NFL Takeaways: Week 12
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu from Getty Images
Last week, there was no takeaways post because I was in Prague.
I spent all week there, so I missed every single game this past week as well.
Despite that, I watched highlights.
So that’s something!
So here it goes. Takeaways from games I didn’t really watch.
Packers defeat Lions 29-22
Everything has gone well for Detroit this season, so it makes absolutely perfect sense that they lose to the Packers on Thanksgiving.
Just Lions things!
Cowboys defeat Commanders 45-10
Dallas is really, really good at home. Especially against bad teams.
But hey, you can only play who’s in front of you.
49ers defeat Seahawks 31-13
The Niners are better, healthier, and have better play calling.
All was on display Thursday night (or Friday morning for me while I was at some club in Prague).
The play calling thing is a big one, but I’ll go on that rant a bit later.
Dolphins defeat Jets 34-13
The Jets are bad.
And why are they bad?
Could be poor drafting. Maybe it’s coaching.
Or maybe Aaron Rodgers forcing them to sign and hire all of his friends, and all of his friends being terrible, is a big part of it.
Who’s to say?
Steelers defeat Bengals 16-10
The first game post Matt Canada, and the Steelers had an offense that actually looked competent.
There were still red zone issues, but it made me realize something.
The successful quarterbacks in the NFL all have something in common.
Excellent play callers.
People do not value coaching far enough in this league. It’s always “this quarterback played bad, and therefore he is bad.”
When in reality, it might be that he’s not put in a place to succeed due to the play calling he is being given.
I mean, look at the Ravens offense from last year to this year. Night and day.
I’m not saying Kenny Pickett is going to suddenly turn into a great QB, but it’s possible the reasons he was struggling is due to poor coaching.
I guess we’ll find out!
(It’s also why Seahawks fans whining about Geno Smith should stop, but I digress).
Falcons defeat Saints 24-15
Nobody wants to win the NFC South, and I respect it.
Titans defeat Panthers 17-10
The Panthers are a bad roster, poorly owned, and maybe Frank Reich wasn’t a great coach, but things aren’t going to magically be fixed with him gone.
That team is in BIG trouble for years to come.
Colts defeat Buccaneers 27-20
The Colts are 6-5!
They should even be 7-4 if they didn’t get screwed by the refs against the Browns!
And they’re doing it without their starting QB!
Excellent job, Shane Steichen.
Excellent job.
Giants defeat Patriots 10-7
I, uh.
Yeah.
This happened.
Jaguars defeat Texans 24-21
This game showed the Jags are still the team to beat in the AFC South, but that is not a big gap at all.
This is going to be a fun rivalry for the future.
Broncos defeat Browns 29-12
The Broncos have won 5 straight games, and Sean Payton and Russell Wilson are getting a lot of credit.
They both deserve some, Payton probably more than Wilson because Wilson has played the same all year, he’s just been let down by coaching and poor defense, but the main contributor to this is Vance Joseph and this Broncos defense.
They have completely turned a corner from being possibly the worst in NFL history, to being excellent.
Rams defeat Cardinals 37-14
Kyler Murray is going to be an excellent Atlanta Falcon next year.
Chiefs defeat Raiders 31-17
The Chiefs finally had some second half scoring, which is huge for them considering this game was tied at halftime.
Maybe turning a corner?
If so, bad news for the rest of the league.
Eagles defeat Bills 37-34
The Bills are constantly, CONSTANTLY, losing close games.
I don’t know if it’s coaching, a mental thing, some sort of Football Gods curse on them or whatever, but it’s shocking how often they find themselves on the losing end of these games.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are now 10-1 and nobody in Philly is happy.
I love Philly fans so much.
Ravens defeat Chargers 20-10
Still waiting on Justin Herbert to take that next step towards top 5 QB in the NFL that people keep saying will happen.
I’m sure it’ll be any day now!
Bears defeat Vikings 12-10
12-10 Iowa football game? Amazing. Iconic. Legendary.
12-10 professional football game?
Yes, hello, 9-1-1? I’d like to file a police report.
