2017-18 NFL (Week 10)

Games I watched (some of):
Steelers 20-17 Colts
The Colts are in that place where even though they're not good, the reason they lose every week is because one dumb/fluke mistake. They've moved from being bad to just being unlucky. The Steelers, on the other hand, are more lucky than good--and well on their way to the playoffs! They had a play that blew my mind: scored a TD (off a total fluke interception at the 10 yard line), lined up for the 2-point, had to call a timeout because they couldn't get a play going, come back from the timeout and take a delay of game because they still didn't know what they were doing! WTF? How many 2-point variations do they even have? And why didn't they bother to pick one during the timeout? But, they scored the 2, tied the game and stayed alive to steal it in the end. They're hanging around and they may well win it all but if I was a Steeler fan, don't think I'd be super hyped about this squad.

Bengals 20-24 Titans
Titans are one of those teams that are not bad, they're not great but they hang around. They're getting better each year, definitely still in the playoff hunt, but don't seem terribly dangerous for now. Good work by Mariotta down the stretch to stick in the game winner late. The Bengals started slow, seemed like they were ready to get better on offense, and then...didn't. Like all NFL teams they have talent and aren't completely incapable of winning but have clearly shown they don't have a workable game plan. The Bengals are facing a full-on rebuild and now's probably a great time to do it because even as they bottom out, they should still be better than the Browns.

Cowboys 7-27 Falcons
Cowboys really missed their missing O-line guys (missed Zeke Elliot, too, but I think they can still win without him), Dak was running for his life all day, Cowboys never got any attack going at all. The Falcons finally looked good (sorta) on offense, there's still time for them to snag a wild card.

Pats 41-16 Broncos
Uh oh, this was the first game this year where the Pats looked like the Pats. And the real eye opener here is that the Broncos really didn't look that bad. The Broncos D is far from its recent Super Bowl winning form but the offense looked okay for the most part in this game, they just couldn't keep up. The special teams was all Pats: blocked punt, kick return TD, recovered a muffed punt early on. The Pats are stepping up and it's pretty clear there is no one in the AFC that can hang, I fully expect the Pats to be there again this year. The Broncos are done. Though the offense finally got something of a look to them, the D is not good enough, the team is sloppy, the vibe is turning sour and they're running out of time.


Other results (surprising):
Saints 47-10 Bills
Outdoors, in the cold, against a top notch defense, I'm surprised the Saints just straight crushed the Bills. Wouldn't have been surprised if the Saints eked out a tough one or even steadily controlled a closer game, but to just drop the hammer again and again lets me know that their running game is really good and their defense doesn't fold on the road. Impressive. As for the Bills, eh, I told you: a lot of 8-8 seasons in Buffalo have started out looking really good.


Other results (not so surprising):
Seahawks 22-16 Cards
The Cards are banged up (and old) but they're a veteran crew playing with pride at home, so actually a pretty good W for the Seahawks. Cards are done but the Seahawks are still looking good for a wild card.

Packers 23-16 Bears
Packers re-assert themselves in the wild card race with a good road win (first since Aaron Rodgers went down); if they can get a game plan going with Hundley, they still have time to sneak a spot. Felt like the Bears should've pulled this out but it didn't happen, I think we can officially rule them out in the NFC.

Browns 24-38 Lions
This game was closer than the score indicates, I think. Lions kinda piled it on late. The Lions are still in the race but my gut is they are just too inconsistent to keep it together; they look pretty good sometimes but I don't think they keep ahead of Seattle or Carolina or Green Bay. The Browns...I don't know if you noticed yet but they're not very good. Got another #1 pick on the way (maybe they can trade it for Kevin Love).

Chargers 17-20 (OT) Jags
I turned this game when Bortles threw a late interception, thought the game was iced for the Chargers...then I look up and the Jags are kicking the tying FG...wait.....what just...isn't the game over...over time, really?....Jags won the game. I dunno, man, I like the Jags defense and they're rounding into a decent team but Bortles is so bad and they just in general have such bonehead moments that they don't seem like a playoff team to me. But with the Texans losing Deshaun Watson and no one else in the AFC really stepping up, it looks like they're gonna be in the post-season. Don't think they're ready. As for the Chargers, they are the team that I thought the Ravens would be: every game is close, when they lose it's because they fucked up late and when they win it's because the other team fucked up late. They've got a veteran QB and a good D line but they just don't have a mechanism for finishing off wins (this game being a great example).

Jets 10-15 Bucs
These two teams are both awful. Amazing to me that I wasn't stuck watching this.

Vikings 38-30 Redskins
Kinda wish I'd seen this one. Seems like the Vikings pretty well controlled the game and that the closeness was because QB Keenum gave the ball away in the 2nd half. Telling ya: the Redskins are good when they're not being stupid. There's still time for them but it is tick-tick-ticking away. The Vikings are a nice slow, steady squad, not mind blowing but they handle the fundamentals well and they have a good vibe about them. They are best positioned to make the most of Aaron Rodgers' injury.

Texans 7-33 Rams
The Rams just keep getting better each week. Playoffs are not really for the young teams but the Rams look well-positioned to go deep. The Texans are just falling apart, they're well-positioned for next year.

Giants 21-31 Niners
Wow, the two worst non-Cleveland teams in the league. I saw none of this game and I'm glad about that.

Dolphins 21-45 Panthers
Okay, finally a breakout offensive game for the Panthers. I've thought all year that they should still be a playoff team in the NFC but tonight is the first time they've really looked good moving the ball. Not sure if the Dolphins are just falling apart or if this is the start of something for the Panthers (better late than never but they need to keep pace with the Saints). As for the Dolphins, well, they'll still have some chances against the Bills and Jets.