For the entire NFL season, we will be breaking down the rest of the NFL not named Green Bay by looking at it like a liquor cabinet. Why did we choose this method? I like to booze and it makes things really easy to determine what's great, average and poor.
TOP SHELF
It's always snowy in red hot Philadelphia - Remember at the beginning of the year, I said this about Philadelphia... "You really have no idea what you will get this year, they could be 10-6 or they could be be 6-10." Nick Foles might have thrown an interception, but he still looks like a top ten quarterback in the National Football League. They have figured out how to play defense and force turnovers. People acting like they do not have a defense have not watched an Eagles game in the last two months. Philadelphia is as legit as they come in the NFC and their potential matchup with New Orleans in the divisional round would be fascinating.
Minnesota-Baltimore played a classic -It is hard to remember a game like what we saw from the Vikings and Ravens on Sunday. The game featured barely any points throughout the game until the fourth quarter when things went HAM like Kanye and Jay Z told us about. Fourth quarter began with Minnesota taking a lead 12-7 to begin the fourth quarter. It would stay that way for most of the fourth with people wondering what to make of this Ravens team. Joe Flacco would find Dennis Pitta for a touchdown with two minutes left only to have it be followed up by two more Vikings touchdowns and two more Ravens touchdown including a game-winner with 10 seconds left in the game. Six lead changes in the fourth quarter is an NFL record.
Peyton Manning handles cold just fine, thank you - One of the recent NFL narratives has been Peyton Manning's inability to play in cold weather games. Denver had freezing conditions against Tennessee on Sunday and Manning threw for 397 yards with four touchdowns against a pretty strong Tennessee defense. Just because something happens one time does not mean it will continue to happen meaning this is still a narrative to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Cincinnati is cooking on all cylinders - I have went back and forth with this Bengals team all season long. It is like Katy Perry's song 'Hot N Cold' where I buy them to start and then I will sell them off at some point of the year. I am in full buy mode right now. Their defense took care of business against a good San Diego team (Another team I cannot figure out) and then their offense handled Indianapolis, a playoff team this week. The question can keep it together in January for a playoff run. That question is still unknown.
MIDDLE SHELF
San Francisco wins a game they are supposed to - I am not ready to crown San Francisco one of the big contenders in the NFC. Realistically barring any collapse, San Francisco will probably have three road games in order to get to the Super Bowl. They beat Seattle at home where they are practically unbeatable. Big time effort from Frank Gore though. Whenever people are ready to throw dirt on Gore saying 'he is finally done', he rushes for 100+ yards.
Patriots pulls another game from its ass, lose Gronkowski - Once again, New England pulled a game out of their collective asses as they trailed Cleveland 19-3 at one point late in the game. Patriots have become the second half wizards in the past month. But more importantly in the game, Rob Gronkowski is done for the year with a torn ACL and MCL with a concussion on top. I do not think Gronk being out makes New England inferior in a weak AFC, but it obviously hurts their chances to make to yet another Super Bowl.
If Mike Glennon started all year, what's Tampa Bay record? - Serious question here because either Mike Glennon, Keenan Allen or Eddie Lacy is the Rookie of the Year, but if Tampa Bay would have went with Glennon to begin the season, I have to think Tampa Bay is close to a .500 team, right? He saved Greg Schiano's job, the narrative about this team and provides promise for the future.
Another strong Arizona home win, but Honey Badger :( - I wish I would have pulled the trigger on predicting Arizona for eight to nine wins. I could not do it. I wanted to do it, but I just could not put all my faith in Carson Palmer. He looks reborn with Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald. Tyrann Mathieu being done for the year will hurt this defense moving forward to finish out the year especially against difficult teams like Seattle and San Francisco.
Let's change our Geno Smith narrative!!!!!!!! - There is no real reason to get excited about Geno Smith doing well against a weak Raiders defense, but I have to send Eric this screenshot as he keeps taunting me when Geno struggles which has been the last four weeks.
BOTTOM SHELF
Washington is the worst team in football - I thought Houston was the worst team in football, but the Texans really have not been blown out in a football game during their losing streak. Washington completely laid down at home. I do not care if it is against Kansas City, a playoff team, there is no excuse for their weak punkass effort.
Dallas primetime defense is everything but - I have no idea what happens to Dallas' defense when they play in primetime, but it has been a disaster the last two times out. Sean Lee is out with yet another injury, this time to his neck and if he does not play, the playoff hopes for Dallas dwindle greatly. They also need to get more of a pass rush than they did on Monday night because it was not pretty at all for Dallas.
Oh so close Antonio Brown - It is hard to believe this could have been the play of the year if Brown had better feet near the sideline. The crazy thing is I think if the field had not been covered with snow, I think Brown finds a way in-bounds to give Pittsburgh a better playoff shot and swinging many fantasy playoff matchups.
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