The NFL has formally hit December as playoff races are heating up across the league. In what was one of many wildest weeks in latest reminiscence, 12 video games had been determined by seven-or-fewer factors — tied for essentially the most in a single week in NFL historical past. Three groups recorded a game-winning rating within the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter or in time beyond regulation to stay within the playoff battle with 5 weeks to play.
The Philadelphia Eagles had a large win over the Baltimore Ravens, setting the stage for a wild end on the prime of the NFC and a seismic shift within the AFC North title hopes. There have been loads of overreactions to go across the league after the Week 13 Sunday afternoon slate, most of which have a playoff affect.
Which overreactions will stick? Which of them are actuality?
Eagles will not lose one other sport the remainder of the common season
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Eagles are flying excessive on an a eight-game successful streak, having an announcement win over the Ravens in Baltimore. Philadelphia held Baltimore to simply 19 factors and 372 yards, the second-fewest in any sport for the Ravens this season (and a majority of them got here within the ultimate minute in rubbish time).
Clearly within the combine for home-field benefit within the NFC, are the Eagles going to lose one other sport? Philadelphia has three groups with dropping data left on its schedule (Carolina, Dallas and New York Giants) with a house showdown with Pittsburgh and a highway contest at Washington.
There is a good probability the Eagles do win 14 video games, however to complete 15-2 is a really powerful job. The Steelers are one of many higher groups in soccer and will likely be a tricky out, even with the sport at residence. The Commanders are often powerful on the highway, even when the Eagles beat them earlier this 12 months.
With how little the Eagles flip the ball over and the way nicely the protection is taking part in, by no means say by no means with this group. A 13-game successful streak appears very powerful to perform.
The Ravens have to switch Justin Tucker earlier than the playoffs
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Tucker missed two area targets and an additional level in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, because the Ravens misplaced by 5 factors (they did rating a landing late when the sport was out of hand). Baltimore nonetheless may have taken a 10-point first quarter lead with Tucker’s missed additional level and the lead twice within the third quarter if it wasn’t for Tucker’s missed kicks.
The Ravens have 5 losses by a mixed 22 factors this season. Tucker’s missed kicks have collected for 22 factors in these 5 losses. Tucker has six factors price of missed kicks in a two-point loss at Steelers in Week 11 and 7 factors price of missed kicks in a five-point loss Sunday. That is the distinction between the Ravens and Steelers within the AFC North.
The Ravens are a Super Bowl-caliber workforce, however their greatest power for 12 months is their largest weak spot. No kicker can change the worth of Tucker when he is on, and Tucker is likely one of the greatest in NFL historical past. The Ravens simply need to trip with Tucker and hope he figures it out. They do not have one other selection.
Bengals will miss playoffs and Zac Taylor will get fired
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
The Bengals’ Super Bowl hopes seem cooked for 2024, as they wanted to beat the Steelers to have any shot on the postseason. As soon as once more, the Bengals scored sufficient to win a soccer sport — however the protection allowed 44 factors to the Steelers to bury them within the playoff standings. The Bengals are 1-2 once they rating 38+ factors this season and the remainder of the NFL is 21-0.
One thing is mistaken with this Bengals workforce. Joe Burrow is taking part in the very best soccer of his profession and this workforce cannot get off the sector. They’ve 99 factors of their final three video games and are 0-3 in that stretch. They’ve 4 losses with 33+ factors (essentially the most in NFL historical past) and 6 losses with 25+ factors (tied for essentially the most in NFL historical past).
No coach can survive that with this expertise on the roster. The Bengals want a change, as they sit three video games behind the Broncos within the loss column for the ultimate playoff spot. They should win out to have a shot, however the protection simply is not ok.
Taylor will take the autumn, and the Bengals will retool this offseason.
Steelers are going to win the AFC North
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
There may be nonetheless time for the Ravens to catch the Steelers, however Baltimore took a major hit in its division title hopes when the Ravens fell to the Eagles. The Steelers additionally had an enormous win over the Bengals to increase their division result in two video games within the loss column over Baltimore with 5 to play (and Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker).
Pittsburgh has a brutal three-game stretch with Philadelphia (highway), Baltimore (highway) and Kansas Metropolis (residence) in a span of 10 days. The Steelers may go 0-3 in that stretch, however Baltimore must go 3-0 (they play the New York Giants, Pittsburgh and Houston) with a purpose to catch and go them.
The AFC North is not over but due to Pittsburgh’s schedule, however the Steelers have set themselves as much as take this division. A win subsequent week would give Pittsburgh (the Steelers play Cleveland) a three-game lead with 4 to play, placing the Ravens in a really deep gap for his or her division title probabilities.
With the way in which Pittsburgh is taking part in, good probability they end off the division quickly.
Colts are Broncos’ largest risk for No. 7 seed in AFC
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Is there a risk to the Broncos for the ultimate playoff spot? After the highest six within the AFC standings, there’s the Broncos — then everybody else. The Colts are No. 8 within the AFC standings following their win over the Patriots, sitting two video games behind the Broncos within the loss column for the ultimate spot.
Why are the Colts the most important risk to the Broncos? Indianapolis performs Denver in two weeks, and the Colts have a bye subsequent week. The Broncos play the Browns on Monday evening then have a bye week of their very own, so they may have a two-game lead over Indianapolis heading into that matchup in Week 15.
If Denver has a two-game lead and wins that showdown with Indianapolis, the ultimate playoff spot within the AFC will likely be wrapped up. A loss makes the Week 15 sport even larger for Denver, who has not fallen from the playoff ranks though the Broncos have been within the prime seven within the standings since October.
The Colts are the Broncos’ largest risk for that playoff spot, since they get to play them in December.
Buccaneers will win the NFC South
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Buccaneers are tied with the Falcons for the NFC South lead after their win over the Panthers and the Falcons’ loss to the Chargers. Is there any purpose to imagine the Buccaneers can take the division from the Falcons after struggling to beat Carolina?
The Falcons are giving this division away, however Atlanta did sweep Tampa Bay to have the tiebreaker for the division. The NFC South will come right down to Atlanta and Tampa Bay over the ultimate 5 weeks, however who has the simpler path?
Atlanta performs three groups with a dropping document (Las Vegas, New York Giants, Carolina) whereas Tampa Bay performs 4 of its ultimate 5 presently with a dropping document (Las Vegas, Dallas, Carolina, New Orleans). The Buccaneers can win 4 of their subsequent 5 to get to 9-8, however will that be sufficient to go Atlanta — even with their slide?
Bear in mind the Buccaneers cannot tie the Falcons on this division. They need to go Tampa Bay, so caring for enterprise is paramount. Atlanta nonetheless has management of the NFC South, however the margin for error is formally gone.
