The real hero of Green Bay’s season, Quinyon Mitchell deserves more praise, and moving on from Mike McCarthy may be a mistake.
Last Week: 12 – 4 – 0
Season: 128 – 92 – 4
Thursday (8:15PM ET)
Broncos 27 at Chargers 34
I didn’t understand Denver’s strategy Thursday night. It seemed like there were opportunities the few times they did throw deep downfield. Bo Nix underthrew some and threw the others out of bounds, but eventually one of those shots would’ve hit. Regardless, I was thinking about this while watching the game… Which division has the best quarterbacks? It has to be the AFC West, right? The NFC North and NFC West has more depth but lacks the top tier talent of Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. I think the AFC North could be the answer but only if you like Russell Wilson more than Nix and I do not. If you’re telling me Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are better than Herbert and Mahomes and the other four quarterbacks are a wash, well then I think I agree. Ok, the AFC North is the winner.
Saturday (1:00PM & 4:30PM ET)
Texans at Chiefs
I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was when it looked like Carson Wentz would get the start Saturday. This matchup kicks off an hour after Penn State-SMU and I would’ve had a hard time keeping Wentz on the 2nd TV without sound. I know he’s a hot mess as a quarterback and maybe was a horrible teammate back then, but 2017 was the greatest QB season in Eagles history and I will always hope for Wentz to play again, as unrealistic as it may be. Anyway, I think the Chiefs offense stinks. They can’t run the ball. They can’t stretch the field. Travis Kelce is a minimal impact player and DeAndre Hopkins has dropped more passes in a month than he has his entire career prior (not an official stat). I thought Isiah Pacheco’s return would boost the offense but he can’t get going either. I can’t decide if the Chiefs look like a team that just wants the playoffs to begin or for the season to be over. TEXANS +3.5
Steelers at Ravens
Pittsburgh will be without George Pickens again and that means the offense will be in big trouble again. The Steelers accumulate a lot of rushing yards (they’re the 10th ranked run offense) but they don’t run the ball well (they’re tied for 2nd worst in yards per carry). Baltimore’s defense is tops in the league against the run, so it’ll be up to Russell Wilson to outscore Lamar Jackson. I just don’t see it. I do see Pittsburgh surrendering the division lead before the end of the month. RAVENS -6.5
Early Games (1:00PM ET)
Giants at Falcons
While everyone is getting out their letters to Santa, it may not be a bad idea to shoot an apology letter to the Atlanta front office. Sure, they’re the same folks that signed Kirk Cousins, but maybe they knew they screwed up only a month later and got to addressing the issue asap. Who knows? I can’t imagine a college veteran like Michael Penix Jr will be a disaster, especially against a mess of a team like the Giants. FALCONS -8.5
Lions at Bears
I’m not a huge Caleb Williams guy. I liked him as a freshman at Oklahoma but then thought the theatrics at USC were a bit much for a future franchise NFL quarterback. However, I’m not sure how you can watch his talent after 14 games and declare him a bust. Is this about the nail polish? I mean I don’t love it either, but Williams is supremely talented. If Chicago can get a tough-minded coach in the building I think they can settle Williams down a bit. I would still put my money on him being the best quarterback of the 2024 class. BEARS +7
Browns at Bengals
Cincinnati stays alive. With three weeks to go in the NFL season, I’m rooting for these three things more than anything else: 1. Saquon Barkley to break the rushing record. 2. The Eagles to get the top seed. (I know this should be one but Barkley deserves the record and the Eagles going to Detroit would save me thousands of dollars.) 3. The Bengals getting into the playoffs and ultimately finding their way to Buffalo for a Joe Burrow-Josh Allen showdown. The first of six steps happened Thursday night. This is step two. BENGALS -8.5
Titans at Colts
Will Levis is a more talented and more deadly combination of Jake Delhomme and Nathan Peterman but with big muscles and dreamy hair. COLTS -3.5
Rams at Jets
Here’s my take on the Aaron Rodgers – Ryan Clark beef. Both are equally annoying. Both are equally star thirsty. Both have no idea how much everyone wishes they would just go away. Also, I know you don’t care at all, but I lost two fantasy football playoff matchups by a combined three points. Want to guess who was on the roster? Yup, Mr. zero yards, zero catches Cooper Kupp. RAMS -3
Eagles at Commanders
I can’t believe how little the NFL media talks about Quinyon Mitchell. I don’t think fans and the media understand how dominant he’s been this season, and to do it as a rookie is simply unbelievable. The great Brian Dawkins made an excellent point this week in regards to Mitchell. He said once he starts finding the football, he’ll become an even greater weapon because his half of the field will be ignored even more than it is now. I know a rookie cornerback would never win NFL Defensive Player of the year, but I think he should definitely finish among the top finalists. As for the game, Washington will work tirelessly to get Terry McLaurin away from Mitchell. He was almost a zero last time these teams met. If McLaurin isn’t producing the Commander offense crumbles. If the Eagles contain the run and conversely run it effectively on offense I don’t think Washington stands much of a chance. EAGLES -3.5
Cardinals at Panthers
Bryce Young had his worst game in months and I still didn’t think it was that awful. He was under heavy pressure all day and the run game failed Carolina for the third time in four weeks. This is a must-win for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals and I don’t expect the Panthers to roll over. PANTHERS +4.5
Afternoon Games (4:05PM ET)
Vikings at Seahawks
It’s amazing how bad the drop off is from NFL starting quarterback to backup. I know backups don’t get as many reps in practice and are by designation less talented, but that Sam Howell performance last Sunday night was dreadful. I’ve seen that guy tear up an NFL defense before and he couldn’t even complete 36% of his passes against the Packers. I don’t know if that’s a bigger indictment on him or the coaching staff, but the Seahawks were not out of that game and Howell threw for 24 yards on 14 attempts over six drives. Wooof. SEAHAWKS +3
Patriots at Bills
I was wrong about the Amari Cooper addition. I thought he’d be a game-changer for the Bills and he’s just an afterthought. I always remind myself that no midseason wide receiver acquisition ends up mattering and I was blinded by Josh Allen’s excellence. BILLS -14
Jaguars at Raiders
I don’t care. JAGUARS +1.5
49ers at Dolphins
Brock Purdy getting all ten of his offensive lineman new Toyota trucks/SUVs was a bold move by a guy without a contract after next year. I know he has a marketing deal with Toyota but I’m not sure Purdy has the same long term big money deal coming that he may have expected back in September. Will he still be able to afford ten vehicles? Absolutely. The point is Purdy’s play this season has left the 49ers in a situation where there QB position may not be as settled as they once thought (or hoped). 49ERS +1
Sunday Night (8:20PM ET)
Buccaneers at Cowboys
Mike McCarthy flirting with a winning season is really impressive. That team has been a mess since the summer. They didn’t sign any impact free agents. Their franchise quarterback was inconsistent even before his injury. The defense has been ravaged by injuries and here they are in Week 16 mathematically still alive in the playoff hunt. You don’t win as many games as McCarthy has won in Dallas by accident. I know Cowboy fans want him gone but he’s probably the most stable thing about that franchise, and bringing in a new coach could be a disaster with that circus. COWBOYS +4
Monday Night (8:15PM ET)
Saints at Packers
The Eagles aren’t Super Bowl contenders without Saquon Barkley. The Packers aren’t in the same conversation without Josh Jacobs. Jacobs doesn’t have the gaudy numbers like Barkley, but he deserves to be mentioned in the MVP race nonetheless. What a gutsy call by Packers GM Brian Gutekunst. Just giving big money to a running back in 2024 required some courage, but to release a beloved Packer like Aaron Jones and hand the reins to Jacobs was the gutsiest move of the NFL offseason. PACKERS -14