NFL 2021: Week Fourteen Questions

The Game Room
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Games played in this part of the NFL season become more and more important for two reasons: 1) the playoffs are nearing and 2) Coaches and GMs start to their jobs. So while the 16 teams who are within a game or 2 of .500 are desperate for wins to try and make the playoffs, the 7 or so teams that are already likely out of it get to debate the future of their coaches. Who will be the first to go? Matt Rhule? Matt Nagy? Joe Judge? Urban Meyer?

And, more importantly, which teams will start a run into the playoffs? (I think the Niners will make a strong push, and, until last week’s loss to the Lions, the Vikings) And which will begin their tailspin? (sorry WFT and Steelers, I don’t like your chances) Things are getting very interesting indeed.

Also, prepare yourself for the next progression in the NFL news cycle: the beginning of more and more reporting on prospect rankings for the NFL Draft (NFL Draft talk seems to start earlier and earlier every year) and potential free agents. The NFL wants to make sure even the teams that are out of the playoff hunt have something for their fans. So get ready to hear a lot about the debate between Aidan Hutchinson and Kayveon Thibodeaux and whether Chris Godwin or Davante Adams will be a good fit for your losing team. And as a special treat, you can watch as unknown college QBs suddenly go shooting up draft boards and become proclaimed the next Josh Allen. Good times.

Enough rambling. Here’s your games:

Thursday, December 9th, 7:20 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Minnesota Vikings (-3.5, 45)

Sunday, December 12th

Early

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Football Team (+5, 49)
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans (-10.5, 43.5)
Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans (+7.5, 43.5)
Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (-8.5, 51)
New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets (+5.5, 44)
Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers (-2.5, 43.5)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns (-1.5, 43.5)

Late

New York Giants @ Los Angeles Chargers (-10.5, 45.5)
Detroit Lions @ Denver Broncos (-8, 43.5)
San Francisco 49ers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5, 47.5)
Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5, 52.5)

Night

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (-12.5, 45)

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals (-2.5, 52)

Remember that “playoff hunt” I was talking about? This Thursday we get our first real chance at hyped up game as two mediocre teams look to stay alive in the playoffs. The Vikings are coming off a tough loss to the Lions, while the Steelers’ defense eked out a win against the Ravens. This should be, surprisingly, a great game to watch. Kirk Cousins is one of the most underrated QBs in the game, and the Steelers defense is still a force. Watch this game if you get a chance.

The Ravens/Browns game has the same intensity as these hated teams look to make the playoffs in the best of the early Sunday games. The Browns are coming off their bye and are at home, which gives them a huge advantage, but I can’t help but feel that their .500 record is more than a little disappointing. But watching the Steelers shut down Lamar Jackson, I’d worry that he’s been a bit disappointing too. But come the spring, he’ll still get the next massive QB contract. But I don’t think he’ll get the win this week. The Cowboys/WFT game could be a good palate cleanser from the Browns/Ravens slugfest.

Bills/Bucs properly gets most of the attention of the late games, but the Niners/Bengals could be a sneaky great watch too. You really can’t go wrong with either game. The Bills are 2-3 in the last 5, and can play very well … against bad teams. This week might be tough, but luckily, they have the Falcons, Jets, and the Panthers coming up, so they’ll be playoff bound. Both of these games should be great watches.

I’m as ambivalent as I can be for a Bears/Packers game. I know the Packers will likely have a letdown game sometime soon, but I don’t see the Bears having enough offensive power to pull off the upset. I’m more interested in the injury situation, as the Packers are getting Rashan Gary and Aaron Jones back, and Jaire Alexander/David Bahktiari/ZaDarius Smith get closer to return.

The Rams/Cards game could be fascinating though. The Cards defense has been playing better than I ever would have thought, and they’re looking at a possible #1 seed. The Rams, meanwhile, are also a damn good team that will be fighting for the Super Bowl. Should be awesome.

What games pique your interest? Are you already looking forward to the draft/freeagency/coaches firing? Does the Buddha exist after death? Let’s hear from you!!!

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I am still rooting for the Ravens, as I have for three years. You never know how a game will go, there’s been upsets. I’ve been loving the Cards for few years, I want them in the Superbowl.

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The AFC North could get really interesting here. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson have honestly not been all that good for most of the season. But this really feels like a must-win for the Browns if they want to hold on to any hope of a run to the playoffs. Their offense has been abysmal lately and I, for one, do not think that falls entirely on Baker Mayfield. Hopefully they figured some things out and got a little healthier over that bye week (which they really could have used like a month ago, but oh well).

Tonight’s game also has big playoff implications for both teams involved. If Minnesota loses, they’re probably done for. Pittsburgh could mayyyyybe weather a loss here, but then they’d almost have to win out to do so.

4

I’m very interested in the Chargers/Giants game. The Chargers are down a bunch of players due to Covid, and them losing gives the Chefs a very significant cushion in the AFC West. I’m not sure the Giants are the matchup KC needs for that to happen, though…

5

The Steelers are currently featuring their vaunted Swiss Cheese defense.

6

It’s working

7

Dalvin Cook is playing outrageously, particularly for a guy who dislocated his shoulder a week and a half ago.

8

Steelers are the most weirdly inconsistent team.

Blown out by Bengals.

Beat division-leading Ravens.

Blown out by Vikings.

9

Day-um! Whatever it was Tomlin said to them at halftime, they seem to have listened.

10

Now it’s gotten weird.

11

Troy Aikman earlier in the game:

“When I played I had an HOF offensive line and I never say holes THIS big!”

Bwahahahahaha

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Watching how the hyper-conservativeness of the Vikings can cost them an easy win makes me think there is no longer a place in the NFL for Mike Zimmer.

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Jesus QB Christ, Troy Aikman is fucking annoying.

Fun game to watch for those of us with no skin in the game.

14

Is anyone really neutral on the Steelers!

15

Former Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has died at age 33; according to this article, no additional information is yet available.

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Not me. This was a fun game to watch. First they got their asses handed to them in the first half, which was highly enjoyable. Then they climbed all the way back in and had hope to tie it up, only to lose on a drop. Must have been crushing.

[Nelson Muntz] Ha ha! [/Nelson Muntz]

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As a Viking’s fan, this year has been a nightmare. They could realistically have 11 wins right now if they could manage games properly.

I think it is time for Zimmer to go back to being a defensive coordinator somewhere. They should probably get rid of Cousins, too, just so they can afford to pay some other players. I’m not sure his current contract will allow that, though.

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I agree completely. I almost turned if off a few times, as it appeared to be a slaughter. (although that was fun too) But the Steelers kept coming back. Very enjoyable game. I didn’t really care, so that helped keep me calm as the Vikings kept blowing it.

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A few more details have been released:

  • Thomas was found dead in his home by police on Thursday.
  • It is suspected that his death was the result of a medical issue. Thomas’s family and former teammates say that he had been suffering from seizures for the past year, and he may have had a seizure while in the shower.
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With a big assist by a stupid play by Chase Claypool.