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| Playing in a winter wonderland? Bills-Colts fulfilled every childhood's dream - or at least mine - by playing in a snow storm (Getty Images). |
Ten nuggets from the
week
The Cleveland Browns infamy continues, becoming the first
franchise to begin consecutive seasons 0-13. Hue Jackson is now 1-28 as its
head coach…
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never lost at home when leading
by 14 at any point in the game in franchise history. They are now 216-0-2 in
those games…
The Bills and Colts combined for 97 rush attempts (while
playing in a snow storm) – the most in a game since 1981 (NFL Research)…
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson connected with Paul Richardson
(61 yards) and Tyler Lockett (74 yards) for scores in the fourth quarter –
giving him an NFL record 17 TD’s in the fourth quarter this season (Elias)…
Browns WR Josh Gordon caught his first TD pass since week 15
of 2013 – 1,456 days. Just in case you’re wondering, Jason Campbell was the QB
(ESPN)…
With their ninth win, Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny –
playing in his 11th season – clinched his first winning season as a
pro…
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for 506 yards against
the Ravens, giving him the most games (3) with 500+ passing yards in NFL
history…
Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald passed Randy Moss for third on
the all-time receiving yards list. He also leads the NFC in receptions with 87…
Patriots QB Tom Brady fell to 7-9 all-time in Miami, and has
four of his last five…
Dolphins CB Xavien Howard had two interceptions of Brady,
giving him four in his last two games. He didn’t have any in his first 18
career games (NFL Research).
Five Takeaways
5. Offensive
explosion? Not in this rivalry, right?
Coming into Sunday, four out of the last five contests between
Baltimore and Pittsburgh had been decided by one score. Week 14 was no
different… except for the score. For two teams that pride themselves on having
tough defenses, neither showed up on Sunday, as the two combined to score 77
points (39-38) – the most in the history of their storied rivalry – and tally 958
total yards. Up until this game, the Ravens had yet to allow a 300-yard passer
this season. Big Ben erupted for 506 (on 66 pass attempts!). Per usual, Antonio
Brown was the main beneficiary, hauling in 11 for 213 yards. Meanwhile, the
Ravens put up 413 yards of total offense (far more than their season avg. of
288.5). It seems that both offenses are starting to gain momentum at just the
right time. Now… if only their defenses could get back on track. They'll need to in order to make a run.
Fun Fact: For the second consecutive season, the Steelers
clinched the AFC North against the Ravens… on a game winning drive.
4. The Jaguars are legitimate
contenders in the AFC
Wait. The team that just clinched their first winning season
in a decade (since 2007)?
Don’t look now but three out of the last four teams to lead
the league in scoring defense have made it to the Super Bowl (albeit with QB’s
named Brady and Wilson). The Jaguars lead the league in that category, allowing
just 15.5 points to opposing offenses. Furthermore, they are top-5 in just
about every defensive statistical category, most notably leading the NFL in
pass defense (174.2 YPG), sacks (47), & takeaways (30). Yes, Blake Bortles
is still the man behind center, but if there has been a recipe for success, it
has been leaning on their top-ranked running game (averaging 149.9) and their
great defense (+14 in turnover margin). So far, it has led to nine wins,
including Sunday’s statement win over NFC power Seattle.
Will Bortles have to do more in the playoffs? Absolutely. Which
is a scary thought to Jags fans. But right now, this defense (and running game)
is playing with a chip on its shoulder, and has the potential to give other
teams fits in the postseason.
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| The Jaguars are quietly becoming contenders in the AFC (firstcoastnews.com). |
Fun Fact: The Jaguars have tripled their win total from a
season ago, including wins over perennial playoff powers – Pittsburgh,
Baltimore and Seattle.
3. Rivers/LA surging
Philip Rivers is leading an impressive second half charge for the Bolts. And it has them
right in the middle of the playoff (and division) race. After starting the season 0-4, the Chargers have won seven of
their last nine, with Rivers being the catalyst. In his last four games (all
wins), the great competitor is 96-of-139 (69%) for 1,348 yards (337 avg.) and
eight touchdowns (no INTs). He has ignited and elevated a team that was once an
afterthought. Backed by an improving defense, LA has won their last
four by an average margin of victory of 19.5 points.
This is a team that has all the pieces to make a deep run
come January: a franchise QB, star playmakers (Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon)
with a supporting cast, a dynamic pass rush (Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram), and a
formidable secondary. And don’t think it’s not in the back of Rivers’ mind. One
thing that has eluded his illustrious career: playing in the Super Bowl.
The quest begins this Saturday when they travel to Kansas
City for a huge AFC West showdown.
Fun Fact: Philip Rivers is the third QB in NFL history to pass
for at least 3,500 yards in ten consecutive seasons, joining Peyton Manning and
Drew Brees (Schefter).
2. Phins/Gase make
statement
Entering Monday night, primetime had been disastrous for the
Dolphins this season (outscored 112-45 in three games). A matchup with the
heavily favored Pats was bound to add to the misery. Instead, donning the best
throwback uniforms in the NFL (or all of sports for that matter), the Phins played
inspired football – much like that of the ’72 team – taking it to their arch nemesis
from New England. From the opening kickoff, the Dolphins played with an attitude, thoroughly outplaying the
Pats in every facet of a convincing win.
Here’s an inside look into just how dominant the Dolphins
were:
- The Phins held the Patriots to just two total yards in the
first quarter, the lowest the team had in any first quarter since 1998, when
they had two yards against the… Dolphins.
- New England was 0-for-11 on third downs – the first time
in Brady’s career that he failed to convert a third down in a game – and the
first time the Pats failed to convert since 1991, when they went 0-for-6
against the Phoenix Cardinals (ESPN).
- The Pats were held to just 248 yards of offense (well below
their season avg. of 413.2), including 25 yards on the ground, and it would
have been worse if it weren’t for garbage time.
- Brady was a meager 24-of-43 (55%) for 233 yards, 1 TD, and
2 INT’s - the only game this season he's thrown multiple picks.
- Dolphins QB Jay Cutler picked apart the Patriots secondary,
going 25-of-38 (65.7%) for 263 yards and 3 TD’s, while RB Kenyan Drake (making just his
second start) shredded the opposition by tallying 193 yards on 30 touches.
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| Behind Landry's 2 TD's and a suffocating D, the Phins shocked the Pats on MNF (PalmBeachPost). |
For what has been a disappointing season in South Beach, this
was a performance that gives Dolphins fans hope for the future. It was a brand of football not seen all season, and you could argue even all of last season. It was a sign
that when players buy into Gase’s philosophy, it can lead to promising results. Now it’s
just a matter of consistency.
Fun Fact: This season, the Dolphins have defeated both representatives
from last year’s Super Bowl (Atlanta, New England).
1. AB for MVP
Everyone wants to designate one QB or another for this
season’s MVP – Wentz (before injury), Wilson, or Brady. It should come as no
surprise, as nine out of the last ten players to win the league’s MVP have been
signal callers (the lone exception being RB Adrian Peterson in 2012). And while
each have had remarkable seasons, the award often overlooks deserving players at other positions.
Enter Steelers WR Antonio Brown.
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In his last four contests (all wins), Brown has tallied a
staggering 39 catches for 627 yards (156.8) and six scores. More importantly, he
has come through with the game on the line, setting up three consecutive game-winning drives with his sure hands and athletic prowess along the sideline. Diving
further, the receiver has just two drops in 160 targets. TWO.
Yes, the NFL is a QB driven league, but it’s time to give
credence to players dominating the game outside of the QB position.
Brown deserves to be the league's MVP - at the least in the
discussion.
Fun Fact: A wide receiver has never won the NFL MVP.
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