Ten Things We Learned On The NFL’s Fourteenth Sunday

Added on Dec 13, 2010 by Scott in

NFL

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw downfield against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Chicago

There were blowouts galore yesterday in the NFL as seven games were decided by 16 or more points. Nine teams scored over 30 and a pair of those topped 40. There was a shutout in San Diego and an upset in Detroit. Tom Brady looked magnificent once again, while Jay Cutler resorted to his bumbling ways. There was much to be learned on the fourteenth Sunday of the season. Ten things to be exact.

10. The Packers are in trouble – Losing to the Lions is bad enough, but losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to his second concussion of the year could be devastating. They still can’t run the ball (so much for James Starks being the answer) and with the juggernaut Patriots up next, the Packers are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. They have little room for error over the next three games.

9. The Jaguars are feisty – The fact that the Jaguars are in the driver’s seat to win the AFC South is quite remarkable. Their defense is horrible, but the combo of David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew continues to get it done week in and week out. A showdown to decide the division versus the Colts lies in wait. Should be a doozy.

8. The Steelers have perfected winning ugly – If not for Troy Polamalu and the rest of the defense, the Steelers might be sitting at .500 instead of 10-3. Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling with injuries and the running game has been hit or miss. All that said, I don’t think anyone wants to face this team in January.

7. Special teams make a difference – Kicker Graham Gano shanked field goals of 34 and 24 yards and punter Hunter Smith botched the hold on a game-tying extra point to send the Redskins to their eighth defeat of 2010. In a game in which Donovan McNabb was sharp and running back Ryan Torain rumbled for 172 yards, Mike Shanahan’s squad still found a way to lose. Can’t blame Albert Haynesworth for this one.

6. Sam Bradford is suffering growing pains – Three interceptions and no touchdowns for young Sam the last two games. He still has the Rams in position to win the NFC West due to it being the worst division in the league. However with Kansas City, San Fran and Seattle remaining on the schedule, the rookie signal caller must do away with the turnovers and play beyond his years.

5. Alex Smith has nine lives – Just when you think 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is on his way out of town he drops 255 yards and three touchdowns on the rival Seahawks. Maybe the five-game absence did him some good, or maybe the Seattle defense is really awful. Whatever the case, after an 0-5 start, the Niners are only one game out of first place. Go figure.

4. Josh McDaniels wasn’t the only problem in Denver – The Cardinals marched out rookie signal caller John Skelton to face the Broncos and he ended up leading them to 43 points. Needless to say, the mile high franchise is in complete disarray. Whoever takes the head coaching job in 2011 has a lot of work to do.

3. It’s the Patriots and everyone else – Here we go again. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have the Pats atop the NFL. Over the last three weeks, they have outscored opponents 126-34. And two of those victims — Jets and Bears — boast quality defenses. If New England isn’t playing for the Lombardi Trophy in February, I will be shocked and awed.

2. Mark Sanchez needs a life preserver – Sanchez has led his offense to a grand total of nine points in losses to the Pats and ‘Phins. Interceptions, fumbles and horrible decisions have become the norm. The kid is drowning right now and the schedule won’t do him any favors. Road trips to Pittsburgh and Chicago loom. If Sanchez doesn’t wake the hell up, the Jets are finished.

1. Matt Cassel was severely missed – 7/17, 40 yards, 0 TD. That was Brodie Croyle’s stat line on Sunday. Dwayne Bowe had one catch for three yards. Thomas Jones had three carries for one yard. The Chiefs scored zero points and allowed 31. To think, a misbehaving appendix might be what causes Kansas City to miss the postseason. The NFL is nothing if not strange.