BETTY WHITE has passed away, she was 99 years old.
RIP BETTY WHITE . . .
A true legend.
Friday, December 31, 2021
RIP Betty White
NFL - Week Seventeen Preview
Some of the bigger games (and a lot of them this week will have big implications for the playoff picture) include the Kansas City Chiefs playing at the Cincinnati Bengals along with Miami Dolphins at Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys and finally the two "prime time" games featuring the Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and the Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
There are six teams (L.A. Rams, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Green Bay, Arizona and Kansas City) that have already clinched playoff spots and eight other teams will be looking to get into the post-season party in the next two weeks. Whatever happens, the one thing that can be said about the 2021 NFL season is that the only consistent thing about it has been inconsistency.
So once again, here goes nothing for picking the games for Week Seventeen around the NFL. The capsule style previews follow and then the Heftyinfo picks for all the games.
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Buffalo Bills (9-6) - The Bills are back on top of the AFC East division, but will they stay there?
New York Giants (4-11) at Chicago Bears (5-10) - Who cares?
Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) - This game will have a lot to say about just how good the Bengals really are.
Miami Dolphins (8-7) at Tennessee Titans (10-5) - Will the Dolphins magic carpet ride continue in this big road game?
Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) at Indianapolis Colts (9-6) - The Colts have been on a big time roll thanks to running back Jonathan Taylor and that should continue this week against the inconsistent Raiders.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) at New England Patriots (9-6) - The Patriots have a lot to prove after two stinkers in a row and the lowly Jags should be just the tonic.
Los Angeles Rams (11-4) at Baltimore Ravens (8-7) - The Ravens are in a free fall while the Rams are rolling and will look to win the NFC West this weekend with a win and a little help from Dallas against Arizona.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) at New York Jets (4-11) - The Bucs should roll in this one.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) at Washington (6-9) - The Eagles have been rolling and need to be ready in this one. Washington would love to spoil an Eagles celebration on Sunday.
Denver Broncos (7-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) - After laying a big time turd in Houston last weekend, the Chargers will either do it again against the Broncos or they will blow them out. Once again, inconsistency is the word regarding these two teams.
Houston Texans (4-11) at San Francisco 49ers (8-7) - The 49ers are looking to perhaps wrap up a playoff spot in this one. The Texans played their best game of the 2021 season last week.
Arizona Cardinals (10-5) at Dallas Cowboys (11-4) - Take the Cowboys in this one.
Detroit Lions (2-12-1) at Seattle Seahawks (5-10) - Toss up in this one as these two teams are just playing out the string this season.
Carolina Panthers (5-10) at New Orleans Saints (7-8) - Saints playoff hopes are on life support and even if they win this one, it's unlikely they get into the post-season. They need a lot of help.
Minnesota Vikings (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (12-3) - The Packers are looking to clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and this game looks to be the tougher one in the final two weeks for them. Vikings up and down season is almost over.
Cleveland Browns (7-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) - Browns have been a big disappointment this season. But the bigger point in this one is will the Steelers really lose their last home game in the Ben Roethlisberger era? Take the Steelers.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Seventeen . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Buffalo over Atlanta
Chicago over N.Y. Giants
Kansas City over Cincinnati
Tennessee over Miami
Indianapolis over Las Vegas
NEW ENGLAND over Jacksonville
L.A. Rams over Baltimore
Tampa Bay over N.Y. Jets
Washington over Philadelphia
L.A. Chargers over Denver
San Francisco over Houston
Dallas over Arizona
Seattle over Detroit
New Orleans over Carolina
Green Bay over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Last Week's Record - 11-5
SEASON RECORD - 149-90-1
Lock of the Week Record - 11-5
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Rest In Peace John Madden
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| John Madden and Kenny Stabler helped lead the Raiders to Super Bowl XI title. |
RIP to a true NFL legend . . . . .
John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-78 and led them to their first ever Super Bowl title back in the 1976 season when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14 in Super Bowl XI at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
So many legendary players on those Oakland Raiders teams . . . Kenny "The Snake" Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Henry Lawrence, Mark van Eeghen, Cliff Branch, Dave Casper, Otis Sistrunk, Jack Tatum, Phil Villapiano, Ted Hendricks, George Blanda, George Atkinson, Willie Brown, Lester Hayes, Daryl Lamonica, Marv Hubbard, Ray Guy and so many others.
The rivalry between the Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970's was one of the best ever in pro football history in what many consider to have been the "Golden Age" of the NFL.
The Immaculate Reception game in the 1972 AFC Playoffs . . . The 1975 AFC Championship Game three years later in Pittsburgh . . . the Raiders lost both of those games, but then in 1976, they blasted the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game and then went on to win Super Bowl XI.
Following his coaching career, he went on to do commercials for many products, most notably Miller Lite beer commercials. And of course, he became a color commentator/analyst along with Pat Summerall on CBS TV broadcasts (and later Fox Sports) of NFL games. He also would do that role with Al Michaels on ABC Monday Night Football and then NBC Sunday Night Football for many years until retiring after the 2008 season from that role.
Madden Football video game is another one of the staples so many people came to know about Madden. And of course, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2006.
RIP to a true legend.
Monday, December 27, 2021
NFL - Week Sixteen Recap
It made a difference in some of the games for sure as the Indianapolis Colts (9-6) defeated the host Arizona Cardinals, 22-16 on Christmas night even without star linebacker Darius Leonard, who was out due to the COVID protocols. As for the game, Colts quarterback Carson Wentz threw for two scores and running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 108 yards in the win. The Cardinals (10-5) fell out of first place in the NFC West with the loss.
On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals improved to 9-6 and first place in the AFC North division as they pounded the visiting Baltimore Ravens, 41-21 with QB Joe Burrow (pictured upper right) passing for 525 yards and four touchdowns, including two of them to wide receiver Tee Higgins, who had 12 receptions for 194 yards. Cincinnati RB Joe Mixon rushed for two more touchdowns in the rout. The Ravens (8-7) lost their fourth straight game as reserve QB Josh Johnson had two TD passes in defeat.
The Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) continue to roll as they won their eighth consecutive game and another AFC West division title in a home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) by a 36-10 score. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes had three TD passes to lead the offense and the defense forced three turnovers.
The Buffalo Bills (9-6) vaulted back into first place in the AFC East with a 33-21 road win against the New England Patriots (9-6) with QB Josh Allen passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns and RB Devin Singletary scoring a rushing TD to pace the offense, which rolled up 428 yards against the Patriots defense. New England rookie QB Mac Jones was intercepted twice while Pats RB Damien Harris (103 yards rushing) rushed for three scores in the loss.
The Los Angeles Rams (11-4) won their fourth straight game, 30-23 in Minnesota to move into first place in the NFC West division. Brandon Powell took a punt back 61 yards for a TD for L.A. and RB Sony Michel (131 rush yards) scored a touchdown to go along with a TD pass from QB Matthew Stafford (also three interceptions thrown) to WR Odell Beckham, Jr. The Vikings (7-8) fell back out of a playoff spot with the loss.
The Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) moved into a playoff spot in the NFC with a 34-10 blowout win against the visiting New York Giants (4-11). Eagles QB Jalen Hurts had a pair of TD passes and RB Boston Scott scored a rushing TD while the defense got a "pick six" interception for another touchdown.
The Green Bay Packers (12-3) outlasted the Cleveland Browns, 24-22 on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field behind three TD passes from QB Aaron Rodgers. The Browns (7-8) out gained the Packers, 408-311 in total yardage, but four interceptions thrown by QB Baker Mayfield (two TD passes also) proved to be too much to overcome.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) clinched their first NFC South title since the 2007 season with a 32-6 thrashing of the host Carolina Panthers (5-10), who dropped their fifth straight game. Bucs QB Tom Brady had a TD pass and RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn raced 55 yards for a TD as well in a balanced attack that saw Tampa Bay pile up 391 yards of offense (159 rushing and 232 passing).
On Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys offense finally woke up in a 56-14 demolition of Washington (6-9) as QB Dak Prescott had four TD passes and 330 passing yards. The Cowboys (11-4) amassed 497 yards in total offense in the rout. Cowboys defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence scored on a 40-yard interception return as the defense chipped in to help the team clinch the NFC East division.
In a huge surprise, the Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) got rolled, 41-29 by the Houston Texans (4-11) in a road loss that puts the 'Bolts playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. The Texans (4-11) took advantage of several top players missing for L.A. (COVID restriction list protocols) on both sides of the ball as RB Rex Burkhead had a career game, going off for 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns while QB Davis Mills had a pair of scoring passes and DB Tavierre Thomas took an interception back 48 yards for another score. Chargers QB Justin Herbert was intercepted twice as his team turned the football over three times in defeat.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . . . .
The Las Vegas Raiders improved to 8-7 as they toppled the visiting Denver Broncos, 17-13 with QB Derek Carr throwing a TD pass and RB Peyton Barber scoring a rushing TD to offset a one-yard scoring run by Broncos RB Javonte Williams. Denver fell to 7-8 with the loss . . . The Chicago Bears (5-10) got some late game heroics as reserve QB Nick Foles connected with tight end Jimmy Graham on a 15-yard TD pass in the final minute to defeat the host Seattle Seahawks, 25-24. The Seahawks (5-10) led the entire game but could not thwart the Bears effort and two-point conversion pass from Foles to WR Damiere Byrd that made the difference . . . On Thursday night, the Tennessee Titans (10-5) rallied back from a ten-point deficit for a 20-17 home win against the San Francisco 49ers (8-7) as kicker Randy Bullock made a 44-yard field goal as time ran out. The Titans scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and QB Ryan Tannehill threw a TD pass to WR A.J. Brown, who had 11 receptions for 145 yards. The 'Niners had tied the score at 17-17 with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter on a two-yard TD pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to WR Brandon Aiyuk . . . The Atlanta Falcons (7-8) held off the Detroit Lions (2-12-1) for a 20-16 home win with QB Matt Ryan passing for a score and Cordarrelle Patterson rushing for another TD . . . The New York Jets (4-11) won, 26-21 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) behind a passing TD from QB Zach Wilson, who also scored on a 52-yard run. Jets return man Braxton Berrios took a kickoff back 102 yards for another touchdown . . . In the Monday Night Football game, the visiting Miami Dolphins (8-7) won their seventh straight game as they toppled the New Orleans Saints, 20-3 with QB Tua Tagovailoa throwing for a touchdown and DB Nik Needham taking an interception back 28 yards for a score to lead the way. The Saints fell to 7-8 with the loss as they went with their fourth different quarterback this season in rookie Ian Book as a result of injuries and COVID protocols.
WEEK SIXTEEN RESULTS
Tennessee 20, San Francisco 17
Green Bay 24, Cleveland 22
Indianapolis 22, Arizona 16
Philadelphia 34, N.Y. Giants10
Houston 41, L.A. Chargers 29
Buffalo 33, New England 21
L.A. Rams 30, Minnesota 23
N.Y. Jets 26, Jacksonville 21
Atlanta 20, Detroit 16
Cincinnati 41, Baltimore 21
Tampa Bay 32, Carolina 6
Kansas City 36, Pittsburgh 10
Chicago 25, Seattle 24
Las Vegas 17, Denver 13
Dallas 56, Washington 14
Miami 20, New Orleans 3
Friday, December 24, 2021
NFL - Week Sixteen Preview
On Christmas Day, the Green Bay Packers (11-3) host the Cleveland Browns (7-7) who are in the middle of a dog fight with the rest of their division. The AFC North race has all four teams separated by just one game. Plus, the Browns might not have starting QB Baker Mayfield (COVID list) again this week. Meanwhile, the Packers have already clinched the NFC North and have the best overall record in the NFL. They want to have the home field advantage and another win will keep things rolling for The Pack.
The other Saturday game will feature the red hot Indianapolis Colts (8-6), winners of five of their last six games, traveling to Arizona to face the slumping Cardinals (10-4), who have lost two straight games and are now tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. The Colts strong running game will be a challenge for the Arizona defense to stop. If the Cardinals lose, they could drop down to the fifth spot in the NFC playoff chase.
On Sunday, the L.A. Rams (10-4) will be in Minnesota to face the Vikings (7-7), who are still in the playoff race and battling several other teams for the final spot. The Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks last week and can still win the NFC West division, so this is a huge game for them. The Vikings won't have running back Dalvin Cook (COVID restricted list) in this game and the Rams defense seemed to be back in form last week, so that could be a problem for the Vikings.
In the AFC East race, it comes down to this Sunday's game between the host New England Patriots (9-5) and the Buffalo Bills (8-6). The Pats ran all over the Bills three weeks ago, gaining 222 yards on the ground while throwing just three passes in their 14-10 win. Buffalo is currently holding down the seventh and final AFC playoff spot, but needs to win this game because there are five other teams right there waiting to get that wild card spot.
Over in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals in a road game that will go a long way in determining the division winner. Both teams are 8-6 and the Bengals annihilated the Ravens in Baltimore, 41-17 two months ago. The Ravens are currently out of the playoffs and could leap right back up to the number four spot (where the Bengals are right now) with a win as they look to snap a three game losing streak. Getting back starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle sprain) would be a big boost to achieving that.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1), another team in that crazy AFC North division race, will be on the road this weekend, facing the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4), a team that has won seven straight games and are in the driver's seat in the AFC West division. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes has been on fire of late, but might not have his best receivers in this game as tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill are both on the COVID protocol list. In all (as of Friday, December 24) the Chiefs have seven players on the COVID restriction list. The Steelers might be able to pull this one out.
Two teams that are at .500 are the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders and they face off in Vegas on Sunday. One thing for certain, the loser of this one will likely be out of the running for a wild card playoff spot in the AFC. It's simply a numbers game and being at 7-8 does not bode well for making the playoffs with only two games left and having eight other teams in the same position for those last three playoff spots.
The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) can clinch the NFC East division with a home win against Washington (6-8) on Sunday night. The Cowboys have already clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs as a result of the San Francisco 49ers losing to Tennessee on Thursday night. Dallas needs to get the offense rolling as it has struggled in recent weeks, averaging just 23.6 points per game since mid-November. Washington lost a tough game in Philadelphia last Tuesday (COVID forced the game to be rescheduled) and now must win out and get some help to even make the NFC playoffs.
Finally, on Monday night, the New Orleans Saints host the surging Miami Dolphins, who have won six consecutive games. The Saints had a huge win last week against Tampa Bay on the road as they shut out Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The New Orleans defense was dominant in the win.
Both teams are 7-7 heading into this one and the Saints will be going with their fourth QB this season as rookie Ian Book will likely start with the injured Jameis Winston being out again while reserves Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian are on the (you guessed it) COVID restricted list. This is a huge game for both teams with the loser likely falling out of contention for the playoffs.
The rest of the NFL games are previewed in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo predictions follow up.
Merry Christmas!
N.Y. Giants (4-10) at Philadelphia (7-7) - The Eagles are hot and should get their revenge on the G-Men after a close loss to them three weeks ago.
Tampa Bay (10-4) at Carolina (5-9) - The Buccaneers should win this game against the slumping Panthers, who have lost four in a row. But the Bucs are banged up and Tom Brady might have to will them to victory in this one.
Jacksonville (2-12) at N.Y. Jets (3-11) - Two very bad football teams in this one and the loser could win up being "on the clock" for the first pick in the next NFL draft.
Detroit (2-11-1) at Atlanta (6-8) - Two teams playing out the string here. The Falcons could still win out and (with a lot of help) make the NFC playoffs.
L.A. Chargers (8-6) at Houston (3-11) - The Chargers were their own worst enemies in so many losses this season. They still have a great chance to be in the playoffs, so look for them to win this one.
Chicago (4-10) at Seattle (5-9) - The Seahawks just might take out their frustrations for this bad season against the Bears in this game.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Sixteen . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Tennessee over San Francisco
Green Bay over Cleveland
Arizona over Indianapolis
Philadelphia over N.Y. Giants
L.A. Rams over Minnesota
New England over Buffalo
Tampa Bay over Carolina
N.Y. Jets over Jacksonville
Atlanta over Detroit
L.A. CHARGERS over Houston
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Seattle over Chicago
Kansas City over Pittsburgh
Las Vegas over Denver
Dallas over Washington
New Orleans over Miami
Last Week's Record - 10-6
SEASON RECORD - 138-85-1
Lock of the Week Record - 11-4
Monday, December 20, 2021
NFL - Week Fifteen Recap
The NFL had to move some games around this weekend because of the COVID situation plaguing so many teams. Therefore the complete recap will go later than normal because of the Tuesday action taking place in two games as the L.A. Rams host Seattle and Washington is at Philadelphia. The Monday night game between Chicago and Minnesota is still a go and also the Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns is being played on Monday.
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| Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates his game winning TD |
As for the games already in the books, the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) got an early Christmas gift from the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) last Thursday night in their 34-28 overtime victory in L.A.. The Chiefs scored on their initial drive in the OT session when quarterback Patrick Mahomes (410 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception) hooked up with tight end Travis Kelce (10 receptions for 191 yards and two TD) on a 34-yard score to win it.
The Chargers left at least six (or more) points on the scoreboard by deciding to go on fourth down several times in the game rather than kicking short field goals. In the first half, in which they led 14-10 at halftime, the Chargers failed twice on fourth-and-goal from inside the Kansas City five yard-line. Chargers QB Justin Herbert had two TD passes and one interception along with 236 passing yards in the loss.
The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) defeated the visiting New England Patriots, 27-17 on Saturday night as running back Jonathan Taylor took over the game, going for 170 rushing yards and two scores, including the game deciding TD on a 67-yard run with 2:01 to play in the fourth quarter.
The Colts built a 20-0 lead before New England (9-5) scored 17 points in the final quarter with QB Mac Jones throwing a pair of scoring passes to tight end Hunter Henry. Jones passed for 299 yards with the two TD and also had two interceptions. Colts QB Carson Wentz had a TD pass and the Colts also had a blocked punt for another touchdown. The loss snapped the Patriots seven game win streak.
The Green Bay Packers (11-3) held off the host Baltimore Ravens, 31-30 to clinch their third consecutive NFC North division title. The Ravens (8-6) dropped their third straight game as they went for the two-point conversion with 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but the pass failed.
The Ravens were down 31-17 midway through the final quarter before backup QB Tyler Huntley (215 passing yards and two passing TD) ran for two touchdowns to get it to the final margin. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers passed for three scores and 268 yards in the win.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1) rallied back from a ten point halftime deficit to defeat the visiting Tennessee Titans, 19-13 as kicker Chris Boswell made four field goals in the game, including three in the final quarter while QB Ben Roethlisberger had a one-yard TD run. The Titans (9-5) also got a one-yard scoring run from QB Ryan Tannehill along with two field goals by kicker Randy Bullock, but it wasn't enough to get the win. The Pittsburgh defense forced four turnovers, including three fumble recoveries and made a big stop on fourth down to seal the win.
Tampa Bay was shut out at home, 9-0 on Sunday night as the New Orleans Saints defense dominated the Buccaneers (10-4), sacking QB Tom Brady four times and also getting an interception and a fumble recovery. Three field goals by kicker Brett Maher made the difference as the Saints (7-7) stayed in the wild card chase in the NFC playoff picture.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . . . .
The Detroit Lions (2-11-1) stunned the Arizona Cardinals, 30-12 for the home win as they built a 24-3 lead in the third quarter with QB Jared Goff passing for three touchdowns. The Cardinals dropped to 10-4 with their second consecutive defeat . . . The Buffalo Bills (8-6) throttled the visiting Carolina Panthers, 31-14 with QB Josh Allen passing for three scores and the defense getting four QB sacks and an interception . . . The host San Francisco 49ers (8-6) won for the fifth time in six games as they blasted the Atlanta Falcons, 31-13 with a balanced offense (162 rushing yards and 235 passing yards) that included a passing TD by QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The Falcons fell to 6-8 with the setback . . . The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) got a big road win as they hammered the listless New York Giants, 21-6 with the defense getting four turnovers (three picks and one fumble) while Ezekiel Elliott ran for a score and QB Dak Prescott passed for another one to lead the way . . . The surging Miami Dolphins (7-7) won for the sixth straight time as they beat the visiting New York Jets, 31-24 to stay in contention in the AFC playoff race. Dolphins RB Duke Johnson (107 rushing yards) had a pair of rushing scores and QB Tua Tagovailoa passed for two more scores to pace the offense. The Jets (3-11) raced out to a 10-0 lead, but could not sustain the momentum as Miami's defense had six sacks and limited the Jets to 228 total yards in offense . . . The Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) took over first place in the AFC North division as they topped the host Denver Broncos, 15-10 with kicker Evan McPherson drilling three field goals and QB Joe Burrow throwing a 56-yard TD pass to WR Tyler Boyd with just thirty seconds remaining in the game. Backup Broncos QB Drew Lock threw a 25-yard TD pass to WR Tim Patrick with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter. The Broncos (7-7) saw their starting QB Teddy Bridgewater leave the game with a concussion . . . The Houston Texans (3-11) beat the host Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-16 behind a pair of TD passes by QB Davis Mills and a 98-yard kickoff return for TD by Tremon Smith. James Robinson scored a rushing TD for the Jaguars (2-12) in the loss . . . In the Monday games, the Las Vegas Raiders got a game winning 48-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson as time expired to defeat the host Cleveland Browns, 16-14. The Browns had gone ahead 14-13 with 3:45 left in the final quarter when reserve QB Nick Mullens threw a six-yard TD pass to tight end Harrison Bryant. But the Raiders drove downfield, led by QB Derek Carr, who had a scoring pass along with 236 passing yards (and one INT) in the win. Both teams now have 7-7 records . . . In Chicago, the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) won the road game, 17-9 as QB Kirk Cousins had a pair of scoring passes. The Bears (4-10) scored their only touchdown on the final play of the game as their defense played well, limiting the Vikings to just 193 yards in total offense. The big difference in the game was Chicago committing three turnovers . . . On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Eagles handled Washington, 27-17 for the home victory that put them at 7-7 for the season. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (296 passing yards) had two rushing scores and also passed for a touchdown to pace the offense. Washington (6-8) had a pair of rushing scores from two different backs and were out gained by the Eagles, 519-237 in total yardage as they dropped their second straight game . . . The Los Angeles Rams (10-4) knocked off the visiting Seattle Seahawks (5-9) by a 20-10 score as the defense limited the 'Hawks to just 214 total yards in offense, including just 80 rushing yards. Rams WR Cooper Kupp (nine receptions for 136 yards) had two receiving touchdowns from Matthew Stafford (244 passing yards) in the win, which put the Rams into a tie for first place with Arizona in the NFC West.
WEEK FIFTEEN RESULTS
Kansas City 34, L.A. Chargers 28 (OT)
Indianapolis 27, New England 17
Houston 30, Jacksonville 16
Dallas 21, N.Y. Giants 6
Miami 31, N.Y. Jets 24
Detroit 30, Arizona 12
Buffalo 31, Carolina 14
Pittsburgh 19, Tennessee 13
San Francisco 31, Atlanta 13
Cincinnati 15, Denver 10
Green Bay 31, Baltimore 30
New Orleans 9, Tampa Bay 0
Las Vegas 16, Cleveland 14
Minnesota 17, Chicago 9
Philadelphia 27, Washington 17
L.A. Rams 20, Seattle 10
Thursday, December 16, 2021
NFL - Week Fifteen Preview
The Cleveland Browns could very well not have quarterback Baker Mayfield when they host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday afternoon in a huge showdown between two teams battling to make the AFC playoffs. (Note- game moved to Monday, Dec. 20)
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers face off tonight in L.A. to get the action started in what amounts to a game to determine first place in the rugged AFC West division.
The Chargers were missing some key players on both sides of the ball last Sunday due to COVID protocols and the injury list as well. If they want to beat Kansas City for a second time this season, they will likely need to have everybody on board because the Chiefs (9-4) have been on fire with six consecutive wins while playing stellar defense. The Chargers (8-5) have won two in a row and with a win tonight would take over first place in the division based on a sweep of the Kansas City Chiefs. This one will go down to the wire, but the road team will steal it late and have a two-game cushion with three games to go in the regular season.
Getting back to the Cleveland-Las Vegas game, the Browns (7-6) need this one to stay on course for a playoff spot and are battling for the AFC North division lead as well, trailing first place Baltimore by just one game. With Mayfield likely out, the Browns could be forced to go with journeyman QB Nick Mullens, who was signed when backup Case Keenum also tested positive for COVID. As for the Raiders (6-7), they are in a must win situation because a loss in this one would put them two full games behind no less than four teams with just three AFC playoff spots remaining.
The other Saturday game takes place in the evening with the New England Patriots (9-4) traveling to face the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots have won seven in a row and lead the AFC East by two full games while the Colts (7-6) are in a battle with eight other teams for the remaining three wild card playoff spots. The Patriots are doing this season what they did 20 years ago (their first Super Bowl winning season) with the same formula of strong defense and a solid running game on offense. The Colts must avoid turnovers if they are to win this game and also control the football with their stellar running game. That will not be easy because during the win streak, the Pats run defense has been among the best in the NFL.
On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans (9-4) travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1) in yet another game between one team that is in first place while the other team is fighting for its playoff life, meaning they have to pretty much win out to make the playoffs. The Steelers lost a tough one in Minnesota last week and will have to win out if they want to get back to the post-season. The Titans are looking to maintain or even expand their two-game lead in the AFC South over the Indianapolis Colts.
Another huge game in the AFC this Sunday will take place in Denver between the host Broncos (7-6) and the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6), who have dropped two straight games. The Broncos have been a bit of a surprise recently, going 4-2 after a porous four-game losing streak in October. This one will most likely come down to a late field goal with the home team coming out on top.
Back in the NFC, two teams face off in San Francisco where the 49ers (7-6) will host the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) in yet another match to help determine the standings for the wild card chase. The 'Niners have won four of their last five games and are right there in the playoff picture. Meanwhile, Atlanta refuses to go away and they need to win this one to stay "in the hunt."
An inter-conference game between the Green Bay Packers (10-3) and the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) in Charm City should be a great game, provided Ravens starting QB Lamar Jackson (ankle sprain) can play in this one. The Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers are rolling once again and will likely win this one, especially if Jackson is out. Baltimore must limit the mistakes they have been making in recent games (both close losses) and get after Rodgers with the pass rush.
The Sunday night game features the New Orleans Saints (6-7) at the NFC South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3) in a divisional battle. The Bucs have all but clinched the division already, so they are looking to remain at the top of the conference race (and the only BYE week in the playoffs) along with the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers, who also sport 10-3 records. The Saints need to win out should they lose this one and then also get some help if they want to get a wild card playoff spot. Take the Buccaneers to get the win and wrap up their first NFC South title since the 2007 season.
The rest of the action is listed below in the capsule style format with the Heftyinfo predictions for Week Fifteen following.
Carolina (5-8) at Buffalo (7-6) - If the Bills cannot win this one, they might as well pack it in regarding the playoffs.
Arizona (10-3) at Detroit (1-11-1) - The Cardinals lost their top wide receiver for the remainder of the season, but they should be able to rebound and win this game after a tough loss.
New York Jets (3-10) at Miami (6-7) - Can the Dolphins make it six straight wins?
Dallas (9-4) at New York Giants (4-9) - Cowboys need to keep winning and should get their third straight W in this one.
Washington (6-7) at Philadelphia (6-7) - Two teams that have both been hot of late, but the loser in this game will likely be out of the NFC playoff picture. (Note - game moved to Tuesday, Dec. 21)
Houston (2-11) at Jacksonville (2-11) - The Jaguars just fired their head coach Urban Meyer, so will they be motivated to win this game? Texans won the first one back in September.
Seattle (5-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-4) - The Rams are looking to sweep the Seahawks and also stay in contention for the NFC West division title. (Note - game moved to Tuesday, Dec. 21)
Minnesota (6-7) at Chicago (4-9) - The Monday night game and the Bears could surprise their divisional foes. Vikings have been very up and down this entire season.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Fifteen . . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Kansas City over L.A. Chargers
Las Vegas over Cleveland
New England over Indianapolis
Buffalo over Carolina
Arizona over Detroit
Miami over N.Y. Jets
Dallas over N.Y. Giants
Philadelphia over Washington
Pittsburgh over Tennessee
Jacksonville over Houston
Denver over Cincinnati
San Francisco over Atlanta
L.A. Rams over Seattle
Green Bay over Baltimore
TAMPA BAY over New Orleans
Chicago over Minnesota
Last Week's Record - 11-3
SEASON RECORD - 128-79-1
Lock of the Week Record - 11-3
Monday, December 13, 2021
NFL - Week Fourteen Recap
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| Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady celebrates the OT win. |
The San Francisco 49ers (7-6) squeaked past the host Cincinnati Bengals, 26-23 in OT as WR Brandon Aiyuk hauled in a short pass from QB Jimmy Garoppolo and tip toed the final ten yards on the sideline into the end zone for the win. The Bengals (7-6) went ahead, 23-20 in the OT on a Evan McPherson 41-yard field goal, but then the 'Niners stormed back and drove down the field for the winning score. Bengals QB Joe Burrow (348 passing yards) had two TD passes in the fourth quarter to wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase to help force the OT session.
The Thursday night game was a wild one as the host Minnesota Vikings (6-7) held on for a 36-28 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1), who nearly overcame a 29-0 deficit. It came down to the final play of the game, but Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger's pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth was incomplete as time ran out. Roethlisberger passed for 308 yards with three TD and one interception in the losing effort while the Vikings got 205 rushing yards from Dalvin Cook and a pair of touchdowns. In addition, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins had two TD passes and also two interceptions to help provide the winning margin.
The Cleveland Browns (7-6) held off the Baltimore Ravens, 24-22 to tighten the AFC North division standings. It was the second straight loss for Baltimore (8-5), who also lost starting QB Lamar Jackson to an ankle injury as the Browns built up a 24-3 lead, which included a 15-yard scoop and score fumble recovery for touchdown by defensive end Myles Garrett. Baltimore backup QB Tyler Huntley passed for 270 yards with one touchdown, but it wasn't enough as Browns QB Baker Mayfield had two TD passes and the Cleveland defense stopped the Ravens after a successful onside kick in the final minute.
The Dallas Cowboys (9-4) took a big step to winning the NFC East division title with a 27-20 road win at Washington (6-7) as quarterback Dak Prescott had a TD pass and defensive end Dorance Armstrong returned a fumble 37 yards for another score. Cowboys defensive star Micah Parsons had a big game with two sacks and a fumble recovery as the 'Pokes held off Washington's comeback effort in the fourth quarter (two scores) to provide the final outcome and snap the football team's four-game win streak.
The Packers took a 14-10 lead in the second quarter when Rasul Douglas took back an interception 55 yards for a touchdown and then the Packers dominated in the second half as QB Aaron Rodgers (pictured right), who had 341 passing yards and four scoring passes, threw for two scores and RB Aaron Jones added a rushing touchdown to lead the way.
The Los Angeles Rams (9-4) got a huge win on Monday Night Football, a 30-23 road victory against the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals (10-3), who dropped to third place in the NFC playoff standings following the setback. Rams QB Matthew Stafford had three TD passes while the defense intercepted Cards QB Kyler Murray (383 passing yards) twice (one a pick at the Rams goal line in the first half) and also had four sacks, including three by DE Aaron Donald, who got to Murray on the final play of the game to help seal the win. Arizona RB James Conner had two rushing scores in the loss.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . .
The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 9-4 with their sixth consecutive win in a 48-9 blowout against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) as the defense forced five turnovers, including four fumble recoveries while QB Patrick Mahomes had two scoring passes . . . The New Orleans Saints (6-7) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 30-9 thumping of the host New York Jets (3-10) as RB Alvin Kamara (120 rushing yards) scored a TD and Taysom Hill added two scoring runs while the defense had three sacks and limited the Jets to 256 total yards in offense . . . The Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) rolled to a 37-21 home win against the New York Giants (4-9) as QB Justin Herbert had three TD passes . . . The Atlanta Falcons (6-7) held off the host Carolina Panthers, 29-21 as linebacker Mykal Walker had a 66-yard "pick six" interception return and the Atlanta defense got three turnovers . . . The Seattle Seahawks (5-8) buried the Houston Texans, 33-13 for a road win as QB Russell Wilson had two TD passes and RB Rashaad Penny had two long TD runs (32 and 47 yards) to go with 137 rushing yards to lead the way . . . Denver (7-6) beat down the visiting Detroit Lions, 38-10 with RB Melvin Gordon (111 yards rushing) scoring twice on the ground while QB Teddy Bridgewater had a pair of scoring passes for the Broncos balanced offense, which gained 184 rushing yards and 174 passing yards . . . The Tennessee Titans (9-4) smashed the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-0 for the home win as their defense intercepted rookie QB Trevor Lawrence four times while also limiting the Jaguars (2-11) to a paltry eight rushing yards in the game.
WEEK FOURTEEN RESULTS
Minnesota 36, Pittsburgh 28
New Orleans 30, N.Y. Jets 9
Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 0
Kansas City 48, Las Vegas 9
Cleveland 24, Baltimore 22
Atlanta 29, Carolina 21
Dallas 27, Washington 20
Seattle 33, Houston 13
L.A. Chargers 37, N.Y. Giants 21
Denver 38, Detroit 10
San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 23 (OT)
Tampa Bay 33, Buffalo 27 (OT)
Green Bay 45, Chicago 30
L.A. Rams 30, Arizona 23
Friday, December 10, 2021
NFL - Week Fourteen Preview
The Dallas Cowboys travel to Washington to face the football team that is 6-6 and has a four game winning streak going. The Cowboys (8-4) lead the NFC East division race and face Washington twice in the final five games. The Cowboys have been erratic since getting out to a 6-1 start, so they need to get it right in this one. If they do, they will have a three game cushion with just four to play. But if WFT can get their fifth consecutive win, it will be air tight in the NFC East race the rest of the way.
The Las Vegas Raiders (6-6) face the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) in a big AFC West battle. The Chiefs have won five in a row and their defense has been nothing less than stellar during the streak after a terrible start this season. Las Vegas needs this game in the worst way and if they can pull it off, it could bolster them into the AFC playoffs, either as a division winner or a wild card team.
Another big AFC battle will take place in Cleveland where the Browns (6-6) will host the Baltimore Ravens (8-4), the leaders in the AFC North division. The Ravens offense has struggled mightily the past four weeks and quarterback Lamar Jackson needs to cut back on the turnovers in order for his team to win this one. Just two weeks ago in Baltimore, the Ravens won a tight 16-10 defensive struggle against the Browns, so the Browns cannot afford to lose this one. It will be interesting to see what develops in this game and the winner will be the team that does not turn over the football.
The San Francisco 49ers (6-6) travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (7-5) in a game that will go a long way to help sort out the wild card races in both the AFC and NFC playoff races. The 'Niners lost in Seattle last week while the Bengals got smashed last Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, committing four turnovers in the process. The Bengals still have a legitimate shot to win their division while 49ers are vying for a wild card spot in the NFC.
The Buffalo Bills (7-5) lost a tough one at home last week against New England and that put them into the seventh and final AFC playoff spot heading into this week's inter-conference game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3), who lead the NFC South by four full games. The Bucs have won three in a row after a slump and are just one game behind the Arizona Cardinals for the top spot in the NFC playoff picture. The Bills had best have their "A game" ready for this one or they could fall out of the playoff ranks and into the "in the hunt" category.
Finally, the Monday Night Football Game features the Arizona Cardinals (10-2 and the top dog in the NFC playoff picture) hosting the Los Angeles Rams, who are 8-4 and have already lost to the Cards this season. This one is a must win for L.A. if they want to stay in contention for the NFC West title. Look for a high scoring game with the Cards pulling it out late to all but wrap up the division crown.
The rest of the action for this week's NFL games are featured below in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo picks follow up.
Atlanta (5-7) at Carolina (5-7) - The loser of this game will pretty much be out of the playoff chase in the NFC.
N.Y. Giants (4-8) at L.A. Chargers (7-5) - This one could be closer than most people might think. The Chargers could be without their top two wide receivers due to COVID protocols while the Giants will likely have their third string QB starting this one. Take the 'Bolts in a close game.
Detroit (1-10-1) at Denver (6-6) - The Broncos will look to snap the one game win streak the Lions have going while also helping their chances for making the AFC playoffs.
Jacksonville (2-10) at Tennessee (8-4) - Can the Titans avoid another embarrassing loss to a bottom feeder team? They have lost two in a row and one was to the Houston Texans.
Seattle (4-8) at Houston (2-10) - Who cares?
New Orleans (5-7) at N.Y. Jets (3-9) - The Saints are looking to snap their five game losing streak while the Jets are just playing out the string of remaining games. Toss up in this one.
Chicago (4-8) at Green Bay (9-3) - The Sunday night game between two of the oldest rivals in the league. Take the Packers.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Fourteen . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Minnesota over Pittsburgh
Dallas over Washington
Carolina over Atlanta
Tennessee over Jacksonville
Seattle over Houston
New Orleans over N.Y. Jets
Kansas City over Las Vegas
Cleveland over Baltimore
Cincinnati over San Francisco
L.A. Chargers over N.Y. Giants
Denver over Detroit
Tampa Bay over Buffalo
GREEN BAY over Chicago
Arizona over L.A. Rams
Last Week's Record - 9-5
SEASON RECORD - 117-76-1
Lock of the Week Record - 10-3
Monday, December 6, 2021
NFL - Week Thirteen Recap
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| Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates game winning TD catch. |
From there, Campbell scored his defensive TD the next time the Bengals had the ball and it was all Chargers the rest of the game as the defense had six QB sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries to help preserve the win. Bengals QB Joe Burrow passed for 300 yards with one TD pass and the two interceptions (and one fumble) in defeat.
Break up the Detroit Lions (1-10-1) as they finally won a game this season when QB Jared Goff (296 passing yards with three TD and one INT) threw an 11-yard TD pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the final play of the game for a 29-27 victory against the visiting Minnesota Vikings (5-7), who had gone ahead 27-23 with 1:50 remaining in the game when QB Kirk Cousins (340 passing yards) threw a three yard TD pass to Justin Jefferson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5-1) won a nail biter at home against the Baltimore Ravens, 20-19 as they thwarted a two-point attempt by the Ravens (8-4) to get the win. Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson threw a six yard TD pass to Sammy Watkins with just twelve seconds remaining in regulation to get his team to within the one point margin. The Steelers defense sacked Jackson seven times, including 3 1/2 sacks for T.J. Watt in the win while QB Ben Roethlisberger had two TD passes.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) rolled past the host Atlanta Falcons, 30-17 as QB Tom Brady (368 passing yards) had four TD passes, including two of them to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Falcons (5-7) dropped into a three-way tie with Carolina and New Orleans behind the first-place Buccaneers in the NFC South with the loss. The Bucs defense sacked Falcons QB Matt Ryan five times to help pace the winning effort.
The Arizona Cardinals steam rolled the host Chicago Bears, 33-22 to improve to an NFL best 10-2 record behind two touchdown runs from QB Kyler Murray, who also had two TD passes in the win. The Cards defense intercepted four passes to help make the difference in the outcome as they were out gained by the Bears (4-8), 329-257 in total yardage.
On Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys (8-4) got a huge 27-17 road win against the New Orleans Saints (5-7), who dropped their fifth consecutive game. The Cowboys got rushing scores from Michael Gallup (one yard) and Tony Pollard, who had a 58-yard run to paydirt. Cowboys defensive end Carlos Watkins took an interception back 29 yards for another score to make it 27-10 late in the fourth quarter. Saints QB Taysom Hill had two TD passes, but was intercepted four times in the loss.
In the Monday Night Football Game, the New England Patriots defeated the host Buffalo Bills, 14-10 in terrible weather conditions in Buffalo. The winds were whipping up to gusts of more than 50 miles per hour and the Patriots (9-4) used that to their advantage, attempting just three passes in the game while rushing for 222 yards with running back Damien Harris going 64 yards for a TD in the first quarter for an 8-0 lead following the two-point conversion.
The Bills (7-5) got back into it on QB Josh Allen's touchdown pass to make it 8-7. From there, it was just field goals as Pats kicker Nick Folk made two field goals to help provide the difference in the final outcome as New England made it seven consecutive wins and the top spot in the AFC playoff race.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . .
The Kansas City Chiefs won their fifth straight game as they held off the visiting Denver Broncos, 22-9 on Sunday night to improve to 8-4 this season. The Broncos (6-6) turned the football over three times, including a back breaking interception thrown by QB Teddy Bridgewater that was taken back 75 yards for a touchdown by Chiefs LB Daniel Sorenson with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter to give K.C. a 22-3 lead . . . The Miami Dolphins (6-7) won their fifth straight game, 20-9 against the visiting New York Giants (4-8) with stout defense (limiting the Giants to just 250 total yards) and two TD passes from QB Tua Tagovailoa . . . The Seattle Seahawks (4-8) won at home, 30-23 against the San Francisco 49ers (6-6), snapping the 'Niners three-game win streak. Seattle QB Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns to offset two TD strikes from San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo . . . The Indianapolis Colts (7-6) dominated in a 31-0 road win against the Houston Texans (2-10), who became the first team in the NFL to be eliminated from playoff contention. The Indy defense limited the Texans to only 141 total yards in offense and had four QB sacks along with a fumble recovery and an interception. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (143 rush yards) scored twice on the ground to lead the offense . . . The Los Angeles Rams (8-4) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 37-7 trouncing of the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) as QB Matthew Stafford passed for three touchdowns while the defense forced two fumbles for turnovers and limited the Jags offense to just 197 yards . . . Washington (6-6) won in Las Vegas, 17-15 as kicker Brian Johnson connected on a 48-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the game. The Raiders (6-6) had a chance, but could not get it done as the 'Hail Mary' pass fell short as time expired . . . The Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) rolled past the host New York Jets (3-9), 33-18 as they shut them out in the second half while using a balanced offense (418 total yards with 185 rushing and 233 passing yards), which also included two TD passes from backup QB Gardner Minshew (filling in for injured starter Jalen Hurts) and four field goals from kicker Jake Elliott.
WEEK THIRTEEN RESULTS
Dallas 27, New Orleans 17
Arizona 33, Chicago 22
Miami 20, N.Y. Giants 9
Philadelphia 33, N.Y. Jets 18
Detroit 29, Minnesota 27
Indianapolis 31, Houston 0
Tampa Bay 30, Atlanta 17
L.A. Chargers 41, Cincinnati 22
Washington 17, Las Vegas 15
Pittsburgh 20, Baltimore 19
L.A. Rams 37, Jacksonville 7
Seattle 30, San Francisco 23
Kansas City 22, Denver 9
New England 14, Buffalo 10
Friday, December 3, 2021
NFL - Week Thirteen Preview
Cincinnati (7-4) has been up and down all season, but they are coming off a couple of impressive wins in recent weeks (32-13 win at Las Vegas and a 41-10 rout of the Steelers) after losing to the lowly Jets and getting smashed by the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Chargers (6-5) are in the same boat as they have dropped four of six games after a 4-1 start this season. The defense has been erratic and cannot stop the run while the talent laden offense inexplicably struggles every other game. They struggled last week in a loss to Denver, so maybe that bodes well for them against the Bengals this Sunday. Expect a shootout with the home team pulling it out in the final minutes.
The Steelers (5-5-1) will host the Ravens (8-3), who are coming off a tough win last weekend against the Browns. Pittsburgh was thoroughly destroyed by the Bengals last Sunday and haven't won a game in four weeks. Baltimore will look to pressure Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and force turnovers, which is what worked so well for Cincinnati last week. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will look to get back in form after throwing four picks last week. In addition, the entire Ravens offense needs to get it going as they have averaged just 14 points per game the last three weeks.
On Sunday night, Kansas City (7-4 and coming off their bye week) will put their four game win streak on the line against the surprising Denver Broncos (6-5), who dominated the L.A. Chargers last week in the Mile High City. Can Denver's resurgent defense hold the Chiefs in check? That will be the key in this one at Arrowhead Stadium with first place in the AFC West on the line.
Finally, on Monday night in Buffalo, the Bills (7-4) will look to leap frog the surprising New England Patriots (8-4), who have won six straight games with solid defense and a mistake free offense led by rookie QB Mac Jones. Buffalo is just 3-3 after a hot start this year and the defense needs to get back to pressuring the quarterback and forcing the turnovers that helped enable that 4-1 start and first place in the AFC East division. This game should go down to the wire, with the Bills pulling it out and cooling off Bill Belichick's team.
The rest of the 14 game NFL schedule is featured with the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo picks following up.
Tampa Bay (8-3) at Atlanta (5-6) - Can the Falcons shock the world and save their season with a win this Sunday?
Arizona (9-2) at Chicago (4-7) - Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy still under fire in Chicago and a win against the Cards would do wonders. But don't count on it happening.
Minnesota (5-6) at Detroit (0-10-1) - Can the Lions get that elusive first win of the 2021 season this week against a divisional foe? Not likely.
N.Y. Giants (4-7) at Miami (5-7) - Two teams that have been hot of late; but the Dolphins are the hotter team entering this one.
Philadelphia (5-7) at N.Y. Jets (3-8) - Upset alert? Maybe so as the Eagles looked awful last week in the Meadowlands against the Giants and now they face the Jets, who have shown some life in the last month.
Indianapolis (6-6) at Houston (2-9) - No excuses for the Colts in this one. Must win game to stay in AFC playoff picture.
Washington (5-6) at Las Vegas (6-5) - Toss up in this one.
Jacksonville (2-9) at L.A. Rams (7-4) - The Rams need to stop the bleeding and beat a terrible team.
San Francisco (6-5) at Seattle (3-8) - The 'Hawks have lost three straight and six of their last seven. 'Niners have won three in a row. Anything is possible when these two teams meet.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Thirteen . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Dallas over New Orleans
Tampa Bay over Atlanta
Arizona over Chicago
Cincinnati over L.A. Chargers
Minnesota over Detroit
Miami over N.Y. Giants
N.Y. Jets over Philadelphia
Indianapolis over Houston
Washington over Las Vegas
L.A. RAMS over Jacksonville
Baltimore over Pittsburgh
Seattle over San Francisco
Kansas City over Denver
Buffalo over New England
Last Week's Record - 10-5
SEASON RECORD - 108-71-1
Lock of the Week Record - 9-3
Monday, November 29, 2021
NFL - Week Twelve Recap
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| The Patriots are pumped up with six straight wins. |
The Titans (8-4) trailed 16-13 at the half, but were shut out in the second half in losing their second consecutive game. Tennessee turned the football over four times (three fumbles and one interception) as New England continued to pull away in the second half.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3) rallied back from a ten point deficit to knock off the host Indianapolis Colts, 38-31. Bucs running back Leonard Fournette scored four touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving) and ran for 100 yards on 17 carries to lead the way. The Colts (6-6) committed five turnovers in the loss, three fumbles and two interceptions. The Colts last second pass to the Tampa Bay end zone was knocked down to finish the game.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) surprised the host Dallas Cowboys, 36-33 in overtime in a game filled with penalty flags. Each team was flagged 14 times in the game and the Raiders won it on a 29-yard field goal by kicker Dan Carlson.
Raiders QB Derek Carr passed for 373 yards and one touchdown as the team gained 509 yards. Dallas (7-4) had 437 total yards in offense, but only 64 rushing yards. Dallas RB Tony Pollard ran a kickoff back 100 yards midway through the third quarter to keep things close and when Cowboys QB Dak Prescott passed 32 yards for a score to WR Dalton Schultz and also the two-point conversion, the game was even at 30-30 late in the fourth quarter. The teams then exchanged late field goals to force the OT session.
The Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) blasted the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, 41-10 behind a big game from RB Joe Mixon, who rushed for 165 yards and scored twice. The Bengals defense forced three turnovers, including a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mike Hilton. The Steelers (5-5-1) gave up 40 or more points in back to back games for the first time since the 1989 season.
The Green Bay Packers (9-3) outlasted the Los Angeles Rams, 36-28 at Lambeau Field as QB Aaron Rodgers passed for 307 yards and had two scoring passes and also scored a rushing touchdown. In addition, Green Bay DB Rasul Douglas took an interception back 33 yards for a score. The Rams (7-4) dropped their third straight game and turned the ball over three times. Rams QB Matthew Stafford had three TD passes in the loss.
San Francisco (6-5) beat the visiting Minnesota Vikings, 34-26 behind a pair of touchdowns by Deebo Samuel and another rushing TD from RB Elijah Mitchell, who went for 133 yards on 27 carries. The Vikings (5-6) scored twice on passes from QB Kirk Cousins to WR Adam Thielen and also had a 99-yard kickoff return TD by Kene Nwangwu.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . .
The Chicago Bears (4-7) snapped a five game losing streak with a 16-14 road win against the Detroit Lions (0-10-1) on Thanksgiving Day as kicker Cairo Santos drilled a 28-yard boot as time ran out . . . The Denver Broncos (6-5) surprised the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, 28-13 as the defense scored a TD on a 70-yard "pick six" by DB Patrick Surtain, who had two picks in the win. Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater had a TD pass and a ten-yard TD run in the win. Chargers QB Justin Herbert passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions as the 'Bolts fell to 6-5 this season . . . The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) knocked off the visiting Cleveland Browns, 16-10 on Sunday night behind three field goals from kicker Justin Tucker and a TD pass from Lamar Jackson to tight end Mark Andrews. The Browns fell to 6-6 this season as Baker Mayfield had a scoring pass and the defense intercepted four passes in defeat . . . The Buffalo Bills (7-4) crushed the host New Orleans Saints, 31-6 last Thursday night as QB Josh Allen had four TD passes while his team built a 24-0 lead through three quarters. The Bills defense limited New Orleans (5-6) to 190 total yards in offense as the Saints dropped their fourth game in a row . . . The New York Giants (4-7) won a defensive struggle at home, 13-7 against the Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) as QB Daniel Jones had a TD pass and Graham Gano kicked a pair of field goals . . . The New York Jets (3-8) came back from an 11-point deficit to beat the Houston Texans, 21-14 for the road win. The Texans (2-9) jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first half in two TD passes by QB Tyrod Taylor, but the Jets took over from there as the defense limited Houston to just 202 yards in total offense . . . Miami (5-7) won their fourth straight game, 33-10 against the visiting Carolina Panthers (5-7) as the Dolphins defense had five QB sacks, three interceptions and allowed just 198 total yards. Dolphins RB Myles Gaskin had two rushing scores in the win . . . The Atlanta Falcons (5-6) won at Jacksonville, 21-14 behind a pair of scoring runs by Cordarrelle Patterson (16 carries for 108 yards). The Jaguars (2-9) rallied back from a 21-3 deficit on a TD pass by rookie QB Trevor Lawrence and a field goal to make it closer, but the Falcons held them off . . . Washington (5-6) defeated the visiting Seattle Seahawks, 17-15 on Monday Night Football as RB J.D. McKissic scored two touchdowns and Antonio Gibson rushed for 111 yards. The Seahawks (3-8) pulled to within two points with 15 seconds remaining on QB Russell Wilson's second TD pass in the game, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.
WEEK TWELVE RESULTS
Chicago 16, Detroit 14
Las Vegas 36, Dallas 33 (OT)
Buffalo 31, New Orleans 6
N.Y. Giants 13, Philadelphia 7
Cincinnati 41, Pittsburgh 10
Miami 33, Carolina 10
Atlanta 21, Jacksonville 14
N.Y. Jets 21, Houston 14
New England 36, Tennessee 13
Tampa Bay 38, Indianapolis 31
Denver 28, L.A. Chargers 13
San Francisco 34, Minnesota 26
Baltimore 16, Cleveland 10
Washington 17, Seattle 15
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
NFL - Week Twelve Preview
Three games are on tap for Thanksgiving Day, beginning with the Detroit Lions (0-9-1) hosting the Chicago Bears. Both of these teams are going through miserable seasons and the Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy has been under intense fire from local media and fans alike. The Bears (3-7) have lost five in a row coming into this one and if they should be the first team to lose to the Lions in 2021, it could be curtains for Nagy sooner rather than later. It's likely he will be gone after this season is completed, but that's another topic altogether.
The Dallas Cowboys are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders in the late afternoon game. The Cowboys (7-3) are in first place in the NFC East division and have been rolling this year, especially on offense. But they did hit a stumbling block last week in Kansas City, losing 19-9 to the Chiefs and managing just three field goals in the loss. The Raiders (5-5) have had more drama than a teenage reality show this season and they definitely need to get things right if they want to make the playoffs.
The night game will see the Buffalo Bills (6-4) at the New Orleans Saints (5-5) and both teams have been in slumps in recent weeks, falling out of first place in their respective divisions. The Bills now trail the New England Patriots by half a game in the AFC East while the Saints (three straight losses) are two full games behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South division. Buffalo has lost three of their last five games after a 4-1 start.
The rest of the action around the NFL takes place on Sunday and Monday night, so it will be another busy week. Two first place teams (Arizona in the NFC West and Kansas City in the AFC West) have their byes this weekend. The capsule style previews for all of the games follows below and the Heftyinfo picks for the games as well.
THANKSGIVING DAY GAMES
Chicago (3-7) at Detroit (0-9-1) - These two teams are having nightmare seasons. Toss up in this game.
Las Vegas (5-5) at Dallas (7-3) - The Cowboys should make quick work of the Raiders in this Turkey Day game.
Buffalo (6-4) at New Orleans (5-5) - Something has to give in this battle between two teams that have been in slumps in recent weeks.
SUNDAY GAMES
Tampa Bay (7-3) at Indianapolis (6-5) - The Colts have been rolling and their defense gives them a chance to win this one. Bucs trying to stay in contention for top spot in the NFC.
N.Y. Jets (2-8) at Houston (2-8) - Texans shocked the Tennessee Titans last week; Jets are still awful.
Philadelphia (5-6) at N.Y. Giants (3-7) - Suddenly the soaring Eagles are wild card contenders, but the Giants would love to play spoilers.
Carolina (5-6) at Miami (4-7) - Two teams that are not likely to make the post-season go at it in this one. The loser will likely be finished this season regarding playoff hopes.
Tennessee (8-3) at New England (7-4) - This is a top game this weekend and the top seed in the AFC is at stake. Patriots are rolling lately while the Titans saw their six-game win streak stopped last week. Toss up here.
Pittsburgh (5-4-1) at Cincinnati (6-4) - When was the last time the Bengals swept the Steelers in a season series?
Atlanta (4-6) at Jacksonville (2-8) - Two reeling teams in this tilt. Toss up.
L.A. Chargers (6-4) at Denver (5-5) - The Broncos really need to win this game. The Chargers showed life last weekend in a big win against Pittsburgh in prime time.
L.A. Rams (7-3) at Green Bay (8-3) - Another top notch game as two of the better NFC playoff contenders square off in Lambeau Field. Take the Packers.
Minnesota (5-5) at San Francisco (5-5) - The winner of this game will stay in the mix in the NFC wild card playoff picture. Another toss up here.
Cleveland (6-5) at Baltimore (7-3) - The Browns are still on a roller coaster ride in the 2021 season while the Ravens need to stay healthy down the stretch.
MONDAY NIGHT GAME
Seattle (3-7) at Washington (4-6) - Who cares?
The Heftyinfo predictions for Week Twelve . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Chicago over Detroit
DALLAS over Las Vegas
Buffalo over New Orleans
Indianapolis over Tampa Bay
Houston over N.Y. Jets
Philadelphia over N.Y. Giants
Miami over Carolina
New England over Tennessee
Cincinnati over Pittsburgh
Atlanta over Jacksonville
L.A. Chargers over Denver
Green Bay over L.A. Rams
San Francisco over Minnesota
Baltimore over Cleveland
Washington over Seattle
Last Week's Record - 10-5
SEASON RECORD - 98-66-1
Lock of the Week Record - 9-2
Monday, November 22, 2021
NFL - Week Eleven Recap
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| Chargers RB Austin Ekeler scored four touchdowns in Sunday night win. |
The Chargers (6-4) were ahead 27-10 after three quarters before the Steelers (5-4-1) scored ten quick points in the final quarter on a field goal and then a one-yard TD run (by Najee Harris) following a blocked punt and a fourth down pass interference call against the 'Bolts defense at the goal line. That made it 27-20 before the Chargers scored again on running back Austin Ekeler's fourth touchdown of the game (five yard run) to make it 34-20. The Steelers scored the next 17 points to go ahead 37-34 on a pair of TD passes by QB Ben Roethlisberger and Chris Boswell's 45-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining.
From there, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (382 passing yards with three TD and 90 rushing yards) completed a 53-yard TD pass to wide receiver Mike Williams to make the final outcome of 41-37. The Steelers had one last chance, but the Chargers defense rose up and sacked Roethlisberger twice to seal the win. Roethlisberger finished with 273 passing yards and three TD passes in defeat. In addition, the Chargers racked up 533 total yards in offense, including 159 rushing yards.
The game that was being touted as the "Game of the Week" was the one between the host Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) and Dallas Cowboys, which Kansas City won, 19-9 in a lackluster effort by both teams. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce scored on an four-yard run and Clyde Edwards-Helaire scored on an option run for the only touchdowns in the game. The Cowboys (7-3) came into the contest as the top offense in the NFL, but they were limited to only three field goals in the loss. The Chiefs defense intercepted Cowboys QB Dak Prescott twice in the win, their fourth straight.
How about the Houston Texans (2-8) going to Tennessee and winning, 22-13 to snap the Titans (8-3) six-game winning streak?
Tennessee QB Ryan Tannehill threw four interceptions to help aid the loss, even though the Titans outgained the Texans, 420-190 in total yardage. Houston QB Tyrod Taylor scored two rushing touchdowns and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn made three field goals to provide the difference in the final score.
The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) routed the host Buffalo Bills, 41-15 with RB Jonathan Taylor going for 185 yards and scoring five touchdowns to lead the way for the Colts third straight win. The Colts rushed for 264 yards against one of the league's top defenses. Meanwhile, the Indy defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions. Buffalo (6-4) lost for the third time in their last four games and fell out of first place in the AFC East division.
The Minnesota Vikings (5-5) beat the visiting Green Bay Packers, 34-31 on a 29-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as time expired. The Packers (8-3) battled back from a 14-point deficit as QB Aaron Rodgers had four TD passes, but Vikings QB Kirk Cousins tossed three TD passes and wide receiver Justin Jefferson torched the Packers D for 169 yards on eight receptions and scored twice.
In the Thursday night game, the New England Patriots (7-4) ran their win streak to five games with a 25-0 road victory against the Atlanta Falcons (4-6) as the defense had four interceptions (including a 35-yard TD return by linebacker Kyle Van Noy) and held the Falcons to just 165 yards in total offense. Pats rookie QB Mac Jones had a TD pass on 22-for-26 passing accuracy.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . .
The Baltimore Ravens (7-3) pulled off a last second 16-13 win against the Chicago Bears (3-7) as RB Devonta Freeman scored on a three-yard run with 22 seconds remaining. The Ravens played the game with reserve QB Tyler Huntley starting in place of Lamar Jackson, who was out with a non related COVID illness. Bears QB Justin Fields left the game with a rib injury and Andy Dalton tossed a pair of scoring passes in relief, but the Bears lost their fifth consecutive game . . . The Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) pasted the host Las Vegas Raiders, 32-13 as RB Joe Mixon (123 yards rushing) scored two rushing touchdowns and the defense did enough to keep the Raiders out of the end zone . . . The Cleveland Browns (6-5) kept pace in the AFC North race with a hard fought 13-10 win over the visiting and winless Detroit Lions (0-9-1) as QB Baker Mayfield had a TD pass and Jarvis Landry scored a rushing touchdown. Lions RB D'Andre Swift had a 57-yard TD run in the loss as the Lions mustered just 77 passing yards from backup QB Tim Boyle, who also threw two interceptions . . . The San Francisco 49ers (5-5) rolled past the host Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-10 behind a pair of TD passes by QB Jimmy Garoppolo and the defense limiting the Jaguars (2-8) to just 200 yards in offense . . . The Arizona Cardinals (9-2) went up to Seattle (3-7) and buried the Seahawks, 23-13 with backup QB Colt McCoy passing for 328 yards and throwing two TD passes to tight end Zach Ertz while the defense sacked Seattle QB Russell Wilson four times . . . The Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) crushed the visiting New Orleans Saints, 40-29 behind three TD runs by QB Jalen Hurts and a 51-yard interception return for score by Darius Slay. The Saints (5-5) lost their third straight game even though QB Trevor Siemian had three TD passes (and two INT) and a scoring run . . . The Washington Football Team (4-6) won at Carolina, 27-21, spoiling the start for Panthers QB Cam Newton, who had two TD passes and a 24-yard scoring run. Washington QB Taylor Heinicke threw for three touchdowns and kicker Joey Slye made two field goals to provide the difference in the outcome . . . The Miami Dolphins (4-7) won a road game against the New York Jets (2-8) by a 24-17 final score with QB Tua Tagovailoa throwing for two scores to offset a pair of TD passes from Jets QB Joe Flacco . . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 30-10 home victory against the New York Giants (3-7) on Monday Night Football. Bucs QB Tom Brady passed for 307 yards with two TD passes and one interception as they pulled away after a 10-10 tie in the second quarter. Giants QB Daniel Jones had a TD pass along with two interceptions in the loss.
WEEK ELEVEN RESULTS
New England 25, Atlanta 0
Baltimore 16, Chicago 13
Minnesota 34, Green Bay 31
Houston 22, Tennessee 13
Miami 24, N.Y. Jets 17
Cleveland 13, Detroit 10
Washington 27, Carolina 21
Indianapolis 41, Buffalo 15
Philadelphia 40, New Orleans 29
San Francisco 30, Jacksonville 10
Cincinnati 32, Las Vegas 13
Arizona 23, Seattle 13
Kansas City 19, Dallas 9
L.A. Chargers 41, Pittsburgh 37
Tampa Bay 30, N.Y. Giants 10
Friday, November 19, 2021
NFL - Week Eleven Preview
Keeping it short and simple this weekend regarding the games in the NFL.
There have been numerous "upsets" around the league in the last few weeks, if you can even consider them upsets. The key word is inconsistency in the 2021 NFL season. With that stated, some of the top games this week feature the Dallas Cowboys (7-2) at the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) in a battle of divisional leaders. Another game that could be an interesting one is the Buffalo Bills (6-3) hosting the Indianapolis Colts (5-5) is a re-match of two playoff foes from last season.
The Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders (5-4) in a battle of teams vying for the AFC playoffs. Back in the NFC, Green Bay (8-2) will face the Minnesota Vikings (4-5) in a battle of NFC North opponents. The Sunday night game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-4) is another one that will go along in the process of helping to sort out contenders for the AFC playoffs.
So yet again this week, here goes nothing in previewing (in the capsule style format) the games for Week Eleven as well as the predictions for the games.
New Orleans Saints (5-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) - The Eagles have been competitive in recent weeks while the Saints have dropped two straight games.
Miami Dolphins (3-7) at New York Jets (2-7) - The two bottom feeders of the AFC East go at it in this one.
Washington (3-6) at Carolina Panthers (5-5) - Guess who's back for Carolina? Cam Newton . . . this one will be a wild game for sure.
Indianapolis Colts (5-5) at Buffalo Bills (6-3) - The Bills had better keep on winning because the New England Patriots are right on their heels in the AFC East race. Colts have won four of their last five games and need to keep the momentum going.
Detroit Lions (0-8-1) at Cleveland Browns (5-5) - Will the real Browns team please stand up?
San Francisco 49ers (4-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) - On paper, this one looks like a complete mismatch, but the Jags have looked better in recent weeks.
Houston Texans (1-8) at Tennessee Titans (8-2) - Titans roll !
Green Bay Packers (8-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-5) - Vikes need this one bad to stay close in the NFC playoff picture. Packers have been so-so the last couple of games with Aaron Rodgers having COVID issues.
Baltimore Ravens (6-3) at Chicago Bears (3-6) - Can Lamar Jackson and company spank the Bears? Will the Bears be able to keep it close in this game?
Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-4) - Toss up in this one as these two teams mirror each other.
Arizona Cardinals (8-2) at Seattle Seahawks (3-6) - The Seahawks always seem to give the Cardinals fits in the Great Northwest. Toss up here.
Dallas Cowboys (7-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) - The Chiefs seem to be getting back on track and now they face a tough opponent at home.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-4) - The Steelers have COVID-19 issues again and the Chargers have issues within themselves in recent weeks. Toss up.
New York Giants (3-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) - The Giants have won two of their last three games while the Bucs have looked average at best since they humiliated Chicago a month ago. Bucs and Brady should rebound for the win in this Monday night game.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Eleven . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
New England over Atlanta
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Miami over N.Y. Jets
Carolina over Washington
Buffalo over Indianapolis
Cleveland over Detroit
San Francisco over Jacksonville
TENNESSEE over Houston
Minnesota over Green Bay
Baltimore over Chicago
Las Vegas over Cincinnati
Seattle over Arizona
Kansas City over Dallas
L.A. Chargers over Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay over N.Y. Giants
Last Week's Record - 6-7-1
SEASON RECORD - 88-61-1
Lock of the Week Record - 9-1
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