It is December, a time for contenders to emerge and pretenders to fade away.
So go forward and take a look at clarify what occurred this previous Sunday within the NFL. The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings, who got here in at 10-2. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the division-leading Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers went on the highway to beat the Seattle Seahawks, a group that gave the impression to be surging to the postseason.
Detroit, Jacksonville and Carolina are all alive within the playoff chase. In December? Can it’s?
The Lions have gained 5 of six to get to 6-7 and get inside a recreation and a half of being within the playoff image. The Lions have finished it behind the offense and particularly underrated quarterback Jared Goff and the passing recreation. The protection has additionally improved over the previous month.
The Jaguars hadn’t gained at Tennessee since 2013 earlier than Sunday and have been coming off a beat down by the Lions the week earlier than wherein they regarded lifeless. So who anticipated Trevor Lawrence to throw for 368 yards and three touchdowns because the Jaguars gained, 36-22, in dominant trend? Lawrence has been nearly as good as any quarterback within the league the final month of the season, placing to relaxation any of that dumb speak that he wasn’t a franchise passer.
Then there’s Carolina. It has run itself into the playoff chase at 5-8, one recreation behind Tampa Bay within the NFC South. The Panthers beat Seattle, 30-24, on Sunday and now management their very own path into the playoffs. In the event that they win out, together with beating Tampa Bay in Week 17, they would be the NFC South winner. After all, in addition they have a giant recreation with the Lions in Week 16. The Lions and Panthers enjoying a giant recreation in late December simply is not one thing we anticipated six weeks in the past.
To win the AFC South, the Jaguars would wish to win out, together with beating the Titans within the closing week of the season after which additionally hope the Titans lose one different recreation. The schedule is hard with Dallas at dwelling, the Jets on the highway, the Texans on the highway after which the Titans at dwelling. But it surely’s attainable.
The Lions are my highest-ranked group of the three on this week’s Energy Rankings, as much as No. 18. However the Jaguars and Panthers are additionally on the transfer up.
Sunday was as soon as once more a reminder of how loopy the NFL might be and the way unpredictable it’s from week to week.
Who noticed the Lions, Jaguars and Panthers nonetheless alive with Christmas across the nook? Not many, that is for positive — in all probability not even inside their respective buildings.
Largest Movers
|
Rk |
Groups |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
They rolled the Giants, and the offense is sort of unstoppable proper now. Jalen Hurts for MVP? It may occur. | — | 12-1-0 |
2 |
|
The protection performed nicely with out Von Miller, which is an effective signal. The Payments can principally lock up the division by beating the Dolphins this week. | — | 10-3-0 |
3 |
|
They beat the Texans, nevertheless it positive was ugly. They all the time appear to have a recreation or two like that. They cannot play like that in opposition to good groups. | — | 10-3-0 |
4 |
|
Regardless of some massive performs, the protection needs to be higher than it was in opposition to Denver if they’ll be a Tremendous Bowl group. They really made Russell Wilson look good. | — | 10-3-0 |
5 |
|
They’ve actually righted issues in a giant means after the gradual begin. The protection has actually stepped up in current weeks. | 1 | 9-4-0 |
6 |
|
Brock Purdy was actually good in his first NFL begin in beating the Bucs. But it surely’s the protection that actually is carrying this group. | 1 | 9-4-0 |
7 |
|
The protection is a serious drawback for this group. It may possibly’t cease the opposition, which places a lot stress on its offense. At 10-3, are the Vikings good or not? | 2 | 10-3-0 |
8 |
|
That was a big-time victory in opposition to the Steelers with out Lamar Jackson. The protection got here up massive in that one. | 1 | 9-4-0 |
9 |
|
They’re on a two-game dropping streak. The priority is the offense has struggled because it readies to play the Payments. | 1 | 8-5-0 |
10 |
|
They arrive off their bye with a house recreation in opposition to a Giants group they tied two weeks in the past. Win that one, and they’ll have an excellent shot to be a playoff group. | 1 | 7-5-1 |
11 |
|
What was that in opposition to the Jaguars? The protection is terrible proper now, which will not win a variety of video games going ahead, and the offensive line is terrible. | 2 | 7-6-0 |
12 |
|
That was a season-saving victory in opposition to Miami. It is good to see the passing recreation lastly take some pictures down the sphere. | 3 | 7-6-0 |
13 |
|
They blew a house recreation in opposition to the Panthers, dropping them out of the playoffs for now. The protection is again to being an issue in a giant means, and Geno Smith made some unhealthy throws in that recreation. | 3 | 7-6-0 |
14 |
|
The offense did not do sufficient in opposition to the Payments, however that did not cease coach Robert Saleh from saying he would see them once more come playoff time. That is some actual confidence there. | — | 7-6-0 |
15 |
|
If the playoffs began right now, they’d be in. The offense received going a bit in opposition to the Cardinals, which is an effective signal. | 2 | 7-6-0 |
16 |
|
They’ve a tie and three losses of their final 4, and that early-season success is fading quick. The protection was terrible in opposition to the Eagles. | 4 | 7-5-1 |
17 |
|
They simply cannot get any momentum this season. The 49ers beat them up in each means imageable Sunday. But they’re nonetheless in first place. | 1 | 6-7-0 |
18 |
|
They’re making a playoff push, which is spectacular. Jared Goff has been excellent. | 1 | 6-7-0 |
19 |
|
Studying tips on how to maintain leads is an issue for this group. Dropping the best way it did to the Rams virtually ends its playoff hopes. | 1 | 5-8-0 |
20 |
|
They should be involved with what they’ve seen from Deshaun Watson to this point. Rust or not, he is not enjoying nicely. | 2 | 5-8-0 |
21 |
|
In the event that they win their closing 4 video games, they may very well be a playoff group. One loss, and it is possible over. The query is whether or not they’re adequate to run the desk. | — | 5-8-0 |
22 |
|
With out Kenny Pickett, they have been misplaced in opposition to the Ravens. Mitch Trubisky turned it over means an excessive amount of. | — | 5-8-0 |
23 |
|
They will rookie Desmond Ridder at quarterback, which is the appropriate factor to do. They could have waited too lengthy. | — | 5-8-0 |
24 |
|
Trevor Lawrence goes to maintain this group related for a very long time. He can be a star, which he confirmed in beating the Titans. | — | 5-8-0 |
25 |
|
They’re within the playoff combine. Take into consideration that. With Sam Darnold, they may make the playoffs. Wonderful. | 3 | 5-8-0 |
26 |
|
They’ve 4 video games left, and they’re just about enjoying out the string. This has not been a very good season for first-year coach Dennis Allen. | 1 | 4-9-0 |
27 |
|
They’re finished for this yr, however the concern now’s the knee harm suffered by Kyler Murray. How extreme is it, and what’s going to it do to his profession? | 1 | 4-9-0 |
28 |
|
They arrive off their bye with a Saturday recreation at Minnesota. Is that this the ultimate four-game stretch for the Jeff Saturday experiment? | 1 | 4-8-1 |
29 |
|
Choosing up Baker Mayfield paid off for a recreation as he beat the Raiders. Now comes a more durable problem for him at Inexperienced Bay, however he’ll know the offense higher as nicely. | — | 4-9-0 |
30 |
|
They arrive off their bye with a tricky recreation in opposition to the Eagles. It needs to be a great way for Justin Fields to get an thought of what would possibly come subsequent yr by watching Jalen Hurts. | — | 3-10-0 |
31 |
|
The excellent news is the offense got here alive in opposition to the Chiefs. The unhealthy information is that it did not matter since they misplaced anyway. | — | 3-10-0 |
32 |
|
They made it fascinating in opposition to Dallas, which reveals they have not stop. They’re headed for the highest decide, which is an effective factor. | — | 1-11-1 |
