It's December, and the NFL season is finally in full swing.
Even though it's only the second day of this glorious month, we've already seen. two One team wins a division title in various snow games. Football is football, and we are forever grateful for that.
Gratitude is good, but we also think about the teams who are failing spectacularly, and we have to hold them accountable. Basically, we have a lot of opinions about different things, and we need to get them out somewhere.
Welcome somewhere. this is skinny post We, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, are here to guide you through Week 13.
I take back what I said last week about the Eagles and now believe they are one of the top prospects in the NFL
Michael:
Last week, I said I couldn't believe the Eagles would be one of the best teams in the NFL again. After watching them dominate the Ravens on Sunday, I have to take back my previous comments and agree with R.J.'s original assertion.
The Eagles defeated the Ravens 24-19, but Lamar Jackson threw a final touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with three seconds left, making the score look a little sweeter. Otherwise, this was a double-digit win for Philadelphia over an AFC contender.
Philadelphia's defense held Fridge-turned-running back Derrick Henry to 82 yards rushing and no touchdowns, and held Jackson to just 40 yards the rest of the way before allowing a 39-yard rush on the final drive of the game. I stole the lamper. It was a great performance by Vic Fangio's unit. Other than Saquon Barkley's 107 yards and a touchdown, the offense was unremarkable, but it doesn't need to be if the complementary football continues.
RJ:
As a Dallas Cowboys resident, I keep an eye on the Eagles, and it's clear that I'm discouraged by what feels like a different atmosphere for the Eagles this year.
On the surface, I think the biggest point is that Saquon Barkley gives us a late-game element that we haven't seen before, but more than anything, they can't be boring and win in boring ways. I think I've finally accepted that it's not a problem. All that matters is winning.
Two years ago, the Eagles blew everyone away, but when they're that good (like the Detroit Lions this year), it's hard to say when we (Michael and I) were growing up and working on the franchise. I think there's a similar added pressure to the Madden mode team.
You want to break all records, get all high scores and win in the most epic way. That's obviously cool, but swinging for the fences to break the home run record makes it easy to whiff.
I think this Eagles team has finally understood that.
Of the teams currently in the postseason, which team has the best chance of making it to the playoffs this year?
RJ:
The easiest answer here is obviously the Houston Texans, the team I correctly predicted to win the division last year (check out the SB Nation archives, I dare you). I was there before others and I'm sorry to say I might miss it as well.
If there's a papier-mâché tiger in the NFL right now, it's definitely Houston. they are barely They hung on to beat the Jaguars and it looked like all of this was ready to end.
We talked.
Michael:
The Texans are a great choice here. I'm surprised almost every week to see them struggle against teams I expected to dominate. After what Stroud did as a rookie, I would have thought they would take a big step and be one of the top teams in the AFC this season. Hey, were we wrong?
To avoid repetition, I'm going to go to the Los Angeles Chargers – and I can't believe I'm saying this – I'm going to go to the Los Angeles Chargers.
This team has a great defense, but no one talks about it much because they're actually a pretty solid team and haven't found a way to be successful yet. At the same time, it's the offense that's really healthy with the ball, and it's very up and down depending on the week. In most games, they start well and then disappear in the second half.
That kind of football doesn't contribute to winning in the postseason. In Sunday's game against the Falcons, the Chargers' offense had four drives in the second half. Both required four plays or less. They scored zero touchdowns. Justin Herbert has thrown zero touchdowns in back-to-back games, the most recent of which came against a defense ranked 25th in the NFL.
I don't understand how they turn their team around so quickly. J.K. Dobbins won't return from IR until Week 17, and the receiver named Ladd McConkie has struggled to maintain consistent performance week after week.
This just screams like a surprise playoff team that will be exposed in the opening game.
Do the Steelers have the same berth as the Lions, Eagles, and Bills?
Michael:
Actually, I am very worried about this question. Anyone would say no, but after seeing the recent win over the Bengals, I'm ready to change my mind on this Steelers team. They've been a great defensive team that just needs clean plays (not great plays) to win games this year, but Russell Wilson seems to be back to something close to his true form, and he's helped them a lot. The last seven points were a big reason why the team was able to win six games.
At this point, I think we can say the Steelers are on the same level as the teams above, or at least very adjacent. No matter how the defense plays, Wilson's 44-point performance with over 400 passing yards and three touchdowns bodes well for the offense. Good teams have to win games no matter what happens, and the Steelers have shown how to win in close games, whether it's in a shootout or a defensive tug-of-war.
RJ:
I want to say the Steelers. it's not I'm on the same level as the other candidates, but I put it by saying I have the most confidence in them to prove me wrong, if that makes sense. Avoid.
Michael is correct that tearing apart NFL defenses is remarkable, but the Bengals have been terrible lately. The context is important.
Still, what Mike Tomlin and this whole group are doing is amazing. I don't know if there's a playoff-level team that has this much dispersion right now. They could go on a rampage throughout the tournament and that wouldn't shock us, but at the same time they could get 9 points in the wild card round and get bounced at home.
It's beautiful.
Should Kyle Shanahan be criticized more?
RJ:
Just talking off the top of my head here…I can't think of anyone who seems more irritated by their gift than Kyle Shanahan. He seems genuinely troubled by having to display his soccer talent in front of the whole world.
Having said that, I feel like we as a football society haven't approached him enough. The offseason conversation will ultimately be toxic over Brock Purdy and his inability to pay all that money when he didn't energize the team, but we've spent the last five years with Kyle Shanahan. And he kept saying his system was quarterback–evidence. It is not possible that both are the main culprits.
Beyond the fact that I think Shanahan has been failing the team lately in terms of offensive design (Kyle, you're starting to get a little bit…time for some serious thinking!), he's not playing well. does not solve the problem. Whenever he's behind the mic. History is written by the victors, and when they win they can act as self-righteous as they like, but right now the whole act feels tired and broken.
As a Cowboys fan…I'm so disappointed!
Michael:
I haven't thought much about the 49ers this season as they've gotten boringly good over the past few seasons, but that doesn't seem to be the case this year. Every time you watch them on TV, they lose the game to the other team. What about 5-7? I know Christian McCaffrey is injured, but he's not the only good player on the Niners. George Kittle? Deebo Samuel? Brandon Aiyuk played in seven games before getting injured. Trent Williams has played in 10 games.
Now, what about defense? Fred Warner? Nick Bosa? Dre Greenlaw?
I think that's exactly right. I haven't heard much criticism of Kyle Shanahan, but I think it's about time we listened to him a little bit. This team is about to play in the Super Bowl. The drop in success is staggering. Are we really going to see more quarterback discussions this offseason? Would the 49ers really consider moving Brock Purdy even if he had a minimum contract in 2025? I don't think I can say that I'm not surprised by that. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately?” league, and if Purdy can't turn things around, he'll be at the center of discussions about the team's future. And honestly, if the season continues as it is, Shanahan should be there too.
Or maybe this is just a fluke season and they'll be back in the ascendancy next season. Who really knows? But for now, these questions about the team are real and will need to be resolved before the end of the season.
