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. 

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Week 11 Recap

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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 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 5 Recap

 Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks (27-28 Seahawks)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The Minnesota Vikings have had a rough start to this season. Losses to the Packers, Colts, and Titans left them with an 0-3 record to start the year. Minnesota was able to grab their first win in week 4 against the Texans, but faced one of the best teams in the league in week 5.

The Seattle Seahawks have started the season on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Seahawks had been able to grab wins in all four of their games, scoring over 30 points in each victory.

The Vikings defense came out strong in this football game, holding the Seahawks scoreless through the first half. Their pass rush was able to generate pressure, sacking QB Russell Wilson 4 times. Offensively, the Vikings were poise and methodical, using the running game to control the line of scrimmage.

All of Minnesota’s defensive success absolutely fell apart at the start of the second half. The Seahawks were able to score 21 points in just 10 offensive plays. The Vikings were able to stay afloat offensively in the 2nd half, and the game was decided on one final Seahawks’ drive.

Down 26-21, Russell Wilson drove the Seahawks offense 94 yards for the game winning score. Wilson was fantastic on this final drive, taking care of the football and converting in clutch situations. The biggest conversion was on a 4th & 10, where Wilson found WR D.K. Metcalf for a 39 yard gain. Wilson would end the drive finding Metcalf again for a 6 yard score.

The Seahawks have been one of my favorite teams to watch this season. Their defense is very poor at times, but their offense has been really explosive. If they can get healthy and tighten up on defense, I think they have a great chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

(AP Photo/Brett Duke)

San Diego Chargers @ New Orleans Saints (30-27 Saints)
D.K. @ayeyoo_biggs

The score of the game was 30-27 the Saints way and they were in a battle pretty much start to finish. We have seen steady improvement from Justin Herbert every week, while on the same hand watching Drew Brees will the Saints to another win without Michael Thomas.

In only his 4th start Justin Herbert continued to prove that the Chargers were right in making him the #6 pick in the 2020 draft. Herbert went 20 for 34 with 264 yards. What I really like about the game was the way he was distributing the ball. He completed a pass to 8 different receivers, with Mike Williams leading the way with 5 catches, 109 yards, and two touchdowns. I think this is key because there are times in a young quarterbacks career where he might try and force it to the main threat on the offense. Something else they might do, is only go to a guy they have good chemistry with in practice. This game showed that he was good at going through his progressions and can make the right throws when needed.

Drew Brees had a Drew Brees game going 33 for 47 with 325 yards and a TD. The offense was a little choppy at the beginning of the game. Brees was under pressure even throwing an interception in the first half. They couldn’t get the run game going and the Chargers have an above average defensive line with Nick Bosa. Slowly but surely, Brees willed them to a win, feeding Emmanuel Sanders for 15 catches and 122 yards. Sanders doing his best Michael Thomas impression. Alvin Kamara also made some great plays with 119 all purpose yards.

The Saints won the game but I was more impressed with the Chargers. I like the development of Herbert and I’m excited to see what he does this season. Drew Brees and Co. did win the game, but Father Time is catching up to him and I’m not sure how much magic he has left in that arm.

Week 2 Recap

Steve Marcus

New Orleans Saints @ Las Vegas Raiders (34-24 Raiders)
Mike The Ace @TheAceWriter

The Raiders hosted their very first home game in Allegiant Stadium on Monday night. Nobody wants to be *the* team that starts a stadium’s history off with an L, and the Raiders played like it.

The Silver-and-Black brought it to the Saints in this football game. Vegas is a run heavy, smash mouth team. Everything on their offense starts with running back Josh Jacobs, but the star of the day was tight end Darren Waller. Waller had 12 catches for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Saints defense did well against the run, holding Jacobs to just 3.0 yards per carry.  The issue was in the passing game, as Waller and backup Foster Moreau were both able to make big plays in this game. The Saints brought in safety Malcolm Jenkins this offseason to help defend against tight ends. He’ll need to improve his pass coverage, as he was picked on multiple times by Vegas.

The Saints leaned heavily on running back Alvin Kamara. This will likely be a necessary strategy for them, as star receiver Michael Thomas recovers from an ankle injury. New Orleans will need much more production from their other veteran receiver, Emmanuel Sanders. Brees will also need to be sharper as well. Both of these teams will be very interesting to watch, moving forward.

Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys (40-39 Cowboys) 
DK @ayeyoo_biggs

The Cowboys had 4 first half fumbles and were still were able to somehow come out with the victory on Sunday. 

Matt Ryan had a great game on Sunday going 27/36 with 276 yards and 4 TDs. I really liked the way the offense operated, with 7 receivers getting targeted. Calvin Ridley continues to impress 7 catches for 109 yards and 2 TDs. 

The Dallas offense really had a tale of two half with first half fumbles and struggles. They came back in the second half and slowly chipped away at the Atlanta 29-10 halftime lead. Dak Prescott went 34/47 with 450 yard and 4 total touchdowns in the furious comeback. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb both went over 100 yards receiving with Zeke Elliot adding 122 all purpose yards. 

Even after allowing 13 points in the 4th, Atlanta was still in a position to win the game. All they had to do was recover an onside kick. Dallas kicker Greg Zuerlein kicked the ball and as it rolled towards the needed 10 yards for them to recover, no Falcons players decided to fall on the ball. Dallas then recovers the kicks and drives down the field for a game winning field goal. 

This was the Falcons game to lose and unfortunately they did. Dan Quinn is on a seriously hot seat. These next few weeks will tell if he is in Atlanta beyond this season, if not the bye week.