While watching the eyesores that passed for football games between the Broncos and Rams and Cardinals and Bucs yesterday afternoon and evening, I wondered briefly if the NFL will ever consider going back to a 16-game schedule. I ruled it out because, you know, money, but it definitely feels like there's a week too much football. For teams, players, and maybe us fans, too.
The extra week hasn't created more great football, it's (seemingly) resulted in more tired, worn-down, banged-up teams, and just an extra week of meaningless games. As is the case every year, at this point in the season you've got say 8-10 sure playoff teams and 6-8 teams fighting for the final 4 spots. That leaves some 12-14 teams playing meaningless games. Do we really need an extra week of that?
Falcons at Ravens: As anticipated, not much passing, and even less good passing, in this game. Drake London was good, but that was about it. Baltimore's offense didn't do much either, but a nice week to start kickers. Baltimore will be playing Pittsburgh in primetime this Sunday, and we can only hope Lamar Jackson is back on the field.
Lions at Panthers: So a bad call in this game, with us believing the Lions defense would show up and play like it had for the previous month, with the team suddenly in great shape for a playoff spot. Instead they went out and allowed Carolina to run for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns. Shocking production, which worked out well for Jared Goff and a tight end who no one, anywhere, even rostered in Shane Zylstra (3 TDs), but nobody else. Bad day at the office for Dan Campbell's team and any other Lion besides Goff and a couple of wideouts (decent yards, but they didn't score).
Bills at Bears: Hope nobody benched Josh Allen. Conditions were bad and overall passing numbers were down, but Allen between the touchdowns and the rushing was fine anyway. So were his running backs, a matchup Detroit will presumably take advantage of this week. Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox were the receivers who worked out; Stefon Diggs did not. I still won't be starting Davis anytime soon, but I guess I'll stop ripping him.
Saints at Browns: Weather concerns were also valid for this game, with the teams combining to pass for 227 yards. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill panned out as runners, while Nick Chubb was decent, albeit without scoring. New Orleans somehow alive for a playoff spot, although I think the odds are pretty remote with Tampa Bay and Carolina (who are a combined 3-0 against them) playing each other this week.
Seahawks at Kansas City: Cold temperatures probably factored into both offenses underperforming in this game. I for one am tired of starting Isiah Pacheco, since Kansas City never seems to have any interest in letting its main runner just punch the ball in near the goal line, instead letting Patrick Mahomes roll out, or running end-arounds with random unstartable wide receivers, or letting Jerick McKinnon get those scores (even though he, too, didn't do much). Seattle probably missed Tyler Lockett, though Kenneth Walker was a lot better than I anticipated. Seattle reeling and now needs help to make the playoffs; not sure anyone outside Seattle really wants to see them get in.
Giants at Vikings: Huge numbers by the Giants' lesser passing game, which we've seen pretty much everyone do against the Vikings, and why guys like Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins were ranked favorably and why Green Bay wideouts will get similar treatment this week. Minnesota wins on yet another final-minute drive, and I think Vikings fans have to be at least hoping they save some of this magic for the postseason, right? Though I guess they still have a shot at the No. 1 seed and first-round bye, so they've got to keep playing. And they'd probably like to end Green Bay's playoff hopes this week. Anyway, New York still looking good for a playoff spot, which hosting the Colts this week will probably make look even better.
Bengals at Patriots: Weird game, with the Bengals absolutely dominating the first half and then letting the Patriots come all the way back to what should have been a win until Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled near the goal line in the final minute. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in not caring much if the Patriots lose some tough games; I know I'm a little weary in seeing Mac Jones grouse about every incomplete pass. He says he's showing fire and passion, OK. Bengals host the Bills and Ravens the final two weeks, tough closing slate. Patriots still alive for a playoff spot after the Dolphins stumbled yesterday. But not a pretty team to watch.
Texans at Titans: Speaking of not pretty to watch. Malik Willis versus Davis Mills. Credit to Mills for leading the surprising late touchdown drive in this one, as again the Titans start out strong with Derrick Henry leading the way and gradually fritter things away. Maybe Tennessee should have had a better backup quarterback plan than a third-round rookie who can't throw the ball, just thinking out loud here. Jacksonville should win this division and I think everyone (even Titans fans?) is hoping for that.
Commanders at 49ers: Taylor Heinicke is a nice story but at times his internal clock doesn't seem to move at the right speed, which led to some sacks and turnovers and opened the door for Ron Rivera to bring back Carson Wentz. Rivera, in my opinion, has been a factor in some of Washington's close losses himself. Somehow Washington still makes the playoffs if they win out, and gets a seemingly favorable matchup against Cleveland this week. San Francisco looks like maybe the NFC's best team right now, though I suppose Vikings and Eagles (and Cowboys?) fans might disagree.
Eagles at Cowboys: This was a fun one, with it clear from the outset that offenses would be ahead of defenses. Turnovers loomed large, with defenses giving up plenty of yard and points but also making plays. Seems like these teams should maybe meet in the playoffs (the Cowboys, certainly, should win their first game at the NFC South winner), but I guess the Eagles first need to destroy the Saints this week. Which they should do, but any given Sunday. I don't imagine we'll see Jalen Hurts before the postseason.
Raiders at Steelers: Pittsburgh winning a low-scoring battle with a late drive was fairly predictable. Some job Mike Tomlin has done somehow getting this team in a situation where it can make the playoffs. They're at Baltimore this week and that's a winnable game, but clearly there will not be too much scoring.
Packers at Dolphins: The best of the Christmas Day games by far, with lots of back-and-forth action and big plays from both sides. The only real surprise was Tua Tagovailoa disintegrating into a 3-interception meltdown late. I'd seen an item recently saying that Tagovailoa must lead the league in dropped interceptions. Maybe it's the spin of the ball from a lefty quarterback. In any case they weren't dropping them yesterday. Green Bay very much alive for a playoff spot and the Dolphins now not looking quite so secure, since they need to go win at New England this week.
Broncos at Rams: How Russell Wilson could be as bad as he played in this game, throwing a pair of early picks that basically handed the Rams (and anyone who started Cam Akers or Tyler Higbee) the game, is hard to figure. How the Broncos can think about bringing back Nathaniel Hackett, who may be a very nice guy but has totally lost his team in unimaginable fashion since the outset is even harder to figure. Denver's offense has been lousy all along, this week it was their defense that got picked apart by Sean McVay's Baker Mayfield-led offense. What a wretched game.
Bucs at Cardinals: I suppose third-string quarterbacks are technically among the 96 best professional passers playing, but we can safely position Trace McSorley somewhere in the 90s. It was pretty painful watching him attempt to complete passes to DeAndre Hopkins (who I believe I called quarterback-proof, oops), but at least he had Greg Dortch around to catch 10 balls in a game no one started him in. The Bucs offense wasn't much prettier to watch, but as is so often the case, Tom Brady did enough to get his team the ugly win. At least all the running backs you could have started in this game did fine.
Monday, Monday: Feels like we've had a whole lot of football lately, and we have, but one more game before we can close the book on Week 16. Lots of key fantasy guys, too, at least on the Chargers side of the ball, and a couple of potential starters from the Colts. Hard to know which Colts team will show up, but I'm not terrible interested in investing too heavily in a Nick Foles led roster. Chargers 24, Colts 13.