What a week of NFL football. The Jaguars are looking like AFC South favorites, Nathaniel Hackett finally got fired and we got multiple games with snow/freezing temperatures. A lot of playoff-clinching scenarios are in the cards now and with two weeks to go, the intensity just goes up that much more. Before we talk about that, we have week 16 to cover. Let’s get into it.
1. So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
Before Saturday’s game, the Detroit Lions had won six of their last seven games. The Panthers, in the words of Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, gave them a good old-fashioned “ass-kicking”. Both D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard ran for over 125 yards, as the Panthers had a total of 320 rushing yards as opposed to Detroit’s measly 45. When you don’t turn over the ball and run that well, it’s hard to lose. What’s more surprising is that this Panthers team has a shot at winning the NFC South. All they will need to do is win their last two games against the Buccaneers (Away) and Saints (Away). Both of those teams have been super inconsistent this year so I don’t see why the Panthers couldn’t steal the division title away. They will most likely have to do it without their top cornerback in Jaycee Horn, but with this NFL season anything is possible.
2. The New York Giants are one win away from playoff football
Despite losing on a 61-yard field goal from Greg Joseph, the Giants are still one win away from playoff football. After starting the season 7-2, the team went on a slight decline in recent weeks, but they’ve still managed to be in control of their own destiny at 8-6-1. They will face off against a horrid Indianapolis Colts team at home. If they can’t get it done there then they just simply don’t deserve it. With Saquon back to his old self, and a solid defense, the Giants are ready to make some noise.
3. It looks like we’ve seen the last of Derek Carr in a Raiders uniform
16/30 for 174 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we’ve seen the last of Derek Carr in a Raiders uniform. The team announced today that they will be moving forward with Jarrett Stidham as their quarterback with Chase Garbers as their backup. Carr will be a healthy scratch for the remainder of the season. Carr currently leads the league in interceptions (14) and is 31st in completion percentage (60.8%).
All signs point towards a divorce between the two parties so the question now is… where will Carr land? Will he be traded or cut? I think he’ll either end up an Indianapolis Colt or a New England Patriot. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
4. Tua Tagovailoa needs to sit out for the rest of the season
Three concussions in one year is absolutely ridiculous. And what’s even more ridiculous is the Dolphins misdiagnosing his first one as a “back injury” and then having him finish the game against the Packers after suffering another concussion in the first half. Just please for Tua’s health, sit him out for the rest of the year. We are talking about long-term problems if he somehow decides to come back.
5. Justin Herbert will be in the playoffs for the first time in his career
My favorite stat to bring up whenever Justin Herbert is the subject of conversation is the 5,000 yard passing stat. There are only two quarterback in league history that have multiple 5,000 yard seasons. Those two guys are Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Justin Herbert threw for 5,000+ yards in his second season. He’s a little over 750+ yards off the 5K mark this year, but he’s finally clinched a playoff berth for the Chargers. They haven’t looked super convincing this year, but they have still managed to achieve this big feat. They’ve yet to find out their wild-card game opponent, but the world needs to prepare for some magic from the guy wearing #10 in the yellow, white and blue.
Two more weeks and then it is playoff time. I don’t think the Patriots will be participating in the playoffs, but who the hell knows. All I know is that I’m sick of watching Mac Jones play quarterback. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
