By Brandon Simmons
AFC North Quarterbacks Go Down
The AFC had a shocking wave of injuries this past week as 2 of their starting quarterbacks went down. Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson and Cincinnatti Bengals QB Joe Burrow are both ending their seasons due to injury. Watson has been dealing with a nagging shoulder injury and opted for season-ending surgery. Both QB’s went down while their teams are in the middle of a tight playoff race as well as the division. At this time, the AFC North is the only division that has all of their teams sitting at .500 or above with Cincinnati in last place and Cleveland in 2nd.
Between these 2 teams, the Browns might have a legit shot at reaching the postseason. For most of the year, they have been dealing with Watson going in and out of the lineup and still manage to be a game and a half behind the Baltimore Ravens. A lot of credit can go to this Browns defense which is ranked 5th overall. They have beat some good teams already including the Pittsburgh Steelers and they have wins a backup QB, so the transition would be seamless. As for the Bengals, it doesn’t look that easy ahead for them ahead. They struggled with Burrow in the lineup but he was playing through a calf injury. As he got healthy, the team started getting better. Now they have to figure out how to play at a competitive level without him, which just seems impossible. Tough road ahead for both teams but Cleveland’s path seems a little brighter.
Denver Turning It Around
The Denver Broncos have turned their season around to much disbelief. In fact, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, which is suitable since he has been playing lights put these past 2 games. Some people might point to the infamous Miami Dolphins game where they got 70 put on them but went 5-2 after that.
However, the real turning point had to be when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football. It was that game where the defense gave up the fewest points of the season. Since then, the Broncos have not given up over 25 points in each game. It’s a nice assist for Broncos QB Russell Wilson , who has improved since last season, an underrated detail about this year. He’s thrown for 19 touchdowns as well as 4 interceptions and has not thrown a pick in 4 straight games. Denver has tough games ahead against the. Browns, Chargers and Texans so their postseason hopes look tough but their newfound winning ways have them on the right competitive track compared to last year and earlier this season.
Where do the Eagles and Chiefs Stand After Their Game?
The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs met up for a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl , with the Eagles walking away with a victory. It was a tough game on both sides in a small rainy affair that saw each team power through obstacles. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts threw for 150 yards, a touchdown and a pick in additon to be ing sacked times in this game. Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes threw for 177 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pick with being sacked only once.
The biggest takeaway from this game is that it was all about who won the timing battle, meaning who would pick the right moment to make the big plays when it mattered and it was the Philadelphia Eagles. For the Chiefs, timing bit them in the behind as their players could not make key plays, such as KC wide receiver Montez Valdez-Scantling dropping that pass late in the 4th quarter. The Eagles also held the Chiefs to a scoreless 2nd half through every means that they could, despite not having tight end Dallas Goedert available for them. That just left the door open for Eagles running back DeAndre Swift and wide receiver Devante Smith to make it happen. Smith finished the game with 6 catches for 99 yards, including a 41 yard reception that set Philly up for the 1 yard Brotherly Shove touchdown.
Continuing with the theme of timing, it was needed for both teams at this point of the season. As the postseason nears, they are going to hit road blocks such as last night and are going to have to make adjustments, which both teams did, but only one prevailed. Kansas City has a lot of time to get things corrected before the playoffs come or else their time in the postseason will be cut short.
Shoutouts/Shutouts
Shout out to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill for being Tyreek Hill. Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, Hill caught a 38 yard touchdown in between 4 defenders and out ran all of them. Just another day for Hill, helping Miami get the 20-13 win.
Shut out to the Josh Wilson era in the New York Jets. Earlier this week it was announced that Wilson will be benched and replaced by QB Tim Boyle started as the starter; Boyle’s backup will be QB Trevor Siemian. This comes in the wake of the Jets’ 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills where Wilson was sacked 5 times and threw for 81 yards. Wilson was benched last season and came into this season behind QB Aaron Rodgers, but as a protégé to hopefully get back as a starter when Rodgers hangs it up. Instead, he might have to find elsewhere to continue his career and find his own way.
Week 12 is here for all your holiday sport traditions. The week kicks off Thursday with the primetime mattchup of the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Seattle Seahawks in a NFC showdown. Sunday, the Houston Texans are hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars for first place in the AFC South. The Texans beat the Jaguars earlier this season, giving them their first win of the season. The game of the week coupd be the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Buffalo Bills. Philly is coming off of a big win over the Chiefs and look to further that success against the Bills. Buffalo had a huge win over the New York Jets but face a greater challenge in the Eagles defense. However, they will not lay down at all for the current NFC champs. But until then…I’ll holla.