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December is here, which means the figures on the gridiron have their focus up with only 5 weeks left to build playoff cases. Wild Card Mania is in full swing with the AFC and NFC each havin' fatal-4-ways breakin' out. This is the peak of the NFL season right here, baby. Noise on noise. I have a Cheetah watch; new power rankings drop; and some headlines on the slate. Focus on up.
While given very little recognition; Mike Evans has been a destructive stealth bomber reekin' havoc on NFL secondaries for a decade now. They refer to him as Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. Big Mike had a BIG day against the Panthers last Sunday. Big day on the stat sheet; and a big day in the record books.
Mike Evans name shines bright in a illustrious tier of legacy. Evans surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season for the 10th time in his career, which made him the FIRST receiver in league history to hit the 1K-yard mark in each of his first 10 seasons in the NFL. On top of that, Evans joins the company of arguably the greatest WR ever in Jerry Rice. Mike joins the Hall of Famer as the only two wide receivers to rack up at least 10 straight seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards in their career. Rice did so 11 times from 1986-1996, and had 14 total 1,000-yard seasons. Rice is currently the all-time receiving yards leader with 22,895 yards; Evans sits at 37th all-time. It's time we shed the correct & positive light on Mike Evans.
Evans has been one of the most reliable receivers since he entered the league in 2014, when the Buccaneers used the No. 7 overall pick to select him. He may be THE most reliable, being the pillar for the Bucs' offense that has seen rollercoaster times with 6 different QBs since drafting Evans. Mike has never complained. He shows up to work and WORKS. Ya need to recognize! Checkout Evans' drop a 75-yard CG blast that elevated him to drop a damaging 162 yards on the Panthers' heads... adore the STRETCH:
video via TSN//X
Had to give Mike his props & recognition before gettin' to the business we all are most focused on: Tyreek Hill's quest for 2K receiving. Cheetah has five games remaining on the schedj to get 519 yards in the air... so 104 in each game. Holy smokes, that's as realistic as you can get, especially for a guy who has 5 games this season with 150+ receiving yards.
Hill can smell history, he can see the greatest receiving season in league history up for his grasp. He's stalkin' in the grass preppin' for that final turbo boost to conquer his kill (goal). Cheetah has 109 more yards than Calvin Johnson did at this point of the season; CJ has the all-time receiving record in a season (1.964) that Hill looks to conquer and surpass on his quest to the only 2K receiving season. Remember, Hill has one more game on his slate than CJ did. Will Tyreek Hill break the record and ecplise 2K? It's not an easy five games for him...
Dolphins' remaining opponents are STOUT in the pass defense game. Fins play three top 5 passing defenses; and four in the top 10 with games against the Cowboys (5); Jets (3); Ravens (2); and Bills (8). Hill will look to torch the lackluster Titans on Monday Night Football this week for some needed insurance before takin' on those four squads and their sharp secondaries. The 2K watch is in full swing; I think it's safe to say that we all want history to be made. Let's see if the Cheetah can submit his name into football galore!
It's WK-14 and both the Dolphins (5-0) & Cowboys (6-0) remain undefeated at their home bases. Dallas has two home games left with the Fins havin' four left to finish the campaign with a zero in the L column at home; something that we don't see a lot.
Since 2015, only three teams have finished a season with an undefeated home record: the 2015 Panthers; 2018 Patriots; and 2021 Packers. The Panthers & Patriots squads both went to the Super Bowl, with the Panthers losing and the Pats being victorious- the '21 Packers squad got sent home in the divisional round of the playoffs. Packers are the only team of the three to lose a playoff game in those respected seasons at home. Panthers went 2-0 at home and Patriots went 1-0... that factor could play huge for these Cowboys and Dolphins squads.
Winning out at home to remain unbeaten could elevate both the Fins and the Cowboys to home-field playoff games. Dallas' last two home games are this week against the NFC's one seeded Eagles and then in WK-17 (30th) against the current NFC three seed in the Lions. Dolphins sit with the current AFC one seed & wraps up their campaign with 4/5 at home. If the Cowboys win out; they could be the two seed and even possibly the one seed if the 49ers somehow go on the decline. Dolphins win out and they remain the one-seed and will run the AFC playoffs through Miami. Both teams are lickin' their chops and get ultra excited when they look at their remaining schedules.
Dak Prescott has been lights out good since the Cowboys dropped the first meeting with the Eagles in the Linc on Nov. 5th. Dak has thrown for 1,223 yards in the four games with a 13 to 1 touchdown/interception ratio & 4 dubs. Mind you, it's against the very bottom of the comp' in the NFC (NYG; WAS; & CAR), but lights out nonetheless & his performance last week against the Seahawks was wonderful as he made plays like this look effortless:
video via LawsNation//X
Dak hasn't lost to Philly at home since 2017 as he is ready to improve his 6-1 home record versus the Eagles to win 6 in a row in the series in Dallas; even the season series; and even the standings atop the NFC East. A big time opportunity for Dallas to elevate themselves to one of the top seeds in the NFC. Miami has the same level of opportunity having 4/5 games left be at home in Hard Rock. Home-field cookin' flipped to major home-field advantage.
Texans/Colts & Packers/Rams have shaken up the Wild Card races settin' up the tone for pure mania on the gridiron. Both the AFC and NFC Wild-Card races are fatal-4 way fights that have the noise meter maxed out. Each conference has 3-4 teams in the hunt that are just a game back of joining those fatal-4-ways. The two races are going to get electric and fast.
Steelers and Browns are experiencing a decline on the AFC's side of the table & now have the Colts and Texans ready to take the slipstream and launch themselves ahead in the race. Pittsburgh got dismantled by the basement Cardinals; and the Rams smoked the Browns to hand Cleveland their second straight loss. Both the Browns and Steelers need to win this week as they are en route to a head on collision in the WC race. Browns play the AFC South leadin' Jaguars next; who may not have Trevor Lawrence available (ankle-sprain); and then play the Bears before a monster collision with the Texans in Houston. That game has massive Wild-Card implications. Texans have the Jets and Titans next up- both teams could win their next two games to make their WK-16 meeting straight fire. Steelers play the poor quality Patriots before they go head on with the Colts in Indy. The AFC race is the noise I adore; the teams won't be doing much finger crossing, if they want in, they need to win.
In reality, the playoffs start now for those 4 in the front of the AFC race, which is the same case for the NFC's side of the table. We already know the top WC spot is locked for either the Cowboys or Eagles, but the other two are WIDE open and are set to be the price of a straight up bloodbath, last man standing type of war between 6 teams... including all the NFC South teams not eliminated from playoff contention (yes, the Panthers are eliminated).
Falcons may hold the 4th seed right now in the NFC, but that can change in one week as the Buccaneers and Saints are each one game back in the NFC South. We consider all three teams in the hunt for the Wild Card. The other four: Vikings; Packers; Seahawks; and Rams all have strong bases set up on the war grounds as they are in the fight til the end. This race is so tight, one game finish can swap a spot weekly. Packers and Rams are feelin' the good side of that with each having two huge dubs over high level comp' to land atop the WC race.
Packers go in and dismantle their arch-rival Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving & then go and beat the defending champions in Lambeau. The wins catapulted the Pack to the front of the race, and gives them a real chance at securing a playoff berth. Head Coach Matt LaFleur happens to be unreal in the month of December as he holds a 16-0 all-time record in the month as head coach; the longest win-streak by a head coach in a single month all-time. Packers have two more big fights with the Bucs and Vikings on the slate, but then have it easy with the Bears; Panthers; and Giants. The ball is in their hands as the Vikings; Seahawks; and Rams each have hard schedules remaining. Vikings still have to play the series set against the Lions & have the Packers and Bengals on the schedj. Rams play the 49ers; Ravens; and Saints in a tough gauntlet while the Seahawks have to play the Eagles; Steelers; and 49ers. Sounds like we are going to have some casualties after this war is done and over.
Despite having many teams under .500 on the campaign; a lackluster division in the NFC South; and inconsistent play across all 32 teams- we can't be mad about 6-8 teams being in the playoff hunt and two Wild Card races being locked and loaded with comp' and excitement. The games coming up have major importance, which should elevate the quality across the board. This is playoff atmosphere folks... and for some, this is win or go home territory in December. The playoff windows are closing, and squads wanna dive in. The noise meter is MAXED OUT.
Power Rankings:
Previous game: W 42-19 @ PHI
Streak: W4
49ers dropped a STATEMENT in the Linc running away with a dub over the previously ranked number one Eagles. The game got ugly late, but the 49ers flipped the switch after getting outplayed in the first quarter. What a win for San Fran to get some revenge and extend their hot streak. They are playing like the best team in the world after hittin' a small speed bump with a three game losing skid. Their current 4 game winnin' streak has slaughters of the Jags; Eagles; and Seahawks. San Francisco is in a tier of their own right now despite still being the two seed in the NFC.
Next game: Sunday vs Seattle (4:05 pm)
Previous game: L 19-42 vs SF
Streak: L1
The Eagles' flaws that were camouflaged with their overcoming adversity record had come out to haunt them against the 49ers as they got whooped in their own backyard. Eagles still have the best record in the league and hold the one seed in the NFC, so the loss doesn't destroy what they had brewin', but that can change quick if they don't flip back the switch against Dallas and Seattle. OC Brian Johnson has to figure out the run game with a banged up Jalen Hurts under center. DC Sean Desai needs adjustments as well, his defense has been punished since WK-4. Eagles play in their biggest game of the season next; primetime versus the Cowboys for the NFC East.
Next game: Sunday @ Dallas (8:20 pm)
Previous game: W 20-10 @ LAC (11/26)
Streak: W2
Ravens had the BYE week to make adjustments and get some rest before takin' on a fiery gauntlet of teams to close out the season. They stay put at 3 and are ready to prove they deserve to be the AFC's number one team this regular season. If they want home-field advantage and that one seed; they are going to have to EARN it.
Next game: Sunday vs LAR (1:00 pm)
Previous game: W 33-28 @ NO
Streak: W1
Lions put the Thanksgiving loss to the Packers in the rear mirror with a big time dub over the Saints in the SuperDome. Now with the Eagles losing to the 49ers, they once again have a slight chance at the one seed and playoff home-field advantage. They need Dallas to beat Philly and one more SF loss (49ers hold tie-breaker) for the odds to become likely... and they need to keep winning. Lions have a tough schedj left, but sit good atop the NFC.
Next game: Sunday @ CHI (1:00 pm)
Previous game: W 41-35 vs SEA
Streak: W4
Cowboys are back in the top 5! They dominated a light slate of comp' to build a 4-game win streak makin' the clash with the Eagles ultra important with seeding implications and the division title being on the line. Dallas flipped the switch in the nick of time as they run a dangerous gauntlet of comp' to wrap up the season.
Next game: Sunday vs PHI (8:20 pm)
Previous game: L 19-27 @ GB
Streak: L1
Chiefs are on a slight decline after droppin' two of their last three games. KC still holds the three seed in the AFC and are right in the hunt for the top seed. Just need to stop losin'. They have a fist-fight with the Bills in Arrowhead before wrappin' up the season against some light comp'. I don't expect them to keep declining.
Next game: Sunday vs BUF (4:25 pm)
Previous game: W 45-15 @ WAS
Streak: W3
Dolphins have outscored the opps 79-28 in their past two dubs, but don't move their needle in the PRs with it being against the Jets and Commanders. Miami needs to win two more than they have their chance to gain respect; legitimacy; and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Fins better practice their fish-whackin'; the waters are about to get rocky!
Next game: Monday vs TEN (8:15 pm)
Previous game: L 34-31 vs CIN (OT)
Streak: L1
Jaguars took a tough OT loss that killed the steam from the Texans win... the loss wasn't all the pain delivered. Trevor Lawrence went down after rollin' his ankle badly in the 4th-Q that struck panic across Jacksonville. Thanfully, the MRIs came back clean with T-Law only having an ankle-sprain. His status is unkown for WK-14, which is still a scare with the Jags facing the playoff searchin' Browns. Not the type of stuff they want to face as they try and hold off the Texans/Colts for the AFC South title.
Next game: Sunday vs CLE (1:00 pm)
Previous game: W 31-28 vs TEN (OT)
Streak: W4
Colts continue to rise and overcome adversity! The hottest team outside of the Cowboys and Niners has flipped their season around, placin' themselves right in the fight for the AFC Wild-Card and in the top ten of my PRs for the first time this season. Indy's schedule is pack full of playoff searchin' squads... it's time to buckle up in Indianapolis.
Next game: Sunday vs CIN (1:00 pm)
Previous game: W 22-17 vs DEN
Streak: W1
Texans got back on the winnin' side after that tough L to the Jaguars with a big time win over the Broncos to create space in the AFC Wild Card race. Texans took a huge hit losin' stud rookie WR Tank Dell to a nasty fibula fracture. Stroud's favorite target is off the table, a big blow indeed. Lets see if they can continue to overcome adversity as they fight for the playoffs in DeMeco Ryans' first campaign as head coach.
Next game: Sunday @ NYJ (1:00 pm)
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