Phil Dawson had a huge kick for Arizona. Arizona Cardinals
Week twelve in the NFL brought us some interesting matchups. While it’s still as fuzzy as our judgment after a few too many drinks, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. This week is akin to you waking up and trying to get your bearings, but you can’t find your keys just yet.
The Good
-In a battle of the former and current sorry excuse for a Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals’ Blaine Gabbert was able to “outduel” Blake Bortles thanks to Phil Dawson’s career long 57-yard field goal with one second left on the clock. Kudos to Dawson. He’s a 19 year vet who’s been written off more than once and still getting it done.
-Props to Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. After being unceremoniously benched for rookie backup Nathan Peterman to start last week’s game, he came back to lead the Bills over the Kansas City Chiefs 16-10. He was understandably upset about the benching last week (which he attributed to being judged more harshly because he’s a black quarterback). This week, he led the most Tyrod Taylor-esque win while going 19/29 for 183 yards and a touchdown, along with 9 rushes for 27 yards. This win keeps the Bills in the playoff picture at the six seed.
-The Minnesota Vikings are still rolling along at 9-2 after outlasting the Detroit Lions 30-23 on Thanksgiving. Case Keenum has come in and continued the Vikings dominance. Credit Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for working with whomever he’s been given at quarterback and making them successful since his hire there in January of 2016.
The Bad
-The Dallas Cowboys lost at home to the Los Angeles Chargers (it feels just as weird typing as it does saying) on Thanksgiving 28-6. The most troubling thing to me wasn’t Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott’s play, but the offensive line’s play against the Chargers’ front seven. The Chargers made them look fairly average. Sure they’re missing their star running back, but an offensive line widely recognized as one of the league’s best shouldn’t get dominated the way they did at home on Thanksgiving.
-The Washington Redskins (maybe quarterback Kirk Cousins specifically) almost shot themselves in the foot during a 4th quarter sequence. On a 4th and 1, they called a timeout, decided to go for it, called another timeout to prevent a delay of game penalty, and got a delay of game penalty anyway for calling consecutive timeouts. Even though they won 20-10, that could’ve cost them big time.
-The Green Bay Packers tied the Pittsburgh Steelers at 28 with about two minutes left in the game. After forcing a Steelers punt, the Packers punted the ball back to the Steelers with about 30 seconds left. They proceeded to give up the game winning field goal after a drive that saw them play terrible coverage. Granted, they’re missing some depth in the defensive backfield, but playing too far off Antonio Brown was utterly ridiculous. Cover 2 with outside corners playing back, or quarters/cover 4 would’ve been better in that situation knowing all they needed was a field goal to win.
The Ugly
-Oakland Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver Broncos corner Aqib Talib have had quite the beef since Talib ripped off Crabtree’s chain in a game late last year. Not even a full 5 minutes into the game, Talib and Crabtree ignited a brawl when Talib snatched Crabtree’s chain off his neck Debo style for the second time. It’s time for this beef to stop before it gets to a level in which all actions are regrettable.
-Speaking of Raiders/Broncos…Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper suffered concussion on an accidental helmet to helmet hit. Not only was Cooper out cold, but his eyes were closed and hands fixated in a catching position as he lie motionless on the turf.
-The Cleveland Browns are now 0-11 after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 30-16. Before the loss, the 0-10 Browns needed 47 different things to go right for them to make the playoffs. Following the loss, they’ve been officially eliminated. Here’s to hoping they can finally draft a franchise quarterback and end the process of rebuilding they’ve been in since reincarnating in 1999.
In a “clash of the unexpected titans”, the Los Angeles Rams bested the New Orleans Saints 26-20. Both teams are now 8-3, but the Rams hold the tie breaker when it comes to playoff implications. Tom Brady is 40 years old and looking like a serious MVP candidate as his Patriots are 9-2 following a 35-17 thrashing of the Miami Dolphins. The Philadelphia Eagles are the class of the league at 10-1. But perhaps one of the best moments from this past week came when Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was asked about Brandin Cooks’ touchdown celebration in which Gronk appeared to play the role of Trigger to Cooks’ Lone Ranger. Gronk has never been at a loss for words, but he was this time. Overall, I’d give week 12 of NFL action a perfect 10.
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C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson found themselves in the same spot when they met in Week 2 last season.
Both quarterbacks were top-five draft picks, lost their season openers and seemed to be facing a steep learning curve.
Richardson won Round 1 in Houston, although he didn't finish the game.
Stroud took Round 2 in Indianapolis with the injured Richardson watching from the sideline as Texans clinched the AFC South title and Stroud locked up his runaway selection as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
On Sunday, each QB begins his second pro season — with a lot still to prove.
“I’m excited. First official game back with my guys and my teammates,” said Richardson, who had season-ending shoulder surgery last October. "I want to win. So, whatever I’ve got to do to do that, I’m going to do it.”
Winning a season opener certainly would be a welcome change for a franchise that last started 1-0 in 2013. The 10-game winless streak is easily the NFL's longest active streak.
But that's just a start for Richardson.
He needs to improve his accuracy after completing a pedestrian 59.5% of his throws in 2023 and must demonstrate he can finish games. He missed 13 last season and only finished one of his four starts because of an assortment of injuries, including the concussion that knocked him out of that Week 2 matchup at Houston after he ran for two scores.
Stroud, meanwhile, is coming off one of the most successful rookie seasons in NFL history.
He became just the third player in a half-century to lead the league in yards passing per game (273.9) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.6 to 1), won a playoff game and made hist first Pro Bowl appearance.
How can he improve on a season like that? By showing last season was a building block — not a fluke. He has a stronger supporting cast, too, with Joe Mixon, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher, and Stefon Diggs, who has four straight 100-catch seasons, now in the mix.
The long journey begins Sunday in Indianapolis.
“I want to just start fast,” Stroud said. “It doesn't have to do with a certain game, just in general this season. Last year, we started off really slow and just kind of had to build our way back. It's not an easy thing to do, so I would say this year we want to start fast.”
Nico vs. Colts
Houston receiver Nico Collins had two of his biggest games last season against Indy — catching seven passes for 146 yards and one TD in the Week 2 matchup only to outperform those numbers with a 195-yard day that included a 75-yard TD catch in Week 18.
He could play an even bigger role this time with Indy's young secondary trying to match up not only with Collins but also Diggs, Mixon and tight end Dalton Schultz.
“Nico is a playmaker,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Every time I see him, he’s a true playmaker. So, you just have to get Nico the ball in any way, shape or fashion. Just find a way to get him the ball just to see how explosive and how dynamic he is.”
Taylor made
Injuries and a contract dispute prevented Jonathan Taylor from replicating the form he used to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Starting against the Texans could be just what he needs.
In six games against Houston, Taylor has rushed for seven TDs and 135.2 yards per game — his highest average against any team he's faced multiple times. And in that rematch with Houston in Week 18, he finished with 30 carries for 188 yards, the NFL's highest single-game total all season.
Confident Anderson
Houston defensive end Will Anderson, last season’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, will play Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury that limited his training camp snaps.
The No. 3 overall pick in 2023 had 45 tackles, 10 for loss, and 7 1/2 sacks as a rookie. He expects to be even better this season.
“I’m way more comfortable,” he said. “Just going into Year 2 knowing the scheme better, knowing what to expect a little bit more and knowing what’s going to happen gives you more confidence.”
Pass rush
The Colts lost their 2023 sacks leader, Samson Ebukam, with a torn Achilles tendon during training. But they may have the perfect replacement.
Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player taken in April's draft, at No. 15 overall, and he's shown coaches that the moves he used to record 23 1/2 sacks over his last two college seasons can work in the NFL.
“We know that there’s going to be a learning curve there," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "We know there are going to be plays that we’re going to come in and say there were some good plays, and there were plays he wishes he had back — we understand that. But just his overall mentality and skill set, we’re very excited to see.”