By Lucas Camacho
It’s hard to think of a Thanksgiving holiday weekend without football. Another week has come and gone, and the playoff picture has become a little clearer. Everyone plays on Thanksgiving weekend, so there’s no days off on this holiday for football players. For those of you who say they can deal with Thanksgiving without football…you’re nuts…it’s Thanksgiving! Now let’s get on with the recap, starting with the Thanksgiving and Black Friday games, and then moving to the LA teams and the rest of the league. (I’d also like to take this time to say…my fantasy football team that I share with my dad is in first place, so suck it “fantasy experts”!)
RAMS 21 – SAINTS 14
The Rams are still very much alive in the playoff race thanks to this much needed victory over the Saints. Wide receiver Puka Nacua showed flashes from his stellar rookie season, catching 5 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Look, slow starts are something they’ll have to deal with, but the fact of the matter is that this win keeps them very much in the NFC West. Again for all the “experts” that said they were out: I told you! As for the Saints, this loss hurt in more ways than one. Not only did they lose all the momentum they had before the bye, but now they’ve lost super utility man Taysom Hill for the year. That is going to hurt the Saints a lot going forward as their playoff hopes are now on life support as their list of players done for the year grows nearly as long as the 49ers’.
CHARGERS 17 – FALCONS 13
This was not a pretty game for either team. In the end, defense prevailed for the Chargers as they got a much needed victory over the Falcons. It didn’t help the Falcons that Kirk Cousins threw 4 interceptions in this game, but it’s not like Justin Herbert did much better as he threw for only 147 yards and no touchdowns. Now, I’m surprised to say this but there may be some problems for the Chargers at the offensive line. He took five sacks in this game, which puts the number of sacks Herbert has taken the last 2 weeks up to 9. For all the Chiefs’ faults, they should be able to easily penetrate this line unless changes are made before the big Sunday night match against the defending champs. As for the Falcons, it must be exhausting worrying about the defense one week and the offense the next. It seemed that the NFC South crown was theirs for the taking…but not so much right now with the Buccaneers hot on their heels.
BEARS 20 – LIONS 23
This was a lot closer of a game than I was expecting, but then again it is a divisional rivalry. Nevertheless, the Lions held off the Bears for a Thanksgiving victory. This loss isn’t Caleb Williams’ fault, as he completed 20 of his 39 passes for a beautiful 256 yard and 3 touchdown performance. The question after this loss could coach Matt Eberflus survive this loss with the Bears’ poor clock management? The answer came swiftly among the many Black Friday deals as the Bears fired him Friday and named offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as interim head coach. We’ll see if Brown can handle the job and put himself in the position to be the permanent head coach. As for the Lions, not much to say. They’re playing like the best team in the NFL. That is not something that is up for debate. If you want me to be picky and find an Achillies heel…I won’t be telling you something new: their second half woes. Again, the Lions only scored once in the second half. For a vaunted offense like the Lions, that’s not good. The Chiefs’ mistakes eventually caught up to them…it’s only a matter of time before the Lions’ second half troubles catch up to them like last year. Then again, maybe that won’t happen, but do they really want to gamble on those odds?
GIANTS 20 – COWBOYS 27
It sure didn’t look pretty, but the Cowboys had a good Thanksgiving beating the Giants and chowing down on the John Madden traditional Turducken (it looks as weird as it sounds, but it’s a tradition and a sign of respect for the late John Madden). The Cowboys defense excelled in this game as Giants quarterback Drew Lock was limited to 178 passing yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Granted it’s not much of a measuring stick considering how bad the Giants are, but it was promising for the Cowboys. The big thing to take away from this game is that the Cowboys FINALLY won at home. Now we must wait and see if they can build on this momentum. As for the Giants, they have the distinct honor of being the first eliminated from playoff contention. Look, the “experts” can blame the coach all they want, but this is the worst constructed team in the league. The fact they got two wins out of this team says this coach needs to stay (because that folks is a Christmas miracle without the Christmas part all on its own minus the presence of Snoopy, Tom Hanks, etc.). If the Giants retool, look better, get a good quarterback from the draft, and still perform like this next year, THEN you can fire him.
DOLPHINS 17 – PACKERS 30
I wasn’t sold on the Dolphins’ resurgence since the return of Tua Tagovailoa, and this blowout at the hands of the Packers has clearly given my evidence to substantiate my claim. Despite the cold Thanksgiving weather (which could have frozen the Turducken), Tagovailoa threw for more passing yards than Jordan Love by a margin of 365 yards to 274 (although both threw 2 touchdowns with no interceptions), but that could have been because the Dolphins were behind from start to finish. The Packers are a great team, but now they will be put to the test: a matchup against the vaunted Lions. As for the Dolphins, I did warn not to get caught up in the hype as the Dolphins’ last couple of wins have come against struggling teams. This hasn’t taken the Dolphins out of the playoffs just yet, but I think it’s safe to say that their chances are on life support.
RAIDERS 17 – CHIEFS 19
The Chiefs have to be the luckiest team in the NFL, and sometimes…it is the luckiest that wins the big prize (just ask any lotto winner). A botched snap and some questionable officiating gave the Chiefs a win to avoid a very costly upset against the Raiders. There is only one stat I want to focus on in this recap and that’s the prowess of the amazing rookie tight end Brock Bowers. He added another 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. Bottom line is this…this kid is a monster, and he’s gonna have an amazing career whether he wins Rookie of the Year or not (but he should at least be considered in the running). I don’t care what the records say: the Chiefs need to smash the panic button. Being unable to blow out two struggling teams like the Panthers and the Raiders says RED FLAG ALERT. As for the Raiders, look…the injuries and struggles at quarterback are the reasons this team with high expectations is now going to miss the playoffs (yeah, they’re officially out now). I would NOT call them the worst team in the NFL. Worst luck? Yes. But look at all the talent they have to build around: defensive end Maxx Crosby, punter AJ Cole, and the awesomeness that is Brock Bowers. Rest assured, coach Antonio Pierce isn’t going to get fired, and the Raiders will bounce back next year (at least I hope they don’t make the impulsive move to fire Pierce).
STEELERS 44 – BENGALS 38
Look out NFL nation, here come the Steelers. They sure did look impressive and like a playoff team as they took down another of their division rivals, the Bengals. Russell Wilson had only one hiccup in this game in the form of an interception. However, that didn’t seem to matter as he punished the Bengals by throwing for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns. Did this mean that the Steelers’ offense is back on track? Possibly, but hold the phone. Let’s see what they do next week against the same Browns team that gave them a big serving of humble pie last week (remember the picture from my last article showing the Browns playing in the snow?). As for the Bengals, they’re not technically out of playoff contention…yet. So, it’s not impossible that they make the playoffs, it’s just…un-possible.
CARDINALS 22 – VIKINGS 23
Well folks, it doesn’t come very much closer than this. The Vikings got a much needed win over the Cardinals as they keep up the pressure on the NFL leading Lions. Despite being contained for most of the game, the NFL’s best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, managed to haul in 7 catches for 99 yards. It’s clear that teams are going to double and triple team Jefferson, and why wouldn’t you? (Even Jefferson himself has said he would do the same thing.) The Vikings will have to get creative with the star wide receiver if they want their offense to keep rolling, because I’m concerned about the fumbles I’m seeing from running back Aaron Jones. As for the Cardinals, their failed trips in the red zones probably cost them the points they needed to turn back the Vikings’ late surge. Instead, three trips to the red zone ended up only yielding a field goal on each trip. This is something they’ll need to improve on as the race for the NFC West turns into a three-horse race.
COLTS 25 – PATRIOTS 24
That sound you hear is the sound of many Patriots fans’ hearts breaking. The late touchdown from the Colts not only stole the victory from them, it also made them the third team to be eliminated from playoff contention. On a brighter note, this victory means the Colts live to fight another day and keep their playoff hopes alive. Running back Jonathan Taylor had a much better game than last week, rushing 25 times for 96 yards and adding one catch for 7 yards. Obviously, the Colts have a lot of work to do and a lot of dominos have to fall their way. Their margin for error is razor thin because this win just barely took their chances of the playoffs from none to slim. As for the Patriots, now that they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs for this season, I can now safely say this…I TOLD YOU NOT TO DRAFT DRAKE MAYE! Another game, another interception, this is NOT your quarterback going forward. If he can turn things around next season, then he’s got a chance. If not…the Patriots drafted another Mac Jones.
SEAHAWKS 26 – JETS 21
Hey, how about those Seahawks. They’ve put together a great campaign as of late and have seized first place in the NFC West with a victory over the spiraling Jets. It wasn’t a dazzling performance by Geno Smith, throwing for only 206 yards and a touchdown, but it was good enough to get the Seahawks a win. One area of concern for the Seahawks: special teams. In one half, the Seahawks lost two fumbles on kickoffs, allowed a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and had a PAT blocked. The question is; will the Seahawks shake things up on special teams. As for the Jets, Aaron Rodgers is running out of excuses for why he is playing so poorly. The head coach is gone, the general manager is gone, and Rodgers is next on the chopping block. To be fair, Rodgers is still going into the Hall of Fame, but we will fondly look back on his days as a Packer…not as a Jet. Not only is Rodgers running out of time…so are the Jets and their chances at the playoffs, which are on life support.
TITANS 19 – COMMANDERS 42
If there is anyone that really needed a win that was a blowout, it was the Commanders (also the Chiefs, but they failed at that). They certainly got it as the Commanders routed the Titans in a big way. After the running game was ground down to a complete halt against the Eagles and the Cowboys, the Commanders’ running game produced 3 touchdowns, including one by Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jayden Daniels. Also, Daniels threw for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns (while also throwing an interception). It was the bounce back game that the Commanders needed to maintain their playoff position and at least try to keep pace with the Eagles. As for the Titans, so much for “nobody runs on the Titans”. Allowing 267 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground says otherwise, Titans nation. In a more serious note, time is running out on the Titans if they want any legitimate shot at the playoffs, however slim. The Patriots and Raiders are already out, and the Titans are among the teams in the AFC next on the chopping block.
TEXANS 23 – JAGUARS 20
Boy, did this get ugly fast. A late hit on Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence that knocked him out of the game kicked off a big fight between the Jaguars and Texans. The resulting fallout is if Lawrence will play another game this year with the Jaguars’ chances of the playoffs already on life support, and Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended 3 games for said hit. But after all that singand song and dance, the Texans held on against the Jaguars for a much needed win. Slowly but surely, CJ Stroud is looking like his old self, completing 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. It was a good momentum builder for the Texans as their offense came alive in the second half. Now we have to see if they could build on that as they head into their bye week to recover for the final stretch of the season. As for the Jaguars, the season is over as they became the next team eliminated from playoff contention along with the Patriots. I doubt we’ll see Trevor Lawrence again this season, because why risk your franchise quarterback, who I still think has amazing untapped potential, on a lost season. I will also say this…time may have also run out on coach Doug Pederson.
BUCCANEERS 26 – PANTHERS 23
This was too close for comfort for the Buccaneers as they were force to win in overtime over their divisional rivals, the Panthers. Baker Mayfield had a forgettable day as he was held to 235 yards passing with a touchdown and 2 interceptions. I would again like to emphasize that this was too close for the Buccaneers’ tastes. Nevertheless, they have made a roaring comeback and are now even with the Falcons for the NFC South (however, the Falcons maintain the tiebreaker due to head-to-head win percentage. As for the Panthers, so close…and yet so far. Yes, Bryce Young has shown some improvement. I think for the Panthers going forward, they should have rookie Jonathan Brooks have more carries since the Panthers are not in development mode. They haven’t been mathematically eliminated, but with the Giants already out in the NFC…they’re the next team to get their torch snuffed (that was for all you Survivor fans out there).
EAGLES 24 – RAVENS 19
We had some good games on Thanksgiving (better than I was expecting), but this was the premier matchup of Week 13. The Eagles managed to beat the Ravens in a big matchup of playoff bound teams. Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley has been on an absolute tear this season, adding another 23 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. If the Eagles can keep this up against the Steelers and in their rematch with the Commanders, they have the capability to run the table and make a serious challenge to the Lions for the number one seed. As for the Ravens, look…you have a great team. Lamar Jackson is still putting up great numbers (he threw for 237 yards for 2 touchdowns and even ran it himself 8 times for 79 yards). The problem is certainly a surprise…the kicker. For years and years, Justin Tucker has been THE MOST accurate kicker in not just the NFL…but in the ENTIRE history of the league itself! This game was the first time he ever missed 3 kicks (two field goals for 47 and 53 yards, and an extra point) in a single game. The Ravens’ chances at the playoffs are not in question, but their chances of winning the AFC North is now in reasonable doubt.
49ERS 10 – BILLS 35
HOLY MOLE HOLES! That was a LOT of snow! It looked like a scene from The Day After Tomorrow. If I may take a break from the recap, allow me to express my admiration to the Bills staff who spent many long hours shoveling all that snow throughout the week leading up to the big matchup. They truly deserve applause, admiration, and respect.
Back to the recap, the Bills beat the snow stuffing out of the 49ers. Considering the amount of snow falling during the game, we expected the ground game to carry the offense for both teams. James Cook led the way for the Bills with 14 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. The AFC East crown will remain in Buffalo another season. Now the Bills pose a serious threat to the Chiefs for the number one seed (and remember: they hold the tiebreaker over them thanks to their victory two weeks ago). As for the 49ers, I will calmly say this…RED ALERT! SOS! MAYDAY!!! The 49ers, the reigning NFC champions, are in a jaw-dropping spiral. Their playoff chances are stunningly on life support and in desperate need of a win just to keep it alive. But with both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason now heading for the IR…hope may have run out for San Francisco.
BROWNS 32 – BRONCOS 41
I will honestly say this game was A LOT closer than I thought it would be. However, it still ended with the Broncos turning back a challenge from the Browns. Under normal circumstances, Jameis Winston’s 497 yards and 4 touchdowns is a performance worthy of MVP candidates. However, he also threw 3 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown and another on the goal line (both of which sealed the Browns’ fate). For the Broncos, I’m sure they should have some concerns about their defense. After all, this defense has been so good all season, and yet Jameis Winston and Jerry Jeudy put up video game numbers against them. Right now, they have a firm grip on a playoff spot, but only if this little slip-up is just a minor bump in the road. As for the Browns, another year…another losing season. That makes it 22 out of 26 losing seasons since their return to Cleveland in 1999. Technically, they haven’t been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, so it’s not impossible for them to make the playoffs…just very unlikely.
