2017-18 NFL (Week 13)

Games I watched (some of):
Redskins 17-38 Cowboys
The Redskins had two bad turnovers early on that put them right out of the game: a pass goes through the hands of the WR and gets picked off on the goal line, then after holding the Cowboys to a 3-and-out, the Redskins muffed the ensuing punt. Instead of a TD or instead of getting back on track after a defensive stand, they gave the Cowboys the ball and the momentum. The game never got going for the Redskins after that. They looked like they were playing in 3 feet of water. The Cowboys looked good, ran the ball well, stuffed the Redskin attack consistently, did more than enough to win (though the lopsided score is a bit deceiving). If the Redskins had won, they'd still be in the hunt because their schedule turns favorable from here on out; but the Cowboys are going into a tough part of their schedule and still have key injuries they have yet to deal with, so this W doesn't really do much for them.

Vikings 14-9 Falcons
I think the Vikings are the best team in the NFC. That D is arguably the best in the league and the offense plays smart and makes timely plays. If they can get the #1 seed, they can play at home all the way through the Super Bowl. All lining up for them and a win in Atlanta against a resurgent Falcons is a big win. The Falcons were looking like they were regaining their offensive form but they could not solve the Vikings today. The Falcons still have a good shot at making the playoffs (I think they'll leap frog the Panthers, probably the Seahawks too) but they need to get back to consistency.

Patriots 23-3 Bills
The score is a little closer than you think but...not really. The Bills never threatened on offense (save one missed connection over the middle from their 3rd string QB right before halftime), so though the D played pretty well, never felt like the Pats were gonna lose. The Pats are chugging along though they showed some strange frustration in this game: Brady yelling at McDaniels on the sideline, the sputtering offense, Gronk cheap shotting a Bills defender (though in pure Bills fashion, Buffalo got no benefit from it). I suspect Gronk gets suspended for a game but that won't matter much. The Bills are still are in the hunt but they're no more dangerous than the Titans, while the Pats are clearly the gold standard of the AFC.

Panthers 21-31 Saints
The Saints have had a propensity to come back late in their wins this year but they controlled this game from beginning to end. They looked good, Brees was unstoppable over the middle, didn't have to gamble, Kamara had no trouble finding space and made many big plays. The Panthers are still in the playoff hunt but their schedule turns tough coming up (I suspect they get left out of the post-season), while the Saints are well-positioned to win the AFC South.

Eagles 10-24 Seahawks
I was impressed with the Seahawks in this game. They've had ups and downs this year, crushing injuries on defense will doom them in the long run and that offensive line is still pretty creaky, but they've got savvy out there and good coaching. The Eagles had mistakes (fumble on the goal line was a killer, not challenging Wilson's illegal forward pass was a missed opportunity), but they had their moments too and handled themselves pretty well in a tough stadium in prime time. The Eagles are still well on their way to the playoffs, the Seahawks really need the NFC South to beat up on each other to get back into it (and hope that Rodgers's return is a bust). (Wentz made a play that was just unbelievable: he's rolling out, gets hit from behind, still whizzes the ball 40 yards down field, across his body while going down. Man, fucking amazing!)


Other results:
Texans 13-24 Titans
The Titans, like the Steelers, do just enough to win. Unlike the Steelers, they don't have the talent to play that way. They could make the playoffs, though their schedule takes a pretty harsh turn from here on out, but I don't see a scenario where they aren't the worst team in the AFC playoffs. The Texans are still trying out there despite massive injuries on both sides, good for them. Play hard, don't get hurt, make smart moves in the off-season, they have the best chance to rebound next year.

Chiefs 31-38 Jets
I watched most of the 4th quarter of this game and I gotta say: the Chiefs are a disaster! I was so impressed with the Chiefs earlier in the year that I rationalized their losing streak for several weeks. But this performance against the Jets was officially the end of that. The dumb penalties, the blown coverages, the inability to make plays and the clear loss of composure has made me think this team is clearly not going to turn it around. The Jets are kinda fun in a weird way. I thought they'd be terrible this year and they haven't been good but they haven't reached the depth of awful that I thought they were capable of. And now they play with a looseness that's kinda fun--it won't lead to a lot of W's--but I don't mind being stuck with them on a Sunday afternoon.

Broncos 9-35 Dolphins
The Broncos are bad, man, they had moments early on where it looked like they might be good but that was a long time ago now. The Dolphins are one of those teams that is actually pretty good when they're not going out of their way to look bad. They're not good but they're not truly awful. Looks like they had a pretty good day here (two safeties today? Dang!).

Colts 10-30 Jaguars
The Colts have officially packed it in, I've been reasonable impressed with them so far given that I thought they were gonna be one of the worst teams in the league back in August. They have been but they've played harder than I would've thought possible and Brissett has been a pretty solid QB for them, all things considered. The Jags have one of the best defenses in the league and the offense (Bortles notwithstanding) has moments of being actually pretty good. (They should beware the Chargers, though, that's a fun potential matchup)

Bucs 20-26 (OT) Packers
Hundley finally got a good win, holding on to hope that he can guide them back to Rodgers, who supposedly returns in two weeks. Still kinda amazed: the Packers with Rodgers were arguably the best team in the NFC and without him they're barely a football team. The Bucs have a lot of problems, man, lot of problems. They've got talent but year after year they fail to pull it together. Hard to tell where they begin in the off-season.

Lions 20-44 Ravens
The Ravens busted out, that's nice. But the way the Lions play allows for a higher octane game. The Lions occasionally show flashes of offense, flashes of defense, but I guess they're saving those flashes for next week. The Lions are done and though the Ravens are still looking good for the playoffs, they still haven't shown a reliable, consistent game plan, today was arguably their best game all year long (too bad they won't play Detroit again).

Niners 15-14 Bears
The Niners really didn't want to play Garoppolo, really didn't want to win this game but they looked better than they have all season in spite of themselves. Look, they're going to franchise Garoppolo, they prefer the highest draft pick available, no need to even see him out there, no need to win this game. But they did. The Bears suck. Still waiting for Trubisky to show something but given how bad the team is (and how badly coached), still can't tell if they've really got their QB.

Browns 10-19 Chargers
The Browns are starting to play hard, got a good D-line but they were never gonna beat the Chargers. (Wouldn't be surprised if they pick up their first win next week against the Packers) The Chargers are not exactly a juggernaut but they have a veteran savvy about them that makes an interesting playoff contender.

Giants 17-24 Raiders
The Raiders are taking advantage of the Chiefs faltering but they are still not the team taking a step forward that we thought they would be this year. The Giants suck and only seem to have magnified their turmoil by benching Eli for this game. What was the point of that? Sitting Cal Ripken to get a look at Bobby Meachum serves no purpose whatsoever--and now they're gonna bring him back next week? What was the point of any of that? What an organizational fuck up. Anyway, they're done (though firing the coach and GM is a step in the right direction, I suppose). The Raiders still have a shot at the playoffs but frankly they're only marginally better off than the Giants these days.

Rams 32-16 Cards
This is another good win for the Rams. The Cards are a veteran team that play hard and division games are always tricky, so for the Rams to get a W on the road continues their impressive season. The Rams are still a young team, they're hardly a lock to do damage in the post-season but they keep the foot on the gas and that will serve them well. The Cards are rebuilding, who knows where they go from here.

Steelers 23-20 Bengals
Steelers just keep getting W's and even though you know they have the skills to win, it still feels like they're just doing enough week after week and that's not gonna last forever. The Bengals have moments where they don't look awful but even then they generally don't have enough to finish games.


Time for a playoff recap. 
NFC (clearly in): Eagles, Vikings; (probably in): Rams; (3 out 5): Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Seahawks, Packers; (probably out): Cowboys, Lions; (clearly out): Giants, Redskins, Bears, Bucs, Cards, Niners

AFC (clearly in): Pats, Steelers; (probably in): Jags; (3 out of 5): Ravens, Titans, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders; (probably out): Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Bengals; (clearly out): Browns, Colts, Texans, Broncos

Right now I'd have to go with (AFC) Saints, Falcons, Seahawks and (NFC) Ravens, Chargers, Titans. Wow, I wasn't trying to make an argument for not expanding the playoffs but I feel as strongly about that right now as I ever have. The Titans in the playoffs? Ugh. And if they're not, it's because they got beat out by the Chiefs or Raiders? Ugh!


Won (covered):Cowboys, Vikings, Pats, Niners, Packers, Titans, Dolphins, Jets, Jags, Ravens, Saints, Rams, Seahawks
Won (didn't cover): Chargers. Raiders, Steelers
Push: none
Lost (covered): Browns, Giants, Bengals
Lost (didn't cover): Redskins, Falcons, Bills, Bears, Bucs, Texans, Broncos, Chiefs, Colts, Lions, Panthers, Cards, Eagles