NFL Takeaways: Week 13
Photo by Bryan M. Bennett from Getty Images
Thanksgiving week in the NFL.
Sitting down on Thanksgiving watching football, taking a nap, and then remembering there’s a game on Friday for some reason that I completely forgot about.
And here we go!
Lions defeat Bears 23-20
The final plays of this game summarized the Bears ineptitude.
The offensive line lets a free runner right through to sack Caleb Williams. The play then takes forever to come in. After seeing how long it is taking, coach Matt Eberflus doesn’t call a timeout to save time. The offense gets set with 10 seconds left, and Williams still didn’t snap the ball for another 4 seconds for a reason I don’t understand, and then the deep pass falls incomplete as time expires.
The next day, the Bears let Matt Eberflus do his post game press conference, and THEN decide to fire him.
That organization is an absolute mess.
Cowboys defeat Giants 27-20
This was the most watched game of the NFL season this year.
I know it’s Thanksgiving but like, are we ok?
What’s wrong with us?
Packers defeat Dolphins 30-17
So much for the “Tua can’t play when it’s cold” crowd, as Tua had an excellent game.
But the Dolphins still lost easily.
Might need to look more towards the head coach as to why things don’t go so well in the cold and against playoff teams.
Chiefs defeat Raiders 19-17
The Raiders getting into field goal range to upset the Chiefs in Arrowhead only to fumble the snap and lose is equally the most Raiders way to lose a game ever, and the most Chiefs way to win a game ever.
Remarkable stuff. Almost made me forget how stupid it is that this game was on Black Friday.
Almost.
Seahawks defeat Jets 26-21
The Seahawks special teams did absolutely everything they possibly could to give this game to the Jets, and the Jets just refused to take it.
Classic Jets, to be honest.
Probably time for Rodgers to hang it up.
Or, at the very least, to stop blaming others every chance he gets…
Chargers defeat Falcons 17-13
Kirk Cousins single handily lost the Falcons this game.
For a team fighting for a playoff spot, that can not happen.
Especially when they spent significant draft capital on a quarterback who’s sitting and waiting.
Steelers defeat Bengals 44-38
First, Russ is thriving in this role that’s very similar to when he was a Seahawk. It’s great to see him back at it.
Second of all, if Lamar Jackson had the EXACT same game Joe Burrow had, including the three turnovers, he’d be raked over the coals for it.
Burrow, who did play great outside of the three turnovers, has avoided criticism.
I’m just observing. That’s all.
Vikings defeat Cardinals 23-22
There was no reason for the Cardinals to lose this game, but two very bad Kyler Murray interceptions meant they found a way to do so.
That’s a tough, tough loss.
Probably a must win against Seattle this weekend.
Colts defeat Patriots 25-24
I still don’t think Anthony Richardson is going to be good.
Quarterbacks who are as inaccurate as him rarely just figure it out. Josh Allen is the exception, not the rule.
But I can’t deny that the final drive and 2 point conversion to give the Colts the win was an excellent drive.
I hope he becomes a star. I do like watching him a lot.
But I don’t see it.
Commanders defeat Titans 42-19
This game was 21-0 and over in the blink of an eye.
Nothing like a nice game against the Titans to break the losing streak and get back on track.
Texans defeat Jaguars 23-20
This Texans team screams “loses in the 4 o’clock game on the Saturday of Wild Card weekend.”
It’s their destiny.
Rams defeat Saints 21-14
It wasn’t pretty, but it was a much needed road win for the Rams.
This time of the year, that’s all that matters.
Buccaneers defeat Panthers 26-23
The Panthers lost again, but once again Bryce Young showed a lot of confidence and played well.
If that keeps up, the wins will come.
Patience is a virtue.
The problem is, the owner is not so patient.
Let’s see if he’s learned his lesson.
Eagles defeat Ravens 24-19
Justin Tucker has missed kicks this year.
It’s been a problem, but it hasn’t been something that has cost the Ravens football games.
Sunday afternoon, it cost the Ravens the football game.
Right now, Tucker simply isn’t playing well enough to be a kicker on a playoff team.
Maybe the Ravens believe it can be fixed, but if it’s not, they’re in big trouble.
Every moment matters in the postseason.
Bills defeat 49ers 35-10
There has been lots of Brock Purdy discourse after his poor performance Sunday night in a snow storm in Buffalo, and I think that’s unfair.
In fact, I think all of the cold weather discourse in the NFL is unfair.
“Brock Purdy stinks in the cold! Tua stinks in the cold! Jared Goff stinks in the cold!”
You know the only good quarterbacks I know for a fact are good in the cold?
Big Ben, Tom Brady, and Josh Allen.
People will say Patrick Mahomes but he never beat the northernmost Big 12 team which is West Virginia so he’s out too.
(Larry Fitzgerald and Aaron Donald also never beat West Virginia).
I’m sick of hearing about it.
Sometimes QBs will be good in the cold. Sometimes they will be bad.
The Bills are just better than the Niners this year.
We don’t need any more explanation than that.
Broncos defeat Browns 41-32
It’s awesome that the Broncos are going to be making the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Seriously, it is!
As long as we’re all aware they’re going to get stomped in the Wild Card round.
We all need to be aware of that. This team isn’t going far.
And that’s ok!
As for the Browns, boy oh boy.
That was a Jameis Winston clinic.
Amazing football, followed by the dumbest mistakes imaginable that cost his team the game.
Flawless work.
