Week 14 Recap
Trouble in Carolina. After eight weeks, I proclaimed Cam Newton the NFL MVP. Since then, he is 0-5 and has thrown eight interceptions. The Panthers are 6-7 and their playoff hopes are all but dead. Ron Rivera has been at the helm in Charlotte for eight season. This type of collapse is one that few coaches survive.
Senselessness by New England. There were two plays on Sunday that doomed the Pats. First, and most obvious, was the final play in which Kenyan Drake housed it to give the Dolphins a one-point victory. On this play, Bill Belichick inexplicably had Rob Gronkowski in at safety. This would typically make sense in a Hail Mary situation, except Miami was at their own 30-yard line, meaning Ryan Tannehill, a quarterback known for his lack of arm strength, would have had to sling the ball 70 yards for Gronkowski’s presence to have made sense for New England. Instead, as I could have told you they would have done, the Dolphins checked the ball down, lateraled it a few times before Drake outran Gronk to the pylon. That was mistake number one. The second mistake, and one that has been overlooked, was Brady taking a sack in field goal range as the first half came to a close. Instead of throwing the football away, he stood too long in the pocket and was dragged down. This mistake, which is inexcusable for a rookie, let alone a 41-year old veteran, cost the Patriots three points. These are errors that the Patriots seemingly never make, but it cost them dearly in Miami.
The Saints offense has stalled. The Cowboys slowed down New Orleans last week and this week, the Saints offensive attack was stymied by the lowly Buccaneers. This is not a great cause for concern just yet, but if Drew Brees and company continue to struggle, they will have trouble going score for score with the Rams in January, if they can even make it that far.
The Steelers let one slip away and it is going to come back and bite them. There is no world in which this Pittsburgh team should lose to the Raiders. It is totally inexcusable. With New England and New Orleans looming, at 7-5-1, it is no guarantee that the Steelers make the postseason.
Amari Cooper is worth the first-rounder and then some. Dallas gave Oakland its 2019 first round pick for Cooper and he has settled in nicely with the Cowboys. In six games with the Raiders, Cooper had 22 receptions for 280 yards and one touchdown. Through six games with the Cowboys, he has 34 receptions for 642 yards, and six touchdowns. Dallas will claim the NFC East crown and Amari Cooper has a whole lot to do with that.
The Bears defense is the best in the NFL. What Khalil Mack and Chicago’s defensive front did on Sunday night to Jared Goff was downright nasty. In the playoffs, the Bears will need to get more from their offense to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but their defense will keep them in every game.
