NFL Week 13 Review

     

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Atlanta at NY Jets - The Falcons were getting dominated by the Jets defense early. It looked like Gang Green might be on their way to finally ending their current losing streak. Instead, Tim Boyle proved that it is not just Zach Wilson who cannot get the Gang Green offense going. On the day, the Jets offense scored two field goals, effectively wasting a solid defensive effort in holding Atlanta to just 13 points on the day, which was enough for the Falcons to win this one fairly convincingly. My pick: Inaccurate

Detroit 33, New Orleans 28 - The Lions keep winning, especially on the road, where they are an impressive 5-1 so far. They score a decent amount of points. They jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but then had to hang on when the Saints rallied and started to challenge the Lions. But Detroit did hang on, and retain their comfortable three game lead in the NFC North. My pick: Accurate

Arizona 24, Pittsburgh 10 - This one I did not see coming. The Steelers had looked good for a while there, and sure seem to be serious playoff contenders, with even an outside shot at a division title (with some help). Yet, the Cardinals clearly played the role of spoiler to perfection here. They shocked the Steelers in Pittsburgh, earning an impressive win - their most impressive win of the year - and hurt the Steelers tremendously in the process. My pick: Inaccurate

Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 28 - The AFC South seems to have gotten a bit clearer after this one. The Colts frustrated the hometown Titans, who had been tough all season at home. In the process, the Colts strengthened their position to qualify for the postseason, while all but officially eliminating the last-place Titans. My pick: Inaccurate

LA Chargers 6, New England 0 - This game would likely have been cold and miserable and frustrating to watch. Zero touchdowns, only two field goals by the Chargers in the second quarter. The Pats did nothing on offense all game long, allowing the Chargers to snap their losing streak by extending New England's own losing streak to five. My pick: Accurate

Houston 22, Denver 17 - The Texans and Broncos played a hard-fought, tough game that remained close. In the end, it was the Texans who survived, in a game with significant playoff ramifications. Denver, as it turns out, would have gotten within a game of the Chiefs in the AFC West, as KC lost later on Sunday night. But instead, the Broncos still remain on the outside looking in as far as the playoff picture is concerned. My pick: Inaccurate

Miami 45, Washington 15 - The Commanders were predictably overwhelmed by the Dolphins, who clearly still have the hottest and most explosive offense in the league. Washington simply had no answers on how to slow down, let alone stop, the Fins in this one. And their rather slow-paced offense really did not have any serious chance at keeping up, much less outscoring Miami. A predictable loss, as the Commanders slide ever closer to being out of playoff contention. As for the Dolphins, they feel like they are getting better each week, as they grow closer to the AFC East division title, and possibly even the number one seed in the AFC.. My pick: Accurate

Tampa Bay 21, Carolina 18 - The Bucs won as expected, but it was much closer than it perhaps should have been. The Panthers feel like a team in disarray at the moment. Still, the Bucs could not put them away until the end of the game. They squeak a win past the Panthers, and now are tied with the Saints for second in the NFC South, each one game behind the Falcons. My pick: Accurate

San Francisco 42, Philadelphia 19 - The Eagles started off hot, taking an early 6-0 lead. Then the 49ers just overwhelmed Philly, scoring on six straight drives, until the game was pretty much out of reach for the Eagles. Philly's defense really had no answers to stop, or even to slow, the Niners attack, especially the middle of the field. Whatever happened between the blowout win that the Eagles enjoyed in last January's NFC title game, and this blowout loss at home in December this season, the ground that they lost to SF is significant, and may be too much for them to rebound from. It seems that the 49ers are now the favorites to win the Super Bowl. My pick: Inaccurate

LA Rams 36, Cleveland 19 - Don't look now, but the Rams are suddenly serious playoff contenders! They earned a decisive win against the tough Browns, who themselves are still in playoff position, but now look a lot more vulnerable than they did prior to the last two games, both losses. As for the Rams, their offense looked solid, and their defense did a great job in earning an important win that puts them in position to make a run for the playoffs in the final month. My pick: Inaccurate

Sunday Night Football: Green Bay 27, Kansas City 19 - The Packers played really well in this one, with their defense holding tough and containing that potent KC offense, and Jordan Love playing extremely well, leading his team to victory, ultimately. Yet, this game will likely be remembered for the horrible calls and no calls by the refs in the final minute - the most crucial point of the game - when it seemed that they could not get anything right. There were two cases of clear pass interference which they missed, and which may have prevented KC from tying the game and forcing overtime. It's unfortunate that this game was so tarnished by truly horrible referee work, and again, most of it came in the final minute or so of the game. My pick: Inaccurate

Monday Night Football: Cincinnati 34, Jacksonville 31 (OT)- Who could have known that this would become the battle of backup quarterbacks? As it turns out, this ended up being one of the best and most entertaining games of the season. In his first NFL start, Bengals QB Jake Browning 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards and one touchdown. What an astonishing performance by the young quarterback! In a back and forth game, this one ultimately went the distance, to overtime. There, the two teams exchanged possessions, before the Bengals got a late field goal to win it and keep their somewhat flickering, but still real, playoff hopes alive. On a sour note for Jax, Trevor Lawrence was lost to injury with a high ankle sprain. My pick: Inaccurate