NFL: Week 12 Recap/Week 13 Key Matchups

The witching hour of the early games Sunday was just incredible, as the cream is rising to the top in the NFL.

Week 12 Recap

• Wild Finish in WAS – I’ve watched a lot of football in my life. I have never seen a final 2 minutes like I saw Sunday between WAS and DAL. The score was 10-9 going into the 4th Quarter in a punt fest. Then, it was insane. DAL led, 20-9 after a WAS fumble which looked like an insurmountable deficit with 5:16 to play. QB Jayden Daniels led a drive to cut the lead to 20-17 (2 point conversion worked), but then on the ensuing kickoff, KeVontae Turpin let the ball go between his legs, then he spun and took the ball to the house for a TD, 27-17 with 2:49 to play. WAS drove ball, but stalled for a FG to get to 27-20 with 1:44 to play, forced a 3 and out, punted to WAS to the 14 yard line with just 33 seconds to go. Daniels hit WR Terry McLaurin who cut and run up the sideline for a house call – 86 yards to score ready to tie the game, but K Austin Seibert hooked his 2nd PAT to not tie the game at 27-26 with 21 seconds. So, WAS had to do an onside kick, which DAL’s CB Juanyeh Thomas fielded on the run and took it back for a TD, which actually gave WAS another chance to tie the game with 14 seconds. Finally, Daniels could not hit the Hail Mary, and DAL won this crazy game that saw 41 points scored in the 4th Quarter and 31 points in the final 3:02, 34-26.
• Bears Crush Souls Again – MIN came into CHI at 8-2, and through 3 Quarters, it certainly looked like they were the better team with a 24-10 lead. Then, CHI unleashed QB Caleb Williams who started chucking it. A TD to WR DJ Moore (missed 2 point conversion), MIN hit a FG with 2 minutes to go, but Williams had big completions to get in position to score and finally hit WR Keenan Allen for a TD (2 point attempted worked). Then, the improbable, in today’s NFL, it is nearly impossible to get the onside kick – only one this year so far – the Bears recovered one as the ball hit a MIN player. A big completion from Williams set up a 48 yard FG to force OT. The Bears won the coin flip, but went 3 and out, and MIN drove the field for a game winning FG to win, 30-27 – how many of these finishes can a Bears’ fan take….
• KC Did It Again – How many games can the Chiefs win in the final minute? Well, this year, it is every week it seems. This time at CAR, the Chiefs were winning 27-16 at the start of the 4th Quarter, but give QB Bryce Young credit, they drove the ball deep into KC territory for a FG at 12:41 remaining and then a game tying TD with a RB Chuba Hubbard run with 1:46 left at 27-27. No worries, QB Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 22 yards to get the ball into FG range, and KC hit a 31 yard FG to win the game, 30-27.
• Packers Crush Weak 49er Team – Going into the season, it did seem like the Super Bowl loser hangover would not happen to SF. However, injuries have plagued this team. QB Brock Purdy was ruled out on Friday and this line shot up to GB’s favor. DE Nick Bosa was also ruled out, and it was over. QB Brandon Allen didn’t play terribly, but GB’s D was able to stuff the run, and on D, the Packers did whatever they wanted converting 6 of 13 on 3rd down and converting 5 of 5 in the Red Zone for TDs in this 38-10 romp. SF is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs at 5-6 overall, 1-3 in the NFC West and 3-5 in the NFC.
• Seahawks Gut Out a Win – The NFC West is up for grabs with the SF decline. So, this game was the 1st place battle. It wasn’t pretty in this one. In fact, both teams did not crack 300 yards, but a huge mistake by AZ’s QB Kyler Murray in the 3rd Quarter as he flipped the ball lazily over the middle on the run became a Pick 6 and the difference in this one, as SEA went on to win the game, 16-6, which makes the Seahawks the current NFC West leader at 6-5.
• Saquon Did It – The Eagles sputtered early this year, but now they look like a Super Bowl contender and the reason is RB Saquon Barkley who is running wild. In this game, he was sublime where in the 2nd half, he ripped off runs of 70 and 72 yards en route to 255 yards (a PHL franchise record) along with 47 receiving yards. The Eagles D has also been dominant when they are ahead in the game – 5 sacks on QB Matthew Stafford. PHI won their 7th straight game, 37-20.
• Ravens Big Boy Chargers – The Ravens started slow, but RB Derrick Henry and Company were able to stack up 212 rushing yards on the Chargers. Plus, 13 – 4th Quarter points put the game out of reach for the Chargers winning, 30-23. The Ravens now at 8-4 have a chance to jump the Steelers if they can close down the stretch.

Predictions: S/U: 3-1, ATS: 3-1, Totals: 3-1 – I missed on AZ this week in that tight game. PHI-LAR put up a lot of points in that one, otherwise another strong week.

Wegs Index After Week 12

Week 13 Matchups – No Byes

• Dolphins at Packers (-3, 47 Total) – Thursday, 11/28 at 7:20 PM Central on NBC – The best game on Thanksgiving is the last one. The Fins have course corrected their season with 3 straight wins. This one is their biggest one, as the rest of their schedule is shaping up to be easier than expected. The Pack are really good at home, and they flexed over SF. I’m excited for this game. I think the spread is correct, and weather may have an impact here. I have to go with the Pack at home to win and Cover. So, GB wins, GB -3, Total Over 47.
• Steelers at Bengals (-2.5, 47 Total) – Sunday, 12/1 at 12 Noon Central on CBS – The Bengals are on life support for the playoffs. They absolutely need to win this football game or their season is over. PIT crashed back to earth in CLE, and I think I see a similar outcome here. CIN has been able to score on everyone, but it is about their D. Can CIN stop the big plays to Pickens? If they can, then CIN will win this one. I just haven’t seen it all year. HC Mike Tomlin is great as an underdog. So, I will not put hard earned money on them, but CIN win, CIN -2.5, Total Over 47.
• Cardinals at Vikings (-3.5, 45 Total) – Sunday, 12/1 at Noon Central on FOX – Really big game in the NFC playoff picture here. Cardinals fell short in SEA, so can they do better against a better D in MIN? Not sure. Kyler Murray looked a little shook up after the game, so I would monitor his health, but I like AZ with the points here. MIN should win the game here, but -3.5 is not a number I would lay. MIN does get back home for the first time in about a month, though, so maybe I’m not seeing this one right. Total Under 45. If Murray misses the game, then lay the points regardless of the number.
• Eagles at Ravens (-3, 51 Total) – Sunday, 3:25 PM Central on CBS – A potential Super Bowl matchup in this game, which is awesome. I think both teams are playing well, but the Eagles are white hot at this point. The real question in this game is can BAL stop Saquon and the run game, which opens up the entire PHI O. BAL is 2nd in Rush Yards Allowed per Game, so it will come down to Brown, Smith and Saquon in the passing game against that not as good pass D for BAL. On Offense, if the game is close, BAL can make plays. So, I think I would side with BAL winning the game, but I’ll hedge and take the points with PHI +3, Total Under 51, even though both teams can score.

We are really in it now. Happy Thanksgiving!

Wegs