NFL: Seahawks Rise & Eagles Fall
Week 13 is officially behind us, and we were treated to a number of great games this past weekend. Thursday Night Football got the week started, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins, 38-14, behind 127 rushing yards from Alfred Morris. Sunday Night Football was a battle between a pair of playoff teams, and the Seattle Seahawks pulled off the minor upset over the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-10, as Mike Davis ran for 64 yards. Monday Night Football was another thriller, as the Pittsburgh Steelers came back to defeat their rival, the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, led by 290 yards from future Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger.
1. New England Patriots (10-2, +1): The Patriots, surprisingly enough are on top of our rankings for the first time all year, and are once again the favorites to win the Super Bowl. In Week 13, the Patriots destroyed the Buffalo Bills, who aren't a bad team. In fact, if the playoffs began today, Buffalo would be in the Wild Card spot, as they are second in the AFC East. New England jumped on Buffalo early in the game, taking a 9-3 lead into the break and that got even bigger with a couple of touchdowns in the second half. However, the main story is going to be the one-game suspension by TE Rob Gronkowski after his late hit against LB Tre'Davious White.
Team MVP: Tom Brady (QB) - 3,632 Yards & 26 TDs.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2, +1): The Steelers also won their game, 23-20, against the Cincinnati Bengals, but just like the Patriots game, it was a couple of injuries that stole the show. LB Ryan Shazier was injured while making a tackle, and could not move his legs, before being transported to the nearest hospital. Later in the game WR Juju Smith-Schuster hit LB Vontaze Burfict on a crack back block, and then stood over him. After the game ended, WR Antonio Brown was yelling "Karma" in the locker room after Burfict left with an injury. Speaking of Brown, he was later his in the head in the end zone. All in all, this was a tough game to play and watch.
Team MVP: Le'veon Bell (RB) - 1,105 Yards & 7 TDs.
3. Minnesota Vikings (10-2, +1): The Vikings have suddenly become one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, and for the time being, are at the top of the NFC, since the Eagles went down with their second loss on the year. The Vikings have won eight straight games, which is miraculous given that they have been without RB Dalvin Cook since the first month of the season, and that they are on their third quarterback. But with the way QB Case Keenum is playing, there's no better choice. A lot of people thought they were going to face tough competition against the Atlanta Falcons, but they were no match for Minnesota's stout defense.
Team MVP: Case Keenum (QB) - 2,983 Yards & 18 TDs.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, -3): The Eagles lost for the first time in two months, going down 24-10 against the Seahawks, but that doesn't take away much from what QB Carson Wentz and Co. have accomplished through this season. They still lead the NFC East and are in a prime position to clinch a playoff berth next week if they can go in L.A. and defeat the Los Angeles Rams. Wentz was 29-45 for 348 yards and one touchdown, but the Eagles could only muster up 10 points, only scoring in two quarters. They trailed 10-3 at halftime, but slipped out of the game late. WR Nelson Aghorlor was a bright spot, receiving seven balls for 141 yards.
Team MVP: Carson Wentz (QB) - 3,296 Yards & 33 TDs.
5. Los Angeles Rams (9-3, +0): The Rams' offense has been up-and-down over the last month, after looking nearly unstoppable for the month prior, but this week against the Arizona Cardinals, QB Jared Goff was on target. They won 32-16, after getting off to a 16-0 start in the first quarter, and riding that to the end of the game. Goff was able to punch in a pair of touchdowns, doing what he has done all year long, but the defense was a huge aspect of this win as well. They were able to pick off QB Blaine Gabbert twice in the first half, and once those were turned into points, the Cardinals were virtually out of this game altogether.
Team MVP: Todd Gurley (RB) - 1,035 Yards & 10 TDs.
6. New Orleans Saints (9-3, +0): The Saints were facing a must-win game if they wanted to win the division, because slipping to a tie with the Carolina Panthers, with a game coming up on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, would be a bad case scenario, but they answered that adversity with a huge victory, their second over the Panthers this season. After being tied, 7-7, at the end of the first quarter, the Saints put up two touchdowns in the second, and led by seven points at halftime. They finished the game, winning 32-21, and rising as the favorites in the NFC South. QB Drew Brees threw for 269 yards, and RB Mark Ingram had 85 yards.
Team MVP: Drew Brees (QB) - 3,569 Yards & 19 TDs.
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-4, +2): The Seahawks, as previously mentioned, were facing a huge test against the league leading Eagles, but thankfully for them it was on their home field. For years, Seattle has had one of the most impactful home field advantages and it reigned true on Sunday Night Football, as the crowd was booming from the opening kick-off and roared until the Seahawks finished with a 14-point victory. RB Mike Davis, who has been unheard of for the majority of the season, stepped up greatly and had the best game of the year, going for 64 yards on 16 carries for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Seattle heads to Jacksonville in Week 14.
Team MVP: Russell Wilson (QB) - 3,527 Yards & 29 TDs.
8. Tennessee Titans (8-4, +2): The Titans were at home this weekend, and when they're on their home field, it's a tough team to take down. Tennessee is 5-1 at home this year, while being 3-3 on the road. After taking down the Houston Texans, 24-13, in Week 13, they'll face the Cardinals on the road next Sunday. QB Marcus Mariota is a very talented player, but he still struggles on the road at times, as was obvious when he threw four picks in a road loss against the Steelers a couple of weeks back. RB Derrick Henry looked good in this one, though, as he ran for 109 yards and one touchdown in just 11 (!) carries. The Titans now lead the AFC South.
Team MVP: Marcus Mariota (QB) - 2,582 Yards & 10 TDs.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, +2): The Jaguars are right behind the Titans in the division, but it could easily come down to Week 17, when they face one another. However, over the next three weeks, the Jaguars schedule is a bit easier, so it wouldn't be surprising to see them take the lead in the division before the two teams face off. It seems like Jacksonville, for the first time in a decade, is a legitimate threat, and could be heading for the playoffs. They have arguably the best defense in the entire league. QB Blake Bortles threw for 309 yards and WR Marqise Lee had 86 yards. The Jags host the Seahawks next week in what should be a thriller.
Team MVP: Leonard Fournette (RB) - 923 Yards & 8 TDs.
10. Carolina Panthers (8-4, -3): The Panthers drop down three spots after their road loss to the Saints, which is the second of the season, and this loss hurts their chances to win the division. Although, that won't be the end all be all when it comes to Carolina making the postseason. QB Cam Newton has played very well for the majority of the season and has put the Panthers in place to return to the playoffs after losing the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. But they can't fall into a drought and start losing multiple games, so all of a sudden, next weeks game against the Vikings is extremely important for their chances to clinch a Wild Card berth soon.
Team MVP: Cam Newton (QB) - 2,720 Yards & 17 TDs.
Player of the Week:
W1 - Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) - 148 Yards, 1 TD, 42-27 win vs. Patriots.
W2 - Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 447 Yards, 3 TDs, 36-20 win vs. Saints.
W3 - Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) - 292 Yards, 3 TDs, 41-39 win vs. 49ers.
W4 - Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 283 Yards, 4 TDs, 57-14 win vs. Titans.
W5 - Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) - 304 Yards, 4 TDs, 34-7 win vs. Cardinals.
W6 - Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 225 Yards, 3 TDs, 33-17 win vs. Browns.
W7 - Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders) - 210 Yards, 2 TDs, 31-30 win vs. Chiefs.
W8 - Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) - 451 Yards, 4 TDs, 41-38 win vs. Texans.
W9 - Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) - 361 Yards, 2 TDs, 30-17 win vs. Packers.
W10 - Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) - 254 Yards, 4 TDs, 45-21 win vs. Dolphins.
W11 - Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 144 Yards, 3 TDs, 40-17 win vs. Titans.
W12 - Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons) - 253 Yards, 2 TDs, 34-20 win vs. Buccaneers.
W13 - Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) - 227 Yards, 3 TDs, 24-10 win vs. Eagles.
Top Ranked Team:
Week 1: Dallas Cowboys.
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 13: New England Patriots.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.
