We have now reached the month of December and fairly the time within the NFL season.
Regardless that it is just the second day of this superb month now we have already seen two completely different snow video games and one group clinch a division title. The soccer is football-ing and for that we’re perpetually grateful.
Whereas a way of gratitude is effectively 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, now we have numerous opinions about numerous issues and have to get them out someplace.
Welcome to that someplace. That is The Skinny Put up and we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, are about to take you thru Week 13.
I take again what I mentioned final week in regards to the Eagles and now I consider they’re one of many prime contenders within the NFL
Michael:
Final week, I mentioned how I didn’t consider the Eagles had been as soon as once more among the best 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 ultimate landing cross 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 speeding and no touchdowns on prime of conserving 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 a fantastic 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 should be if the complementary soccer continues.
RJ:
Clearly as our resident Dallas Cowboys particular person I hold shut tabs on the Eagles and it’s demoralizing how completely different this 12 months feels for them.
On the floor, I believe the most important factor is that Saquon Barkley supplies a closing component 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 trend is ok. Profitable is all that issues.
Two years in the past, the Eagles stormed via 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 wish to win in probably the most epic means 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 permit your self vulnerable to misses.
I’m afraid that this Eagles group lastly understands that.
Which of the present postseason-bound groups has the very best likelihood to be one-and-done on this 12 months’s playoffs?
RJ:
The simplest reply right here is clearly a group who I precisely predicted to win their division final 12 months (examine 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 means as effectively.
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 a fantastic selection right here. I’m stunned nearly 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 an enormous step ahead and be one of many prime groups within the AFC this season. Boy, had been we improper.
For the sake of not being repetitive, I’m going with — and I can’t consider I’m saying this — my Los Angeles Chargers.
Look, this group has a fantastic protection, however they’re really a fairly banged up group and nobody actually talks about it as a result of they’re nonetheless discovering a means to achieve success. On the similar time, the facet of the ball that’s really wholesome is the offense and so they’ve been actually up-and-down relying on the week. Most video games, they disappear within the second half after posting robust opening quarters.
That sort of soccer 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.Ok. Dobbins gained’t return from IR till Week 17 and their receivers not title Ladd McConkey battle to be constant week-to-week.
This simply screams like a shock playoff group who will probably be uncovered of their opening matchup.
Are the Steelers in the identical minimize 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 group. They’ve been a fantastic defensive group that solely wanted to play clear — not stellar — to win video games this 12 months, but it surely seems like Russell Wilson has regained one thing near his prime kind and he’s an enormous motive they’ve gained six of their final seven.
As of proper now, I’m snug 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 effective signal, irrespective of the protection you performed. Nice groups need to win video games it doesn’t matter what occasions transpire and to this point the Steelers have proven learn how to win the shut wins, whether or not in shootout trend or cases 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 probably the most to show me improper, if that is sensible.
Michael is true in that tearing up any NFL protection is noteworthy, however the Bengals are horrendous lately. 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 group with as a lot variance as they’ve proper now. They may storm via the whole 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 house.
It’s lovely.
Ought to Kyle Shanahan be taking extra criticism?
RJ:
Simply talking off the highest of my head right here… there’s no person I can consider that appears extra irritated by their present 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 aren’t coming at him sufficient as a soccer society. The offseason dialog will finally flip poisonous round Brock Purdy and the way you simply can’t pay him all of that cash when he didn’t carry his group, however now we have spent the final half decade saying that Kyle Shanahan and his system had been quarterback-proof. Each can’t be the first offender.
Past the truth that I believe Shanahan is failing his group by way of offensive design lately (you’ve been a bit found out, Kyle… time to suppose a little bit bit more durable!) he’s not serving to issues by not taking part in good each time he’s behind a microphone. Historical past is written by the winners and if you win you possibly can 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 in regards to the 49ers this season as they’ve grow to be boringly good the previous few seasons, however that certain 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 group. How are the 5-7? I do know Christian McCaffrey is damage, 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 damage. Trent Willliams has performed in 10.
Now what in regards to 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 hearth a bit. This group 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 suppose I can’t say I’d be stunned about any of that. The NFL is a “what have you ever performed for me these days” league and if Purdy can’t flip it round, he’ll be on the heart of these talks in regards to the group’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 already know, perhaps it’s only a fluke season and so they’ll be again to dominance subsequent season. Who actually ever is aware of? However for now, these questions in regards to the group are actual and so they’ll should be addressed by season’s finish.