We’ve reached the month of December and fairly the time within the NFL season.
Regardless that it is just the second day of this wonderful month we’ve got already seen two totally different snow video games and one workforce clinch a division title. The soccer is football-ing and for that we’re perpetually grateful.
Whereas a way of gratitude is nicely and good we even have some ideas on groups which can be failing in epic methods and have to carry them accountable for doing so. Mainly, we’ve got numerous opinions about numerous issues and have to get them out someplace.
Welcome to that someplace. That is The Skinny Publish and we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, are about to take you thru Week 13.
I take again what I mentioned final week concerning the Eagles and now I imagine they’re one of many high contenders within the NFL
Michael:
Final week, I mentioned how I didn’t imagine the Eagles had been as soon as once more among the finest groups within the NFL. After watching them dominate the Ravens on Sunday, I’ve to rescind my earlier feedback and agree with the unique declare by RJ.
The Eagles beat the Ravens 24-19, however Lamar Jackson threw his closing landing move to Isaiah Probably with three seconds left to make the rating look a bit prettier. In any other case, this was a double-digit win for Philly over an AFC contender.
Philadelphia’s protection held fridge-turned-running again Derrick Henry to 82 yards dashing and no touchdowns on high of protecting Jackson to only 40 yards on the bottom earlier than he ripped off a 39-yard scamper on the ultimate drive of the sport. This was an ideal efficiency by Vic Fangio’s unit. The offense wasn’t something spectacular outdoors of Saquon Barkley’s 107 yards and a landing, however they gained’t have to be if the complementary soccer continues.
RJ:
Clearly as our resident Dallas Cowboys particular person I maintain shut tabs on the Eagles and it’s demoralizing how totally different this 12 months feels for them.
On the floor, I believe the largest factor is that Saquon Barkley offers a closing aspect for them that they haven’t had previously, however greater than something I believe that they’ve lastly accepted that being boring or profitable in boring style is ok. Successful is all that issues.
Two years in the past, the Eagles stormed by everybody and I believe that if you find yourself THAT good (form of just like the Detroit Lions this 12 months) there’s an added stress akin to once we (Michael and I) had been rising up and dealing on our franchise mode groups in Madden.
You need to win in essentially the most epic approach with all the data smashed and all the excessive scores. That’s clearly cool, however if you swing for the fence to interrupt the house run document you allow your self susceptible to misses.
I’m afraid that this Eagles workforce lastly understands that.
Which of the present postseason-bound groups has the best probability to be one-and-done on this 12 months’s playoffs?
RJ:
The best reply right here is clearly a workforce who I precisely predicted to win their division final 12 months (verify the SB Nation archives, I dare you) within the Houston Texans. I used to be in earlier than everybody else and am sorry to say that I could also be out in that very same approach as nicely.
If there’s a paper tiger within the NFL proper now, then it’s simply Houston. They barely held on to beat the Jaguars and look prepared for this complete factor to be over with.
I’ve spoken.
Michael:
The Texans are an ideal selection right here. I’m stunned virtually each week to see them struggling towards groups I’d have in any other case predicted them to dominate. After what Stroud did as a rookie, I’d have assumed they’d take a giant step ahead and be one of many high groups within the AFC this season. Boy, had been we fallacious.
For the sake of not being repetitive, I’m going with — and I can’t imagine I’m saying this — my Los Angeles Chargers.
Look, this workforce has an ideal protection, however they’re really a fairly banged up workforce and nobody actually talks about it as a result of they’re nonetheless discovering a approach to achieve success. On the similar time, the aspect of the ball that’s really wholesome is the offense they usually’ve been actually up-and-down relying on the week. Most video games, they disappear within the second half after posting sturdy opening quarters.
That kind of soccer just isn’t conducive to postseason profitable. The Chargers offense had 4 drives within the second half towards the Falcons on Sunday. They had been all 4 performs or much less. They scored zero touchdowns. Justin Herbert has thrown for zero touchdowns in back-to-back video games, the latest of which got here towards the NFL’s Twenty fifth-ranked protection.
I simply don’t see how they flip it round quick sufficient with who they’ve. J.Okay. Dobbins gained’t return from IR till Week 17 and their receivers not identify Ladd McConkey wrestle to be constant week-to-week.
This simply screams like a shock playoff workforce who will likely be uncovered of their opening matchup.
Are the Steelers in the identical reduce because the Lions, Eagles and Payments?
Michael:
I’m really tremendous torn on this query. Each ounce of being would have mentioned no, however their newest win over the the Bengals has me prepared to alter my tune about my concept of this Steelers workforce. They’ve been an ideal defensive workforce that solely wanted to play clear — not stellar — to win video games this 12 months, but it surely seems to be like Russell Wilson has regained one thing near his prime kind and he’s a giant motive they’ve gained six of their final seven.
As of proper now, I’m comfy saying the Steelers are in the identical tier as these groups listed above, or at the least very adjoining. Over 400 passing yards and three touchdowns from Wilson in a 44-point efficiency by the offense is an efficient signal, regardless of the protection you performed. Nice groups must win video games it doesn’t matter what occasions transpire and thus far the Steelers have proven the way to win the shut wins, whether or not in shootout style or situations of a defensive tug-of-war.
RJ:
I’m going to say that the Steelers aren’t in the identical tier as the opposite would-be contenders, however I’ll hedge that by saying that I belief them essentially the most to show me fallacious, if that is smart.
Michael is correct in that tearing up any NFL protection is noteworthy, however the Bengals are horrendous nowadays. That context issues.
Nonetheless although, what Mike Tomlin and this complete group are doing is wonderful. I don’t know that there’s a playoff-level workforce with as a lot variance as they’ve proper now. They may storm by the complete match and it wouldn’t shock us and on the similar time they might rating 9 factors within the Wild Card spherical and get bounced at residence.
It’s stunning.
Ought to Kyle Shanahan be taking extra criticism?
RJ:
Simply talking off the highest of my head right here… there’s no one I can consider that appears extra aggravated by their reward than Kyle Shanahan. He seems genuinely bothered to have to make use of his soccer brilliance in entrance of the entire world.
That being mentioned, I really feel like we’re not coming at him sufficient as a soccer society. The offseason dialog will ultimately flip poisonous round Brock Purdy and the way you simply can’t pay him all of that cash when he didn’t elevate his workforce, however we’ve got spent the final half decade saying that Kyle Shanahan and his system had been quarterback-proof. Each can’t be the first perpetrator.
Past the truth that I believe Shanahan is failing his workforce when it comes to offensive design nowadays (you’ve been a bit discovered, Kyle… time to suppose just a little bit tougher!) he isn’t serving to issues by not enjoying good every time he’s behind a microphone. Historical past is written by the winners and if you win you may act as smug as you need, however the entire act feels drained and damaged proper now.
As a Cowboys fan… it truly is a disgrace!
Michael:
I haven’t thought a lot concerning the 49ers this season as they’ve change into boringly good the previous few seasons, however that positive doesn’t appear to be the case this 12 months. Each time I see them on tv, they’re dropping a recreation to a different workforce. How are the 5-7? I do know Christian McCaffrey is harm, however he isn’t the one good participant on the Niners. George Kittle? Deebo Samuel? Brandon Aiyuk performed seven video games earlier than he was harm. Trent Willliams has performed in 10.
Now what concerning the protection? Fred Warner? Nick Bosa? Dre Greenlaw?
I believe you’re completely proper. I actually haven’t heard a lot in the way in which of criticism for Kyle Shanahan and I believe it’s time we begin holding his nostril to the fireplace a bit. This workforce is coming off a Tremendous Bowl look. The drop-off in success is staggering. Will it actually result in extra quarterback discourse over the offseason? Would the 49ers actually contemplate transferring on from Brock Purdy, even when he’s below contract on a minimal deal in 2025? I assume I can’t say I’d be stunned about any of that. The NFL is a “what have you ever performed for me recently” league and if Purdy can’t flip it round, he’ll be on the middle of these talks concerning the workforce’s future. And to be trustworthy, Shanahan needs to be there too if the season continues the way in which it’s been going.
Or, you understand, possibly it’s only a fluke season they usually’ll be again to dominance subsequent season. Who really ever is aware of? However for now, these questions concerning the workforce are actual they usually’ll have to be addressed by season’s finish.
