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W
EEK
 
16
 
NFL
 
G
AME
 
R
EVIEWS
 
 
Since
 
this
 
is
 
such
 
a
 
pivotal
 
time
 
of 
 
the
 
season,
 
i’ve
 
decided
 
to
 
steer
 
away
 
from
 
intense
 
game
 
details
 
 –
 
i’m
 
gonna
 
tell
 
you
 
about
 
playoff 
 
pictures
 
and
 
offseason
 
expectations
 
this
 
week
 
 –
 
followed
 
by
 
season
 
reviews
 
next
 
week.
 
Happy
 
Holidays
 
and
 
Merry
 
Xmas!
 
Indianapolis
 
Colts
 
(11
‐
4)
 
31
 
Jacksonville
 
Jaguars
 
(5
‐
10)
 
24
 
Thursday
 
Night
 
football
 
again
 
and
 
this
 
was
 
a
 
key
 
game
 
for
 
the
 
Colts,
 
a
 
win
 
would
 
cement
 
them
 
in
 
5
th
 
place
 
in
 
the
 
AFC
 
and
 
that’s
 
precisely
 
what
 
happened.
 
Peyton
 
Manning
 
has
 
shown
 
tremendous
 
resilience
 
and
 
determination
 
over
 
the
 
past
 
few
 
weeks
 
and
 
his
 
Colts
 
have
 
won
 
their
 
eighth
 
consecutive
 
game
 
and
 
that
 
means
 
they’re
 
in
 
the
 
playoffs
 
for
 
the
 
seventh
 
straight
 
year.
 
So
 
how
 
have
 
they
 
done
 
it
 
 –
 
well
 
today’s
 
game
 
really
 
showed
 
you
 
how
 
Indianapolis
 
works
 
 –
 
they
 
are
 
not
 
purely
 
a
 
passing
 
team
 
as
 
the
 
stats
 
say,
 
they
 
are
 
a
 
team
 
which
 
consistently
 
exploits
 
weaknesses.
 
You
 
may
 
say
 
that’s
 
true
 
of 
 
all
 
winning
 
teams,
 
but
 
the
 
Colts
 
should
 
especially
 
pride
 
themselves
 
on
 
it.
 
The
 
Jags
 
have
 
a
 
superior
 
run
 
defence
 
 –
 
one
 
which
 
allowed
 
only
 
32yds
 
of 
 
Colt
 
rushing
 
in
 
this
 
game
 
 –
 
but
 
their
 
weakness...the
 
pass!
 
Peyton
 
Manning
 
had
 
a
 
field
 
day
 
 –
 
he
 
completed
 
29
 
or
 
34
 
passes
 
for
 
364yds
 
and
 
3
 
TD’s.
 
This
 
truly
 
is
 
a
 
team
 
which
 
can
 
have
 
the
 
run
 
taken
 
away,
 
but
 
still
 
get
 
the
 
passing
 
game
 
going.
 
PLAYOFF
 
wise,
 
the
 
Colts
 
are
 
very
 
much
 
the
 
dark
 
horses
 
 –
 
building
 
up
 
an
 
11
‐
4
 
record
 
is
 
not
 
easy,
 
coming
 
back
 
from
 
their
 
3
‐
4
 
record
 
in
 
week
 
8.
 
I
 
can
 
see
 
the
 
Colts
 
breaching
 
many
 
a
 
defence
 
in
 
the
 
playoffs,
 
but
 
some
 
others
 
are
 
a
 
little
 
trickier.
 
Dallas,
 
Tampa
 
and
 
Tennessee
 
can
 
all
 
cause
 
Manning
 
problems
 
 –
 
their
 
experience
 
may
 
 just
 
mean
 
that
 
they
 
don’t
 
bite
 
on
 
those
 
infamous
 
play
 
action
 
fakes
 
to
 
Reggie
 
and
 
Marvin!
 
Baltimore
 
Ravens
 
(10
‐
5)
 
33
 
Dallas
 
Cowboys
 
(9
‐
6)
 
24
 
Clash
 
of 
 
two
 
teams
 
who
 
are
 
very
 
capable
 
of 
 
going
 
far
 
in
 
the
 
playoffs
 
 –
 
yet
 
who
 
have
 
such
 
very
 
different
 
expectations.
 
Dallas
 
is
 
expected
 
to
 
win
 
every
 
game
 
 –
 
simple.
 
They
 
can
 
run,
 
pass
 
and
 
defend
 
the
 
run
 
and
 
pass.
 
Baltimore
 
sure
 
can
 
defend,
 
but
 
they
 
have
 
the
 
“rookie
 
factor”
 
 –
 
that
 
sympathy
 
when
 
something
 
goes
 
wrong,
 
that
 
we
 
can
 
accredit
 
to
 
“well
 
Flacco
 
is
 
still
 
a
 
rookie”
 
It’s
 
that
 
which
 
has
 
allowed
 
them
 
to
 
sneak
 
in
 
to
 
the
 
playoffs.
 
Both
 
teams
 
now
 
hold
 
the
 
second
 
wildcard
 
in
 
their
 
divisions
 
 –
 
the
 
last
 
playoff 
 
spot.
 
Dallas
 
can
 
clinch
 
a
 
playoff 
 
spot
 
by
 
beating
 
streaky
 
Philly,
 
Baltimore
 
can
 
lock
 
it
 
up
 
with
 
a
 
win
 
over
 
the
 
pass
 
friendly
 
Jags.
 
PLAYOFF
 
wise,
 
I
 
would
 
expect
 
both
 
of 
 
these
 
teams
 
to
 
reach
 
the
 
playoffs
 
 –
 
Baltimore
 
have
 
it
 
easier
 
than
 
Dallas,
 
but
 
nothing’s
 
certain
 
in
 
the
 
NFL!
 
If 
 
Dallas
 
miss
 
out
 
then
 
they
 
can
 
attribute
 
it
 
to
 
Romo’s
 
pinkie
 
finger
 
 –
 
if 
 
the
 
Ravens
 
miss
 
out
 
they
 
still
 
have
 
the
 
“Rookie
 
factor”.
 
Dallas
 
will
 
always
 
be
 
a
 
threat
 
in
 
the
 
playoffs
 
and
 
so
 
will
 
the
 
Ravens
 
 –
 
 just
 
don’t
 
expect
 
a
 
Superbowl
 
win
 
from
 
a
 
rookie
 
QB
 
or
 
a
 
banged
 
up
 
Romo.
 
Cincinnati
 
Bengals
 
(3
‐
11
‐
1)
 
14
 
Cleveland
 
Browns
 
(4
‐
11)
 
0
 
Neither
 
team
 
has
 
a
 
hope
 
in
 
hell
 
of 
 
reaching
 
the
 
playoffs,
 
so
 
let’s
 
look
 
at
 
the
 
game.
 
Brown’s
 
fans
 
will
 
have
 
already
 
spotted
 
the
 
shutout...so
 
we
 
need
 
not
 
mention
 
that!
 
Cincinnati
 
has
 
suffered
 
from
 
day
 
1
 
 –
 
their
 
season
 
can
 
be
 
compared
 
quite
 
respectably,
 
to
 
the
 
Patriots.
 
Both
 
teams
 
lose
 
their
 
star
 
QB’s
 
in
 
week
 
1,
 
both
 
have
 
star
 
receivers.
 
Yet
 
the
 
Patriots
 
found
 
Cassell
 
a
 
perfect
 
fit
 
and
 
the
 
transition
 
was
 
effortless
 
 –
 
the
 
Bengals
 
attempts
 
to
 
fit
 
Ryan
 
Fitzpatrick
 
in
 
have
 
been
 
in
 
vain.
 
Winning
 
only
 
3.5
 
games,
 
they
 
have
 
a
 
real
 
problem
 
going
 
into
 
the
 
offseason
 
 –
 
whether
 
or
 
not
 
Ocho
 
Cinco
 
is
 
gonna
 
hang
 
around,
 
whether
 
they
 
can
 
find
 
a
 
competent
 
RB
 
and
 
whether
 
or
 
not
 
they
 
can
 
buy
 
a
 
defence
 
in
 
the
 
offseason.
 
The
 
Browns
 
QB
 
issues
 
have
 
been
 
QB
 
related
 
 –
 
they
 
can
 
put
 
up
 
a
 
good
 
defence
 
and
 
receiving
 
core
 
when
 
they
 
want
 
 –
 
yet
 
they
 
have
 
suffered
 
from
 
injuries
 
to
 
Anderson
 
and
 
Quinn
 
 –
 
Dorsey
 
is
 
not
 
a
 
suitable
 
replacement...yet!
 
OFFSEASON
 
 –
 
These
 
teams
 
must
 
look
 
ahead,
 
this
 
was
 
an
 
unlucky
 
season
 
 –
 
plagued
 
by
 
injuries
 
and
 
not
 
by
 
inability
 
to
 
play
 
offense.
 
(Defence
 
begs
 
a
 
different
 
question.)
 
Get
 
Carson
 
Palmer
 
and
 
Brady
 
Quinn
 
settled,
 
good
 
draft
 
and
 
trades
 
 –
 
both
 
of 
 
these
 
teams
 
could
 
be
 
better
 
next
 
year.
 
 
New
 
Orleans
 
Saints
 
(8
‐
7)
 
42
 
Detroit
 
Lions
 
(0
‐
15)
 
7
 
I’ll
 
bet
 
the
 
one
 
season
 
review
 
you
 
all
 
want
 
to
 
read
 
is
 
that
 
of 
 
the
 
Detroit
 
Lions...it
 
will
 
certainly
 
be
 
interesting
 
when
 
the
 
draft
 
comes
 
around
 
and
 
there’s
 
that
 
small
 
section
 
in
 
magazines
 
entitled
 
“team
 
needs”.
 
The
 
Detroit
 
Lions
 
list
 
of 
 
needs
 
must
 
detail
 
every
 
position
 
in
 
football,
 
apart
 
from
 
a
 
primary
 
Wide
 
receiver.
 
New
 
Orleans
 
has
 
had
 
a
 
disappointing
 
season;
 
they
 
have
 
been
 
unable
 
to
 
keep
 
up
 
with
 
the
 
unbelievable
 
pace
 
of 
 
the
 
NFC
 
south
 
and
 
are
 
set
 
to
 
miss
 
the
 
playoffs
 
with
 
a
 
.500
 
record.
 
Still...every
 
cloud
 
has
 
a
 
silver
 
lining,
 
the
 
Saints
 
has
 
been
 
Drew
 
Brees
 
leading
 
the
 
league
 
in
 
passing,
 
the
 
emergence
 
of 
 
Lance
 
Moore
 
and
 
the
 
progression
 
of 
 
Reggie
 
Bush.
 
The
 
Saints
 
will
 
miss
 
the
 
playoffs
 
narrowly,
 
but
 
should
 
be
 
proud
 
of 
 
what
 
they’ve
 
achieved
 
this
 
season.
 
OFFSEASON
 
hopes
 
for
 
the
 
Lions
 
are
 
not
 
good
 
 –
 
sure
 
they
 
will
 
get
 
the
 
number
 
1
 
draft
 
pick,
 
but
 
what
 
do
 
they
 
take?
 
It
 
will
 
certainly
 
take
 
more
 
than
 
a
 
year
 
to
 
sort
 
out
 
this
 
team.
 
The
 
Saints
 
can
 
look
 
forward
 
to
 
more
 
development...just
 
hope
 
next
 
year
 
it’s
 
on
 
defence!
 
Arizona
 
Cardinals
 
(8
‐
7)
 
7
 
New
 
England
 
Patriots
 
(10
‐
5)
 
47
 
Both
 
teams
 
should
 
be
 
in
 
the
 
playoffs
 
 –
 
the
 
Cardinals
 
will
 
be,
 
but
 
are
 
on
 
a
 
slide
 
at
 
the
 
moment.
 
The
 
Patriots
 
need
 
a
 
win
 
and
 
either
 
a
 
Miami
 
or
 
Baltimore
 
loss
 
to
 
get
 
in
 
and
 
that
 
looks
 
very
 
shaky
 
to
 
bet
 
on.
 
The
 
Patriots
 
have
 
done
 
remarkably
 
well
 
this
 
season,
 
especially
 
after
 
losing
 
the
 
NFL
 
MVP
 
in
 
week
 
1.
 
Matt
 
Cassell
 
has
 
proven
 
himself 
 
as
 
a
 
capable
 
QB
 
and
 
has
 
led
 
the
 
team
 
to
 
10
 
wins.
 
The
 
Patriots
 
RB
 
core
 
has
 
also
 
suffered
 
 –
 
but
 
BenJarvus
 
Green
‐
Ellis
 
has,
 
like
 
Cassel,
 
filled
 
the
 
large
 
shoes
 
perfectly.
 
If 
 
the
 
Patriots
 
do
 
miss
 
the
 
playoff 
 
it
 
will
 
be
 
due
 
to
 
a
 
breaking
 
in
 
period
 
for
 
Cassell
 
 –
 
one
 
which
 
could
 
not
 
have
 
realistically
 
been
 
shortened
 
and
 
the
 
alternatives
 
are
 
hard
 
to
 
think
 
of.
 
Good
 
season
 
for
 
the
 
Patriots...which
 
may
 
not
 
be
 
over
 
yet!
 
The
 
Cardinals
 
have
 
arisen
 
from
 
Phoenix
 
and
 
with
 
their
 
2
 
probowl
 
receivers
 
in
 
Boldin
 
and
 
Fitzgerald;
 
they
 
are
 
looking
 
deadly
 
through
 
the
 
air.
 
PLAYOFFS
 
 –
 
If 
 
New
 
England
 
make
 
it
 
through
 
they
 
will
 
certainly
 
be
 
a
 
force
 
to
 
be
 
reckoned
 
with...look
 
at
 
what
 
they
 
did
 
to
 
the
 
playoff 
 
Cardinals
 
today!
 
Defence
 
is
 
playing
 
well,
 
offense
 
is
 
back
 
to
 
New
 
England
 
standard
 
and
 
it
 
all
 
looks
 
positive.
 
The
 
Cardinals
 
need
 
to
 
pick
 
it
 
up
 
 –
 
they’ve
 
slumped
 
to
 
what
 
may
 
end
 
up
 
an
 
8
‐
8
 
.500
 
record.
 
Good
 
enough
 
to
 
get
 
through...but
 
good
 
enough
 
to
 
get
 
through
 
the
 
playoffs?
 
Pittsburgh
 
Steelers
 
(11
‐
4)
 
14
 
Tennessee
 
Titans
 
(13
‐
2)
 
31
 
The
 
top
 
two
 
teams
 
in
 
the
 
AFC
 
and
 
they’ve
 
both
 
sewn
 
up
 
the
 
number
 
1
 
and
 
2
 
slots.
 
This
 
could
 
so
 
easily
 
be
 
a
 
post
 
season
 
matchup,
 
so
 
it
 
was
 
particularly
 
interesting.
 
Many
 
pundits
 
went
 
with
 
the
 
obvious
 
trick
 
of 
 
picking
 
the
 
Steelers
 
because
 
of 
 
their
 
top
 
notch
 
defence.
 
They
 
must
 
have
 
overlooked
 
the
 
12
 
win
 
record
 
the
 
Titans
 
had.
 
This
 
is
 
the
 
team
 
this
 
year
 
that
 
 just
 
keeps
 
finding
 
ways
 
to
 
beat
 
you.
 
Be
 
it
 
defensively,
 
offensively
 
 –
 
they
 
can
 
do
 
it
 
all.
 
Their
 
defensive
 
backs
 
have
 
been
 
solid,
 
their
 
running
 
backs
 
are
 
top
 
class
 
and
 
Kerry
 
Collins
 
is
 
in
 
the
 
zone.
 
In
 
Pittsburgh
 
it’s
 
been
 
the
 
same
 
old
 
story
 
 –
 
they
 
rely
 
on
 
their
 
defence
 
and
 
Roethlisberger
 
has
 
scored
 
when
 
he’s
 
needed
 
to.
 
They’ve
 
been
 
part
 
of 
 
some
 
of 
 
the
 
lowest
 
scoring
 
games
 
this
 
year
 
and
 
it’s
 
because
 
of 
 
this
 
very
 
reason.
 
PLAYOFFS
 
 –
 
The
 
Titans
 
are
 
definitely
 
Superbowl
 
contenders,
 
no
 
questions
 
asked.
 
They’ve
 
beaten
 
almost
 
all
 
of 
 
their
 
opponents
 
and
 
their
 
losses
 
have
 
come
 
during
 
close
 
games.
 
They
 
have
 
the
 
pieces
 
and
 
the
 
players
 
 –
 
let’s
 
see
 
what
 
happens.
 
The
 
Steelers
 
have
 
one
 
problem...explosive
 
opponents.
 
Come
 
up
 
against
 
the
 
likes
 
of 
 
Dallas,
 
Arizona
 
and
 
Indy,
 
their
 
defence
 
MUST
 
keep
 
them
 
in
 
check
 
 –
 
if 
 
they
 
fall
 
too
 
far
 
behind,
 
they
 
do
 
not
 
have
 
the
 
pieces
 
for
 
quick
 
scores.
 
Correction
 
 –
 
the
 
pieces
 
are
 
there,
 
they’re
 
 just
 
lacking
 
the
 
will.
 
I
 
do
 
so
 
hope
 
they
 
will
 
find
 
it
 
in
 
the
 
postseason.
 
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