What a weekend!  It is rare when a week gives you so many important games, and with the cherry on top – MNF – with a game for the ages.

                                                                                                                       (The Saints are actually the best team in NFL.)

Week 11 Review:

  • Seattle On the Verge – With a big game in Seattle hosting the Packers, the Seahawks won the near elimination game.  QB Russell Wilson and the gang bested Rodgers with a late drive to take the game, move to 5-5 and are in the conversation for a playoff berth.  The 27-24 win, the Seahawks move 1/2 game back and will clash with the Panthers who are ahead of them on the Wild Card standings.
  • Cowboys Now Favored to Win NFC East – The Cowboys are playing incredible defense with LB Leighton Vander Esch in the middle with LB Jaylon Smith, plus RB Zeke Elliott is being fed.  The Cowboys are now 5-5 with their big win over Atlanta on the road, 22-19, but more importantly, Redskins’ QB, Alex Smith broke his leg for the division leader.  Watch out for the ‘Boys.
  • Colts Own the Titans – Colts’ QB Andrew Luck is still undefeated against the Tennessee Titans.  Luck has now not been sacked for 23 straight quarters, and the defense knocked out Titans’ QB Marcus Mariota and housed them 38-10.  Colts are now 2 games back of Houston in the division and at 5-5 are in the mix for the final Wild Card spot.
  • Bears Rule NFC North – On Sunday Night Football, the Bears took care of business and really dominated the Vikings until a couple of late scores by the Vikings’ offense, 25-20.  The Bears are now 7-3 with a 2-1 record in the Division.  They are in the driver’s seat for the Division and their first playoff berth in almost a decade.
  • Saints are the Best Team in the NFL – With their 9th straight win, the Saints completely destroyed the Super Bowl Champs, Philly, 48-7.  The worst loss by a defending Super Bowl Champ in NFL history.  QB Drew Brees should be the MVP this year.  Yes, Mahomes has been great, but is anyone playing at Brees’ level?  He is almost at 3000 yards, 25 TDs and 1 INT?  He is passing everyone in the record books and looks primed for another Super Bowl run.
  • Game of the Millennium? Hard to argue, this is the way the NFL is moving.  Kansas City at the LA Rams with the game moved from Mexico City gave us a treat.  The closing Over/Under was the highest in NFL history at 63.5, but that wasn’t close.  54-51 final score, the first time both teams have scored 50 or more in a game in NFL history.  Over 1000 yards, 14 TDs in the game including 3 defensive TDs.  QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 478 yards, 6 TDs, but 3 costly INTs and 2 fumbles, while QB Jared Goff was cleaner with 413 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs and 2 fumbles.  Strangely, Rams’ RB Todd Gurley was a low factor here, but the game was like a Big 12 football game.  Maybe we get this rematch in February.

Week 12 Preview:

With the 2 big boys on bye – Rams and Chiefs, there are plenty of huge match ups.

  • Redskins at Cowboys (-7.5) Total 40.5 – This is a game for the Division really.  On Thanksgiving day, the Cowboys will need to follow their formula and take on back up QB Colt McCoy for the Redskins.  Game is slated for 4:30 PM Eastern/3:30 PM Central right during your Thanksgiving dinner on FOX.
  • Seahawks at Panthers (-3.5) Total 47.5 – Another elimination type game for the Wild Card.  The Seahawks are playing very solid defense and running the ball down opponents throats.  The Panthers hit the skids on the road in back to back losses to the Steelers and Lions.  They are better at home, so this one should be a good one.  1 PM Eastern/12 Noon Central on FOX – check local listings.
  • Packers at Vikings (-3.5) Total 47.5 – The Pack have really one last gasp to stay in the playoff picture.  These two teams tied in Week 2, but that Packer secondary is really depleted, and the Vikings are stinging after the loss to the Bears.  Vikings get back to back Sunday Night Football tilts – 8:20 PM Eastern/7:20 PM Central on NBC.
  • Titans at Texans (No Line or Total until Mariota news) – Huge game in the AFC South.  The Titans took it on the chin at Colts, and now with Mariota likely not playing are in a desperate situation.  Somehow, the Texans have won 7 straight with several rabbits out of their helmets.  It may not be like this past Monday Night Football game, but it is an important game in that division and Wild Card.  Monday, 8:15 PM Eastern/ 7:15 PM Central on ESPN.

NFL Index Week 12

NFL Index W12

Top 5 Teams per Index

  1. Bears – Maybe the Index knows something, as the Bears really dominated the Vikes in all aspects.  The score was not indicative of the control the Bears had in the game.  The Bears are #1 in TO Differential at +13.
  2. Saints – New Orleans has been playing the best in the NFL for weeks now.  Their metrics have now caught up with back to back blow out wins, this time over Philly.  Saints are #1 in Scoring at 37.8 and #1 in Scoring Differential at 13.9 (that’s 2 TDs).
  3. Steelers – The Steelers trailed 16-0 and probably should have lost to the Jags, but FGs don’t win NFL games.  Big Ben took his lumps and brought his team back to take their 6th straight game.  Steelers are in the Top 10 in every category but TO Differential who are 21st at -3.
  4. Chargers – The Chargers lack the coaching and execution of the top teams giving the Broncos enough time to win the game Sunday.  Still, the Chargers are playing solid football and lead the Wild Card standings.  Chargers are solid across the board with their best ranks at 7th in Yards Gained (400.8) and Points Against (20.9).
  5. Rams – With the big win in the MNF gala, the defense was the difference forcing +3 TOs that led to points.  Rams are 2nd in Yards Gained (448.6), 3rd in Scoring (35.4), 4th in Scoring Differential (9.8) and 4th in TO Differential (+11).

(Chiefs drop to 11th with their poor defensive metrics and -3 TO Differential)

Bottom 5 Teams

28.  Bengals – Somehow still in the Wild Card mix, the Bengals are playing poorly on both sides of the ball – 27th in Yards Gained (329.3), 31st in Points Allowed (31.2) and 32nd in Yards Allowed (449.4).

28.  Bills – No surprise here, with the now worst NFL offense – 32nd in Yards Gained (268.6) and Points Scored (13.7).

30.  Jets – Another AFC team, shocker, the offense isn’t good at 30th in Yards Gained (299.4), but a -7 TO Margin with Darnold doing most of that has killed this team.

31.  Cardinals – Yes, the Cards lost the Toilet Bowl, but they still are a tick above the Raiders.  Their 31st Points Scored Per Game (14.5) holds them down with their 17th ranked Defense in Yards Against (359.7) and Points Against (24.8).

32.  Raiders – Why the Raiders actually tried to win that game at AZ was a mystery, but the last second FG win got them their 2nd (and probably final) win of 2018.  30th in scoring (17)and 30th in Points Against (29.3) kill this team in the metrics.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.