2018 NFL SEASON
P R O F O O T B A L L M E D I A
Tuesday's Gone: Week 15 #NFL Game Reviews
Week 15 results: 8-8 (WINS); 9-7 (ATS); 8-8 (O/U)
Season totals: 144-78-2 .649 (WINS); 107-110-7 .493 (ATS); 120-101-3
.543 (O/U)
Note/Key
(when applicable): Statistical analysis based on the following metrics
(abbreviations): Points scored (PF); points against (PA); Point differential
(PD) Yards gained (YG); Yards allowed (YA); Red Zone TD efficiency (RZ); 3rd-down
efficiency (3rd); Turnover ratio (TO); Time of possession (TOP);
Yards per play (YPP); Sacks (S); Interceptions (INT); Penalty yards (PEN);
Against the spread (ATS).
Andy
Reid has the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC driver's seat heading into
the playoffs, which can only mean one thing: A probable early exit from
the playoffs.
Los
Angeles Chargers 10-3 (+3.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs 11-2 (56.5): Chiefs 28*-27 Chargers 29-28*
Thursday, 8:20 PM,
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Weather:
Wintry mix; high 30s)
Reasons: Assuming the weather predictions hold
true Kansas City could have two decided advantages heading into Thursday night’s
game, because let’s be honest, whether the Chargers hail from San Diego or Los
Angeles or somewhere near those places in a town called Carson, the Chargers
are not built for bad weather. To make matters worse, no team is built to play
in Kansas City, where the Chiefs home crowd will make things miserable for
Phillip Rivers (29 TDs; 6 INTs),
especially if Melvin Gordon can’t go, because his back-up Austin Eckler is out
for the game. The Chiefs are well known by now, with MVP candidate and virtual
rookie Patrick Mahomes throwing 43 TDs with two games remaining, and
now that Justin Houston is back a historically bad defense suddenly seems
legit, at least as far as pressuring the quarterback goes (2nd sacks). If this game were in Fresno or Riverside or
even Carson I’d be inclined to pick the Chargers to win as Los Angeles dominates
both sides of the ball, but the game is at Arrowhead with a chance for wintry weather,
meaning the Chargers chances are as good as hitting the over.
The Chargers trailed 28-14 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game before the Chargers - and the Chiefs defense - did what they do best. Unfortunately for the Kansas City defense that meant giving up 15 unanswered point in the final seven-plus minutes on two drives totaling 19 plays and 135 yards and used all of the remaining clock. The Chargers took that momentum and parlayed it into a gutsy two-point conversion with the AFC West title on the line, and succeeded in not only winning the game in dramatic fashion, but suddenly turning the division on its head.
The Chargers trailed 28-14 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game before the Chargers - and the Chiefs defense - did what they do best. Unfortunately for the Kansas City defense that meant giving up 15 unanswered point in the final seven-plus minutes on two drives totaling 19 plays and 135 yards and used all of the remaining clock. The Chargers took that momentum and parlayed it into a gutsy two-point conversion with the AFC West title on the line, and succeeded in not only winning the game in dramatic fashion, but suddenly turning the division on its head.
Houston
Texans 9-4 (-6.5) @ New York Jets 4-9 (42.5): Texans 24-20 Texans 29-22
Saturday, 4:30 PM,
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (Weather: Rain; mid-40s)
Reasons: The Jets season is over, but the
Texans’ season isn’t and Houston missed an opportunity to win the division last
week by beating the Indianapolis Colts and owning the 2-0 head-to-head tie-breaker
(in the event both teams ended the season 10-6). What a perfect way to get back
on track, facing a Jets team ranked in the lower third of the league in total
offense and defense, points scored and allowed, sacks, turnover ratio and offensive
penalty yards. The Texans might struggle in the rain on the road, so maybe the
6.5 point is a bad idea, but a win is inevitable.
The Texans kicked a FG with 58 seconds remaining to force the Jets to have to score a last minute TD to tie and there went the cover. How does a team score 29 points with 286 total yards and no defensive TD? You kick five FGs, including the one that blew the Jets cover.
The Texans kicked a FG with 58 seconds remaining to force the Jets to have to score a last minute TD to tie and there went the cover. How does a team score 29 points with 286 total yards and no defensive TD? You kick five FGs, including the one that blew the Jets cover.
Cleveland Browns 5-7-1 (+4)
@ Denver Broncos 6-7 (44.5): Broncos 24-23 Browns 17-16
Saturday, 8:20 PM,
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO (Weather: Partly cloudy; low 30s)
Reasons:
Believe
it or not this game has playoff implications. Yes, the Cleveland Browns are
still relevant in Week 15; both teams are mathematically still in the so-called
“playoff hunt”, and even more astonishing is the Browns are the team with a chance
at winning the division, although the odds of that are, well, much better than
you think. Cleveland could win the AFC North through one of several complicated
situations considering they tied and lost to the Steelers and beat the Ravens
with a Week 17 match up looming, but the Browns should just focus on the
Broncos. The fact remains Mile High Stadium is still one of the toughest places to play, and not
just because of the altitude; it’s because the crowd comes with the same energy
as the Arrowhead crowds and have been doing it a lot longer than the CenturyLink
crowds. These teams match up well, right up to Baker Mayfield’s rookie status
matching Case Keenum’s underwhelming status, so what we have here is a true “Who
wants it more” game between two teams that will likely both be home by Week 18.
It was ugly, but a win is a win, and the Browns remain relevant through Week 16, which is the first time that phrase has been written since 2007 when the Browns finished 10-6 (Cleveland's last playoff appearance was in 2002).
It was ugly, but a win is a win, and the Browns remain relevant through Week 16, which is the first time that phrase has been written since 2007 when the Browns finished 10-6 (Cleveland's last playoff appearance was in 2002).
Arizona
Cardinals 3-10 (+10) @ Atlanta Falcons 4-9 (44): Falcons 24-21 Falcons 40-14
Sunday,
1:00 PM, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (Weather:
Indoors)
Reasons: This game has zero playoff
implications. Perhaps these teams become relevant in Weeks 16 a/o 17 as spoilers.
The
Green Bay Packers season is on the line Sunday, and for Green Bay to
have any chance against the Chicago Bears Aaron Rodgers will have to
play as well as he did in their Week 1 match up.
Green Bay Packers 5-7-1 (+5)
@ Chicago Bears 9-4 (46.5): Bears 24*-21 Bears 24*-17
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (Weather: Sunny; low 40s)
Reasons:
Since
Aaron Rodgers became the Packers starting quarterback in 2008 Green Bay has only
lost to the Bears four times. In 23 games the Bears have won four, including a
playoff game in 2011, a ridiculous recent domination over a division rival in
which Sunday will be the 198th meeting between the two teams (Green Bay leads the all-time series 94-97-6,
including the playoffs). Two of those four wins have come at Green Bay, but
the last time the Bears won in Green Bay was in 2015 and the Bears haven’t
beaten them since, anywhere. We all remember the most recent match up, that
stellar Week 1 performance from Rodgers, in which he led the Packers from down
23-0 in the 4th quarter to win 24-23. Those days are likely gone.
Chicago has improved everywhere since that Week 1 matchup and the Packers are
reeling, having fired head coach Mike McCarthy as well as a few assistants.
Rodgers is sure to conjure up some old demons, as he has the flair for the
dramatic, but these Bears are on a mission and flying high after a defensive
domination of the Los Angeles Rams. Many expect a Chicago letdown, but that’s
ridiculous considering these two team’s histories. Green Bay’s only chance,
once again, remains Aaron Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the season Sunday, but still managed to throw a two-point conversion to tie the game 14-14 to close the 3rd quarter , but the Bears proved too much and scored 10 unanswered points to pull away from the Packers and win the NFC North for the first time since 2010. The Packers season is over and with that comes many questions about the Packers future and Rodgers, because the window has been closing for years and it appears Rodgers has been the one closing it, because being the star captain quarterback is about much more than just winging up Hail Marys and pretending those miracles equate to greatness. Yes, I know about his TD:INT ratio.
Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the season Sunday, but still managed to throw a two-point conversion to tie the game 14-14 to close the 3rd quarter , but the Bears proved too much and scored 10 unanswered points to pull away from the Packers and win the NFC North for the first time since 2010. The Packers season is over and with that comes many questions about the Packers future and Rodgers, because the window has been closing for years and it appears Rodgers has been the one closing it, because being the star captain quarterback is about much more than just winging up Hail Marys and pretending those miracles equate to greatness. Yes, I know about his TD:INT ratio.
Detroit
Lions 5-8 (+2.5) @ Buffalo Bills 4-9
(38): Bills 23-21 Bills 14-13
Sunday,
1:00 PM, New Era Stadium, Buffalo, NY (Weather: Fog; high 30s)
Reasons: This game has zero playoff
implications. Perhaps these teams become relevant in Weeks 16 a/o 17 as
spoilers.
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers 5-8 (+8.5) @
Baltimore Ravens 7-6 (47.5): Ravens 28-24 Ravens 20-12
Sunday, 1:00 PM, M&T Bank
Stadium, Baltimore, MD (Weather: Rain;
low 40s)
Reasons:
The
Joe Flacco era is over in Baltimore, at least in terms of him being the
starting quarterback, as the Ravens have given the nod to rookie Lamar Jackson
as they make a desperate push for the playoffs, which somehow includes a
possible division title considering how terrible the AFC North has become.
Perspective: The Cleveland Browns could win the division. Despite entering the
game with an underwhelming combined 13-14 record, this game actually features
the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense (18.5
ppg) in the Ravens against the Buc’s 2nd-ranked total offense
and 10th-ranked scoring offense (25.5
ppg). It’s not as if the Ravens are offensively-inept, averaging nearly 25
ppg (13th), but the Bucs certainly
are defensively, ranking 27th in total defense and 30th
in scoring defense (29.5 ppg). In other
words, a hungry Ravens team playing at home with the best defense in the league
should be trouble for the Bucs, who are 1-5 on the road.
A 4th quarter Ravens FG made it an eight-point game and with it went the Bucs cover, the second cover I lost this week to a FG intended just to force their opponents to score a TD to tie the game. The Ravens turned it over more than the Bucs, but the Ravens defense held the league's 3rd-ranked total offense to only 241 total yards and one offensive TD in which the two-point conversion failed. The Ravens are hanging on for dear life (29% chance of making the playoffs according to ESPN.com) after the Pittsburgh Steelers dramatic win over the New England Patriots, while the Bucs go back to Florida wondering why they drafted Jameis Winston.
A 4th quarter Ravens FG made it an eight-point game and with it went the Bucs cover, the second cover I lost this week to a FG intended just to force their opponents to score a TD to tie the game. The Ravens turned it over more than the Bucs, but the Ravens defense held the league's 3rd-ranked total offense to only 241 total yards and one offensive TD in which the two-point conversion failed. The Ravens are hanging on for dear life (29% chance of making the playoffs according to ESPN.com) after the Pittsburgh Steelers dramatic win over the New England Patriots, while the Bucs go back to Florida wondering why they drafted Jameis Winston.
Sunday, 1:00
PM, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (Weather: Partly cloudy; low 50s)
Reasons:
This
game has zero playoff implications. Perhaps these teams become relevant in
Weeks 16 a/o 17 as spoilers.
One of the New York Giants two superstars will be sidelined Sunday, making life slightly more difficult for the other star.
Tennessee Titans 7-6 (+3) @ New York Giants 5-8 (43.5): Giants 23-21 Titans 17-0
Sunday, 1:00 PM, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford,
NJ (Weather: Rain; high 30s)
Reasons: Imagine how embarrassed the Titans
have to be being three-point underdogs to the 5-8 Giants without Odell Beckham
Jr.? I’m sure by the time the news hits the airwaves regarding OBJ’s absence Las
Vegas will have adjusted the point spread based on incoming money and the line
will be closer to one point, but the fact the Giants are favored at all, even
at MetLife Stadium, is interesting. Perhaps it’s because Tennessee recently
joined the exclusive club of two NFL teams with winning records with negative
point differentials (Minnesota has a
negative point differential with a .500 record). Losing OBJ for the game
makes New York even more one-dimensional, as in Saquonensional, but even one
dude might be enough to beat a Titans offense that can’t even score 20 ppg (19.3 ppg, 27th).
The Giants were certainly one-dimensional and the Titans made them look ridiculous, right as many of us feared the infamous "Giants are awful but somehow they made it into the playoffs and now somehow they're in the Super Bowl beating an 18-0 Patriots team" mode New York seemed to be approaching after starting the season 1-7. The Titans held the Giants to 260 total yards and forced two TOs, including holding Saquon Barkley to 31 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Giants season has finally been put down, while the Titans cling to hope, although scoring 17 ppg will lead to an early playoff exit, no matter how well their defense is playing.
The Giants were certainly one-dimensional and the Titans made them look ridiculous, right as many of us feared the infamous "Giants are awful but somehow they made it into the playoffs and now somehow they're in the Super Bowl beating an 18-0 Patriots team" mode New York seemed to be approaching after starting the season 1-7. The Titans held the Giants to 260 total yards and forced two TOs, including holding Saquon Barkley to 31 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Giants season has finally been put down, while the Titans cling to hope, although scoring 17 ppg will lead to an early playoff exit, no matter how well their defense is playing.
Miami
Dolphins 7-6 (+9.5) @ Minnesota Vikings 6-6-1 (44): Vikings 24-21 Vikings 41-17
Sunday, 1:00 PM, US Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN (Weather: Indoors)
Reasons: Remember those other two teams I
talked about being in the club with the Tennessee Titans as winning teams with
negative point differentials? Well, they’re both featured in this game. The
Dolphins shouldn’t have a winning record considering their fluke win over the
New England Patriots last week, but they do, despite owning a -4.2 ppg differential,
by far the worst in the NFL. The Vikings are technically a .500 team, but they
still own a -0.2 ppg differential, despite being loaded with talent on both
sides of the ball. Both of these teams are still in the “playoff hunt”, but neither
team will be there in January.
I guess I was the only person on Earth that wasn't expecting the Dolphins biggest letdown of the season following the Miracle in Miami, but that's what happened. The Vikings led 21-0 after the 1st quarter and their was your football game. The Vikings are in control of the 6th spot in the NFC, and the Dolphins remain alive, even in the AFC East, which is the most ridiculous thing I've written about the NFL all season.
I guess I was the only person on Earth that wasn't expecting the Dolphins biggest letdown of the season following the Miracle in Miami, but that's what happened. The Vikings led 21-0 after the 1st quarter and their was your football game. The Vikings are in control of the 6th spot in the NFC, and the Dolphins remain alive, even in the AFC East, which is the most ridiculous thing I've written about the NFL all season.
Washington Football 6-7 (+8.5) @
Jacksonville Jaguars 4-9 (36): Jaguars 20-17 Washington 16-13
Sunday, 1:00 PM, TIAA Bank Stadium,
Jacksonville, FL (Weather: Sunny; low 60s)
Reasons: This game has playoff implications because
technically Washington has a chance at winning the NFC East. Everyone in the
world knows that’s not going to happen. The Jaguars aren’t even worth talking
about.
This Washington team has been one of the worst team in the NFL all season long, even when they had a favorable winning record, and they just won't die, even after having to go to Josh Johnson following a string of broken QB legs, Johnson's first NFL action in eight years. Yes, Washington remains alive despite their underwhelming existence. Speaking of underwhelming existences, the loudmouth Jaguars should be demoted to the NCAA.
This Washington team has been one of the worst team in the NFL all season long, even when they had a favorable winning record, and they just won't die, even after having to go to Josh Johnson following a string of broken QB legs, Johnson's first NFL action in eight years. Yes, Washington remains alive despite their underwhelming existence. Speaking of underwhelming existences, the loudmouth Jaguars should be demoted to the NCAA.
Dallas Cowboys 8-5 (+3) @ Indianapolis
Colts 7-6 (47): Colts 26-24 Colts 23-0
Sunday, 1:00PM,
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN (Weather:
Indoors)
Reasons: The Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in
the NFL, winners of five straight games and coming back from the dead after sitting
at 3-5 at the mid-season point, with the addition of Amari Cooper being the
obvious catalyst for the Cowboys recent success. The Colts were the hot team
not too long ago, having won five straight games of their own before division rival
Jacksonville put the kibosh on that. The Colts have been streaky all year, but
in chunks, and quickly got back to winning last week by ending the Houston
Texans nine-game winning streak, so clearly the Colts showed not only the
mental fortitude of a playoff team, but showed they can play with the big dogs,
of which Dallas has suddenly become. It’s the formerly elusive late-season “top-four
defense (DAL: 2nd scoring; 4th
total) versus top-eight offense (IND:
8th-ranked total & scoring)” match-up, which has become more
common in recent years, but in the end this game will come down to which team
can actually hold serve on 3rd down and whether the Cowboys stellar
linebacking crew can contain Eric Ebron, who has 12 TDs in 13 games with the
Colts after scoring just 11 TDs in his previous 56 NFL games.
What is the most predictable situation in the NFL? Is it players getting suspended for domestic violence? Is it the New England Patriots winning the AFC East? Is it Aaron Rodgers taking over Jay Cutler as 'Worst Attitude' in the NFL? No, it's the Dallas Cowboys believing their own hype and falling apart on cue whenever the situation presents itself. The Colts held the Cowboys to 292 total yards, sacked Dak Prescott three times and forced a Prescott INT and an Ezekiel Elliot fumble, while Marlon Mack rushed for 139 yards and two TDs on 27 carries and controlled the clock. Both teams remain alive, while the Cowboys are still barely in control of the NFC East, but only the Colts inspired any confidence in their playoff hopes as the season draws to a close.
What is the most predictable situation in the NFL? Is it players getting suspended for domestic violence? Is it the New England Patriots winning the AFC East? Is it Aaron Rodgers taking over Jay Cutler as 'Worst Attitude' in the NFL? No, it's the Dallas Cowboys believing their own hype and falling apart on cue whenever the situation presents itself. The Colts held the Cowboys to 292 total yards, sacked Dak Prescott three times and forced a Prescott INT and an Ezekiel Elliot fumble, while Marlon Mack rushed for 139 yards and two TDs on 27 carries and controlled the clock. Both teams remain alive, while the Cowboys are still barely in control of the NFC East, but only the Colts inspired any confidence in their playoff hopes as the season draws to a close.
Russell Wilson is playing as well as he ever has and the Seattle Seahawks are primed for another playoff run.
Seattle Seahawks 8-5 (-5.5) @ San Francisco
49ers 3-10 (44.5): Seahawks 27-20 49ers 26-23 OT
Sunday, 4:05 PM, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara,
CA (Weather: Heavy rain; low 60s)
Reasons: A month ago the Seahawks had lost a close game
to the Los Angeles Rams in which they had a chance to win, and suddenly Seattle
found themselves 4-5 and scrambling to find an identity that involved both
their quality defense and an offense led by Russell Wilson, a dark horse MVP
candidate. Fast forward to mid-December and the Seahawks have won four straight
and now own the 6th-ranked scoring defense (20.5 ppg) and 9th-ranked scoring offense (26.2 ppg); Wilson remains a dark horse
MVP candidate (29 TDs; 6 INTs). The
49ers, well, they should serve as a perfect springboard towards a Seahawks Wild
Card berth.
The problem with playing a team twice in three weeks is no matter how bad one of those teams are beaten in the first match up, the tape is out there and the revenge desire is still red hot. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-16 Week 13, prompting Las Vegas to make the Seahawks 5.5-point favorites and baiting people like me into taking the points. Despite out-gaining the 49ers, winning the TO battle (1-0) and possessing the ball for nearly ten additional minutes, the 49ers led 23-20 before Sebastian Janikowski ultimately sent the game into OT with a 48-yard FG with 5:21 remaining in the 4th quarter. Of course the 49ers won in OT, but it should be noted Janikowski's viral tackle attempt on Richie James kickoff return in the 1st quarter was the difference in the game.
The problem with playing a team twice in three weeks is no matter how bad one of those teams are beaten in the first match up, the tape is out there and the revenge desire is still red hot. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-16 Week 13, prompting Las Vegas to make the Seahawks 5.5-point favorites and baiting people like me into taking the points. Despite out-gaining the 49ers, winning the TO battle (1-0) and possessing the ball for nearly ten additional minutes, the 49ers led 23-20 before Sebastian Janikowski ultimately sent the game into OT with a 48-yard FG with 5:21 remaining in the 4th quarter. Of course the 49ers won in OT, but it should be noted Janikowski's viral tackle attempt on Richie James kickoff return in the 1st quarter was the difference in the game.
New England
Patriots 9-4 (-1.5) @ Pittsburgh
Steelers 7-5-1 (49.5): Patriots 28-27 Steelers 17-10
Sunday,
4:25 PM, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA (Weather: Rain; low 40s)
Reasons: The most
overstated point regarding this game is the Patriots dominance over the Steelers
in recent years. I’m a regression-to-the-mean type guy, and what we have here
are two desperate teams. The Steelers have lost three straight games and
suddenly find themselves fighting for their playoff lives and maybe even their
jobs. The Patriots lost a lateral heart-breaker to the Miami Dolphins last week
and find themselves 2-2 in a time of year when they dominate, while Tom Brady’s
play has been just underwhelming enough to spark debates about his longevity
again. Add this to the fact the Patriots can’t afford to lose home field
advantage at this point in Brady’s career and the Patriots suddenly become
desperate themselves. The truth is these teams are pretty evenly-matched, with
nearly identical scoring averages (NE:
28.0-22.5; PIT: 28.2-23.5), but the game comes down to whether Brady can
escape Pittsburgh’s pressure (PIT 1st
sacks) and/or Ben Roethlisberger can avoid turning the ball over (NE: 5th INTs & 10th
TO ratio; PIT: 27th TO ratio).
Pittsburgh might've gotten a monkey off of their back, but let's be honest - both of these teams played terrible (sans the defenses) and neither team looks poised to make any type of run in the playoffs. In fact, both team lead their respective divisions, yet neither team has actually secured their divisions yet, despite owning multi-game advantages in their divisions most of the year. At least the Patriots have the excuse of having almost zero talent on either side of the ball, as the Patriots top weapon looks like Robocop after the gang cuts him into a hundred pieces and Robocop tries to get back up and fight; meanwhile the Steelers are loaded with bratty talent that can't get out of their own way and continually look for someone else to blame it on. These teams aren't going anywhere.
Pittsburgh might've gotten a monkey off of their back, but let's be honest - both of these teams played terrible (sans the defenses) and neither team looks poised to make any type of run in the playoffs. In fact, both team lead their respective divisions, yet neither team has actually secured their divisions yet, despite owning multi-game advantages in their divisions most of the year. At least the Patriots have the excuse of having almost zero talent on either side of the ball, as the Patriots top weapon looks like Robocop after the gang cuts him into a hundred pieces and Robocop tries to get back up and fight; meanwhile the Steelers are loaded with bratty talent that can't get out of their own way and continually look for someone else to blame it on. These teams aren't going anywhere.
Philadelphia
Eagles 6-7 (+9.5) @ Los Angeles Rams 11-2 (54): Rams 30-20 Eagles 30-23
Sunday, 8:20 PM, Los Angeles
Memorial Stadium, Los Angeles, CA (Weather:
Cloudy; mid-50s)
Reasons: The Rams are looking to bounce
back after their worst game of the season losing 15-6 to the Bears in Chicago,
while the Eagles are just looking to get this season over with. It was
announced this week Carson Wentz would miss the remainder of the season with
what could be a broken back. Ask Tony
Romo how that went. Philadelphia is in danger of becoming the first team since the
2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have a losing record following a Super Bowl-winning
season; I predicted the Eagles would go 6-10, so I’ve been patting myself on
the back for weeks, but they need to win at least two more games or risk joining
the Bucs in that infamous post-2000 club. Let’s be honest, this nose dive
started when head coach Doug Pederson went on an off-season book tour for a
book titled “Fearless”. You’re basically asking for it at that point.
Carson Wentz was the 2nd overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Carson Wentz was the almost the 2017 MVP had he not been injured late in the season. Yet, Nick Foles is the guy who came in and won the Super Bowl for the Eagles last year and Nick Foles is the guy who came in Sunday night and helped the Eagles beat the Rams to keep their 2018 season mathematically alive. Are the Eagles better off with Nick Foles? That's probably a ridiculous question in the long term, but it is worth noting that before the game Sunday night the world thought the Eagles were shot out of the sky; by Sunday late night the world was wondering about the Eagles chances of making another magical run to the Super Bowl. History has a strange way of twisting people's minds towards illogical hope, but the fact remains Dougie Pederson has a few more chances to go from GOAT to goat to GOAT again, which makes many teams in the NFC "fearful".
Carson Wentz was the 2nd overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Carson Wentz was the almost the 2017 MVP had he not been injured late in the season. Yet, Nick Foles is the guy who came in and won the Super Bowl for the Eagles last year and Nick Foles is the guy who came in Sunday night and helped the Eagles beat the Rams to keep their 2018 season mathematically alive. Are the Eagles better off with Nick Foles? That's probably a ridiculous question in the long term, but it is worth noting that before the game Sunday night the world thought the Eagles were shot out of the sky; by Sunday late night the world was wondering about the Eagles chances of making another magical run to the Super Bowl. History has a strange way of twisting people's minds towards illogical hope, but the fact remains Dougie Pederson has a few more chances to go from GOAT to goat to GOAT again, which makes many teams in the NFC "fearful".
New
Orleans Saints 11-2 (-7) @
Carolina Panthers 6-7 (54): Saints 28-23 Saints 12-9
Monday, 8:15 PM,
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (Weather:
Clear; high 30s)
Reasons: MVP-candidate Drew Brees (35 total TDs; 4 INTs) and the Saints
haven’t quite looked the same the past two weeks, but Carolina hasn’t looked
the same for over a month, specifically Cam Newton, who has thrown eight of his
12 INTs in the past four weeks over the Panthers five-game losing streak. Cam
Newton is clearly not 100%. The Panthers play well at home (5-1), but the Saints play well on the
road (6-1), and the Panthers defense
is nothing like in years past, while the Saints could say the same about themselves,
but in a positive context (3rd
sacks; 10th scoring defense: 21.8 ppg). Carolina will also be
without kicker Graham Gano, which has huge implications. The Saints have
already won the NFC South, but the only let down I see happening here is for
people that take the Saints and the points, as pride is about the only thing
Carolina is playing for at this point.
We all know what's wrong with the Panthers, but what the hell is wrong with the Saints? Since losing to the Dallas Cowboys 13-10 on Thursday Night Football Week 13 the Saints trailed 14-11 in the 4th quater against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 14 before exploding for 17 4th-quarter point to steal the win, and now they played the Panthers to a 12-9 victory in which they were trailing 7-6 in the 4th quarter. Suddenly the team that was averaging 35 ppg led by runaway MVP candidate Drew Brees is in danger of an early playoff exit if they don't get the offense back on track. Some MVP perspective: Matt Ryan now has much better numbers than Brees, which probably means Brees doesn't win the 2018 MVP despite his record-breaking performances all year, but we all know Brees cares far more about the state of the Saints then he does his own awards. Regardless, New Orleans and Los Angeles (N) have picked the worst possible times to go from wold beaters to struggling.
We all know what's wrong with the Panthers, but what the hell is wrong with the Saints? Since losing to the Dallas Cowboys 13-10 on Thursday Night Football Week 13 the Saints trailed 14-11 in the 4th quater against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 14 before exploding for 17 4th-quarter point to steal the win, and now they played the Panthers to a 12-9 victory in which they were trailing 7-6 in the 4th quarter. Suddenly the team that was averaging 35 ppg led by runaway MVP candidate Drew Brees is in danger of an early playoff exit if they don't get the offense back on track. Some MVP perspective: Matt Ryan now has much better numbers than Brees, which probably means Brees doesn't win the 2018 MVP despite his record-breaking performances all year, but we all know Brees cares far more about the state of the Saints then he does his own awards. Regardless, New Orleans and Los Angeles (N) have picked the worst possible times to go from wold beaters to struggling.
Stay tuned for Week 16: #NFL Game Predictions (w/ spreads & analysis) coming Thursday & Sunday!
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