NFL Week 14 Games to Watch

This chalk board is me trying to explain how this NFL season has gone so far. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            Week 13 of the NFL was a mixed bag for football watchers, with several good games (Vikings-Jets, Bengals-Chiefs) mixed in with some total duds (Cowboys-Colts, Eagles-Titans). My feeling is that Week 14 will offer more of the same, with only four relevant games of note. I’m happy as a Falcons fan that my team can’t lose on our bye, and that I don’t have to watch. Anyways, let’s move on to discuss the games, as there are a select few of them worth watching. There are a lot of desperate teams facing off against heavy favorites this weekend, which should make for some solid football contests. Without further ado, it’s our Week 14 Games to Watch!

Dolphins at Chargers on NBC (Sunday Night Football)

            Last call for the Chargers, who at 6-6 are on the fringes of the playoff picture in the AFC. A win here against the Dolphins (currently the No. 6 seed) would go a long way for their hopes.  Meanwhile, the Dolphins need to get back up off the mat after their shellacking against the 49ers. Let’s not forget about Tua Tagovailoa facing off against Justin Herbert, as the destinies of these QBs will forever be linked together after they were picked back-to-back in the 2020 NFL Draft. Most analysts believed that the Chargers selection of Herbert was the better pick of these QBs; however, Tua has shown great progress in year three while silencing his haters in the process. Which of these two superstars puts the team on their back as they prepare for a playoff push?

Buccaneers at 49ers on FOX (Sunday late afternoon)

            More late-game heroics from Tom Brady last week makes this game much more exciting. Add in the fact that Brady desperately wanted to join the 49ers after leaving the Patriots in 2020, & you’ll realize that football fans should be in for a real treat, an NFC playoff preview this week. The Buccaneers are now the clear front runners in the NFC South, but they must keep winning.

They’re likely looking at an early playoff exit as things currently stand, with Brady the X-factor. Meanwhile, the 49ers could be in the same boat after Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot last week. I’ve heard that Chad Powers out of Penn State is available, perhaps the 49ers will give him a call.  Outside of QB, the 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but will that matter in January? Before answering that question, the 49ers must answer the bell this week in an epic NFC contest.

Jets at Bills on CBS (Sunday early afternoon)

            Last week was a great one for Bills fans, as their team currently sits atop the entire AFC. Things could change obviously, but their early season head-to-head win over the Chiefs was key. The Jets, meanwhile, are barely hanging on to the AFC’s No. 7 seed & 3rd place in the AFC East. A loss here all but assures that this team will be watching from the couch in January & February. On the flip side, a win for the Jets here would give them a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills. This time last month, the Jets shocked the Bills with a 20-17 upset for the ages in New Jersey. Will history repeat itself with the home team winning, or will the visiting Jets pull out the dub?

Eagles at Giants on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            There are zero NFL playoff clinching scenarios in either conference this week; however, an Eagles win here gives them a 12-1 record & probably guarantees their spot in the tournament. They looked pretty dominant against the Titans last week, with AJ Brown torching their defense. This win showed that the Eagles can play different styles of football with their passing game leading the way in this contest, which stands in contrast to their rushing controlling other games. If only we could say similar things of the Giants, but their offensive attack is stuck in the mud. The G-Men tied their division rival Commanders last weekend in a 20-20 overtime encounter. Things are less dire in the NFC than in the AFC, but the Giants are hanging on to the No. 6 seed. Who will win this epic December contest between these two hated division rivals this weekend?

NFL Week 13 Games to Watch

Here’s your weekly update on all of the latest happenings around the NFL! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            Man, football fans will have a lot of GREAT football to watch this upcoming weekend! The slate is jam-packed with divisional games, as well as exciting matchups between contenders. Last weekend was an exciting one for the league, with eleven one-score games, two overtime thrillers, a few great Thanksgiving contests, and some surprisingly competitive primetime bouts. I’ll go ahead and say it now, don’t be surprised if this weekend tops last in terms of watchability. I’ve actually listed six games to watch this week for the first time in what feels like an eternity. Without further ado, let’s get to it and discuss all of the NFL drama set to take place in Week 13.

Bills at Patriots on Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)

            The schedulemakers absolutely nailed this one as two divisional foes will face off here. This is the first time in what feels like an eternity that there’s actually an exciting TNF matchup. Bill Belichick will try & rally his troops after last week’s depressing outing against the Vikings. Kirk Cousins completed 81.6% of his passes against the Patriots D, a mark not seen since 2008. Meanwhile, the Bills rallied against the Lions for a last-second game-winning 45-yard field goal. They completed their game winning drive with 23 seconds left in the game, which is impressive. What’s also impressive is that all four AFC East teams have a legitimate chance at the playoffs. When was the last time we could say that of this division, one typically owned by the Patriots?

Jets at Vikings on CBS (Sunday early afternoon)

            Believe it or not, we have our very first NFL playoff clinching scenario here in Week 13. Should the Vikings win this game, and the Lions lose their game against the Jaguars, then the Vikings would become NFC North champions & thus secure one of the NFC’s playoff berths. Talk about motivation for the Vikings to pull out the win against this cross-conference opponent. They’ll contend against newly anointed Jets starting QB Mike White, who was on fire last week. The Jets have a recipe for success going forward should White prove to be a stabilizing force for their offense, as their defense has proven that they are worthy of being part of a contending team. Will it be an NFC or AFC contender emerging from this battle of playoff contenders on Sunday?

Titans at Eagles on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            Speaking of playoff clinching scenarios, the Eagles also have one in this week’s game. Basically, they need to have a bunch of things go right for them to get in, but this could happen. Regardless, with the best record in the NFL, the Eagles are sure to get in sooner rather than later. What’s notable too is that this is a revenge game for AJ Brown, one that he’s looked forward to. Losing to the Bengals for the second year in a row surely hurts the Titans on an emotional level. They’re obvious favorites to win the AFC South, but their goals are far more ambitious than that. Will the Titans prevail against the NFC’s top bird team, or will they crumble under the pressure?

Commanders at Giants on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            This one’s for all the marbles, as these teams are fighting to stay alive in the NFC East. As a Falcons fan, I’m upset that the Commanders beat us last week on a great game-ending play. That said, they deserved to win as their defense was stout while their offense made stellar plays. Are the Giants starting to fall apart? Last week, we saw some chinks in the armor against Dallas. It’s blatantly obvious that they have no receivers, and that most of their offensive line is injured. The G-Men weren’t expected to be good this year, so this could be the end of their magical run. It’s a must win for both of these NFC East rivals as they do battle in a premier December contest.

Dolphins at 49ers on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel makes his return to the Bay Area for the first time since last year as the former 49ers offensive coordinator joined the Dolphins in February 2022. Tyreek Hill also faces the 49ers for the first time since Super Bowl LIV, a game in which he shredded their defense on 9 receptions for 105 yards, including this crucial catch in the contest. Both teams took care of business last week in winning their games against inferior opponents. The Texans were no match for the Dolphins great offense, and the game was over by halftime. It’s weird to say that the 49ers struggled even though they won 13-0, but the matchup was close. There are plenty of playoff implications on the line here in this pivotal cross-conference contest.

Chiefs at Bengals on CBS (Sunday late afternoon)

            NFL schedulemakers could have (and should have) scheduled this matchup in primetime. A rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game overtime thriller between these two teams, would it really surprise anyone to see these teams again do battle in this year’s AFC title game? Regardless, we could be looking at a potential AFC playoff game preview this coming weekend. Bengals fans should be happy to note that this year’s team follows a similar script to last year’s. Both teams had 6-4 records through 10 games, and last year’s team clinched a Super Bowl berth. With Ja’Marr Chase set to return from injury, could the Bengals yet again make a playoff push? Meanwhile, it’s been business as usual for the Chiefs, who handled the Rams 26-10 last week. Which teams emerge victorious from this week’s slate, and declare themselves true contenders?

NFL Week 12 Games to Watch

Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and to all a good night! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            Happy Thanksgiving to all of my loyal followers, readers, and sports junkies anonymous! There’s some great Thanksgiving Day football coming our way, as well as a couple more exciting matchups to look forward to as we recover from our food comas on Sunday afternoon. This is the first time in a while where all 32 teams will be playing during the same week of the season, as zero NFL teams claim their bye week this week, and so there are 16 games are on tap. Upsets could happen around the league this week/weekend, with several contending teams (Bills, Seahawks, Eagles) playing several inferior opponents “on paper” (Lions, Raiders, and Packers). That doesn’t always make for great football, but it is an interesting note to watch for this week. Let’s dive in and take a look at the hottest NFL games to watch during your Thanksgiving break!

Giants at Cowboys on FOX (Thanksgiving afternoon)

            You will probably have stuffed your third plate by this point in the day, but if you’re still awake by 4:30 PM East Coast time, there is clearly some great football to watch on your TV set. There are massive playoff implications on the line here, as both teams share identical 7-3 records and are tied for 2nd place in the NFC East, right behind the division-leading Eagles, who are 9-1. The Cowboys beat the Vikings so bad last week that CBS switched games during the broadcast! That’s certainly not unprecedented, but it’s a very rare occurrence in today’s parity-driven NFL. On the flip side, the Giants were embarrassed by the Lions at home, with a final score of 31-18. Prior to that disappointing effort, the G-Men were playing remarkably well, with their only two losses of the year coming against the Cowboys (23-16 at home) and Seahawks (27-13 in Seattle). Which of these two teams shows up big in an important divisional contest on Thanksgiving Day?

Patriots at Vikings on NBC (Thanksgiving evening)

            Kirk Cousins is dead to me, as he cost my fantasy team -4.80 points in last week’s game. Anyways, I’m cautiously optimistic that he’ll rebound against the Patriots because there’s nowhere else for him to go but up, right? Not quite, as this is another primetime game for Kirk. Historically speaking, Cousins struggles in these exact types of situations; however, the Vikings desperately need a legit bounce back effort from him on a short week after such a miserable loss.  Meanwhile, the Patriots didn’t need any offense in last week’s victory over the Jets, a game in which they converted a huge punt return touchdown to win in the final seconds of the contest.  Will the Vikings bounce back, or will the Patriots stretch their winning streak into December?

Bengals at Titans on CBS (Sunday early afternoon)

            Ah yes, a rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional Round matchup featuring these teams. Both teams are coming off of pivotal wins, as the Titans throttled the Packers in primetime last week while the Bengals squeaked out a victory over their division rival Steelers in Pittsburgh. Derrick Henry should make a huge difference for the Titans in the rematch, as he was out during last year’s contest with a foot injury. Ja’Marr Chase could make his return on the opposing sideline, as Joe Burrow expects him to play for the first time since injuring his hip in Week 7. Will football fans finally remember the Titans? Or will the legend of Joe Cool be remembered?

Falcons at Commanders on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            This game has huge playoff implications for both teams as far as the NFC playoff picture. The Falcons badly need this win to keep pace with the Buccaneers atop the NFC South division, while the Commanders need this victory in order to stay relevant in the NFC Wild Card picture. Injuries could play a factor here, as the Falcons lost TE Kyle Pitts & DE Ta’Quon Graham to IR. Meanwhile, the Commanders could be set for the return of DE Chase Young from IR this week. Both teams have a slim shot to make it into the tournament as it is, but never tell them the odds. After all, each team took care of its business last week against awful opponents (Bears, Texans). Will the Falcons get revenge from last year’s meltdown against the then-named Football Team? Or could it be the Commanders who continue their winning ways with Taylor Heinicke as QB1?

Braves honored at BBWAA Awards Ceremony

Several Braves players (and Brian Snitker) received end of season MLB awards last week! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            Every year, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) hands out their end of season Major League Baseball awards during a weeklong ceremony live on MLB Network. Players and managers from both the National and American leagues are nominated, and the elite from these nominees are selected to receive various awards for individual and team performance. The highlights from this ceremony include the announcements of the NL & AL MVPs, the NL & AL Cy Youngs, & the NL & AL Managers of the Year awards, amongst a host of other great achievements, such as Gold Gloves & Silver Sluggers, being handed out throughout the league. It’s a time for celebration and these writers have an award for just about anything & everything. Let’s take a look and see how the Braves fared at this past week’s BBWAA awards ceremony.

Michael Harris II wins NL Rookie of the Year

            Listen, the only surprise here is that Harris didn’t share this award with fellow Braves rookie phenom Spencer Strider, as both guys were simply incredible for the Braves this season. Harris provided an instant spark for a Braves team that desperately needed it in late May of ’22. His ability to not only play Gold Glove-caliber CF defense (how was he not a GG finalist?), but also hit for both power and average immediately transformed this Braves team into a contender. The ROY hit .297/.339/.514 with 20 stolen bases and 19 home runs in just 114 games played. Defensive metrics for Harris (per Baseball Savant) were great, ranking him in the 95th percentile for Arm Strength, 95th percentile for Sprint Speed, and 92nd percentile for Outs Above Average. All of these metrics passed the eye test too, as Braves fans were enamored with his stellar play.

Dansby Swanson, Max Fried win Gold Gloves

            Dansby Swanson bet on himself heading into a contract year by rejecting all of the Braves low offers and boy did he ever win that bet big time as he’s a hot ticket free agent now. He’s coming off a career year on offense and defense, highlighted by his first career Gold Glove. His defense has always been phenomenal, so how this is his first ever GG is simply beyond me. Meanwhile, Max Fried continues piling up GG awards as the ace of the Braves pitching rotation. Fried’s pickoff move to first is simply lethal, and he’s always been great at fielding his position. It’s certainly not a shock to me that these guys were recognized for their defensive achievements.

Brian Snitker finalist for NL Manager of the Year

            Honestly, Snitker should’ve won this award in this writer’s humble, yet biased, opinion. Buck Showalter of the Mets won the award for the fourth time in his solid managerial career; however, his team blew a 10 ½ game lead to the Braves in the NL East division and got swept by our favorite team in the most important series of the year in Atlanta on September 30- October 2. I was at the October 1st game, and we dominated the Mets from start to finish despite my opinion that the Mets had the starting pitching advantage on their side (Kyle Wright vs. Max Scherzer). Enough about the Mets though, after all, we’re only here to discuss the Braves & Brian Snitker. Snit did very well this year despite navigating through some serious injuries to starting players that more or less cost them their entire seasons (Adam Duvall, Ozzie Albies, Luke Jackson, etc.) He also dealt with various in-season injuries to players such as Ronald Acuna, Jr., Tyler Matzek, and Eddie Rosario that cost those guys playing time & effectiveness over the course of the year. This is not to mention the admirable job he did in handling the ongoing Marcell Ozuna drama. Add all of this up, and it’s clear that Snit was very deserving of being a 2022 NL MOTY finalist.

Max Fried is the NL Cy Young runner-up

            Max Fried’s competitive spirit is second to none, famously pitching an absolute gem in Game 6 of the World Series after injuring his ankle on an awkward fielding play at first base. More recently, Braves fans found out that he pitched in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies despite losing fifteen pounds (!) from battling through the flu a couple weeks prior to his outing. The Braves website lists Fried at 6’4” 190 lbs, and that’s likely when he’s weighed soaking wet. He’s a tall, lanky guy who can’t afford to lose more weight than he already does over the season. That said, Fried has established himself as the Braves true ace & the best left hander in the game. Sandy Alcántara won the award this year, but Fried’s time as the NL’s premier pitcher is coming.

NFL Week 11 Games to Watch

What’s the latest from around the NFL? Check out my weekly column to find out! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            Week 10 of the NFL slate was incredible, as it featured one Game of the Year candidate (seriously, go watch the highlights here), eight one-score games, and two overtime comebacks. This is the point in the NFL calendar where we finally see who these teams really are, as every team in the league has played nine-plus games so far, including the teams with early bye weeks. With that said, this is also the time of year where the most dramatic football games are being played out amongst contenders, as evidenced by what we all witnessed over this past weekend. I’ve got four games here that football fans are not going to want to miss as Thanksgiving nears. Check out all of that and so much more in the latest edition of my NFL Games to Watch column.

Titans at Packers on Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)

            All of the sudden, this game has gotten so much more interesting after the Packers comeback win over the Cowboys & the Titans narrow victory over the Broncos last weekend. Call me crazy, but I actually believe this will be a good matchup of non-conference opponents. Aaron Rodgers has suddenly developed some chemistry with rookie WR Christian Watson, who exploded out of nowhere for three touchdowns (including one to tie the game) against the ‘Boys. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill made his return from injury for the Titans & made an immediate impact, throwing for 255 yards & 2 TDs despite Derrick Henry being bottled up on the ground. There are no other football games to watch on Thursday, so you should tune in to watch this one.

Chiefs at Chargers on NBC (Sunday Night Football)

            Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs are on a roll, winning four out of their last five games. Justin Herbert and the Chargers have hit the skids after losing WRs Keenan Allen & Mike Williams due to injuries the past few weeks, losing two out of their last five games played. There’s good news and bad news for the Chargers this week, as Allen & Williams are both expected to practice; however, two of their defensive linemen are out indefinitely with injuries. So it goes for the Chargers, who now have to contend with the Chiefs for control of the division. Will Justin Herbert get his offensive weapons back in time to face the Chief’s offensive attack? Time will tell, but NFL fans will surely enjoy watching this battle for the division in primetime.

Jets at Patriots on CBS (Sunday early afternoon)

            Every divisional game in the AFC East takes on some added importance these days, considering that all four teams are in contention for wild card spots and/or the division title. Depending on how things go, the Jets could be in a three-way tie for first in the division if they win this game and if the Bills win against the Browns while the Dolphins enjoy their bye week. Similarly, the Patriots could be in a three-way tie for second if they win this game and if the Bills lose to the Browns this week. Now do you understand the importance of this divisional matchup? Both of these teams should feel fresh & well rested coming out of their midseason bye weeks. These teams played each other in Week 8, with the Patriots securing a 22-17 win over the Jets. This writer would expect more of the same in Week 11, but football is not played out on paper.

Cowboys at Vikings on CBS (Sunday late afternoon)

            The Vikings sent shockwaves through the NFL landscape with their stunning overtime win over the Bills on the road in what was clearly a Game of the Year type of matchup last week. Can they keep their composure & focus in on their next opponent after such an uplifting victory? Speaking of overtime, the Cowboys lost in OT last week after blowing a big lead to the Packers. On the flip side, can they bounce back after such an embarrassing defeat on the road last week? There’s a lot at stake here for both teams as the NFC playoff race begins to tighten & take shape. Tune in & watch this epic conference matchup between two NFC playoff contenders on Sunday.

NFL Week 10 Games to Watch

What’s shakin’, bacon? Check out the latest edition of my Games to Watch column!

            Four games from last week’s slate ended with final scores of 20-17, underscoring the intense parity around the NFL. There were eight one-score games last week too, which is insane. We’re in for a treat this week as there are several great games upcoming on the Week 10 docket. Remember the Falcons OT win over the Panthers a couple weeks ago? There’s a rematch on tap. Did you know that the Bucs & Seahawks will make history as the first NFL teams to ever play in Germany? Finally, the Vikings & Bills will meet in a rare cross-conference matchup with massive playoff implications. Follow all of the drama in this week’s edition of Games to Watch!

Falcons at Panthers on Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)

            Time is a flat circle, as football fans will once again watch these division rivals face off. Just under two weeks ago, these two teams exchanged several leads in an epic overtime thriller. Both teams are coming off losses to solid AFC teams, with the Panthers getting dominated by the Bengals (42-21) and the Falcons losing a close one at home to the visiting Chargers (20-17). Cordarrelle Patterson made his return from injury last week, and he could prove to be a huge difference maker for the Dirty Birds in this rematch, as he was inactive for the first contest. Meanwhile, how long of a leash does PJ Walker have in Carolina? He was benched near halftime of last week’s blowout loss despite nearly leading the key game winning drive against Atlanta. Sam Darnold recently returned from injury, and Baker Mayfield is waiting in the wings there. Simply put, there’s plenty of storylines to watch here as these divisional foes battle in primetime.

Seahawks at Buccaneers on NFL Network (in Munich)

            Believe it or not, this contest will be the first game to ever be played over in Germany. Diehard football fans should set your alarms, as this game starts at 9:30 A.M. east coast time. Are the Bucs back after Tom Brady led yet another clutch game winning drive over the Rams? That’s the type of victory that can spark a playoff run, despite this team’s many offensive woes. Meanwhile, the Seahawks took care of business in just squeaking by the Cardinals last weekend. The NFC is wide open, so the winner of this game will certainly make hey within the conference.

Chargers at 49ers on NBC (Sunday Night Football)

            California-based teams will square off in a rare cross-conference matchup in primetime. There’s a lot of star power in this one as Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and Khalil Mack will battle against Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and Fred Warner over on the opposing side. The Chargers will once again play without WRs Mike Williams & Keenan Allen due to injury. They’re managing to stay afloat despite not having those guys, but how long will that continue? Meanwhile, the 49ers looked amazing in their Week 8 dismantling of their division rival Rams. Christian McCaffrey made NFL history in that contest as the first running back since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to have a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown within the same game. A similar performance would be welcome news in a heavyweight fight between two contenders.

Vikings at Bills on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            Will Josh Allen play in this game after injuring his elbow in last week’s loss to the Jets? The Bills, along with football fans, certainly hope so as Allen makes this game more watchable. Are the Vikings for real? Feasting on an easy schedule & securing a 7-1 record (2nd best in the NFC), this serves as a great opportunity for these guys to show the world what they’re made of. They could also get boat-raced out of the game, as Kirk Cousins routinely struggles in big spots. One way or another, the football world will find out which of these two teams is legit on Sunday.

NFL Week 9 Games to Watch

             Week 8 of the NFL season was an exciting one, featuring six one-score games & plenty of offensive firepower from teams around the league. Transitioning into Week 9 of the calendar will be difficult for most football fans, as there simply aren’t a lot of interesting games to watch. There are myriad reasons for this, starting with the fact that six teams are on a bye this weekend. Nonetheless, there are some good games to watch, and it’s my job to tell you all about them here. Let’s get right to it in this short, sweet, and to the point version of my Games to Watch column!

Titans at Chiefs on NBC (Sunday Night Football)

            Two AFC juggernauts face off in primetime as they battle on for conference supremacy. This game features plenty of star players, like Patrick Mahomes, Derrick Henry, & Travis Kelce. Both teams have 5-2 records & are leading their respective divisions as we approach midseason. The Titans looked very impressive last week as they rode “King” Derrick Henry to victory in a masterful performance: 32 carries for 219 rushing yards (6.8 yards per rush) and 2 touchdowns. Trying to tackle Henry can be such a chore, and so the Chiefs bye week came at the right time. Fresh off their bye week, the team will be tasked with slowing down the “King” on the ground. Regardless of whether or not Ryan Tannehill (ankle) suits up, expect the Titans to feature the run as they try to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field while featuring their best offensive playmaker.

Rams at Buccaneers on CBS (Sunday late afternoon)

            A matchup of NFC “pretenders” awaits football fans as these struggling teams square off. Flashback to a little less than a year ago at this time, and these two teams were facing off in an epic NFC Divisional round game in which Tom Brady almost led another comeback for the ages. Flash forward to now, and these teams are just fighting to stay NFC-playoff relevant at this point. Simply put, both of these teams needed help that they did not receive along their offensive lines. Tom Brady & Matt Stafford are in danger after their teams failed to make trade deadline moves. Which of these three-win teams has what it takes to overcome their issues & win this key game?

Chargers at Falcons on FOX (Sunday early afternoon)

            Have you ever seen the Spider-Man meme of the two Spider-Men pointing at each other? That’s exactly what it’s like watching the Falcons square off against the Chargers, as these teams are so similar in so many ways. Both teams are known for blowing huge leads in games, and the last time these two teams played each other in 2020 it was truly a spectacle in the fourth quarter. I will say that both of these teams have changed a lot since 2020, but some things stay the same. Somehow, the Falcons managed to hold off the Panthers last week for a riveting divisional win. They’re now alone in first place in the NFC South, and hold a division lead against Tom Brady. The Chargers are coming off their bye week, staring up at the Chiefs in the AFC West division. Will the Falcons snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or will the Chargers out-choke them instead? Tune in to find out which one of these fraudulent teams emerges victorious on Sunday.

Are the Falcons for real?

            The short answer to this question, at least in my own personal opinion, is absolutely not. Nobody expected this team to be competitive at midseason, and for good reason as they’re working with only 63% of their salary cap while in full rebuild mode with a makeshift roster. Fortunately for them, the sad state of affairs in the NFC South has them sitting atop the division. This seems like a temporary occurrence, as we all know what happened the last time the Falcons held a lead against a Tom Brady-led team. I’m expecting the Buccaneers to get back in the driver’s seat sooner rather than later, as that roster is just so much more talented than our own. Despite these opinions, my intention is to find out whether or not the Falcons should be trusted.

Blown lead against the Saints

            I know that Falcons fans are coming off the extreme high which was watching the team’s fantastic win over the Panthers last weekend, but let’s not forget about our humble beginnings. We began the season by blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead against our hated division rival. The blown lead looks so much worse now, knowing that the Saints legitimately suck this season. This loss was especially maddening considering our team led the game in several key categories, which include time of possession (33:44), rushing (38 carries for 201 yards), and QB sacks (4.0). Our flaws, such as Marcus Mariota’s inability to protect the football, were exposed in this game.

Wins against quality opponents

            After stumbling around earlier in the season, we began to find our groove with key wins over the Seahawks & 49ers in the span of less than a month. Those teams both look like NFC playoff contenders, and our wins over them look pretty convincing now. The Seahawks are currently leading the NFC West with a 5-3 record, while the 2nd place 49ers have a 4-4 record. Last week’s exhilarating win over the Panthers was also huge for us as we now lead the division. That said, a win over the rebuilding Panthers isn’t the same as wins over the Seahawks & 49ers. A win’s a win though, and we’ve stacked together four of those along with four losses this year.

Drubbing by the Bengals

            Speaking of losses, the Falcons got absolutely demolished by the Bengals in Week 7. Despite the lopsided score early in the game, we repeatedly tried (and failed) to establish the run. Whatever game plan they had obviously went out the window, and yet they stuck to the bad plan. Marcus Mariota absolutely should not have only 13 passing attempts in a game where we were down by double digits throughout the contest. There’s simply no logic behind that decision, not when our team features talented players like TE Kyle Pitts & WR Drake London in our offense.

Lack of intimidating schedule

            All of the Falcons remaining opponents on their schedule except for the Ravens (5-2 record) are against teams with .500 (4-4) or worse records as we approach the midseason point. Taking advantage of this favorable schedule would benefit the Falcons in a winnable NFC South. It’s also worth noting that the NFC itself is pretty weak this year, with only a few teams (Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks) looking like playoff contenders while all other teams are stuck in the middle. Could the Falcons make a move at the trade deadline to improve the team & make a playoff run? In all likelihood, you will read this article after the trade deadline has passed at 4 PM on Nov. 1st.

The final verdict

            I’m still going to say that no, the Falcons aren’t for real. Now, if they were to make a trade deadline acquisition or two, then that’s a different story depending on the players acquired. That doesn’t seem very likely either, as more resources are available to us later in the offseason. The Falcons just don’t have enough talent to compete with playoff caliber teams like the Eagles.  Would it surprise me if they went on a Cinderella type of run in a weak NFC South? Not really. Would it surprise me if they emerged as genuine playoff contenders in the NFC? Very much so.

NFL Week 8 Games to Watch

Check out the status of news from around the NFL in my weekly Games to Watch column! Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            This year in the NFL has been full of surprises, including this week as the Commanders upset the Packers, while the rebuilding Panthers shockingly beat the heavily favored Buccaneers. There were also a couple of close games this week, as the Titans squeaked by the Titans while the Ravens finally closed out a game without blowing a lead against their division rival Browns. As Bill Belichick would say, “we’re on to Cincinnati” now that last week’s matchups have ended & Week 8 of the NFL season has finally arrived. There are some great primetime matchups on the docket, as well as several good games being played during the afternoon hours. Football fans are surely to get their fill this weekend. Let’s take a look at the top games to watch this weekend.

Ravens at Bucs on Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)

            Does anyone want to win the NFC South? I mean seriously, the Buccaneers are tied with the Falcons atop the division standings with identical 3-4 records. That said, I’m surely not betting against Brady in primetime coming off several disappointing losses on the young season. Meanwhile, the Ravens might have discovered their identity in last week’s win over the Browns. They ran the ball 44 times, which put less pressure on the defense to close out the team’s victory. Football fans will enjoy this cross-conference game featuring two of the league’s better teams.

Packers at Bills on NBC (Sunday Night Football)

            It’s now or never for the Packers after their recent disappointing loss to the Commanders. They’ve lost their identity on offense, while their defense yields big plays at the worst moments. This is their chance to reestablish themselves as contenders against a great opponent in the Bills. Fresh off their bye week, the Bills will look to further establish themselves as an elite NFL team. Buffalo looks electric as the league’s favorite team, with wins over the Chiefs, Ravens, & Titans. I’m looking forward to watching Josh Allen take on Aaron Rodgers in a QB battle for the ages.

Giants at Seahawks on FOX (Sunday late afternoon)

            Two of the league’s most surprising NFC contenders will do battle in Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks are leading the NFC West with a 4-3 record, while the Giants are second in the NFC East division with a 6-1 mark, trailing only the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (6-0 record). Both of these teams love to run the ball & play defense with some stellar QB play sprinkled in. Did anyone really expect Geno Smith & Daniel Jones to headline two of the NFC’s best teams? If you did, you should go play the lottery today because you’ve clearly got some psychic powers. Anyways, the Seahawks decimated the Chargers while the Giants defeated the Jaguars last week. Which contender will win the only Week 8 contest featuring two teams holding positive records?

49ers at Rams on FOX (Sunday late afternoon)

            Every team is alive in the NFC West race, which means divisional games are important. There’s a scenario where the winner of this game could be in first or tied for first in the division standings, pending the results of the Seahawks-Giants & Cardinals-Vikings games this weekend. Obviously, there are tons of “ifs” in this scenario, but these teams would love to have the chance. The bye week came at the right time for the Rams, as they’ve clearly lost their offensive identity. Matt Stafford sorely needed the break from getting pummeled by pass rushes on a weekly basis. 49ers players will look to get back in the win column after their embarrassing loss to the Chiefs. Getting Christian McCaffrey involved in the game plan this week will be important for the team. Which of these two teams takes control of the NFC West standings as we approach midseason?

Patriots at Jets (Sunday early afternoon)

            When was the last time the Patriots were looking up at the Jets in the AFC East division standings? Fresh off a stunning 33-14 loss to the Bears, the Patriots desperately need to regroup. Regrouping certainly involves figuring out their QB situation first, as both Mac Jones & Bailey Zappe struggled in a weird rotation of sorts that even left their teammates puzzled at the results. Meanwhile, the Jets are on a hot streak not seen since the days of Mark Sanchez’ Butt Fumble. They lost stud RB Breece Hall to injury last week, but made a move to pick up his replacement. The Bills look like the best overall team, but which AFC East team joins them atop the division? Tune in on Sunday to see if the Jets are legit or if the Patriots will begin their division comeback.

Closing the book on the Thomas Dimitroff era in Falcons history

I guess this counts as a Falcons logo? Anyways, here’s me rambling on about Thomas Dimitroff… Photo credit: Adobe Stock

            The Thomas Dimitroff era in Atlanta was certainly a memorable one, for better or worse. This was actually the most successful era in franchise history, as the team had a 113-95 record from 2008 through 2020 when Dimitroff was fired during the season. Dimitroff had some success, most notably in drafting Matt Ryan & Julio Jones, two of the best players in team history, in the first round. It wasn’t all pretty though, as his failures continue haunting this franchise more than two years after his departure. His shortcomings included a handful of contract extensions gone awry, an inability to consistently identify & select talented players via the draft & free agency, and several failures to beef up the trenches on both sides of the football.  Let’s read on to discover why the Dimitroff era is finally over more than two years after his exit.

Painful contract extensions

            Dimitroff’s fatal flaw was that his decision-making always centered around trying to make the team better in the short-term while ignoring the long-term ramifications of his actions. Case and point, the Falcons are left with an outrageous dead cap hit of $77.54M on the books for 2022 after the new regime made several tough business decisions over the past couple of years. That dead cap hit accounts for 37% (!) of the entire $208M salary cap for the Falcons this year. It’s no wonder that the Falcons haven’t been able to field a competitive team & sign free agents. TD would repeatedly sign players to contract extensions & restructure their deals in future years to save money in the short-term while attempting to field competitive teams every single year. The problem is that these processes backloaded the deals, meaning that when the new regime traded or released the players on the deals, they were responsible for paying the hefty leftover balance. LB Deion Jones’ recent trade to the Browns is a good example of this process in action.

Misevaluation of players (draft/free agency)

            Takk McKinley, Vic Beasley, and Sam Baker are some examples of the type of players that Dimitroff routinely drafted in the first round that frequently didn’t pan out for the team. Dante Fowler, Tyson Jackson, and Jon Asamoah are some examples of the type of players that Dimtiroff often signed (and often overpaid for) in free agency that never contributed to the team.  He had the right idea in making multiple attempts at beefing up both lines of scrimmage; however, he repeatedly struggled with selecting the right players to accomplish this huge task. Much in the way that TD’s contract extensions hurt the team down the line, these free agent signings & draft picks gone wrong set the team back well after his Falcons tenure concluded.

Failure to strengthen the trenches

            Anyone who’s frequently watched the Falcons over the past decade knows that we haven’t had an offensive line or pass rush to write home about for quite a loooong time. Dimitroff tried everything he could to fix this issue (draft, free agency, trades, etc.) but his inability to identify talent & scheme fit on the offensive & defensive lines was his Achilles heel. We finally made a Super Bowl appearance in 2016 after fielding a decent offensive line for once. It’s no coincidence that we finally had a great pass rush that year too, with Vic Beasley amazingly leading the league with 16 sacks. One man doesn’t make a team’s pass rush though. That’s one of a myriad of reasons why we lost said Super Bowl, as Beasley was a non-factor.

A couple of greatest hits

            Matt Ryan & Julio Jones carried the Falcons during the Thomas Dimitroff era in Atlanta. Alex Mack, Michael Turner, & Matt Bryant were great free agent signings by our former GM. Other players, like Desmond Trufant, Mohamed Sanu, & AJ Terrell, made huge contributions. We also never lacked for skill position talent from 2008-2020, notably fielding an offense in 2012 that featured Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones, Roddy White, & Michael Turner. Late round success in the draft was another hallmark of this era as the team selected Grady Jarrett (5th round), De’Vondre Campbell (4th), & Foyesade Oluokun (6th) all in the later rounds. For as much crap as I’ve been heaping on Dimitroff, he did have some success with the team.

The bottom line

            Dimitroff probably should’ve been fired much earlier, perhaps as early as when the Falcons handed former head coach Mike Smith his walking papers way back in December 2014. He definitely shouldn’t have hung around after the team’s historic Super Bowl collapse in 2016. That said, he did some good things as GM including drafting Matt Ryan & Julio Jones, trading for Tony Gonzalez, and acquiring Alex Mack, Michael Turner, & Matt Bryant via free agency. His success stories simply weren’t enough to overcome his overwhelming failures at the helm. Think about it this way, the franchise hasn’t had money to spend on free agents in any of the last four years, and we’re finally about to have some money to spend in free agency next offseason. That pretty well sums up Thomas Dimitroff’s ugly tenure with the Atlanta Falcons organization.