2023-4 NFL Pro Football (Pls, no other sports - thx!)

What to know from NFL Week 9: Nobody is playing better than the Ravens (Pt 1 of 2)
Washington Post Analysis by Adam Kilgore November 6, 2023

At times, it felt as if Week 9 were trying to tell us that experience is overrated. The Vikings won with a quarterback who had been on their team for five days. The Texans won with a kicker who plays running back. The Raiders won with a coach whose NFL coaching experience had consisted of 1½ seasons leading linebackers. Here is what to know.

The Baltimore Ravens are the most complete team in the NFL. Two weeks after they dismantled the Lions, the Ravens thumped another leading NFC contender. They pounded the Seahawks, 37-3, and dominated in a fashion rarely seen in the NFL. Baltimore outgained Seattle 515 yards to 151. The Ravens earned 29 first downs and allowed six. They rushed for 298 yards. They possessed the ball for more than 40 minutes.

The Ravens put their comprehensive excellence on full display. They have an MVP candidate at quarterback, one of the league’s deepest pass rushes, a coach with a Super Bowl on his résumé, pass coverage that Pro Football Focus grades as the best in the NFL, the best pass-catching tight end this side of Travis Kelce, the greatest kicker in NFL history and an ascending receiving corps that includes Odell Beckham Jr., who scored his first touchdown as a Raven on Sunday.

They also have undrafted rookie running back Keaton Mitchell, who could provide a season-changing emergence. Mitchell, who went to East Carolina, had a great training camp before an injury sidelined him. The Ravens were excited about his speed, and Sunday he showed what it could add to Baltimore’s offense: He blazed 40 yards to score a touchdown in the third quarter, then added a weaving, 60-yard run in the fourth. Mitchell ran nine times for 138 yards, and his style will provide an ideal complement to the bruising Gus Edwards.

The Ravens’ plus-115 point differential is the best in the NFL, and at 7-2 they are tied with the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed. Nobody is playing better.

You don’t need a kicker if you have C.J. Stroud. In the wildest game of the year, Stroud cemented his rookie of the year front-runner status and played one of the best games ever for a rookie quarterback. He threw for 470 yards, a rookie record, and five touchdowns. His Texans took over at their 25-yard line with 46 seconds left, trailing by four after the Buccaneers scored a gut-punch touchdown. Stroud steered Houston into the end zone in six plays, throwing two stunning passes to fellow rookie Tank Dell, including a 15-yard touchdown with six seconds left that gave Houston a 39-37 victory.

The circumstances made Stroud’s performance even more epic. The Texans lost kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to a quadriceps injury late in the first half, which meant Houston went for two no matter the circumstances and usually went for it on fourth down in field goal range. On fourth and goal from the 9-yard line in the fourth quarter, Stroud lasered a touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz, then powered into the end zone himself for the two-point conversion.

Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale took over kickoff duties and provided this week’s reminder that NFL players are athletic marvels. He banged three touchbacks and, midway through the fourth quarter, booted a go-ahead, 29-yard field goal, which Coach DeMeco Ryans opted for on fourth and goal from the 11.

Ogunbowale’s field goal would have won the game had Baker Mayfield not led Tampa Bay on a 10-play, 61-yard touchdown drive on which the Buccaneers overcame a third and 23. It only set the stage for Stroud, who has delivered the Texans into a promising new era. Kirk Cousins and Tua Tagovailoa are the only quarterbacks with more passing yards per game than Stroud’s 283.8. If Stroud stays on pace and the Texans challenge for a playoff spot, rookie of the year won’t be the only award he contends for; he may receive MVP consideration.

The Miami Dolphins still have something to prove. They are exciting, explosive and scary to play. At their best, they have looked like a powerhouse. But Sunday morning provided more evidence that they cannot be considered part of the NFL’s elite. Miami lost to the Chiefs, 21-14, in its latest missed chance to show it can compete with the league’s best.

In Germany, the Dolphins nearly pulled off a galvanizing victory. They recovered from Tyreek Hill’s calamitous fumble right before halftime, which the Chiefs returned for a touchdown with the help of a lateral, turning a 21-0 halftime deficit into a close game. But on the final possession, the Dolphins’ drive ended with a fumbled shotgun snap.

In six games against teams with losing records, all victories, the Dolphins have won by an average of 18.2 points. In three games against teams with winning records, all defeats, they have lost by an average of 16.3 points. The Bills outclassed them, the Eagles outmuscled them, and the Chiefs outlasted them.

There are many reasons the Dolphins haven’t beaten good teams. Miami’s offensive line has been shredded with injuries. Jaylen Waddle has been playing at less than full health, and sensational rookie running back De’Von Achane is on injured reserve. Jalen Ramsey, who played his second game of the season Sunday, is still working his way back from offseason knee surgery. But every NFL team faces injuries, and the Dolphins have not measured up against the best. We will know whether they can by January — they end the regular season against the Cowboys, Ravens and Bills.
 

What to know from NFL Week 9: Nobody is playing better than the Ravens (Pt 2 of 2)
Washington Post Analysis by Adam Kilgore November 6, 2023

The Bengals own the Bills. Cincinnati’s 24-18 victory over Buffalo on Sunday night, which wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, felt like a continuation of their playoff matchup last year. The Bengals destroyed the Bills, 27-10, in the Buffalo-area snow then. A few weeks earlier, the Bengals had dominated the Bills for a quarter before Damar Hamlin’s harrowing injury halted the game.

On Sunday night, Joe Burrow continued his return to form, throwing for 348 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals led 21-7 at halftime, and Buffalo didn’t make it a one-score game until 3:32 remained, when it scored its only second-half touchdown. There was no doubt which is the better team.

These teams are headed in opposite directions. The Bengals (5-3) have won five of six and hold a playoff spot for the first time this season. If the season ended today, all four AFC North teams would reach the postseason; never before has an entire division made the playoffs. After their third loss in five games, the Bills (5-4) are ninth in the AFC with games remaining against the Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys and Dolphins. Tthe Bills have work to do just to make it back to the playoffs.

Josh Dobbs is a miracle worker. In Week 8, Dobbs started for the Cardinals. The Vikings dealt a late-round draft pick for him at Tuesday’s deadline; they were in need of a quarterback after Cousins suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon. Dobbs arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday, and he got almost no practice time. The Vikings chose to start rookie Jaren Hall, and the coaches devoted themselves to preparing him.

In the first quarter, Hall absorbed a massive hit and suffered a concussion. Dobbs trotted into the game, unaware of many of his teammates’ names, using a game plan designed for another quarterback. “The first reception each one of those guys got from Josh today might have been the first time they were catching the ball from them,” Coach Kevin O’Connell said. Wideout Jordan Addison said he caught no passes from Dobbs at practice this week. Dobbs was sacked for a safety on his first possession.

And then he led the Vikings to a thrilling 31-28 victory in Atlanta, a testament to his adaptability, smarts and professionalism. Dobbs completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. When in doubt, he used his athleticism, rushing seven times for 66 yards and a touchdown. He did not have No. 1 wide receiver Justin Jefferson, as expected, and he also lost wideout K.J. Osborn and running back Cam Akers to injury.

Dobbs still took the Vikings 75 yards in 11 plays over 1:46 to record the winning touchdown. On the drive, he scrambled for 22 yards on fourth and seven and hit Brandon Powell for a six-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining. It was one of the more remarkable performances of the season, and it kept the Vikings in the NFC playoff hunt. Having started 0-3, they are 5-4 and hold the last wild-card spot. Now all Dobbs needs to do is learn his teammates’ names.

Raiders interim HC Antonio Pierce made Josh McDaniels look even worse. McDaniels inherited a playoff team when he arrived in Las Vegas before the 2022 season. He went 9-16 before Raiders owner Mark Davis fired him this past week amid reports of terrible morale. McDaniels, surely finished as a head coach, went 20-33 across his stints with Denver and Las Vegas and was twice fired midway through his second season.

Pierce led the Raiders to a 30-6 victory over the Giants. The Raiders received a gift when Daniel Jones suffered a right knee injury and overmatched rookie Tommy DeVito replaced him. But the Raiders showed more spirit and offensive cohesion than they had all season. They jumped to a 24-0 halftime lead, recorded eight sacks and left no doubt. They clearly wanted to play for Pierce.

Pierce, a former NFL linebacker with limited coaching experience, may have a chance to keep the job. In the deep and difficult AFC, it may be too much to ask for the Raiders to contend for a playoff spot with rookie Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. With Pierce, though, they can at least move on from the damage McDaniels inflicted.

The Cowboys are not far away from the Eagles. Philadelphia remained in full control of the NFC East with its 28-23 victory over Dallas, pushing its NFL-best record to 8-1 and its division lead to 2½ games. Even in a loss, though, the Cowboys showed the margin between them and the Eagles has shrunk almost to nothing.

Dak Prescott shredded the Eagles’ vulnerable secondary, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns. One of the Cowboys’ drives died on the one-inch line when a fourth-down touchdown was overturned on review because tight end Luke Schoonmaker’s knee was down in the end zone but the ball was pinned to his body a few inches outside it. Prescott also stepped out of bounds by inches as he ran in a two-point conversion, which kept the difference at five and changed the rest of the game.

Dallas still almost stole the win. The Cowboys took over on their 14 with 46 seconds left. They marched inside the Philadelphia 10, relying on a spate of penalties. A false start and a Josh Sweat sack pushed the Cowboys back, though. On the final play, Prescott zipped a pass to CeeDee Lamb inside the 5, but a wall of Eagles defenders swarmed him.

The Cowboys had not been able to compete against elite teams this year, but they would have beaten the Eagles if one or two plays went the other way. They proved their toughness, and Prescott was fantastic. The Eagles and Cowboys will play again Dec. 10 in Arlington, Tex., and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were to meet once more in the playoffs.

Deshaun Watson finally played — and he wasn’t bad. The Browns probably could have beaten the Clayton Tune-led Cardinals with a cheerleader at quarterback. But Watson returned from a puzzling injury saga and cleared a low bar by playing one of his best games as a Brown. In a 27-0 victory, Watson completed 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

Cleveland’s defense is so good that if it can get even an adequate performance from Watson, the Browns are a threat to make the playoffs. But standout left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. had to be carted off the field with a knee injury, which could be a brutal blow.
 
What we learned in NFL Week 10: Vikings’ positive trajectory, Patriots’ plummet and more
(NOTE: this does not include Monday's game Bills vs Broncos 11/13/2023)
Washington Post Nov 13, 2023

Never in the NFL’s 103-year history have five games been decided by game-winning field goals on the same Sunday. But it happened this week, with the Cardinals, Browns, Lions, Texans and Seahawks all winning with field goals at the buzzer. Notably, 10 of 13 games in Week 10 have been decided by one score or less, and to date, almost 70 percent of games this season have been within eight points.

In other news, the Josh Dobbs story adds a new chapter. The Steelers keep winning, the Packers keep losing. Dan Campbell’s Lions are 7-2. The Cowboys did what they’ve done most of the season — they routed a bad team, beating the Giants 49-17 — while Deshaun Watson had his finest moment as a Brown.

DeMeco Ryans’ Texans look like they’re for real. And after a long, long time away, Kyler Murray is officially back — and making highlight plays again.

Here’s what stood out from the NFL’s Week 10:

Josh Dobbs for MVP?
Kidding. Sort of.

The Vikings are having the strangest season in football: They started 0-3, lost their franchise quarterback for the year, have been without their All-Pro wideout for a month, and yet, somehow, have won five in a row.

Josh Dobbs began his Sunday by showing up to U.S. Bank Stadium needing directions from a stadium employee on how to get to the home locker room. (In his defense, he’d never been there before.) He finished it with his second consecutive win as the Vikings’ quarterback — and, remember, he’s been with the team for all of 12 days. Twelve days! Dobbs’ 312 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns were enough in Minnesota’s 27-19 victory against New Orleans.

“This is fun,” he said after the game. Hard to blame him. A surprise move at the trade deadline is paying off in a big way for a Minnesota team that suddenly is back in the NFC North race.

Dobbs’ 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter might have been the game’s biggest play, a highlight-reel scramble that he somehow turned into six points. So far, Dobbs has 426 passing yards, 110 rushing yards and no interceptions in his first two starts with the Vikings, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 400 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and no picks in his first two games with a team.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson was incredible for the Vikings, hauling in 11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. A season that felt doomed early suddenly has new life — with wideout Justin Jefferson primed for a return, potentially as early as next week. With the Broncos and Bears up next, the Vikings (6-4) could very well just keep on winning and push the Lions (7-2) in the division race.

The Saints, meanwhile, fall to 5-5. Quarterback Derek Carr left the game with a concussion and right shoulder injury; backup Jameis Winston entered and threw two touchdowns to pull New Orleans within a score but two interceptions followed.

Patriots stumble to a 23-year low
Not since his first year in New England, way back in 2000, has Bill Belichick faced serious questions about his job security. Six championships and a two-decade run of unprecedented success will do that. But after Sunday’s ugly 10-6 loss to the Colts in Germany — a game owner Robert Kraft wasn’t shy about boasting how badly he wanted to win — it’s fair to wonder how this all ends for one of the game’s greatest coaches. “We’re all disappointed in the season,” Belichick said glumly after the game.

And now, his players are being asked about their belief in him — something that would have been unthinkable as recently as a year ago. But Sunday’s loss dropped the Patriots to 2-8, their worst start to a season since Belichick’s first in New England. The team is on track for its first top-five draft pick since 1994.

“I have as much faith in Bill Belichick as I’ve ever had,” said veteran special teams ace Matthew Slater.

The results simply aren’t there this season. The Patriots are among the worst teams in football. They’re averaging 14.1 points per game, second-fewest in the league. They’ve failed to score a touchdown in three games this year, including Sunday, and Mac Jones tossed an incomprehensible red-zone interception in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead. Belichick then benched Jones for backup Bailey Zappe, who threw another errant interception to seal the loss. Fitting.

It feels like the Patriots’ belief in Jones has evaporated. Whether they feel the same about their legendary coach remains to be seen.

‘Ice in his veins’
After playing mistake-free football for the better part of three quarters, his team up 10 points on the road against a Super Bowl contender, C.J. Stroud finally cracked. The Texans’ rookie quarterback threw an ill-timed, awful interception late in the fourth quarter in Cincinnati, and for a moment, it looked like it was going to be the spark the Bengals needed for a stunning fourth-quarter rally.

On the sideline, Stroud went up to his coach, DeMeco Ryans, and left him with three words. “I got you.”

Translation: I’ll make up for that.

Ryans nodded. “I trust you,” the coach said.

Good thing he did. Stroud was right. Even after the Texans’ 10-point lead disappeared, and a raucous Paycor Stadium crowd started to think comeback, the rookie was unflappable. With just 93 seconds on the clock and one timeout, Stroud coolly drove his team down the field in five plays to set up a 38-yard, winning field goal from a kicker, Matt Ammendola, who had been on the roster all of five days.

No matter. Texans 30, Bengals 27.

Houston’s suddenly won four of five — their revival spurred by Ryans’ influence and Stroud’s quick ascent — and the Bengals’ five-game winning streak is over. “Ice in his veins, that’s all I’ll say,” said Texans cornerback Shaquil Griffin, referring to Stroud, who’s now led two game-winning drives in as many weeks. “For a guy to make a mistake like that, then immediately tell his coach, ‘Put the game back on me,’ then go out and win it? That’s a guy I can go to battle with any day of the week.”

Through nine games, Stroud has passed for 2,626 yards, the third-most by a rookie over that span in history, trailing only Justin Herbert (2020) and Andrew Luck (2012).

49ers’ losing streak is history
Something had to give in Jacksonville on Sunday: Two teams, each coming off their bye, arrived on very different streaks. The Jaguars had won five straight, climbing to the top of the AFC South, while the 49ers — once a perfect 5-0 — were coming off three consecutive losses and facing questions about quarterback Brock Purdy and a defense that suddenly didn’t look all that intimidating.

San Francisco silenced those concerns Sunday with the type of dominant performance this team had grown accustomed to in the first month of the season. This was the 49ers looking like the 49ers again, whipping the Jags 34-3, reminding everyone that they’re still very much a contender for the Super Bowl in February, three-game losing streak or not.

Purdy was sharp, throwing for 296 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of work; Deebo Samuel scored a touchdown in his first game in a month, and the defense picked off Jags QB Trevor Lawrence twice. The only bit of bad news: Christian McCaffrey’s touchdown streak ended at 17 games. It remains tied for the longest in league history.

Along with the Eagles, the 49ers remain a top contender in the NFC. Sunday reminded us why.

Browns put out their own fire
For stretches Sunday in Baltimore, Deshaun Watson was simply awful. In the first quarter, the Browns’ $230 million quarterback was 1-for-9 for 19 yards, a pick-six and a 0.0 passer rating. Yikes. He finished the half a dismal 6-for-20 for 79 yards and no touchdowns. Yikes again.

But by game’s end, he’d scripted his top comeback of his short tenure in Cleveland, leading the Browns back from a 15-point deficit and to a 33-31 win against their division rivals.

Watson finished the second half 14-for-14 for 134 yards and a touchdown. And after kicker Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point that would have tied the score midway through the fourth quarter, he earned a bit of redemption as time expired by drilling a 40-yard field goal for the win. “I feel a bit like an arsonist that gets to put out his own fire, then gets a pat on the back,” Hopkins said after the game.

And just like that, a muddy division gets muddier. It’s a costly loss for the Ravens, who were in command for most of the game and led 31-17 early in the fourth quarter. With Pittsburgh also winning Sunday, the AFC’s toughest division is even more bunched up. The AFC North now looks like this: Baltimore still leads at 7-3, but the Steelers and Browns are just a half a game back at 6-3, and the Bengals are lurking at 5-4.

Just what the Cardinals needed
Welcome back, Kyler Murray. The Cardinals’ starter told his new coach, Jonathan Gannon, to “let me ride” in his first game in 335 days. Murray tore his ACL last season and was making his first start of 2023.

It proved memorable. After the Falcons took a 23-22 lead with 2:33 left, Murray orchestrated an 11-play, 70-yard drive that culminated with a 23-yard Matt Prater field goal to win it, 25-23. Murray’s 13-yard scramble — this was vintage stuff, with the QB probably running about 40 yards in all in order to evade defenders in the backfield — and 33-yard connection with tight end Trey McBride were critical in setting up Prater’s winning kick.

Murray finished 19-for-32 for 249 passing yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception. Arizona has its second win of the season, and its six-game losing streak is over.

After starting 2-0, the Falcons have hit a wall midseason, falling to 4-5 on the year after dropping four of their last five.
 

It's been a long season for me[Commanders fan] we won't win another game, and I'm cool with it, Josh Harris will revamp the whole thing in the Spring anyhow...can't wait.
 
NFL Power Rankings entering Week 13
ListWire.com 28Nov2023

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1, defeated Buffalo Bills)
That was the kind of win teams bent on capturing championships have. The Eagles were down in the fourth quarter and got a 59-yard FG to force overtime. They fell behind in OT and then marched 75 yards for a touchdown to thrill the fans in Philly.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3, defeated Las Vegas Raiders)
The Chiefs lulled the Raiders to sleep, falling behind 14-0. Then they erupted and scored 31 of the final 34 points in the game.

3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, defeated LA Chargers)
Another solid performance on both sides of the football by the Ravens. Their defense is ferocious and the offense does enough to get the job done. It'll be intriguing to see how far this team goes.

4. San Francisco 49ers (8-3 defeated Seattle Seahawks)
Forget what happened in those three straight losses. This team has its act together again and will be intriguing. Their Week 13 game vs Eagles is a must to gain second seed; it looks unlikely they will catch Philly for first seed.

5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3, defeated Washington Commanders)
The Cowboys are like the Dolphins. They beat up on weaker teams. They need to prove themselves against playoff contenders before anyone should buy a lot of stock in Dallas.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3, defeated Houston Texans)
Another good win on the road for a team that is now 3-3 away from home and 5-0 in Jax. Opponents have to hope they won't play in Florida in the postseason.

7. Detroit Lions (8-3, lost to Green Bay Packers)
So much was expected on Thanksgiving and so many left Ford Field saddened. The Lions need to shake it off, realize they could have lost to the Bears the week before, too, and focus on what got them eight wins. Stop believing the headlines and hype.

8. Miami Dolphins (8-3, defeated New York Jets)
The Dolphins love to beat up on lesser lights. Let's see them take out someone that is considered their equal or better.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4, defeated Cincinnati Bengals)
The Steelers changed offensive coordinators and went over 400 yards for the first time in 58 games. You do the calculus.

10. Cleveland Browns (7-4, lost to Denver Broncos)
The Browns ran into a sizzling Broncos team. One has to wonder if the quarterback position will eventually hamper this team down the stretch. And Myles Garrett left the stadium with his arm in a sling. That’s not a good sign.

11. Seattle Seahawks (6-5, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
Things have started to fall apart -- pretty rapidly -- for the Seahawks and Geno Smith, who had a horrendous day. They need to get it together to remain in the NFC wild-card picture.

12. Houston Texans (6-5, lost to Jacksonville Jaguars)
Forget the 58-yard FG that hit the crossbar and bounced away. This is a team on the rise even though it likely won't go all the way in 2023. It has advanced incredibly from where it was for years. HC Demeco Ryan is a candidate for Coach of the Year.

13. Buffalo Bills (6-6, lost to Philadelphia Eagles)
This one was a brutal loss for the Bills, who are now a .500 team and face an uphill climb to get into the playoffs. They have five games left and need to win most -- if not all -- of them. The team is paying the price for not surrounding QB Josh Allen with better teammates.

14. Denver Broncos (6-5, defeated Cleveland Browns)
All hail Sean Payton. He laid down the law to a rudderless team, including expensive QB Russell Wilson, and the players have finally adjusted to his system – and responded by winning their last five games in a row, over legitimate opponents.

15. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, lost to Chicago Bears)
The Vikings appeared in position to pull off a strange win after Joshua Dobbs threw four picks. However, they let it get away on the Bears' last drive. Another one-score loss after a season of one-score victories.

16. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
How many people realize the Gardner Minshew-led Colts are a game over .500 and playing some good football? The Jaguars lead the AFC South, but the Colts and the Texans are keeping things interesting.

17. Green Bay Packers (5-6, defeated Detroit Lions)
There could be something to this Aaron Rodgers replacement, QB Jordan Love. Still young in his career but maybe on his way to being great. And there definitely is something to the coaching ability of Matt LaFleur.

18. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7, lost to Kansas City Chiefs)
Reality set in for the Raiders and interim coach Antonio Peirce. It's a different ballgame when going up against the Chiefs, who handed the Raiders a second straight loss after the feel-good pair of wins against the Giants and Jets in previous weeks.

19. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6, lost to Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jake Browning has the same initials as Joe Burrow. That's as far as the comparison goes. Browning wasn't bad against the Steelers but couldn't deliver enough points for a victory. With Burrow out for the season, the Bengals are probably toast.

20. Los Angeles Rams (5-6, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
Matthew Stafford and the Rams are showing signs of life. Kyren Williams had a gigantic game for the second time against the Cardinals. But there is little chance they can overcome the steamrolling 49ers, who are easily the class of the NFC West division.

21. Atlanta Falcons (5-6, defeated New Orleans Saints)
The Falcons got a big game from Bijan Robinson, and Jessie Bates provided a key pick-six as they moved atop the NFC South by virtue of the win over New Orleans. Once again, a team with a losing record leads the weakest division in all of pro football.

22. New Orleans Saints (5-6, lost to Atlanta Falcons)
Defy almost anyone to know the name of the New Orleans kicker who had five FGs against the Falcons, the Saint’s entire offensive output. The answer: Blake Grupe. Except for Grupe, the offense for New Orleans was...offensive.

23. Tennessee Titans (4-7, defeated Carolina Panthers)
The Titans found a team they could beat, the Carolina Panthers. That doesn't exactly bode well for the rest of the season. The Panthers are considered likely to get the #1 pick of the QB-heavy 2024 Draft, and they certainly need it.

24. New York Jets (4-8, lost to Miami Dolphins)
Hard to imagine a team with worse luck than the Jets. And one has to wonder if HC Robert Saleh's seat isn't going to become quite hot. Even if Rodgers pulls off a medical miracle to return this season, one has to ask, in view of the Jets’ awful OL, whether he should.

25. Los Angeles Chargers (4-7, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
Another week, another close loss. Who will be the next coach of the Bolts? Brandon Staley, hired for his defensive genius, has never shown any of it in San Diego. It’s wasting the genuine talent of QB Justin Herbert in his prime.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7, lost to Indianapolis Colts)
The Buccaneers are a game out of first place while three games under .500 in the NFC South. They were once 3-1 and now are heading South — quickly.

27. New York Giants (4-8, defeated New England Patriots)
The Giants won their second straight as they outlasted the New England Patriots. A missed FG at the end of the game prevented MetLife fans from suffering through overtime. Wait until it comes time to try and re-sign Tommy DeVito.

28. Arizona Cardinals (2-10, lost to LA Rams)
The Cardinals put forth one of their worst efforts of the season, getting clobbered by the Rams. Have to wonder what the losing is doing to the defense, which was under siege all game.

29. Chicago Bears (4-8, defeated Minnesota Vikings)
It's rare to see an offense turn four interceptions from its defense into only three points. The Chicago Bears did just that, yet somehow put together a game-winning drive against the Vikings.

30. New England Patriots (2-9, lost to New York Giants)
The Patriots had six punts and seven points. Not exactly the way Bill Belichick drew it up. This is one struggling team (and one hopes there is a team psychologist to help Mac Jones through his woes).

31. Washington Commanders (4-8, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
The defensive staff was decimated after the Cowboys strafed the Commanders on Thanksgiving. This promises to get nasty. New ownership has allegiance to no one.

32. Carolina Panthers (1-10, lost to Tennessee Titans)
The Panthers are 0-6 on the road and the Chicago Bears' best friend. That led to hot-tempered owner David Tepper firing Frank Reich. That makes a trifecta of canned coaches by the Panthers' owner since 2019 – two in mid-season.
 
One key thing to know about every Week 13 NFL game
Washington Post November 30, 2023
Through the 12th week of the NFL season, four teams in both the AFC and the NFC have at least eight wins, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape as the critical month of December is about to begin.

The AFC has a logjam, with 12 teams having won at least five games. The Denver Broncos are ascending at a convenient time and are tied with the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles for the NFL’s longest winning streak at five games, while the Buffalo Bills, a preseason pick by many to make it to the Super Bowl, are headed in the opposite direction.

In the NFC, there will be clarity after Sunday’s marquee game between the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

Here’s a look at the AFC playoff standings through Week 12:
1. Ravens
2. Chiefs
3. Jaguars
4. Dolphins
5. Steelers
6. Browns
7. Colts

Here’s how the NFC is shaping up through Week 12:
1. Eagles
2. 49ers
3. Lions
4. Falcons
5. Cowboys
6. Seahawks
7. Vikings

Overall, six teams are tied for the most victories (four) against opponents who have winning records: Baltimore, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Kansas City in the AFC, and Philadelphia and San Francisco in the NFC.

Byes: Bears (4-8), Bills (6-6), Giants (4-8), Raiders (5-7), Ravens (9-3), Vikings (6-6)

Here’s a look at some interesting facts entering Week 13. All times Eastern.

Thursday
Seahawks (6-5) at Cowboys (8-3), 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime: Soon-to-be Girl Dad Dak Prescott has completed 71 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions in his past five games — only one of which was against a team with a winning record at the time. Dallas’s defense under Dan Quinn has scored 15 touchdowns, one more than the Cowboys had over the eight previous seasons.

Sunday

Chargers (4-7) Patriots (2-9), 1 p.m., CBS: New England allowed 10 points in each of its past two games — and went 0-2. How far has this franchise fallen? With a 4-14 showing over its past 18 games, New England appears to be on to the draft, where it may get a top-five pick for the first time since 1994.

Lions (8-3) at Saints (5-6), 1 p.m., Fox: Jared Goff fumbled three times in the Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay and completed only 6 of 16 passes when pressured, according to Next Gen Stats, but still accounted for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Detroit has had 11 turnovers in its past five games and has given up an average of 29 points over that span but has an offense that is second in the NFL in yardage (405.5 per game).

Falcons (5-6) at Jets (4-7), 1 p.m., Fox: Tim Boyle will again be at the controls of a Jets offense that has seven passing touchdowns through 11 games. The Jets’ losing streak stands at four, but there’s always the chance that Aaron Rodgers makes an ill-advised return.

Cardinals (2-10) at Steelers (7-4), 1 p.m., CBS: For the first time since the second week of the 2020 season, Pittsburgh had more than 400 yards of offense and now faces a string of winnable games. After Arizona, it plays at home against New England, at Indianapolis and at home against Cincinnati and could be 11-4 by Christmas Eve.

Colts (6-5) at Titans (4-7), 1 p.m., CBS: Indianapolis scored 27 points in a big win over Tampa Bay, helped in large measure by Coach Shane Steichen deciding to go for it on fourth down four times. The Colts converted three of those gambles and went on to score two touchdowns. Indianapolis has converted 11 of 22 fourth-down attempts and plays just two more teams with a winning record at the moment.

Dolphins (8-3) at Commanders (4-8), 1 p.m., Fox: Miami won by double digits in its Black Friday game against the Jets but had three giveaways (two on Tua Tagovailoa interceptions and one on his lost fumble). Miami has had two or more turnovers against the Giants, Chargers, Bills and Patriots (in their second meeting) and didn’t top 20 points against the Bills, Eagles or Chiefs.
Broncos (6-5) at Texans (6-5), 1 p.m., CBS: Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 304 yards against Jacksonville, moving past Justin Herbert for the most passing yards by a rookie in his first 11 games (3,266 to Herbert’s 3,224). He’ll face a suddenly stout Denver defense that, after giving up 70 points in Week 3, has allowed 80 over its past five games.

Panthers (1-10) at Buccaneers (4-7), 4:05 p.m., CBS: Tampa Bay is only one game back in the NFC South, where three of the four teams are in playoff contention because the division is awful. The fourth team, Carolina, is assured of a sixth straight losing season since David Tepper purchased it in 2018.

Browns (7-4) at Rams (5-6), 4:25 p.m., Fox: Kyren Williams, the Rams’ second-year running back, returned after missing four games with an ankle injury and became the first player in NFL history with 140 or more rushing yards, six or more receptions, 60 or more receiving yards and two or more touchdown receptions in a game. His team occupies the ninth spot in the NFC playoff picture.

49ers (8-3) at Eagles (10-1), 4:25 p.m., Fox: This NFC championship game rematch is the first of two games in which the Eagles’ opponent is coming off extra rest created by playing on Thursday. In three games since acquiring defensive end Chase Young before their bye, the 49ers have 15 sacks, with at least four in each of those games.

Chiefs (8-3) at Packers (5-6), 8:20 p.m., NBC: Green Bay has won three of its past four games and is only one spot out of the NFC playoff picture. In related news, Jordan Love has thrown just two interceptions in the past four games — after throwing eight in the first seven.

Monday
Bengals (5-6) at Jaguars (8-3), 8:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN: Jacksonville has won seven of its past eight games but also has home losses to Kansas City, Houston and San Francisco by a total of 59 points.
 
NFL Playoff Picture 2023: Updated AFC and NFC Standings
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports Dec 5, 2023
The biggest game in the NFL playoff race this week will be on Sunday Night Football, with the Eagles at the Cowboys in a matchup that will go a long way toward determining the NFC East, and the No. 1 seed in the conference.

The AFC playoff race also has some big games on Sunday, including the Jaguars at the Browns and the Bills at the Chiefs.

Here's how the NFC and AFC playoff pictures look heading into Thursday night of Week 14:

NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS
1. Eagles (10-2): Still atop the conference despite their loss to the 49ers.
2. 49ers (9-3): Can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday with a win and some help.
3. Lions (9-3): Running away with the NFC North.
4. Falcons (6-6): A one-game lead in the NFC South.

WILD CARDS
5. Cowboys (9-3): The clear leaders in the wild card race, but their sights are set on catching the Eagles in the NFC East.
6. Vikings (6-6): Win head-to-head tiebreaker over Packers, and conference tiebreaker over Rams based on NFC record.
7. Packers (6-6): Beat the Rams head-to-head.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Rams (6-6): Own the tiebreaker over the Seahawks based on head-to-head.
9. Seahawks (6-6): Thursday's loss to the Cowboys was a big one in the wild card race.
10. Buccaneers (5-7): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints.
11. Saints (5-7): Sunday's loss to the Lions was costly.
12. Giants (4-8): Going nowhere after last year's promising first season under Brian Daboll.
13. Bears (4-8): Starting to play well but too little, too late.
14. Commanders (4-9): Looking at an offseason rebuild.
15. Cardinals (3-10): Looking at the 2024 NFL draft.
16. Panthers (1-11): May give the Bears the first overall pick.

AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS
1. Dolphins (9-3): Own the AFC record tiebreaker over the Ravens.
2. Ravens (9-3): Commanding lead in the AFC North.
3. Chiefs (8-4): Win the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jaguars.
4. Jaguars (8-4): The Texans are in their rear-view mirrors in the AFC South.

WILD CARDS
5. Steelers (7-5): Own tiebreaker over Colts based on common games and tiebreaker over Browns based on division games.
6. Browns (7-5): Own head-to-head tiebreaker over Colts.
7. Colts (7-5): Indianapolis has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Houston.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Texans (7-5): Got the win they needed over the Broncos.
9. Broncos (6-6): Own the conference record tiebreaker over Bengals and head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills.
10. Bengals (6-6): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills.
11. Bills (6-6): They're one of the seven best teams in the conference, but that doesn't mean they'll make the playoffs.
12. Chargers (5-7): Have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Raiders.
13. Raiders (5-7): Antonio Pierce will try to have them playing hard down the stretch.
14. Jets (4-8): Failing to sign a decent backup for Aaron Rodgers doomed their season.
15. Titans (4-8): May be too little, too late for a late-season rally to get them into the playoffs.
16. Patriots (2-10): The worst team in the conference.*

* Sorry, DaveA!
 
One key thing to know about every Week 14 NFL game
Washington Post December 6, 2023

With a 42-19 victory, the 49ers staked a claim to being the best team in the NFC despite having one more loss than the Eagles, but that talk seems premature with this week’s “Sunday Night Football” bringing a key game between the 10-2 Eagles and 9-3 Dallas Cowboys.

The 49ers have played three teams with at least eight victories (the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cowboys and Eagles) and won all three by a combined score of 118-32, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sees his team stacking up well against the Eagles and 49ers going forward despite Dallas’s 28-23 loss to the Eagles last month in Philadelphia. We shall see if he’s correct.

Here’s a look at some interesting facts entering Week 14.

Byes: Cardinals (3-10), Commanders (4-9). All times Eastern

Thursday
Patriots (2-10) at Steelers (7-5), 8:15 p.m., Prime Video: Even with Kenny Pickett able to play, Pittsburgh has looked beatable. Now, he’s expected to be out for a few games after ankle surgery, making way for Mitch Trubisky.

Sunday
Buccaneers (5-7) at Falcons (6-6), 1 p.m., CBS: Few things are more automatic than Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans topping 1,000 yards in every season of his 10-year career.

Rams (6-6) at Ravens (9-3), 1 p.m., Fox: Los Angeles has won three straight, with victories over two teams that entered the games against the Rams with winning records. They’re back at .500 and in the NFC wild-card race. But the Ravens are the better team.

Lions (9-3) at Bears (4-8), 1 p.m., Fox: Detroit rookie tight end Sam LaPorta gained more than 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career, catching all nine of his targets for 140 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win against the Saints. He is the second rookie tight end since 1970 (along with Jacksonville’s Pete Mitchell in 1995) to have at least 14o yards and a TD reception in a game.

Colts (7-5) at Bengals (6-6), 1 p.m., CBS: Jake Browning, the former University of Washington quarterback, gave the Bengals a big boost Monday night in his second career start, becoming the 10th player in the Super Bowl era to throw for 350 or more yards and complete at least 85 percent of his passes. Four of Cincinnati’s last five games are against teams currently playing a backup quarterback.

Jaguars (8-4) at Browns (7-5), 1 p.m., CBS: Jacksonville’s overtime loss on MNF means its AFC South lead is down to one game with five left, opening a path for Houston and Indianapolis in the race for the division title.

Panthers (1-11) at Saints (5-7), 1 p.m., Fox: Carolina’s loss to Tampa Bay left the Panthers as the first team eliminated from playoff contention.

Texans (7-5) at Jets (4-8), 1 p.m., CBS: With Tank Dell lost for the season with a fractured fibula, C.J. Stroud focused on Nico Collins against Denver, completing nine passes to him for 191 yards and a touchdown. There may be added pressure against a Jets defense that held Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson to 53 yards on 18 carries.

Vikings (6-6) at Raiders (5-7), 4:05 p.m., Fox: In 2021 — the year Jon Gruden was replaced by Rich Bisaccia — the Raiders were 6-7 with fading playoff hopes. But that team ran off four straight wins and secured a playoff berth. Can history repeat under interim coach Antonio Pierce with remaining games against the Vikings, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts and Broncos?

Seahawks (6-6) at 49ers (9-3), 4:05 p.m., Fox: The Seahawks are in a brutal stretch of their schedule, this being the third of four games likely to determine their postseason fate. So far, they’ve lost to the 49ers on Thanksgiving and the Cowboys.

Bills (6-6) at Chiefs (8-4), 4:25 p.m., CBS: Since 2020, Kansas City has won three of these teams’ five matchups and has scored 146 points to Buffalo’s 139. Suddenly, though, the Chiefs have stumbled to losses in three of their past five games. That’s a departure for them: In 2019, they won their final six regular season games; in 2020, they won 10 straight before sitting starters in the last game; in 2021, they won nine of their last 10; and last season, they won 10 of their last 11.

Broncos (6-6) at Chargers (5-7), 4:25 p.m., CBS: The Chargers’ six points against New England were their fewest in a win in franchise history. Their previous low came in a 7-6 victory over the Patriots in 1963.

Eagles (10-2) at Cowboys (9-3), 8:20 p.m., NBC: Sure, all of Dallas’s wins have come against teams with records of .500 or worse. But Dak Prescott has entered the MVP conversation, passing for 20 touchdowns and averaging 317 passing yards, with only two interceptions, over the past six games.

Monday
Titans (4-8) at Dolphins (9-3), 8:15 p.m., ESPN: With 78- and 60-yard TD catches against Washington, Tyreek Hill has 21 career scores of at least 60 yards, tied for third all time with Devin Hester. DeSean Jackson leads with 26, followed by Jerry Rice with 23. Miami is 9-3 for the first time since 2001.

Packers (6-6) at Giants (4-8), 8:15 p.m., ABC: In Coach Matt LaFleur’s five seasons, the Packers are 16-0 in December. They’ve beaten the Chargers, Lions and Chiefs in the past three weeks, with Jordan Love passing for 857 yards and eight touchdowns (with no interceptions). Over its past eight games, Green Bay hasn’t given up more than 24 points.
 
Though as a long time Tahoe snow skier during winters, never much of a Sunday pro football tv watching fan, I am being quite entertained by this year's 49ers given their exceptional talent. Love watching Deebo, and Kittle, straight arm, bang right into, like locomotives to bust through defenders trying to make open field tackles. And then McCaffrey is such a special fast reacting directional machine.
 
And weirdly, last Sunday Philly lost to the SEAHAWKS, of all teams! Fans on the Net boards are calling for Siriani's head.

Christmas will unfortunately be an anxious time for Niner fans, as we face the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson on a hot streak. Gonna be a tough game, I'm sure - currently the two hottest teams in the league.
 
Couldn't believe it. The pathetic appearing Denver Broncos were outlasted by the Patriots who are easily the worst team in the league this year. The Pats forged ahead and then spent the 4th quarter trying to give it back to Denver who wouldn't accept the "gifts".
 
And then, KC loses big time to LV!

That was nice to see (as an Eagles fan who watched the Eagles lose the Superbowl because of a referee's call late in that game).

Mahomes acted like a stuck pig when a late referee call lost the game for them the week before.
 
JustBonee said:
The NFL season has become so strange this year, but I will watch until the end ..SB. :)
I wouldn't put money on any team!
Click to expand...
I despise nfl football never watch it at all any care less who wins as long as the Dallas Cowboys loose I have $1 a game bet for years on this, I had a disagreement with some of their players one time and never forgot that nor ever will... I hear the present team is worse now than back then with the prima donna syndrome. I respected Tom Landry but none since. We even sat with them for dinner one time, we were invited to by Tom's wife
 
When do the NFL playoffs begin?
The playoffs are scheduled to begin this Saturday, with the first two of six first-round games. Here is the full schedule for the first round (all times Eastern):

Saturday Jan 13
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 5 Cleveland Browns, 4:30 p.m., NBC
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 6 Miami Dolphins, 8 p.m., Peacock

Sunday Jan 14
No. 2 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS
No. 2 Dallas Cowboys vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers, 4:30 p.m., Fox
No. 3 Detroit Lions vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m., NBC

Monday Jan 15
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN
 
Full divisional round 2 schedule (all times Eastern)

Saturday, Jan. 20

Texans at Ravens or Chiefs at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN/ABC, ESPN+
Packers at 49ers at 8 p.m. on FOX

Sunday, Jan. 21

Eagles or Buccaneers at Lions at 3 p.m. on NBC, Peacock and Universo.
Chiefs at Bills at 6:30 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.

The AFC and NFC championship games take place Sunday, Jan. 28. The Super Bowl will take place on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas with Usher as the headliner for the halftime show.
 
The home town Buffalo BIlls are on a roll having won 6 straight games, yesterday defeating Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17
This Sun at 6:30pm they will play Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium,in Hamburg, NY which is located south of Buffalo. This area of WNY gets way more snow than the city does. The forecast for Sun is another lake effect snow storm , highs in the teens.
 
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