By: Tim Durr
As the NFL owns sports on Sunday, the NFL will largely rule Monday on Sports Microcosm. Who am I kidding, the NFL rules sports 96 percent of the time. Monday will be almost strictly focused on the NFL, unless something groundbreaking happens in another sport.
Expect what follows to be the typical look of Monday blogs and stay tuned for the podcast later that will go more in-depth on specifics.
It took a late fourth down conversion between Cam Newton and Greg Olsen for the Panthers to keep a game-winning drive alive that ended in a touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery to beat the Saints, 41-38.
The Panthers won a third-straight NFC South title before the game even started when Atlanta fell to Tampa Bay. Now at 12-0, the Panthers are four games away from making history as the first NFC team to go 16-0 in a season. Check out the Black and Blue Review for all the latest information on the Panthers.
Expect what follows to be the typical look of Monday blogs and stay tuned for the podcast later that will go more in-depth on specifics.
Third Time's a Charm
The Panthers won a third-straight NFC South title before the game even started when Atlanta fell to Tampa Bay. Now at 12-0, the Panthers are four games away from making history as the first NFC team to go 16-0 in a season. Check out the Black and Blue Review for all the latest information on the Panthers.
Rise From the Ashes
The Seahawks have struggled this season, the defense has given up fourth quarter leads, and Richard Sherman has been targeted regularly, but over the past three weeks, they have found their form.
Minnesota posted only 125 net yards (lowest in the NFL this season) in the 38-7 demolition the Seahawks put on the Vikings. And today, everyone is talking about the Seahawks as a possible Super Bowl contender who has climbed back into the playoff race.
A playoff spot is quite feasible for the Seahawks, who face the Ravens, Browns and Rams before a Week 17 showdown against Arizona. That sets Seattle up for a likely 10-6 finish, which should be enough to make the playoffs as a wildcard.
Minnesota posted only 125 net yards (lowest in the NFL this season) in the 38-7 demolition the Seahawks put on the Vikings. And today, everyone is talking about the Seahawks as a possible Super Bowl contender who has climbed back into the playoff race.
A playoff spot is quite feasible for the Seahawks, who face the Ravens, Browns and Rams before a Week 17 showdown against Arizona. That sets Seattle up for a likely 10-6 finish, which should be enough to make the playoffs as a wildcard.
We Don't Want to Win
In 10 of 12 games this season, the New York Giants (5-7) have led in the final two minutes of play. They're 5-5 in those contests and blew another fourth quarter lead on Sunday. This one was a 20-10 lead over the Jets that turned into a 23-20 OT loss.
At the start of the 2015 season, the New York Giants had only lost six games which they gave up a fourth quarter lead since 2011. This year they're already at five losses after blowing leads. All five of those losses coming in the final two minutes of play.
The Giants close the season against Miami, Carolina, Minnesota and Philadelphia. Three of those four teams look clearly capable of beating the G-Men.
If the Redskins win tonight, they'll have a one-game NFC East lead with Chicago, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Dallas remaining on the schedule. Moral of the story - nothing in the East is close to being figured out, but that's largely because the Giants can't close opponents out.
If the Redskins win tonight, they'll have a one-game NFC East lead with Chicago, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Dallas remaining on the schedule. Moral of the story - nothing in the East is close to being figured out, but that's largely because the Giants can't close opponents out.
Wide Open South
The Houston Texans lost to the Buffalo Bills and gave the Indianapolis Colts a great opening to take control of the division, then Indy got blown out by the Steelers, 45-10. The Jaguars and Titans played one of the most exciting games of the day, but with Tennessee pulling out the win, it made it more of a two-team race for the division over a three-team battle. All four teams technically have a shot, though.
All of the AFC South has a negative point differential with Houston (-11) posting the best +/- ratio. The Colts and Texans play each other in two weeks and have to face the Jaguars and Titans, too. Their remaining non-AFC South opponent might make the difference. The Texans play Sunday night against New England and the Colts play the Dolphins.
If Andrew Luck comes back in Week 15 against Houston and the Colts are 7-6 with a one-game lead over the Texans, then the Colts should find themselves in the playoffs as a 9-7 AFC South winner.
Another Chip on the Shoulder
Carson Palmer hasn't taken the field in the playoffs since 2009 and was largely written off as an unfortunate injury hampering his career. Again last season, injuries kept him from appearing in the playoffs. Now, his team is 10-2 and he's four games away from finally getting back to the playoffs after a 7-year absence.
As the Cardinals easily handled the St. Louis Rams, all of the attention turned to division foe Seattle and their big win, once again adding to the chip on Palmer's shoulder.
Arizona has four tough contests remaining (Minnesota, Green Bay, Philadelphia, and Seattle) and hold a three-game lead over the Seahawks for the NFC West. It'd take a lot to fall out of that second NFC playoff spot, and if Palmer is healthy, it doesn't look like he'll allow that to happen.
Roaring Lions
I have a bold prediction..okay, it could be bolder, but it's at least italicized and underlined. The Detroit Lions will win out and finish 8-8.
They'll still miss the playoffs, but they will have ended the season 7-1 after starting it 1-7. That turnaround will keep Matthew Stafford in Detroit and allow the team to continue building in the right direction for the future. Stafford will turn 28 years old on Super Bowl Sunday, he has at least six to eight good seasons of football left in the tank and it'd be a huge error for the Lions to get rid of him.
Hot Take of the Day: The refs cost the Lions a playoff berth with the Seattle batted ball play, and the phantom facemask on Aaron Rodgers.
They'll still miss the playoffs, but they will have ended the season 7-1 after starting it 1-7. That turnaround will keep Matthew Stafford in Detroit and allow the team to continue building in the right direction for the future. Stafford will turn 28 years old on Super Bowl Sunday, he has at least six to eight good seasons of football left in the tank and it'd be a huge error for the Lions to get rid of him.
Hot Take of the Day: The refs cost the Lions a playoff berth with the Seattle batted ball play, and the phantom facemask on Aaron Rodgers.
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