There have been some low-scoring games this year, with defenses ahead of offenses, lots of field goals rather than touchdowns, and disappointing defensive/error-filled struggles. So yesterday? Aside from a pair of ugly bookends, yesterday was nice.
Indianapolis versus New England in Germany: That's two games in Germany and two games that were lower-scoring than anticipated. Maybe they'll try to fly even further around the world for an NFL game next year. This was perhaps the end of the Mac Jones era in New England, benched for the final series after badly underthrowing a pass for an interception at the goal line on the previous drive. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he thought Mike Gesicki would run his route differently, but it seems the coaching staff blames him. Bailey Zappe's game-ending pick was equally bad, though. Michael Pittman might have lost an early touchdown (before a Taylor score) by a ridiculously bad spot that wasn't challenged or even shown to us again by the broadcast. But a nice game for Pittman anyway, and Taylor. Rhamondre and Demario also good -- basically, all the guys you should have been starting.
Browns at Ravens: To indicate how nuts this game was, I had already mentally checked it off as a Ravens win, either when they were up 14-0, or 24-9, or 31-17. But they couldn't put the final stake in a limping and banged-up Deshaun Watson, who somehow pulled some crazy plays out of nowhere and brought the Browns back time and again for a shocking win. Ravens had a couple of bad breaks (ball tipped at the line for a pivotal interception, most notably) but they also just didn't put the Browns away. 100-yard game for Jerome Ford, touchdown (again) for Kareem Hunt, touchdowns for both Gus Edwards and explosive Keaton Mitchell. Good game for Amari Cooper and a touchdown for Elijah Moore. Big win for the Browns; crazy AFC North where all four in the playoff hunt.
Texans at Bengals: This game was bonkers, with Cincinnati scoring an opening-drive touchdown, Houston dominating from that point on, but C.J. Stroud (having another fantastic game) making a fourth-down gaffe with 4 minutes left and a 10-point lead, letting the Bengals back in. Joe Burrow made a couple of big throws, but kind of overshadowed by a couple of bad mistakes, and Cincinnati probably should have got in the end zone at the end for a 4-point lead in the final 2 minutes, settling instead for a short field goal. Tyler Boyd dropped one of the easier touchdown chances you'll ever see. Newly signed Matt Ammendola immediately on the spot, hits the clutch kick. Huge games for Texans Noah Brown, Devin Singletary and Tank Dell. Don't look now but the Texans are playoff contenders.
49ers at Jaguars: Talk about a get-right game for the 49ers. Coming out of their bye, everything in Brock Purdy's offense was clicking, and the defense harassed Trevor Lawrence into a terrible day that included a couple of really ugly interceptions. I drafted Lawrence as a starter in one league and needless to say that has not gone well. Too late in the season to think anything is suddenly going to change. Put the 49ers back in the discussion of Super Bowl favorites. The Jaguars, they still need to prove they're the best team in the AFC South. Didn't look like it yesterday.
Saints at Vikings: The legend of Joshua Dobbs continues to grow. Good game passing and running it, 2 total TDs, another Vikings win. Good game for Jordan Addison, monster game for T.J. Hockenson. Derek Carr injured on an ugly high-low hit, leading to Jameis Winston coming off the bench and having a classic Winston game -- 2 TDs, 2 interceptions, lots of chaos. Michael Thomas left early with injury, rough week for him. Chris Olave with a big game, nice rapport it seemed with Winston, if Carr is going to miss time. Quiet game for Taysom Hill, definitely started in most leagues this week.
Packers at Steelers: I will give some praise to Jordan Love, who made some good plays with his arm and his legs in this one. But...he also threw an interception on a late force to Christian Watson, when the team still had a chance to win, and then his game-ending pick was just not anywhere near a Green Bay receiver; just not good. For the Steelers, certainly not a lot of good from the passing game and Kenny Pickett this week. But both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris paid off, apologies to the people who I advised others over Warren this week. Guy looked great and got enough work, and a touchdown, that starting him paid off nicely. Najee also a pretty good game. Steelers keep winning close games.
Titans at Bucs: Will Levis has been impressive, but this game was a reminder that he's a rookie, and the Bucs have mostly played good defense all season. They bottled up Derrick Henry, and shut down the passing game too. As for Tampa, well, huge game for Mike Evans, which would have been even huger had he not dropped about the easiest touchdown in the middle of the end zone he's ever seen. Anyway, big game for the Bucs, Evans and Rachaad White with touchdown catches. Tampa Bay just 4-5 but legit candidates to win the NFC South at this point.
Falcons at Cardinals: Another close, competitive game that came down to the final play. And while the Falcons might have the overall more talented team and seem to be the only one of the two with any kind of playoff shot, the Cardinals made one more play to get the win. Nice return for Kyler Murray, with a touchdown run (replaced at the goal line for another one, a tush push play). Huge game for Trey McBride, enjoying a second-year breakout of late. Not much passing of any kind from the Falcons, with Taylor Heinicke leaving with a hamstring injury late and Desmond Ridder running in a score.
Lions at Chargers: There were several candidates, but this maybe qualifies as the game of the week. Justin Herbert and Jared Goff were both throwing darts for much of the game, Keenan Allen and Amon-Ra St. Brown were catching everything, and Jahmyr Gibbs scored a couple of 1-yard touchdowns while David Montgomery got stuffed twice at the goal line and then had one of the less-quick 75-yard breakaway touchdown runs you'll ever see. Lot of offense in this game, not much defense, and another high-scoring loss for the Chargers, they've had a couple. Fun to watch.
Giants at Cowboys: So I had this idea that the Cowboys would lean on the run and their dominant defense and Dak Prescott wouldn't have a big day. Instead, well, Dallas got stopped running the ball near the goal line on their first series, and suddenly the team was slinging it all over the yard and Prescott had a monster day. Seven touchdowns for Dallas...none scored by Tony Pollard. If you benched Dak, I hope you at least did so for Herbert or one of the other big passing days. Not much to say about the Giants, they scored all their points late and of the meaningless variety, like the rest of their season will be. Saquon Barkley only caught 1 pass, and since he also won't be scoring much, not a great sign for his value going forward.
Commanders at Seahawks: I've been occasionally skeptical of Sam Howell, and I've also been critical at times of Geno Smith. Well both guys had really good games, granted facing defenses that are not too special. With Howell, Eric Bienemy and this offense are doing something right (they've even made Brian Robinson into a productive pass catching back). With Smith, hey, clutch drive for the winning field goal, perfectly located late touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett for what seemed to be the game-winner briefly -- nice games, and good week to put either into lineups. Howell and Washington aren't going to the playoffs, but I'm now pretty sure he'll be their starting quarterback next season.
Jets at Raiders: If you'd just turned things off after the Chargers-Lions and Commanders-Seahawks games ended and gone to bed, that would have been OK. Instead we got this 16-12 affair, surprising to no one that there was just a single touchdown scored. But good to see Davante Adams looking like Davante Adams, and a decent rushing game from Josh Jacobs, too. The announcers were pointing out that Robert Saleh has said that New York's offensive struggles aren't all on Zach Wilson, which is true. But he's not an asset, and if you're not going to bring the offense any more than the Jacoby Brissetts, Teddy Bridgewaters and Taylor Heinickes of the world, you can't expect a lot of praise, either.
Monday, Monday: This has the potential to be an entertaining game, with both defenses giving up some production lately, and both quarterbacks capable enough. The Bills are the team that's home and presumably ready to show the world it's a legit Super Bowl contender, while the Broncos are realistically just hoping to put a better showing on film than in their last primetime affair, at Kansas City. I'm not really confident it's going to happen, but we can hope that Russell Wilson comes to play. Bills 26, Broncos 20.