After a week with absolutely no close games at all, the NFL came back strong, scripting a week for the ages. Sunday saw nine of the twelve games end in a one-score game, including an overtime win for the Jaguars, the crazy ending in Cincinnati with three touchdowns in the final two minutes, and a couple of game-winning field goals by the Broncos over the Texans and Panthers over the Packers.
Dressed to the L
The Green Bay Packers, along with the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, all unveiled their throwback uniforms for the first time this year, which had a lot of fans excited. The Packers featured a leatherhead-inspired helmet that had most people just wanting to see what Romeo Doubs would look like in his guardian cap. It was awesome. All three teams were at home and all three lost.
Losing Hurts
The scores were not the only losses for the teams. The Packers lost breakout tight end Tucker Kraft to a torn ACL. Washington’s loss feels even bigger with Jayden Daniels dislocating his non-throwing elbow in one of those gruesome injuries that you can’t watch more than once. Washington also lost Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone), their kick returner who had the second most kickoff return yards in the NFL, and was averaging over 29 yards per return (second best in NFL), as well as their number one cornerback, Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL). The Commanders, who were last season's big surprise, now drop to 3-6 and all of a sudden will become sellers at the trade deadline (Today at 4:00 p.m. EST).
Buyers and Sellers
For some teams, today is the day where you decide whether you are going all in or giving up on the season. The trade deadline. Teams like the Jets, Dolphins, and Raiders all have good pieces, but their seasons are seemingly all but over. We may see guys like Breece Hall (Jets), Bradley Chubb (Dolphins), and Jakobi Meyers (Raiders) be dealt to teams that feel like they have a serious chance at taking down Mahomes, probably either in the AFC Championship or the Super Bowl. The Patriots, Colts, and Seahawks are three of those teams.
The Race for the NFC West
The NFC West race is heating up and is going to be extremely interesting. The Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers all have 6 wins and have some of the easiest schedules left this season.
The Seahawks still play:
“Should-be Wins”: Cardinals (3-5), Titans (1-8), Falcons (3-5), Panthers (5-4)
“Division Defining Games”: Rams (6-2) x2, 49ers (6-3), Vikings (4-4), Colts (7-2)
The Rams still play:
“Should-be Wins”: Cardinals (3-5) x2, Panthers (5-4), Falcons (3-5)
“Division Defining Games”: 49ers (6-3), Seahawks (6-2) x2, Lions (5-3), Buccaneers (6-2)
The 49ers still play:
“Should-be Wins”: Cardinals (3-5), Panthers (5-4), Browns (2-6), Titans (1-8)
“Division Defining Games”: Rams (6-2), Seahawks (6-2), Colts (7-2), Bears (5-3)
If I were a betting man, I’d say give me the Seahawks. But I think they all make the playoffs.