As the playoffs approached, Magic Johnson always proclaimed it “Winning Time”. It is now December in the NFL season, and the two Bill’s, Belichick and Parcells, always said this is when the season really began. Many teams helped themselves greatly this week with wins.
Here are the major winners and losers from Sunday:
The Winners:
Houston Texans:
The Texans haven’t been playing great as of late, but they were able to do enough on Sunday to sneak by the Jaguars 23-20. They are now 8-5 and, with four games to go, still have a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts. QB CJ Stroud had an efficient 22-34 for 242 yards and a TD. Joe Mixon gained 101 yds on the ground with a rushing TD. Stroud’s main target was Nico Collins, who caught eight passes for 101 yards.
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts are doing all they can to stay in the AFC South race as well as a wildcard spot. They are sitting at 6-7 after their last-second win against the Patriots. On their last drive, they methodically pushed their way down the field in an impressive 19-play drive, which ended with a TD and daring 2-pt conversion. It secured a 25-24 victory.
Although QB Anthony Richardson still only completed half his passes and threw two interceptions, when it mattered most, he was excellent. He threw two TD passes and ran for another.
Los Angeles Chargers:
In years past if you were to tell me the Chargers would win a game without an offensive TD and QB Justin Herbert passing for under 150 yards, I wouldn’t believe you. However, this version of the Chargers has a completely different culture under HC Jim Harbaugh. Frankly, they didn’t do much of anything well…only rushing for 56 yards. The only bright spot was rookie WR Ladd McConkey, who caught nine of Herbert’s 16 completions for 117 yds. Their 8-4 is currently good enough for the fifth seed in the AFC.
Seattle Seahawks:
Conversely, Seattle’s 7-5 record is good enough for first place in the NFC West and a home playoff game if the season ended today. Granted, their lead is perilous, with the Rams and Cardinals on their heels, both sitting at .500 with a 6-6 record.
They, like the Chargers, were quite ordinary on Sunday. Geno Smith was an efficient 20-31 with 206 passing yards and did manage to find the endzone once. They only combined for 84 rushing yds, with Zach Charbonnet scoring a rushing TD.
Washington Commanders:
The Commanders had appeared to plateau, with their rookie QB Jayden Daniels hitting a wall. There’s an expression that says there’s nothing better for a slump than facing a bad team…” Slump busters,” they are called: enter the Tennessee Titans. As impressive as Daniels was, completing 25-30 passes with three TDs, the real star of the game was the rushing attack. Aside from Daniels three passing TDs, the Commanders also rushed for three TDs, with Daniels scoring one himself. Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr each added one as well, and overall, the team rushed for 267 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
This was an interesting game for the Steelers. After their improbable win over the Ravens, followed by their equally improbable loss against the Browns, it was a bit of a mystery as to what Steelers team would show up on Sunday. After putting up 44 points, it was clear which team showed up.
Russell Wilson looked like vintage MVP Wilson, passing for 414 yards and three TDs. And as gaudy as the overall numbers were, no player had over 100 yds in rushing or receiving. It was a well-balanced attack that saw Wilson complete passes to 10 different receivers.
Minnesota Vikings:
Now sitting at 10-2, they are the most unfortunate team to be playing in the NFC North, looking up at the Lions. It took everything for them to win this week. They played a spirited Cardinals team who was ahead heading into the fourth quarter, and it took a Sam Darnold TD pass with 1:13 left in the game for the Vikings to prevail 23-22.
Los Angeles Rams:
Somehow, the Rams are still in the playoff race. They do have the heart of a champion, led by resilient QB Matt Stafford. On Sunday, he was an efficient 14-24 with 183 tds and two TDs. RB Kyren Williams managed to control the offense for the Rams, rushing the ball 15 times for 104 yards and a TD. It feels like their only path will be to win the NFC West, but if they get there, they will be a tough out for whomever they face.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Baker Mayfield wasn’t particularly good in this game, but his main target Mike Evans was great. Evans caught eight passes for 118 yards and a TD. But I feel like I am saying it more and more: the star of this game was the running attack. Bucky Irving and Rachaad White combined for 228 yds with Irving rushing for a TD. With Atlanta’s loss, the Bucs find themselves tied for first place with a 6-6 record.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles offense only combined for 258 total yards. And yet again, it was the running game leading the way. Jalen Hurts only needed to pass for 118 yards. Saquon Barkley further bolstered his MVP chances, rushing for 107 yards and a TD. They are three losses ahead of the Commanders with four weeks to go and have basically locked up the no.2 seed in the NFC, with an outside chance at grabbing the top spot and a bye. That is what they are still playing for. If the top spot vanishes, look for them to rest up down the stretch.
The Losers:
Atlanta Falcons:
Somehow, the Falcons are still tied for first place, sitting at .500 with a 6-6 record. Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions, effectively killing any chance for the Falcons to win this game. As it is, they only lost 17-13 due to the Chargers ineffectiveness.
Cincinnati Bengals:
At 4-8, the Bengals are all but out of the playoffs. They continue to find new and unusual ways to lose. With a pt differential of only -5, in fairness, they should have a better record, but something is missing. It doesn’t help matters that their September’s are constantly abysmal. Their hole is just too far to climb out of each season. On Sunday Joe Burrow threw three TDs and had yet another 300 yd passing game, but it wasn’t enough.
Arizona Cardinals:
The Cardinals had a lead at the half, and heading into the fourth quarter, but in the end, they lost by a point. Kyler Murray had a decent game, but in a league where so many games are decided by one score, every possession matters. Murray threw two important interceptions. The loss now has the Cardinals looking up at the Seahawks.
Baltimore Ravens:
I may be Lamar Jackson’s biggest detractor. For all his supposed greatness, the next big game he wins will be his first. The Ravens now have five losses on the season and find themselves two losses behind the Steelers. And if the playoffs began today, they would be going to Pittsburgh. On Sunday, they clearly faced a better and stronger team. And although the Ravens didn’t do anything glaringly wrong or bad, Jackson just couldn’t make enough winning plays.
San Francisco 49ers:
The 49ers now find themselves two games behind the Seahawks. And Christian McCaffrey is again out for what looks like the next six weeks…effectively making it a year-end knee injury. Call it a Super Bowl slump, call it injuries, call it whatever you want…something has been off with this team all season. I don’t think it’s time to clean house, but it does feel like this window is closing fast, or maybe has already closed.
