The sixteenth Sunday of the NFL season is in the books so here are the different thoughts and opinions I have on various things I witnessed this past weekend. Some teams are streaking towards the playoffs, some are limping in and others are simply fading away. I got my Christmas cookies and won a fantasy football league so this week's post shouldn't be as mean as last week's, but you never know. Just remember I am a Dallas Cowboys fan and I'm extremely biased. Feel free to agree or disagree about anything mentioned here. All comments are welcome.
NFC East Champs
It wasn't pretty by any means, but the Cowboys beat the Buccaneers 27-20 to wrap up the 24th division title in team history. I didn't see this coming before the season started. I'd like to personally thank the Eagles, Giants and Redskins for stinking it up so bad this year to make it possible.
A win is a win, but this game doesn't give me much confidence in Dallas heading into the playoffs. The Bucs defense is bad, really bad, and the Cowboys still struggled converting very makeable 3rd downs and in the redzone. The defense saved the day once again by scoring a TD on a fumble return and setting up an easy TD with another fumble recovery.
Dak scored the first TD of the game on a seven yard designed run. I was thrilled, Dak is an excellent runner and Dallas doesn't take advantage of his legs enough. Of course that was the last QB run Garrett and Linehan called all day. Those two drive me nuts. The best offensive day the Cowboys had all year was when they put up 40 points on the Jaguars. (Remember that one @robbijg?) By far Dak had his most carries and yards for one game on that day. Coincidence? I think not.
It looks like Seattle will be coming to Dallas on wild card weekend. I don't like the matchup, but Dallas is 7-1 at home this year. IF they have their heads on right, they can beat any team in the league in Dallas. Ask the Saints. And they better damn well win that one or @bethalea will never let me hear the end of it.
No Joy in Steeltown
The Steelers rolled into New Orleans with their playoff destiny in their own hands. They fumbled it away by losing 31-28 to the Saints.
Last week I said Roethlisberger can't carry the team on his back anymore. He sure tried to prove me wrong: 33/50, 380 yards, 3 TDs. Pittsburgh needed it because the running game wasn't very effective. I have a feeling Le'Veon Bell got a good laugh about that.
The Steelers were ultimately done in by some sketchy officiating, an inability to hold on to the football and the general awesomeness of Drew Brees. Oh, and maybe an ill-timed fake punt.
Up by four points with 4:12 left in the game, the Steelers faced a 4th and 5 near midfield. Instead of relying on his defense, Mike Tomlin called for a fake punt. It was a bold call and not necessarily a bad one, Drew Brees is dangerous at home and a four point lead certainly wouldn't feel safe. But the Steelers failed to make the first down, even though they thought they made it. Watch the play, despite coming up a yard short the Steelers started dancing and pointing first down. It's pretty funny and symbolic of today's NFL. Maybe if players concentrated a little more on executing their plays and a little less on their celebrations they would find more success. Just saying.
The win clinched home field advantage for the Saints and easily makes them the NFC favorite to reach the Super Bowl. The Steelers on the other hand, well let's just say they are screwed. Now trailing Baltimore for the lead in the AFC North, they need to beat Bengals (no problem, Cincinnati is decimated) and have the Ravens lose to the Browns (potential big problem) to win the division. They are already eliminated from the wild card race unless the Titans and Colts tie each other next week. Quite a fall for a team that started the season 7-2-1.
While searching for a picture to go along with this post, I came across a summary article about this game that said one of the Steelers turnovers got the Metrodome rocking. I laughed out loud. In case you don't know, the Saints play at the Superdome. You know who plays at the Metrodome? Nobody! It is the former home of the Vikings, the one where snow collapsed the roof years ago. Just goes to show you once again you can't believe everything you read on the internet. Even from so-called "professional" sources.
At least the BBQ is still good
It's December, so I spend my time doing the usual holiday things. You know, eating cookies, viewing A Christmas Story and watching another promising season by the Chiefs spiral into the toilet. Some traditions never die.
Remember when the Chiefs were 9-1? It wasn't that long ago. After losing 38-31 to the Seahawks, the Chiefs are 11-4 and still haven't secured the #1 seed or the AFC West title.
The offense is still cooking. They have scored at least 26 points in every game this year and that is amazing. If they do it again next week against the Raiders (a pretty safe bet) it will be a new NFL record. But that defense. Ugh. It is putrid. Russell Wilson lit them up: 18/29, 271 yards passing, 57 yards rushing and 3 TDs. He had help as Chris Carson ran for 116 yards and 2 TDs. Through the air or on the ground it didn't matter, Seattle ran up and down the field to put points on the board.
KC will still claim the #1 seed and home field advantage by beating the Raiders next week. Of course if they continue to meltdown and somehow lose to Oakland they will most likely be a wild card. Nah, even the curse of Andy Reid isn't strong enough to overcome the Gruden shit show in Oakland. KC will get homefield, but I don't like their odds with that defense.
Random Thoughts
With nowhere to call home next season after being sued by Oakland, it is being reported the Raiders are considering playing their home games in London next year. What a stupid idea. The travel will be a nightmare. And after spending all these years trying to gain interest from English fans, the NFL would be giving them 8 Raiders games. That would be enough to kill anybody's love of the game.
The Eagles kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Texans 32-30. Nick Foles strikes again! Now the Eagles are 3-1 with Foles and 5-6 with Wentz. With another probable win against Washington next week, it's going to be a fun offseason in Philly. Texans have lost 2 out of three and have not only dropped out of the #2 seed, but need to win next week to win the division to get at least one home game. Another team coming apart at the wrong time.
The Patriots didn't look particularly sharp, but they were playing Buffalo so it didn't really matter as they won 24-12. You know what is insane? They could still grab the #1 seed in the AFC. They need to beat the Jets at home (most likely), have KC lose at home to Oakland (unlikely but remember the putrid KC D and the curse of Andy Reid) and have the Chargers lose at Denver (anything is possible a mile high). Dammit AFC, get your shit together!
Larry Fitzgerald threw the first touchdown pass of his career against the Rams. Not surprisingly it was the only TD of the day for the Cardinals as they lost 31-9 to the Gurley-less Rams. Their has been a lot of retirement talk around Fitzgerald and if he wants to comeback to play for this dumpster fire of a team again I will be shocked. Who needs that kind of abuse? Get out now Larry while you are still healthy.
Post is a little shorter this week since the holiday season has me pressed for time a bit. I'm sure most of you find less of my bullshit to be a blessing. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas. And if you don't celebrate Christmas try to have a nice day anyway. I'm not religious in any way, shape or form, but I like having at least one day where everyone tries to get along.
Let me know your thoughts on Week 16. I read and appreciate them all.
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