NFL Round-Up: Week 14

Are you guys excited?

Of course you are. That's why you're here. But this week, you should be EXTRA excited, BECAUSE WE ARE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM THE RELEASE OF THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE!!!!

I'm so excited I can barely even write this introduction....

Anyway, it's time to talk about some football.......

So................

Sit back........

Grab a beer............

Put the kids outside...........

Tell the wife to leave you alone.........

IT'S TIME............................................

NFL Round-Up

Week 14

The Scoreboard

(A recap of all the action from the past week in the NFL....)

*Due to time restraints, the Monday Night Football games are not included in The Scoreboard


Minnesota Vikings (8-5): 20    Arizona Cardinals (11-2): 23

The Cardinals are the best team in the NFC not named the Carolina Panthers, that's for sure. They seem to find a way to win week-in and week-out and it looks like this team has one goal in mind....and that's the Super Bowl. If you're in their way, I'm praying for you. I don't know if there's a team that can beat these guys when Carson Palmer is rolling. On the other hand, Minnesota looked much better than they did last week. Even in a loss, this one could be chalked up to a "moral victory" for the Vikings as they finally played one of the NFL's top teams and almost came away with the win. This has to be uplifitng for them to play Arizona like they did considering these two teams could eventually meet again in the playoffs. And you know? I would be fine with that.

San Diego Chargers (3-10): 0    Kansas City Chiefs (8-5): 10

The Chiefs win their seventh game in a row and people still won't take them seriously because their quarterback is Alex Smith. I get it. Believe me, I get it. It's hard to trust that guy judging from his past. But what gets me is, are people even watching this Chiefs team before they come up with these comments? The Chiefs are playing really good football right now because they are doing things that great teams do:

1. They aren't turning the ball over. Seriously. Alex Smith just set the NFL record for the longest completions streak without an interception. That's pretty damn good.

2. They run the ball really well. When Jamaal Charles went down, Chiefs fans everywhere were ready to throw in the towel on the season. It's a good thing they didn't because Kansas City has found two good running backs in Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. That two-headed monster is giving NFL defenses a lot to work with as their running styles off-set each other and can cause confusion in the defense.

3. They are playing really good defense. Over the course of their seven-game winning streak, the Chiefs are playing arguably the best defense in the NFL.

4. Alex Smith is actually throwing the ball down the field. Don't look now, but Alex Smith has somehow turned into a capable NFL QB who is actually throwing the ball past the line of scrimmage. Don't believe me? Read this.

So, while I hesitate to call the Chiefs "Super Bowl contenders", I definitely think they are a team that no one else wants to face in the playoffs. Would you want to play these guys right now?

Buffalo Bills (6-7): 20    Philadelphia Eagles (6-7): 23

If "Shady" McCoy was pissed before this game started, imagine how he feels now knowing he got beat by his former team. Not only that, but Philly kind of held McCoy in check, holding him to just 74 yards on 20 carries. Don't look now, but the Eagles went from a "FIRE CHIP KELLY" bandwagon starting to "CHIP KELLY IS THE GOAT" in no time at all. With this win, the Eagles remain just behind the Redskins in the race for the division crown and if I was forced to put some money down on which team would end up winning the division today...I'm going Philly. What do you think about that Chipper?

San Francisco 49ers (4-9): 10    Cleveland Browns (3-10): 24

The NFL should be punished for even scheduling this game. I know they HAVE to, but it's almost an insult to us football fans to have to be subjected to this kind of crap.

PS: GO JOHNNY FOOTBALL THOUGH! The kid is never going to be a great NFL QB, but at least he's entertaining to watch and that's more than you can say about either one of these teams.


Detroit Lions (4-9): 14    St. Louis Rams (5-8): 21

Speaking of crap.

This is me when I see games like this on the schedule....

New Orleans Saints (5-8): 24    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7): 17

I kind of like what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are doing this season. What I don't like though is, starting Jameis Winston in 10 FanDuel leagues because he's playing against the Saints secondary and the guy only throws for 182 yards and a touchdown.

Go to your room Jameis. Don't come out until I tell you to.

We're not mad at you, we're just disappointed.



Tennessee Titans (3-10): 8    New York Jets (8-5): 30

Marcus Mariota may be the greatest football player of all-time (and he showed it when the Titans scored their only TD pass when Mariota caught one out of the wildcat formation), but he's not good enough to beat a team like the New York Jets by himself. The Titans are well on their way to becoming a good NFL team (finding a franchise QB is step one and it's apparent the Titans have found one), they are just a few years away from competing in the league. The Jets meanwhile remain in the playoff hunt, but the Steelers are right behind them and are licking their chops in anticipation. Who's going to make the playoffs? "Big Ben" and the Steelers or Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets? I think I know where I'm putting my money....

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5): 33         Cincinnati Bengals (10-3): 20

It's panic time in Cincinnati....

Why? Because the franchise quarterback went down with an injury. In case you missed it, Andy Dalton ended up breaking his thumb when going for a tackle after an interception in the game on Sunday and is now expected to miss some time. How much time exactly? No one is sure. It's a week-to-week thing but I would still be worried if I was a Bengals fan, even if Dalton does manage to come back in time for the playoffs. The injury is on his throwing hand and there's no telling how that's going to affect the way he throws the ball when he returns. Also, it may not take much in the way of a significant hit to hurt the thumb enough to where it does some serious damage. I'm not saying the Bengals are done and we should stick a fork in them, I'm just not as sold on them as I was a few weeks ago thanks to the Dalton injury. Dalton has his share of critics, but he's playing extremely well this year and his absence hurts the team as we all saw.

As for the Steelers? This is a team no one wants to play right now. NO ONE!


Indianapolis Colts (6-7): 16    Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8): 51

I refuse to talk about anything having to do with the AFC South. It's a crying shame that one of these garbage teams (Indianapolis, Jacksonville, or Houston) is going to make the playoffs and a team that's actually deserving (Pittsburgh, Jets, or Chiefs) is going to miss out because of stupid divisions. Sometimes I really hate the NFL.....

Washington Redskins (6-7): 24    Chicago Bears (5-8): 21

Redskins! Still in first place in the NFC East.

YOU LIKE THAT???????

Tell em' Kirkers!


Atlanta Falcons (6-7): 0    Carolina Panthers (13-0): 38

Still not buying the Carolina Panthers people?

Don't make me do it haters. These guys are Super Bowl contenders. If you need any more proof than an absolute destruction of the Falcons, than I can't help you. You're just hating to hate.


Seattle Seahawks (8-5): 35   Baltimore Ravens (4-9): 6

I know the Baltimore Ravens this year aren't exactly setting the world on fire, but holy crap Seattle. The Seahawks are one of those teams that took awhile to get things rolling this season. Much like Kansas City, it took Seattle some time to find their identity this season, but this team has found it. Over the course of the last few weeks, Seattle has been on fire and they continued with this mauling of the Ravens. Russell Wilson was able to take advantage of a depleted Ravens defense and went on to score 5 TD's en route to a big Seahawks victory. Now of course, there is some bad news to come out of this. Seattle lost running back Thomas Rawls for the season and he was easily their best running back this year. With all due respect to Marshawn Lynch, he just hasn't been the same this year when he's played and if he can't find his old self, Seattle may be in a lot of trouble as we inch ever so closer to the playoffs. This is a team that's going to need to run the ball in the post-season. Russell Wilson isn't going to throw 5 TD's every week. It's just not happening.

Oakland Raiders (6-7): 15      Denver Broncos (10-3): 12

Who saw this outcome coming? Especially with the way both teams have been playing lately. Denver was a team that was starting to heat up, while Oakland was starting to regress. Not only that, but at halftime of this game, the Raiders had -12 yards total! Yes, I said NEGATIVE TWELVE YARDS TOTAL! Yet somehow, they ended up squeaking out the win. The win didn't come without some "Raidery" stuff happening though. Late in the fourth quarter after the Raiders scored a touchdown to give them a 3-point lead, they decided to go for two points instead of taking the extra point to give them a 4-point lead (Oakland's long snapper was injured earlier in the game and the team said that's the reason they went for two). The Raiders ended up missing the two-point conversion and gave the Broncos a chance to tie or win the game, but Denver and GOD HIMSELF ACCORDING TO NFL MEDIA MEMBERS (Brock Osweiler) couldn't get the job done. That gives Oakland their first win over Denver in years and also keeps the Chiefs in the division race.

Thanks Raiders. You guys aren't as bad as people say you are....

Dallas Cowboys (4-9): 7    Green Bay Packers (9-4): 28

Who's the Cowboys QB again?

Oh. Matt Cassel?

New England Patriots (11-2): 27    Houston Texans (6-7): 6

They're back baby!!!!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water and play....the sharks are BACK! Get out now if you like living.

Monday Night Football Scores:

New York Giants (6-7): 31    Miami Dolphins (5-8): 24

Fantasy Football Top Performers

(Fantasy football is huge these days. Here are the best fantasy football players from this week)

*Stats are from Yahoo and don't include Monday Night Football teams

Quarterbacks:

1. Russell Wilson

2. Blake Bortles

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick

4. Cam Newton

5. Marcus Mariota

Running Backs:

1. Isaiah Crowell

2. Todd Gurley

3. James Starks

4. DeAngelo Williams

5. Eddie Lacy

Wide Receivers:

1. Doug Baldwin

2. Ted Ginn Jr.

3. Tyler Lockett

4. Golden Tate

5. A.J. Green

6. Brandon Marshall

7. Alshon Jeffery

8. Allen Hurns

9. Michael Floyd

10. Marques Colston

Tight Ends:

1. Jordan Reed

2. Rob Gronkowski

3. Zach Miller

4. Gary Barnidge

5. Julius Thomas

Kickers:

1. Chris Boswell

2. Randy Bullock

3. Caleb Sturgis

3. Brandon McManus
5. Chandler Catanzaro

Defense:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Carolina Panthers

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. New England Patriots

4. Oakland Raiders

NFL Power Rankings

(Pretty self explanatory here...)

1. Carolina Panthers (13-0)
2. Arizona Cardinals (11-2)
3. New England Patriots (11-2)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (10-3)
5. Denver Broncos (10-3)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
7. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
10. New York Jets (8-5)
11. Minnesota Vikings (8-5)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
13. Washington Redskins (6-7)
14. Oakland Raiders (6-7)
15. New York Giants (6-7)
16. Buffalo Bills (6-7)
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
18. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
19. Houston Texans (6-7)
20. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)
22. New Orleans Saints (5-8)
23. St. Louis Rams (5-8)
24. Miami Dolphins (5-8)
25. Chicago Bears (5-8)
26. San Francisco 49ers (4-9)
27. Dallas Cowboys (4-9)
28. Detroit Lions (4-9)
29. Baltimore Ravens (4-9)
30. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
31. Tennessee Titans (3-10)
32. San Diego Chargers (3-10)