult task for quarterbacks to overcome. The Jets rattled Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff in the first half, and he was unable to find a rhythm. The Rams only got past midfield twice in the first half, settling for a field goal on their second trip past midfield. The Jets held a 13-3 lead going into the break.

Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold also had a good game. He was decisive with the football, and was able to limit any mistakes. Darnold would finish the game going 22 of 31, for 207 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. The Jets were able to move down the field and score on the opening drive of the 2nd half, increasing their lead to 20-3.

The Rams were able to fight back in this game, but were unable to complete the comeback. Jared Goff and the offense had a chance to tie or take the lead with 4:00 remaining in the 4th quarter, but Goff was unable to convert on a 4th & 4 in Jets territory. Jets safety Marcus Maye was able to force an incompletion in man coverage, deflecting Goff’s pass. The Rams’ turned the ball over on downs, and the Jets were able to run the clock out on the ensuing possession.

If the Rams are going to make the playoffs (let alone get a win), they will need to protect Jared Goff better than they did today. Goff is not a very athletic QB, so giving him time in the pocket is crucial. The Jets got too much pressure on him, and he really struggled in the first half. This was an embarrassing loss for Los Angeles, and they will need to tighten up. They face the division leading Seattle Seahawks next week.

(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys (41-33 Cowboys)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

The NFC East has been one of, if not the strangest divisions, this year. Even after losing Dak Prescott and an underwhelming performance of Zeke Elliot, they are 4-9 and still in the playoff picture. Every game from here on out (if not stated explicitly) is a must win. Andy Dalton and company were able to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating a very depleted 49ers team, just trying to get to the end of the season at this point. 

Andy Dalton went 19-33 with 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was under pressure all game, but was able to make some plays and get the screen game going with running back Tony Pollard. Pollard has been a revelation for Dallas, with Zeke’s sub-par 2020 campaign. Pollard was able to combine for 124 yards running and receiving. Every week of great play from Pollard has the media and fans question the large deal for Zeke from last season. CeeDee Lamb also had a great game with 8 catches for 85 yards. He was also able to contribute on special teams with a touchdown there. This brings Lamb’s yearly totals to 69 catches, with 892 yards, and 5 receiving TDs, a rushing touchdown, and a touchdown on the return today. He was one of my breakout players of the year that I wrote about at the beginning of the season. I thought being on the other side of Amari Cooper would open up a lot of opportunities for him. With Dak going down and Andy stepping in, there was an obvious downgrade at QB, but Lamb is still having a good rookie campaign. 

The 49ers put up a valiant effort trying to ride their strong running scheme and backup QB Nick Mullens’ arm. He went 21-36 for 219 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The rushing attack was a combination of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. Those two, with a few other contributors, combined for 150 yards. Mullen was able to keep the offense moving with the run game and play action off the bootleg. He was unfortunately replaced by CJ Bethard late in the 4th quarter. Bethard was able to go 5 for 7 with 100 yards and a last play Hail Mary to Kendrick Borne in the end zone, for a touchdown. This game goes to show that the 49ers are still in serious need of a Quarterback, this was a game they could have easily won if not for poor QB play. With Jimmy Garoppolo constantly getting injured, they will have to seriously look at dragging a QB. Most mock drafts have them taking a quarterback with their 1st round pick this year. 

The Cowboys are still in the fight in the miserable NFC East. They sit right below the Washington Football Team in the standings, but it seems like a forgone conclusion that whoever gets in will have a first round exit. Dallas plays the Eagles next week in another divisional game that will go far in determining the playoff standings and clear up the NFC playoff picture. 

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Week 14 Recap

(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles (24-21 Eagles)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

With the offense struggling, and the playoffs looking like a long shot, the Eagles handed the offense over to rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles were expected to be much better than they’ve been this season, and it’s hard not to look at this year as a failure for this organization.

Carson Wentz signed a 4-year, $128 million dollar deal extension with the team in the summer of 2019. Despite making such a massive investment into Carson Wentz, Philly still went on to draft Jalen Hurts in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. That decision was a bad move without a doubt, but oddly enough, it may save the jobs of Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Howie Roseman.

Hurts played well in the second half against the Packers last week, and he impressed even more against the Saints. New Orleans has one of the best defenses in the league, and the rookie QB was able to put pressure on them all game. Jalen Hurts would finish the game going 17/30 for 167 yards, and a touchdown, with no interceptions. He also added another 114 yards rushing on 18 carries.

The passing numbers weren’t outstanding, but it’s good for a rookie QB – in his first start – against one of the league’s best defenses. I was mostly impressed with Hurts’s poise throughout the game, and his command of the offense. His pocket presence was refreshing to see, after watching Wentz struggle with pocket presence for most of the season.

Prior to this matchup, the Saints had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 55 straight games. Both Miles Sanders and Jalen Hurts ran for 100-yards in this outing, and it was the Saints’ downfall Sunday afternoon. Saints’ Quarterback Taysom Hill ended up going 28/38 for 291 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He was stuffed running the football, rushing for only 33 yards. Hill was also sacked 5 times. 

The Eagles’ defense wanted Taysom Hill to have to win this game with his arm, and they dared him to do so. Hill was inconsistent with his accuracy in this game, and it hurt the Saints’ offense in clutch situations. Hill accounted for 300+ yards of offense, but the team had just 14 points with 2:00 left in the game. There was a final rally from Hill after a Jalen Hurts fumble inside of two minutes, but the Saints could not recover the onside kick following the touchdown.

The Eagles will have to finish the season out with Jalen Hurts at QB. In my opinion, there should be a battle at the QB position between Wentz & Hurts. Wentz’s contract makes it difficult to trade him this upcoming offseason, so the smartest decision would be to let this play out into training camp of next year. The Eagles have an aging roster that needs help. Wentz could be moved for draft picks – sooner rather than later – if Hurts continues to ball out.

(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos (32-27 Broncos)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

At the beginning of the football season I picked Drew Lock to be one of my breakout players of the year. So far, there have been some extreme ups and downs with Lock in his 2nd year. Injury, COVID-19 concerns, and overall play have  caused some hiccups for the QB. When I watched his college film, and film from last year, this outing was the type of game I predicted him having more often. 

Drew Lock went 21-27 with 280 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was under pressure a lot from the Panthers’ gritty defense, but he seems to thrive on rolling out and off scripted plays. The Broncos started off the game right with a punt return touchdown by Diontae Spencer.  Denver was able to get the run game / screen game going to relieve some of the blitzing pressure on Lock. Running backs Phillip Lindsey and Melvin Gordon combined for 92 yards running and 30 yards receiving. Another interesting observation was the fact that most of the passes from Lock were chunk plays. KJ Hamler, the leading receiver, had 2 catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Jerry Juedy also added 2 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. 

Even though the Panthers did lose, the defense played great. They were in the backfield with Drew Lock all game. They were only able to get one sack, but they did get the sack and 5 QB hits along with tons of pressures. The Panthers’ issues seemed to be in the secondary, referring back to Lock having so many chunk plays. The defensive line applied pressure, but if they were not able to get there, Lock was just letting it fly to wide open receivers and tight ends. 

Teddy Bridgewater went 30-40 with 281 yards. Mike Davis was the touchdown getter for the day, going 11 rushes for 51 yards and 2 Touchdowns. The Panthers made a furious comeback, with the Broncos defense letting up a little bit in the second half. They ended up running out of time in the end. 

This is the progress I like to see from Drew Lock. He has continued to learn in the system and has all the weapons he needs to succeed, he just needs to play better more consistently. The Panthers are now out of the playoff picture with the loss. They have had a lot of moving parts on the offense because of injury, but have still made strides under first year head coach Matt Rhuel. The Panthers have pieces, but the rebuild will take time after the regime change.

Week 13 Recap

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Washington Football Team @ Pittsburgh Steelers (23-17 Washington)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

How about that NFC East? The NFL thought it saw the upset of the season on Sunday, when the New York Giants beat the Seattle Seahawks with Colt McCoy at quarterback. The real upset of the season would happen on Monday afternoon, as the undefeated Steelers would take their first loss of the season.

This game featured two of the best defenses in the NFL, and both defensive units showed up in this one. The first half of this game wasn’t very exciting. Washington’s offense struggled early, and it seemed like the Steelers defensive pressure would be too much to handle. Washington managed just 55 yards of offense in the first half.

The Steelers offense was also struggling, but they were able to find a big play in the first half that would extend their lead. Wide receiver James Washington caught a curl route from Ben Roethlisberger, and took it to the crib for a 50-yard touchdown. That play almost felt like the nail in the coffin, as the Steelers seemed to be locked in defensively. Pittsburgh held a 14-3 lead at the half, despite several missed opportunities.

Washington punched back to start the second half. Alex Smith was able to connect on several big throws, and Washington put together a 14-play, 82-yard scoring drive. Washington capped the long drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Peyton Barber. 

Washington’s defense was terrific all night. Their defense put pressure on the Steelers’ offensive line, stuffing the run and getting after the quarterback. Pittsburgh’s running game was nonexistent from start to finish. The running attack ended the night with just 14 carries for 21 yards, an average of 1.5 yards per carry. The short passing game has been a staple of the Steelers’ offense all season, but they’ve also been able to combine that with the running attack. 

The short passing game found some success in the second half, but dropped passes plagued the Steelers’ receiving core. If the Steelers will be moving forward with such a pass heavy attack, they cannot afford to have six drops like they did on Monday night. 

Despite the dropped passes, and poor running game, the Steelers had an opportunity to take the lead. The game was tied 17-17 and they were facing a 4th & 1 with just under 5 minutes left in the game. With the ball on their opponent’s 29-yard line, head coach Mike Tomlin decided to go for the conversion. Roethlisberger was unable to connect with his receiver, and they turned the ball over on downs.

Washington went on the attack offensively, and worked the ball into field goal range for the go-ahead field goal. Kicker Dustin Hopkins connected on the 45-yarder to put Washington ahead. Ben Roethlisberger would throw an interception on the first play of the following drive, and the game was virtually over.

The Steelers took their first loss of the season to a good defensive team. Their offense never really got off the ground, and the dropped passes are a cause for concern. They will have an even tougher test next week against the Buffalo Bills.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans (41-35 Browns)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

When looking at this match up, these two teams are pretty similar. They both have a good defense and great running schemes. Each team also has great running backs with Derrick Henry and the two headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt respectively. These teams also have above average, game managing quarterbacks. We are hearing that this year’s Cleveland Browns are last year’s version of the Tennessee Titans. The Browns beat the Titans at their own game today, as they continue to chase that coveted wild card spot. 

Baker Mayfield had a game, going 25-33 for 334 yards and 4 TDs. I’ve watched him play most of his snaps since his days at Texas Tech. When Mayfield got to Oklahoma, he ran the Lincoln Riley offense to perfection. He was always so accurate. I always saw him as a sort of poor man’s Drew Brees. This game reminded me of what I used to see in those days. Surprisingly, the Browns only ran for a combined 118 yards below their 156 yard a game average. After the Browns kicked a field goal on the first drive, Mayfield threw touchdown passes on each of the next four possessions. There was a little help from the Titans as well, because of a lost fumble near mid-field, during their second drive. 

Ryan Tannehill had a crazy game. The stats don’t tell the story because (unfortunately) the game was over before it started. He went 29-45 with 389 yards, 3 TDs and an interception. Most of those yards, and all of the touchdowns, were in the second half. Tannehill was under duress all day. He was sacked 3 times, and was hit 5 times. In the second half, he tried to lead a furious comeback, but threw an interception late in the third quarter. His receivers also struggled to get separation, and Browns cornerback M.J.Stewart had an amazing game with 2 tackles, 2 pass defenses and an interception. The Browns beat a legit team today, and continue to hold the top wild card spot in the AFC. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has really turned the team around with his offense. 

Normally we would be talking about Nick Chubb or Hunt, but Baker had a great game. He has really taken some slack for not playing up to his number-one-pick potential. This just proves that he is the right fit in Cleveland, but he just needed better guidance and a little more help from a balanced run game. That’s why I think Browns coach Kevin Stefanski should be in the running for Coach of the Year. The Titans had an embarrassing loss, and needed to do something with their pass defense in this game. They are currently ranked as 28th in the league, and Mike Vrabel needs to make a change, or else they will fall out of the tight AFC wild card playoff race. 

Week 12 Recap

DOUG MURRAY/AP

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27-24 Chiefs)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Two of the better teams in the NFL clashed on Sunday afternoon. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs lined up against Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. This game can be used as a blueprint for whom the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs are at their best, while also showing their biggest weakness.

The headliner of the game was star wide receiver, Tyreek Hill. Hill broke the game open early with big plays down the field, and the Bucs were fighting to keep up the rest of the way. With about 7 minutes left in the first quarter, Patrick Mahomes found Tyreek Hill deep down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown. The Chiefs would get the ball back on their following drive, and get the ball moving again. Mahomes would find Hill for another touchdown, this one from 44 yards out. Tyreek Hill finished the first quarter with a total of 203 yards.

With a strong first half from Hill, and a good showing from the Chiefs’ defense, this game really should have been a blowout. Patrick Mahomes had a costly red zone fumble in the 2nd quarter but the Chiefs appeared to be headed towards a 20 or 30-point win, regardless. While their high-octane passing attack is what separates the Chiefs from other teams in the league, their biggest flaw reared its ugly head as well.

With a 20-10 lead, the Chiefs were able to maneuver another solid drive that ended with another Tyreek Hill touchdown. Hill would end the game with 13 catches, 269 yards, and 3 total touchdowns. With a 27-10 lead, and 7:00 left in the 3rd quarter, Kansas City would not find the end zone again. The Buccaneers were able to stifle the Chiefs’ running game, while grabbing two interceptions off of Patrick Mahomes in the last quarter and a half. I want to give credit to the Bucs’ defense, as they made the necessary adjustments to give themselves a chance in this game.

I really wanted to see the Chiefs turn to their running backs to generate offense. LeVeon Bell & Clyde Edwards-Helaire are good at both running and receiving the football, but they didn’t get involved the way I expected them to. Andy Reid is usually a mastermind at getting the ball to his running backs, but they struggled to do so in the 2nd half of this game. 

The Chiefs have consistently had a problem with extending leads this season, and this game was another example of that. Long drives that end in points are the ideal way to seal a victory once you have the lead. Touches to the running backs generally eat up more clock, and allow the defense to get some rest. Kansas City will need to prioritize this element of their offense, or they could end up blowing a lead in the playoffs.

Tom Brady and his crew were almost able to complete the comeback, but the Chiefs offense did just enough to stay alive. It wasn’t pretty, but the defending champions moved to 10-1 on the season.

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Carolina Panthers @ Minnesota Vikings (27-28 Vikings)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In one of the craziest games of the year, the Vikings were able to get a game winning touchdown from an unlikely hero at the last minute. This win keeps the Vikings alive in the playoff race. This game was a thriller down to the last minute, with both teams having a chance to come out victorious. 

Kirk Cousins went 34 for 45, with 407 yards, and 3 TDs. He had a good game, overall. Kirk Cousins did have a fumble in this game though, which led to a Panthers touchdown. Dalvin Cook also had a fumble as well, which led to another Panthers’ touchdown. This helped to get  them in an early 21-10 hole. The Vikings’ defense was able to hold in the second half, making way for a comeback. 

Minnesota was about to get the ball back, down 3, with a little under two minutes left. The Panthers punted the ball back to the Vikings, but the return was fumbled by Chad Beebe. Following the recovered fumble, the Panthers had a chance to close the game out, but the Vikings’ defense held them to a field goal. 

Down 21-27, Kirk cousins drove the Vikings down the field, which led to the Chad Beebe redemption story. After working the ball down the field, Cousins found the guy who fumbled earlier, Chad Beebe, in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. The Panthers did get the ball back with time, and got a chance to win the game. The Panthers’ offense drove down the field, but the kicker missed a 54 yard field goal. 

I will say, the Panthers did not play poorly, overall. They have been in every game this year and am thoroughly impressed with the way Teddy Bridgewater has played this season. He did have an interception, but that was at the end of the game. The star today for the Panthers was rookie Jeremy Chinn. He was able to score two defensive touchdowns in less than 10 seconds. The first was on a fumble recovery following the strip sack of quarterback Kirk Cousins. The next one was on the Vikings’ very next offensive play. Chinn stripped Dalvin Cook and returned *that* fumble for a touchdown. 

The Vikings are still on the right path to the playoffs. I don’t necessarily trust Kirk Cousins, but I love the rookie wideout Justin Jefferson. His play, along with the run game led by a healthy Dalvin Cook, will give Minnesota a chance. They may be able to make a late run for a wildcard spot. 

Week 11 Recap

Grace Hollars/IndyStar

Green Bay Packers @ Indianapolis Colts (34-31 Colts)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Public service announcement! The Indianapolis Colts are playing really, really good football right now. It feels like somebody needs to shout that from the top of a mountain, as the Colts have not gotten a lot of national attention at this point in the season.

When taking a deeper look at the Colts’ season so far, it’s not a surprise that they have been overlooked. Indianapolis is a defensive minded football team that doesn’t have the same type of “superstar” names that the other elite teams in the AFC have. Despite not having the biggest household names on the roster, they’ve played as well as almost any other team in the entire league.

Following this overtime win over the Packers, the Colts are currently the second highest ranked defense in Total Yards per game. Indy also sits as the first ranked offense in Total Yards per game! First in offense and second in defense, that’s elite in every sense of the word.

The Packers are also a good football team, and this game was played at a very high level. Both offensive play callers were in a rhythm early, and put together successful drives throughout the first half. Trailing 28-14 at the half, the Colts made some adjustments on offense that ended up helping their defense.

Indy began to run the ball a lot more in the second half. They leaned on rookie running back Jonathan Taylor, who was able to find success in the 3rd quarter. Establishing the run allowed the Colts to control the tempo of the game, and it also tired out the Packers’ defense. Winning the time of possession battle also provided a spark for their defense, and they were able to string together several consecutive stops in the 3rd & 4th quarters. The Colts would go on to score 17 unanswered points, and held a 31-28 lead late in the final quarter. 

With 1:25 left on the clock, Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to work his magic again. The Packers began the drive back at their own 6-yard line, but Rodgers was able to push the ball deep into the red zone for Green Bay. Kicker Mason Crosby was able to connect on a 26-yard field goal attempt to tie the game.

The Packers won the coin toss in overtime, and elected to receive the kick off. On the second offensive play of overtime, wide receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling caught a quick screen from Rodgers. After making the catch, Valdez-Scantling attempted to make a move up the field and fumbled the football. The Colts’ recovered the ball at the Packers’ 29 yard line. Indianapolis ran the ball three times, and kicked the game winning field goal.

This was one of the best games I have watched all season. This game was a chess match from start to finish. Each coaching staff made adjustments and changes to try and find any advantage over the opposition. This game was a battle of two elite teams, and it did not disappoint.

Chris Graythen, Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (24 – 9 Saints)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

Prior to Taysom Hill’s first start for the injured Drew Brees, we honestly did not know what to expect. Jameis Winston was brought in as a backup for a situation like this, but Hill got the nod and played exceptionally well. The story of this game though, was the Saints defense.

Matt Ryan struggled most of the game, going 19-37, for 232 yards, and 2 interceptions. He was under extreme pressure the whole game. It didn’t help matters that wide reciever Julio Jones was nursing a hamstring injury, while tight end Hayden Hurst had an ankle injury early in the game. Another glaring stat was that the offense was 2-14 on 3rd down efficiency (which doesn’t even sound right as I type this but yes, look it up). The offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter, needs to go back to the drawing board. What he’s trying to do is not working with the pieces he has available. With the way the Falcons’ defense has been playing this year, you can’t afford to give any offense great field position. Even a Saints’ offense with a backup quarterback. The defense also did him no favors, allowing over 150 rushing yards, and Michael Thomas getting his accustomed 9 catches and 104 yards. 

Taysom Hill had a surprisingly good start. He went 18-23 with 233 yards through the air. He also added 10 carries for 49 yards and 2 TDs. He didn’t have to force anything, and it all seemed to come naturally. One thing that did jump off the page, was his arm strength compared to Drew Brees. He was able to make a few deep throws effortlessly, that Brees may struggle with at this point in his career. Also, there was a throw to Thomas that was so hard, it literally went right through his hands. Something many people haven’t seen before from him. Hill also used his feet very well and didn’t automatically run when things started to break down. He did pick his spots, though. 

At the end of the day, Hill didn’t have to do too much because the defense was so stout. The defense got 8 sacks, as well as forcing the 3-and-outs for good field position. The Saints didn’t really have to do much on offense to win this game. We will see what happens when Hill has to play a better defense. 

All in all, this was another divisional game where the Saints showed they are the real deal in the NFC playoff picture, and one of the top picks as Super Bowl contenders. The stifulling defense kept the Falcons out of the endzone, only allowing 3 field goals all game. The Saints were able to keep the ship afloat for one more week, with Brees still out. Hill did what he needed to do. It was really interesting seeing him back at QB full time. It reminded me of his days at BYU, where he was a Heisman hopeful. With the Broncos up next, Hill will face the 9th best pass defense in the league. We will see how he responds.

Week 10 Recap

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Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants (27-17 Giants)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The NFC East has been an absolute dumpster fire this season. It seems like every other team in the league has taken the opportunity to beat up on one of the four teams from this division. It’s hard to believe that one of the teams from the NFC Least will actually be hosting a home playoff game this year. 

Heading into this game, the Philadelphia Eagles had a division leading record of 3-4-1. Looking at the rest of their schedule, this game was definitely one that you could define as a “must win”. If they were going to take control of this strange opportunity, it was going to start against the Giants this week.

On the other hand, New York is a young team that came into the game feeling optimistic. They held a 2-7 record, but played tight games against a lot of good teams. Head coach Joe Judge seems to be connecting well with his players, and it seems the culture reset in the Giants’ locker room has been successful.

From the opening snap, the Giants played like the hungrier team. They marched right down the field and scored on an 8-play, 85 yard drive. A key moment on that drive was a 3rd & 8 from the Eagles’ 43-yard line. Instead of forcing the Giants to convert a 3rd & long, the Eagles committed a defensive offside penalty. The penalty changed the situation to 3rd & 3 from the 38-yard line, a much easier conversation for the offense. The Giants would go on to convert the 3rd down with a nice play call, and then score on the following play. That defensive series was not a playoff worthy effort from Philadelphia.

Offensively, Carson Wentz continued to struggle for the Eagles. He finished the game 21 of 37 for 208 yards. Surprisingly, Wentz did not turn the ball over at all, but he also did not throw or run for any touchdowns. Wentz was also sacked 3 times in this game.

Another key development is that the Giants were able to take away the Eagles’ breakout wide receiver, Travis Fulgham. Fulgham had been one of the most productive players in the league since he started getting playing time in week 5 of this year. In this game, Fulgham had just 1 catch for 8 yards. 

The quiet performance for Fulgham, as well as the other poor offensive performances, is an indictment on head coach Doug Pederson. The Giants often had safety help to bracket Fulgham in coverage, and there was simply no creativity to scheme him open. The same can be said for the entire offense, as the Eagles leading pass catcher in this game was third-string tight end, Richard Rodgers. Rodgers had 4 catches for 60 yards.

It is officially panic time in Philly. The remaining Eagles schedule consists of the Browns, Seahawks, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals. I’ve watched all of those teams this season, and they are all head and shoulders better than the Eagles. The playoffs don’t look likely for the city of brotherly love, in 2020.

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Buffalo Bills @ Arizona Cardinals (32-30 Cardinals)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In what was one of if not the best games of the year, the Cardinals took care of the Bills. It took last second heave to Deandre Hopkins for the game winner. The two MVP hopefuls at quarterback squared off in an offensive and defensive showcase. 

Josh Allen made a valiant effort to play his best, and it just was not good enough. Allen went 32-49 for 284 yards, with 2 TDs, and 2 interceptions. He didn’t get much help in the run game, with Zach Moss and Devin Singletary going for 20 and 15 yards respectively. I don’t really think the Bills want Josh Allen throwing the ball almost 50 times in a game. The main goal for this offense should be getting the run game going, then use the play action to get the ball to the speedsters like Brown, Beasley, and Diggs. The Bills’ defense was also not as good as they normally are. Outside of allowing the Hail “Murray”, they were giving up way too many yards in the run game. They gave up over 200 yards rushing. After looking at the film, I saw most of the Cardinals’ runners not getting touched until they got to the linebackers and safeties. This will need to get addressed immediately if they want to make a real chance at making the playoffs. A key element to playoff football is the weather. The colder it gets, the harder it is to throw the ball. If you can stop the run, you will have to depend on Josh Allen’s arm to bring you back in games. That isn’t a bad bet at this point in Allen’s career. 

Kyler Murray had a great game on the other side as well. Murray went 22-32 for 245 yards with a TD and interception. He also added 11 carries for 61 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. Kyler was able to use his mobility to his advantage, yet again, with the Run Pass Option. Kenyan Drake added 16 carries for 100 yards. He and Murray on the RPOs are getting insanely good. I really love these plays, because it allows Drake to step into the main role. It’s almost surprising when Murray pulls the ball, and has a clear lane running past the crashing defensive end. Deandre Hopkins also had an excellent game, having 7 catches for 127 yards and a TD. He made the catch of the year on the last play of the game, for the win. Kylee Murray was flushed and was forced to throw a 43 yard Hail “Murray” into triple coverage, and Hopkins came down with the catch. 

The Bills and Cardinals are among the two best dark horse teams amongst their respective conferences. Allen still needs to work on cutting down mistakes in the pass game, while the offense needs to support him in the run game. The Cards’ still look like the real deal, and need to make a playoff push. They are currently third in their division at the moment, behind the LA Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Even though the Cardinals won the game, both teams showed they have the offenses to keep up with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Week 9 Recap

Associated Press

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (38 – 3 Saints)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

For those of you who tune in to the podcast, you may remember the NFC South Offseason Review episode from this summer. Towards the end of this episode, Chris, D.K., and I had a discussion about which team would win the NFC South title.

Chris & D.K. threw their support behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while I picked the New Orleans Saints to win the division. After a second Saints-Bucs matchup, it looks like my take will be correct. The Saints completed the sweep in dominating fashion, pummeling the Buccaneers on the road. New Orleans imposed their will on this game, dominating on both sides of the football. 

Offensively, the Saints like to use multiple players to keep the defense guessing. Sean Payton is a fantastic play caller, and he gives his quarterback several options on any given play. Quarterback Drew Brees completed passes to NINE different targets in the first quarter alone. The Saints drove down the field with ease the entire quarter, jumping out to a 14 point lead. 

The Saints’ defense held it down as well, not allowing a first down until about the middle of the 2nd Quarter. After the Bucs’ earned their initial, first down, Tom Brady would go to throw an interception on the very next play. Brady had a terrible night, finishing the game 22 for 38, with 209 yards and 3 interceptions.

New Orleans played this game with an intensity that Tampa Bay simply could not match. This game was over at the half, with the Saints leading 31-0.

The two Saints vs Bucs matchups we have seen do not determine the division winner just yet. The Saints have a commanding 2-0 lead on the series, but there is still plenty of football left to be played. The Buccaneers are still in good standing, sitting at a 6-3 record. The Saints are a half game ahead (6-2), but I do think the Buccaneers should be very concerned.

This matchup seems like one that heavily favors the Saints. I’ll save the details for another podcast episode, but the Saints seem to have the Buccaneers’ number. The Saints’ offensive line did whatever they wanted to do Sunday Night, and they continue to prove to be one of the best units in all of football. The NFC has some powerhouses at the top of the division, and I don’t think you can keep the Saints out of that conversation.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks @ Buffalo Bills (44-34 Bills)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In a battle of two playoff contenders, the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen, proved they are the real deal. Allen continued his MVP campaign through the ground and air and dissected the Seahawks secondary. 

Josh Allen went 31-38 with 415 yards and 3 TDs, also adding a touchdown on the ground. I was thoroughly impressed with Josh Allen, and the way he lit up the once vaunted Seahawks defense. I guess we have to put in a caveat that the Seahawks are currently the 24th best pass defense in football, but this was still a big game for Allen. He delivered. I enjoyed seeing him and Stefon Diggs attack Jamal Adams and the secondary. I was impressed by the steady Bills’ defense, and the way they got after Russell Wilson. They did give up a few points at the end, but that was not inductive to the complete game they played. They held the Seahawks to 57 yards rushing, something I thought I would never see from a Pete Carroll offense.

Russell Wilson has started to have up and down performances, after starting off read hot and becoming the MVP front runner. This game, he went 21-41 for 390 yards, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. One of those interceptions were in the red zone on a 4th & 1.The other interception was in the middle of the 4th quarter, where he was just trying to make something happen. He didn’t get much help in the run game as, as I mentioned earlier, only getting 57 yards on 17 attempts. That same offensive line also allowed Wilson to get sacked 5 times, causing two fumbles. I know we truly all went to “Let Russ Cook” but moving forward they will need more balance in the run game to help take some pressure off Russ and the offensive line. DK Metcalf does continue to be a bright spot for them with 7 catches for 108 and a TD. 

I feel like the Bills just wanted this game more. I loved the direction they’ve been going in for a while with head coach Doug McDermott, and the defense they have built. With Josh Allen and weapons like Stefon Diggs, and the emergence of running back Zach Moss, the offense continues to get better and more creative each week. 

For the Seahawks, the loss of Chris Carson is showing more and more each week. One of the former Miami Hurricanes, DJ Dallas or Travis Homer, need to step up and help out the offense and the quarterback. As for the pass defense, they are playing far below league average, and will not last long in the NFC West playoff picture if they don’t step it up. 

Week 8 Recap

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens(28-24 Steelers)

Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

One of the most intense rivalries in sports added another chapter to its history books this Sunday. The one-loss Ravens hosted the undefeated Steelers in a pivotal AFC North matchup.

The Steelers entered this game with the best defense in the NFL. All season, this unit has used a mix of blitzes and zone coverages to torment opposing offenses. All three levels of their defense has played well this year, and I predict that will be consistent for them throughout the second half of the season.

Pittsburgh’s defense got off to a fantastic start in this game, intercepting Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson on the third play of the opening drive. Linebacker Robert Spillane made the interception, and returned it 33-yards for a Steelers’ touchdown. Spillane has played very well in recent weeks. That’s good news for a Steelers defense that is missing star linebacker Devin Bush.

Following the pick six, the Ravens immediately punched back with a 9 play, 75-yard scoring drive, and tied the game at 7-7. The rest of the first half was dominated by Baltimore. 

The Ravens defense played lights out football themselves, and held the Steelers’ offense to just 64 yards for the half. Offensively, Baltimore established their running game. Totaling 180 yards rushing in the first two quarters. The Ravens held a 17-7 lead heading into the break.

Although the running game found success in the first half, Lamar Jackson did not play well. Jackson’s struggles would continue into the second half, as the reigning MVP finished the game just 13 of 28, for 208 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Jackson was also sacked 4 times, and lost a fumble on one of those sacks.

Against elite defenses like the Steelers, Jackson has to play better. He didn’t make enough big throws and never got comfortable from the pocket. An efficient passing game is necessary for an elite offense, and it seems to be the missing piece from the Ravens’ offense. Jackson has to play better, but his offensive line needs to protect him better as well.

The Steelers offense woke up in the second half. Moving the ball efficiently and playing mistake free football. Pittsburgh held a 28-24 lead on the final two drives of the game. Both drives, their defense was able to come up with the big stops to win this football game.

Ravens fans should not be discouraged. With better ball security, Baltimore could have walked away with the victory. Credit the Steelers for sticking to their identity, and forcing the Ravens into mistakes. The next matchup between these two teams should be another classic.

Mark Brown/Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams @ Miami Dolphins (28-17 Dolphins)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In what was Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL start, I expected a great offensive show between Goff and Tua. What I saw was one of the strangest games of the year, with a lot of defensive swings. 

Tua had, I guess what you can say was, an average NFL debut. He went 12-22, with 93 yards, and a TD. He really appeared to be rattled at some points by the Rams’ defense. Aaron Donald had him running for his life constantly, but we did also see that Tua is healing well from the hip injury. He is moving well in space. He didn’t have to do very much, as the story of the game was really the other 2 phases of the sport, defense and special teams. There was a fumble returned for a TD, a punt return for a TD, and a  forced fumble by Shaq Lawson that was recovered by Kyle Van Noy on the Rams 28 yard line. The last turnover led to a one yard touchdown by runningback Miles Gaskin. 

Jared Goff put up 355 yards, going 35/61 with 1 TD, and 2 Interceptions. Not the game you want from your franchise quarterback. The Dolphins defense gave him fits the whole game. The game plan was simple for head coach Brian Flores. Flores used the same defensive schemes that were used when he was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in the Super Bowl, just a few years back. Constantly changing the defensive plays post snap and mixing up the blitz packages was just enough to throw Jared Goff off. This led to two interceptions and also the fumbles from not seeing the hot-read blitzers. 

Tua had a rocky debut but showed that he is ready to lead this team. I really enjoyed watching the defense play as well. Cornerback Byron Jones had a great game, as well as defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, along with defensive back Eric Rowe, both grabbed interceptions in this game. This defense may be the unit that carries the Dolphins this year. 

Week 7 Recap

(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans (27-24 Steelers)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Two of the most talented teams in the AFC faced off in a battle this week. The undefeated Tennessee Titans hosted the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was a highly anticipated matchup, and it did not disappoint.

The Steelers started off hot offensively. They used a nice combination of running plays and short throws to keep the Titans defense off balance in the first half. The Pittsburgh defense matched that energy, holding Derrick Henry to just 27 rushing yards in the first half. After two quarters of play, the Steelers held a commanding 24-7 lead.

The second half is where things got interesting. Following a Steelers field goal, Titans wide receiver AJ Brown was able to snap off a 73-yard touchdown on a nice catch and run. The two teams would exchange three-and-outs on the following possessions, before Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted in Steelers territory. 

Tennessee settled for a field goal and were now down 27-17. The Steelers second half struggles continued with another punt, after a quick 5-play drive on the following possession. The Titans offense rewarded their defense’s effort, and cashed in with a 70-yard drive that ended with a Derrick Henry touchdown. The Steelers defense almost had a goal line stand, but gave the Titans extra plays after a defensive holding call on 4th & goal.

The Steelers were now up just 3 points after seemingly having this game under control. Big Ben & the offense responded well, taking up a lot of game clock and getting in field goal range. With a chance to go up at least another 3 points, Roethlisbeger turned the ball over again, throwing an interception in the end zone. 

Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill had 2:34 left in the game to move his team down the field to tie or even take the lead. The offense did their job, and were looking at a 45-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed, pushing the kick to the right, and sealing the victory for Pittsburgh. 

This was one of the best games I’ve seen all year. Both defenses had dominant stretches throughout the game, putting a lot of pressure on either quarterback. The Steelers remain undefeated and take on their longtime rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in week 8. The Titans turn their attention to the Cincinnati Bengals.

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals (37-34 Cardinals)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

This week’s marquee Sunday night football matchup was of up and coming Kyler Murray, and MVP candidate Russell Wilson. This game produced over 1,000 yards in total offense. Murray came out victorious with some amazing throws down the stretch of regulation and in overtime, while Wilson held the team back with untimely turnovers. 

Russell Wilson had a good game stat wise going 33/50 for 388 passing yards and 84 rushing yards with 3 Touchdowns but also 3 costly interceptions. The first interception was in the red zone on the Arizona 2 yard line.  Safety Budda Baker made the play, and if it wasn’t for the heroics of DK Metcalf hawking him down and tackling him on the Seattle 9-yard line, it would have been a pick 6. 

The second interception was on a deep pass to Metcalf that sailed on him, and cornerback Patrick Peterson intercepted it in the end zone for a touchback. The last interception was in overtime, with a pass intended for receiver Tyler Lockett. There was some sort of miscommunication and he did not turn around, and the pass went right to Cardinals rookie Isaiah Simmons. Wilson was still able to make plays and keep the Seahawks in the game. Tyler Lockett went insane with 15 catches, 200 yards and 3 touchdowns, but the turnovers eventually became their downfall. 

Kyler Murray had another impressive game, going 34/48 with 360 passing yards with 3 TDs and an interception. He also added 67 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Kyler did have an interception right after Russell Wilson’s second pick, but he still made the plays at the end to seal the victory. I also liked the play of running back Chase Edmonds, with Kenyan Drake going down with an ankle sprain. Edmonds had 145 total yards, and I’m excited to see what RPOs will look like in the future with him and Murray in the back field.

Like I said last week, the Cardinals still need to get the offense 100% clicking. I think slowly but surely they are coming into their own. They had four receivers going over 50 yards passing. Reciever Christian Kirk had 37 receiving yards, but 2 TDs as a red zone threat. I really like them going forward as they look to take control of the NFC West. These two teams play again on November 19th. We will see if the Cardinals are the real deal, or did Wilson’s uncharacteristic turnovers (3 ints through the first 4 games), give the Cardinals the game. 

Week 6 Recap

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (38-10 Buccaneers)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

Through the first five weeks of the season, the Packers looked like one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Despite not having star receiver Devante Adams for most of the season, Aaron Rodgers had looked like an early MVP candidate. The Packers faced a formidable opponent this week, taking on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers came out very aggressively on the defensive side of the football. Bucs’ defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves to dial up the blitz, and this week’s game plan was no different. The Green Bay offense responded well to the pressure at first, using short throws and misdirection plays to pick up good yardage.

Following a successful first quarter, the Packers seemed to be in complete control of this game. Green Bay held a 10-0 lead, and their defense was playing well. After another defensive stop, the Packers had the ball again, primed to put more pressure on Tom Brady and the Bucs’ offense. Everything changed after Rodgers was intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean.

Dean read the route from receiver Devante Adams perfectly, making the interception along the sideline and returning it for a touchdown. Rodgers would go on to throw another pick on the following drive. The second turnover was secured by rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who was able to run the ball back to the 2-yard line.

Rodgers and the Packers’ offense was never able to get back on track after the turnovers. The blitzing pressure from the Bucs defense overwhelmed the Packers’ offensive line. Rodgers was sacked 4 times and finished the game just 16 of 35, for 160 passing yards, and no passing touchdowns.

This game was all about the Tampa Bay defense. They dominated this football game, and kept a high octane offense in check. Both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady struggled throwing the football, and the Buccaneers relied on their running game to seal the victory. The Packers offense will look to bounce back against a poor Houston Texans’ defense next week.

Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys (38-10 Cardinals)
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

In what was Kyler Murray’s homecoming in Jerry’s World, there were a few big highlights for Arizona.  In comparison to what was a sloppy game for their opponent, the Dallas Cowboys. 

When the season started, we touted Andy Dalton as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, but he didn’t have a good showing Monday. He went 34-54 with 266 yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception. The main issue though, was the play of running back Ezekiel Elliott. After both teams couldn’t really get anything going on offense, Zeke then had two fumbles on back to back drives. These turnovers put the Cardinals offense deep in Cowboys territory, and they punched in two touchdowns. This caused the Cowboys to try and use Tony Pollard to maybe switch it up, but that wasn’t much better. This was the reason Andy Dalton had to make 54 pass attempts, which you do not want from your backup quarterback. 

Kyler Murray went 9/24 with 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 74 rushing yards. He didn’t have a great passing game, outside of a few deep throws. The running game carried the team with 261 total yards, Kenyan Drake accounting for 164 yards rushing. The offense is still a work in progress, trying to work the run game into the air raid offense. I love to see Kliff Kingsbury lean on the rushing game, especially with the Cowboys having the 31st rank rush defense. 

I still like the Cardinals even though their offense isn’t clicking 100%. By that, I mean receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Kirk or Isabella having 80-90+ yard games receiving, with Drake having over 100 rushing yards. The Cardinals have a great young defense, so i feel like they will be able to win them games. Defense is especially important in that tough NFC West division. The Cowboys will need Zeke Elliott to step up in Dak’s absence. He can’t continue being the reason they are losing games.