NFL Week 12 Takeaways
Photo by Vincent Carchietta from USA Today Sports
There’s a very important U.S. Soccer game on in 3 hours. Let’s not waste any time here.
Bills defeat Lions 28-25
What this game showed me is that the Detroit Lions will be a playoff team once they get a quarterback who is not Jared Goff.
Thankfully, their likely high draft pick due to the Rams being bad means they have a good chance at getting a top rookie.
Cowboys defeat Giants 28-20
The Giants aren’t as talented as the Cowboys, and they’re beat up.
Still, they made this a very tough game for the Cowboys.
I like what Brian Daboll is doing, even if I’m not sure the Giants are a playoff team this year.
Vikings defeat Patriots 33-26
I can’t lie to you, I was watching the Egg Bowl instead of this.
I did catch highlights, though. And man the Vikings are fun offensively.
One horrible game against the Cowboys doesn’t change that.
Bengals defeat Titans 20-16
The Bengals had an awful start and an injury to their best receiver and they’re still tied for the division lead.
Strange team.
Jaguars defeat Ravens 28-27
Two takeaways from this one.
First, the Ravens red zone offense is putrid.
Second, Trevor Lawrence last drive was the moment for me.
He always had the talent, but I had my doubts he was “the guy” to take over a franchise like the Jags.
Not anymore. He is the guy for sure.
Browns defeat Buccaneers 23-17
I said that the Bucs would have new life and run away with their division and what do they do?
They go and lose to the Browns.
Not even Brady’s weird voodoo magic can save this team.
Dolphins defeat Texans 30-15
“Anyone can succeed with Mike McDaniel’s offense!”
Well, with Tua out there the Dolphins destroyed the Texans and once they pulled him out of the game the offense couldn’t do a single thing of note.
It’s ok to admit Tua is good, NFL media. He doesn’t need to throw 70 yards off of his backfoot to be good.
Jets defeat Bears 31-10
Am I going to reserve some judgement on this Jets offensive performance because the Bears defense isn’t very good? Yes.
But I will say, that’s the best the Jets offense has looked all year and it’s not particularly close.
The next best? When Joe Flacco came back against the Browns.
Sensing a theme here on when the Jets offense is successful, and it’s when Zach Wilson ISN’T playing.
Commanders defeat Falcons 19-13
The Commanders still need a better quarterback than Taylor Heinicke overall, but they keep winning while he’s in.
For a franchise in some fairly large turmoil, that’s important for this year.
Also, big hat.
Panthers defeat Broncos 23-10
The biggest mistake the Broncos could have ever made was giving Russell Wilson that contract extension.
One thing is for sure, this situation isn’t working.
Hackett can be fired. But what if Russ struggles under the new coach?
They’re still stuck with Russ for 7 years.
If he’s truly at this level now, they’re stuck.
Chargers defeat Cardinals 25-24
Is it a good thing when your quarterback publicly calls out your coaches scheme as a reason you lost in the postgame press conference?
Well, Kyler did.
And much like the Broncos, they’ve committed to Kyler more so than coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Feels like that relationship needs to end soon.
Raiders defeat Seahawks 40-34
The NFL employed referees missed a clear fumble recovery for the Seahawks.
Then, the NFL employed referees took about 84 years to review a catch call and overturned it despite not having clear evidence to overturn the call.
THEN, NFL television rules meant that NFL RedZone could no longer show the game, so they moved everyone to their local CBS affiliate to watch the game and half of the country was seeing 60 Minutes instead, so they couldn’t even watch overtime.
This game was really a banner moment for the NFL. Great stuff, everyone!
As for the game itself, the Seahawks best use their two first rounders on defensive linemen. They need push up front.
Chiefs defeat Rams 26-10
The Chiefs are good and the Rams are bad.
49ers defeat Saints 13-0
This was an extremely winnable game for the Saints.
I don’t know how they haven’t made a switch to Jameis Winston instead they’re just plainly tanking.
The funny thing is, they can’t tank. Because the Eagles have the Saints first round pick.
So I think the coaching staff is just incompetent.
Eagles defeat Packers 40-33
This season is over for the Packers, but Jordan Love came in and looked good.
Might be time to just sit Rodgers for the rest of the year, give Love some game time to see if he is the real deal and look to shop Rodgers this offseason.
Steelers defeat Colts 24-17
This was the game you would sort of expect between two teams who aren’t very good on primetime television.
Was it a good week?
Good games: Bills vs Lions, Patriots vs Vikings, Ravens vs Jaguars, Raiders vs Seahawks
Bad games: Saints vs 49ers, Steelers vs Colts
It was a good week!
The good week’s lead 8-4, which means we are only one good week away from this season being a confirmed good season of NFL football.
Let’s hope it doesn’t take a horrible downturn.
