Pretty good day (days) of games, with a lot of down to the wire contests and some big games from the right players (or wrong, depending no which side of them you were on). Fittingly, Sunday afternoon ended with a wild play to decide a game -- and it was officials spending 10 minutes sorting it out. That's today's NFL.
Philadelphia at Washington: Most Eagles paid off in lineups this week, the plus of a motivated team facing a really poor defense. Great matchups count for a lot. Concern now for those with Eagles is they may be locked in place as the No. 3 seed (I believe they essentially are) and could get players early seats if they play at all the next two weeks. I have no inside info, just guessing here; why use Saquon Barkley in either game? But we'll see. Washington might be starting Josh Johnson the last two weeks, making for a lesser passing game.
Green Bay at Chicago: Like many on the East Coast, I went to bed with Green Bay up 10 points with 3-4 minutes left. That game's over. Only it wasn't, with a recovered onside kick and some clutch kicks and throws helping Chicago pull off an absolute stunner. Fantasy-wise, I think DJ Moore was the only guy who really hit in this game, and he needed overtime to do it, people were gnashing their teeth deep into the fourth quarter. Romeo Doubs too, but he was like the 3rd Green Bay wideout anyone would consider, with both Watson and Reed disappointing -- hard to trust those guys. And Josh Jacobs, who was more hurt than a week ago and maybe penalized for a lost goal-line fumble since he barely played after that. Crazy game, I hope people starting Packers got fortunate elsewhere. Presumably more bad blood between these teams and fans after the cheap shot on Jordan Love, which certainly affected the passing game. A playoff meeting would not be surprising.
Tampa Bay at Carolina: One of the better early games, close throughout. Touchdowns for Tetairoa McMillan and Mike Evans, as No. 1s should, Sean Tucker vulturing Bucky Irving, as we're used to by now, Bucs defense containing Panthers ground game but Bryce Young making a couple of plays. Final minute, Bucs driving for tying or winning points, Evans turned one way and Baker threw the other, INT and that was it. Teams meet again in two weeks so we'll see if it matters.
Buffalo at Cleveland: Quinshon Judkins left with a broken leg, that was the noteworthy development here. Raheim Sanders seems like a viable pick up this week, best bet as main runner, though Cleveland did let Harold Fannin score a short rushing touchdown, plus an early receiving one. Huge game for James Cook, but every other Bill (including Josh Allen) let his playoff teams down.
L.A. Chargers at Dallas: Chargers putting up huge numbers against that Dallas pass defense, unsurprising. Some numbers from Dak and a huge game for George Pickens, TD for Flournoy (another erased by penalty), a little quiet for other Cowboys. Tough always playing uphill. Omarion Hampton a good game and Kimani Vidal left late with an injury. Chargers keeping hope alive for the AFC West.
Cincinnati at Miami: Just one of the many games with nothing at stake for either team. Joe Burrow decided he was interested in playing this week and had a huge game, hopefully in lineups for you and on benches against you. Good week to have Chase Brown too. Quinn Ewers, well, it started out OK, with a DeVon Achane touchdown, and his numbers weren't terrible. But no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. At least no one should be complaining about Burrow this week.
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans: Another of the many games with no implications. But Saints looked good, Tyler Shough very good against the Jets' barely there defense, and sadly the Audric Estime breakout was torpedoed by the Saints' desire to show some love to Taysom Hill in his last home game, with Hill running for 42 yards and throwing a TD to Chris Olave (monster day). The Jets offense, nothing doing against a Saints D that's been quietly pretty for much of the season, as expected. No chance for Breece Hall, ranked low and it proved accurate.
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants: My daughter went to this game, I am sad for her. Vikings defense has been playing really well of late, also why Jaxson Dart ranked so low. Vikings offense, well, no so good, with a defensive touchdown allowed off a sack fumble (J.J. McCarthy injured on the play) and a Pick Six by McCarthy that was erased by a penalty. New York offense did nothing (they didn't even attempt a pass until midway through the second quarter). Jordan Mason left with an injury. I'm told it was a nice day for football, at least.
Kansas City at Tennessee: I think Patrick Mahomes got a couple of MVP votes today. Things might have gone better for KC had Gardner Minshew not also left due to a torn ACL, but it was a pretty lifeless product they put on the field. Nice game for Cam Ward, Tyjae Spears, Chig Okonkwo and Chimere Dike, getting a win over the three-time defending AFC Champs. A 100-yard rushing day for Tony Pollard, with the question being answered over how interested Andy Reid's team would be with nothing at stake. Maybe they'll show a little more at home against Denver on Christmas night. Maybe.
Atlanta at Arizona: The Jacoby Brissett train ended with a thud, with Atlanta's defense coming to play and their offense moving the ball pretty regularly. In fairness to Brissett, though, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison both failed to catch possible or should have been touchdowns, so it wasn't all on him. At least Michael Wilson saved those who started him with a long touchdown, which required an official's review, but Arizona's best receiver was second tight end Elijah Higgins, who came into the game with 20 catches on the season, putting up a Trey McBride-ish 7 for 91 game. Meanwhile Michael Carter averaged almost 6 yards per carry but didn't catch any passes and didn't score. Weird game, with Bijan Robinson the lone hit anyone was actually starting.
Jacksonville at Denver: This was a good game for a while, but Denver couldn't get any stops and eventually the Jaguars pulled away. They're good, with the Liam Coen experience working out very well for Trevor Lawrence and company. Lawrence's late surge has been a little too late for some of us who believed in him early on, but the Jaguars are certainly enjoying it. Scary moment late where Denver rookie Pat Bryant took a big hit and had to be carted off; as I write this I heard he had feeling and movement in his extremities after the game, a relief if so. As for football stuff, Denver's defense needs to be a lot better if it wants to hold off the Chargers in the AFC West; at this point, both teams can win the division by winning out (LA would win a tie if they win the Week 18 game).
Las Vegas at Houston: Raiders perhaps took the week of criticism/ridicule to heart, or maybe the Texans took them lightly. Regardless, big game with a couple of long touchdowns from Ashton Jeanty, at the right time for all those who kept patient with the disappointing rookie. Houston didn't do much but they got the win, kind of seemed like a couple of debatable calls when their way too.
Pittsburgh at Detroit: This game, amiright? Jaylen Warren seemed to take my past criticism of him personally with a monster game. Kenneth Gainwell, also was good, including one of the touchdown catches of the season, a first-half ending play that appeared to be incomplete well short of the end zone, but nope, it was definitely a touchdown, a really remarkable catch. And yet, down 12 with 6 minutes left, the Lions didn't give up and came within 5, then drove the field again to throw a pair of touchdowns to win the game...except one was negated on an offensive pick (valid), and the second was also deemed an offensive interference penalty, also probably legit but it took the official about 10 minutes to sort it out while players from both teams and a stadium full of fans watched to find out who'd won. When the refs finally voiced their call, they said "Ruling on the field is a touchdown! But offensive interference negates it." Feels like it could have been expressed better. Tough way to lose, and now the Lions need the Packers to lose to the Ravens or Vikings for them to make the playoffs. Oh yeah, don't count on Pittsburgh having DK Metcalf next week after an altercation with a fan.
New England at Baltimore: Injuries played a big factor in this game. Lamar Jackson after a quick start left early with a back injury, torpedoing Baltimore's passing game. TreVeyon Henderson left early with a concussion, helping Rhamondre Stevenson (and to some extent, probably, Drake Maye) have a big game. But also, the season-long struggles of Baltimore's defense against capable offenses meant that no lead was safe, and Maye staked his MVP case with a huge came and road comeback. Baltimore now a playoff longshot, while New England will be the AFC's top seed if they can just avoid losing to the Jets or Dolphins the next two weeks.
Monday, Monday: Both teams alive for the playoffs here, but the recent body of work indicates San Francisco should be winning easily. Certainly they'll be scoring some against an iffy Colts defense (especially against the pass), and hard to believe Grandpa Rivers will be able to keep up. Certainly some playoff games are dependent on players in this one, but I'd definitely rather have the San Francisco side. I'll say 49ers 27, Colts 17.