Cold day in the NFL, both temperature-wise around the league and for a lot of big stars and popular teams. There are still three weeks left in the season, so it's weird to see the teams that are already playing out the string. And a shame to see some of the guys who won't be playing.
Cleveland at Chicago: Bears made short work of the Cleveland defense, as kind of expected in line with how the Browns have played lately. Rome Odunze active from the foot injury we kind of thought would sideline him for the rest of the season, but aggravated the injury in pregame warmups and maybe now he'll be sidelined for the rest of the season. But good numbers for Swift, Burden and DJ Moore scored twice too. Browns got not much of anything though Myles Garrett did have 1.5 sacks (who was the teammate stealing half of his sack, c'mon man) and is one away from knocking a couple of guys out of the record book.
Baltimore at Cincinnati: So much for the Bengals, maybe they took Joe Burrow's mid-week hints about walking away from the game to heart. After the game he made a point of saying "I wasn't talking about Cincinnati," but that is the team he plays for after all, that he's not having fun with. Anyway, lots of drives ended in turnovers and other miscues, and Ravens just took advantage. Zay Flowers actually scored a touchdown, Derrick Henry ran for 100 yards, and Ja'Marr Chase and Chase Brown got some good PPR numbers but that be it. Lamar Jackson threw 2 TDs but attempted only 12 passes with Cincinnati imploding, hard to get much out of that little.
Arizona at Houston: Huge game for Trey McBride, of course Michael Wilson scored again, and Jacoby Brissett kept things going with more good numbers in a game that was never, ever remotely in doubt. Arizona putting the G in garbage time week after week but you're not complaining if you're starting this passing game. Houston also had good numbers, with Jahwar Jordan coming off the bench to run for 101 after Woody Marks left with injury (scored first, at least). Big games for C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins, the latter presumably in most lineups.
N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville: Great week to be starting Trevor Lawrence, obviously. Jets came into this one good against the pass and not the run. Today they decided not to do much defense on either, especially in terms of covering anyone, running backs especially. Travis Etienne didn't do much as a runner early on (Lawrence did that, too) so he and Bhayshul Tuten proceeded to catch 4 TDs. Even Brian Thomas scored. Jaguars looking good, but a slightly tougher matchup in Denver next week.
L.A. Chargers at Kansas City: Kansas City's season went from disappointing to bad to ugly in a hurry in this one, with a loss possible even before Patrick Mahomes suffered a knee injury late while trying to lead a tying or winning drive, and was still being helped to the locker room as Gardner Minshew threw the game-ending interception (in tying field goal range, too). Injury reported as a torn ACL, which sucks. Chargers didn't play great but have been winning a lot of games thanks to opponents making one more mistake than they do. But their offense didn't help anyone in fantasy leagues, which is more important to a lot of us. Kansas City defense did its job, but no playoffs for the three-time defending AFC champs.
Buffalo at New England: Wild game that was all Patriots in the first half and all Buffalo after halftime. New England's defense really hasn't been great for most of the season and didn't have a lot of answers for Josh Allen and James Cook. Huge game for TreVeyon Henderson and Drake Maye (running) pretty good, but Buffalo outlasted them. To win the division they're going to need New England to somehow lose to the Jets or Dolphins, that's a negative, but stranger things have happened. Bills defense not too good but they're gonna be a tough out in the AFC whatever seed they wind up getting.
Washington at N.Y. Giants: This game wound up being close on the scoreboard but Washington was in control for much of it, with the players they had available. Long touchdown from Marcus Mariota (good game) to McLaurin (decent), first good game running it in a while for Jacory Croskey-Merritt, with Chris Rodriguez inactive. Giants offense put together usable numbers from most of the guys anyone was using, always a plus. Jaxson Dart ran for 63 yards, so the running less message didn't really come into play this week.
Las Vegas at Philadelphia: Eagles stepped it up and/or the Raiders have totally checked out for the season. Good week to start Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert, even though Goedert had one of the more comical drops of an easy touchdown you'll ever see (the two he caught were both basically forward handoffs, a play most of the league is watching for these days since the Eagles did it earlier in the season, but not the Raiders). Lots of goodness from Philly here, unsurprisingly. Kenny Pickett completed 15 of 25 for 64 yards, a stat line that's hard to believe. Also that some thought he was going to start for Cleveland just a few months ago.
Green Bay at Denver: Really good game, with lots of clutch plays and drives for both teams. This week's complaint about Tony Romo is I think he talked about Jordan Love's MVP prospects on basically every one of Green Bay's series in the second half. Love isn't going to win the MVP and most people don't care anyway. As for the game, big one for Bo Nix, but maybe the biggest play was a Patrick Surtain interception (the play Christian Watson got hurt on, leaving with a chest injury) at a point when Green Bay was up 9 and pretty much moving the ball down the field for points all game. Broncos scored on the ensuring drive and that turned the game around. Josh Jacobs (2 TDs) not so hurt after all, evidently. But Micah Parsons, in the backfield all day, left with a knee injury, also reported as a torn ACL. Rough week.
Detroit at L.A. Rams: Lions did a lot on offense. Rams did a lot more, with basically everyone you could have started putting up good numbers, except for Davante Adams, aggravating his hamstring injury. Impressive day for Detroit moving the ball, with Goff exceeding expectations, but looks like defensive injuries have caught up to them for the second year in a row. Anyway, aside from Jahmyr Gibbs not scoring and Davante, good week to have most anyone (Amon-Ra, Jameson, Puka, Kyren, Corum) on your side.
Carolina at New Orleans: Does anyone want to win the NFC South? Maybe no one should win, put 3 NFC West and 3 NFC North teams in, and the Eagles, and call it good. (Sorry, Dallas.) Regardless, Saints win and it wasn't a huge surprise. Contain Tetairoa McMillan, shut down the passing game, allow a little rushing production but not too much, make a few plays on offense. Olave and Vele good, Neal at least scored. Carolina and Tampa Bay both 7-7 and play twice in the last three weeks. Yay.
Indianapolis at Seattle: The storybook return of Philip Rivers seemed like it would end with a win when Blake Grupe, recently kicked to the curb by New Orleans, kicked a 60-yard field goal with under a minute left. Too much time, as it turned out, with Jason Myers answering from 56 to win. Rivers exceeded most expectations, I think, and came closer to winning than Riley Leonard would have. Doesn't mean much at the end of the day but a decent story. Sadly, not a lot of fantasy value to be coaxed from this one unless you had Meyers, Smith-Njigba and I guess Jonathan Taylor was decent aside from not scoring. But Seattle gets the win and the Colts' playoff hopes are on life support.
Tennessee at San Francisco: Like the Rams, Lions and Broncos, the 49ers were another team that came to play with big numbers from all the key guys anyone was starting in their choice matchup. Tennessee also got good games from Tony Pollard and Cam Ward threw 2 TDs, though the game was never in doubt and I don't imagine anyone was starting many Titans. I know they've had an easy schedule, but San Francisco's season is pretty impressive to me.
Minnesota at Dallas: Props must be given to Kevin O'Connell for getting his team to play hard these last couple of weeks and making J.J. McCarthy look a little more like an NFL quarterback. Still not benefitting Justin Jefferson, but all you Jalen Nailor fans are having a nice day. Cowboys essentially toast now (they're not winning out and the Eagles aren't losing out), but they do have some nice draft picks to get a little better, especially on defense, going forward.
Monday, Monday: Big game for the AFC North and I guess maybe the wildcard race in the AFC. Dolphins have been sneaky good of late while the Steelers have been weirdly erratic, capable of looking good or bad against anyone. Miam can't stop the run but Pittsburgh can't run it, interesting to see how that works out. DeVon Achane is good to go and he's the main star to watch in this one. Let's go with a mild upset, Miami 24-21.