Around the AFC
Chiefs cooked? Kansas City went to Dallas with hopes of a second straight win and a late-season run. Instead, Patrick Mahomes’ team came up short yet again and fell to 6-6 on the season. Not only is K.C.’s run of nine straight AFC West titles coming to an end, but Andy Reid and company don’t have a ton of margin left in terms of making the playoffs. From here, they’ve likely got to win four of five at a minimum to ensure they make the dance.
Hello operator. Can you give me No. 9? Joe Burrow returned and immediately notched a big win, leading Cincinnati to a blowout of Baltimore and throwing for 246 yards and two TDs. The Bengals are just 4-8 now, but they’re not quite dead yet in the AFC North. Almost, but not quite. Their next two are at Buffalo and at home against Baltimore. Find a way to win those, and Cincinnati closes with Miami, Arizona and Cleveland. Huh.
Half Charge. Last we saw Jim Harbaugh’s team, it was getting absolutely waxed at Jacksonville. In the process, Los Angeles fell two games behind the Broncos in the division. They’ve got a chance to get right Sunday at home against Las Vegas, though. And they need to in order to keep pace with Denver and to keep the Chiefs solidly in the rearview mirror. Los Angeles is closer to getting rookie running back Omarion Hampton back from an early-season ankle injury, which should be considerable help to quarterback Justin Herbert and company.
Around the NFC
Northern exposure. Don’t look now, but Green Bay’s won three straight since back-to-back losses to Carolina and Philadelphia. The Packers are 8-3-1, notched a season sweep of Detroit with a gutsy win at Ford Field on Thanksgiving, and now set up a massive portion of the schedule. They’ve got a pair of games against Chicago sandwiched around a trip to Denver. Those Bears matchups just might decide the NFC North, though, plus the Lions are playoff contenders.
Record watch for JSN. The best receiver in football this year isn’t even a fair fight. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 80 catches for 1,313 yards through 11 games in Seattle. That puts him on pace for 2,029 on the season, which would best Calvin Johnson’s all-time record of 1,964. JSN just keeps getting better for the Seahawks, who look like Super Bowl contenders, too. He had eight catches for 167 and two TDs last week.
Niners hanging tough. San Francisco’s dealt with major injuries all year, including to quarterback Brock Purdy. They’re playing in a division that has perhaps the NFC’s two best teams in Seattle and the Rams. And yet Kyle Shanahan’s got his team at 8-4 and in the mix. If they can get into a long-awaited bye week with nine wins after playing Cleveland this weekend, they’ll be in great shape. Piece of advice: Make sure to block Myles Garrett.
Game of the Week
Buffalo at Pittsburgh
The Bills and Steelers are both trying to keep pace with surging teams in their respective divisions. Josh Allen and company just haven’t quite found high gear so far this season and they’ve watched as New England’s reeled off nine straight victories. The Steelers, meanwhile, are in first place after Baltimore’s Thanksgiving night clunker. Aaron Rodgers has a broken left wrist, but is expected to play. Both of these teams have the horses to get hot and press their division rivals. But neither at this point looks like a true Super Bowl contender. Those factors alone — to say nothing of the QB matchup — make this a massive game. Then consider both head coaches — Sean McDermott in Buffalo and Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh — have been consistent winners but neither has had a particularly smooth ride over the past year-plus, and both have groups that are underperforming so far this season.
Bills 24, Steelers 23
Lock of the Week
L.A. Rams at Carolina
After the field looked wide open for the better part of three months, the stretch run arrives with the Rams looking like clear Super Bowl favorites. They’ve won six straight and they’re playing dominant football both offensively and defensively. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had to retreat into a taco-truck-looking bus for back treatment throughout training camp, has thrown 27 touchdowns without an interception and is 30-2 for the season. The Panthers have improved this season, but this is a different level of challenge. Consider the Rams’ enviable skill talent in receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, plus running back Kyren Williams and a bevy of tight ends, and then remember their defense might be better than their offense.
Rams 34, Panthers 13
Upset of the Week
Houston at Indianapolis
Alright, so there aren’t a ton of good upset options on the board this week with the shortened Sunday slate. The Colts are in the hunt for the No. 1 seed, they’re still in control of the division and they’re 4.5-point home favorites against the Texans. They’re in pretty good shape.
At the same time, however, the Texans’ defense is on a mega heater and Indy quarterback Daniel Jones reportedly has a fracture in his fibula. For a long time, Shane Steichen’s team looked like it might waltz to the AFC South title. If Houston actually pulls an upset on the road, that changes the equation in a big way. Oh, and it would be good for Denver’s chances at the No. 1 seed, too.
Texans 17, Colts 16
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