Eagles grounded, Falcons hover, hopeless Browns lead overreactions
The NFL is entering the final quarter of the regular season, but not a single playoff berth has been claimed. With the postseason picture still fluid, any proclamations made after Week 13’s results should be met with a dose of skepticism.
Here are four overreactions we’re pushing back against:
The Eagles’ loss to the Seahawks is a sign of an imminent descent
For one night, Philadelphia looked overmatched against the Seahawks, failing to find a rhythm in a 24-10 loss.
But while this might appear to be a sign of trouble for the 10-2 Eagles, who now hold the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the defeat should be viewed as a product of facing a desperate and tested team in a hostile environment.
All season long, Philadelphia has looked like the most balanced team in the league.
The Eagles allowed the Seahawks, however, to convert six of 12 third-down attempts. Philadelphia committed seven penalties, four of which gifted quarterback Russell Wilson first downs. The Eagles also committed two turnovers, including a costly fumble out of the Seahawks’ end zone, and forced none.
Both of the Eagles defeats this year have come on the road, a fact that will weigh heavily on the minds of many as the team fights for home-field advantage.
Philadelphia has plenty to clean up in order to reaffirm itself as a Super Bowl contender. But another West Coast matchup against a playoff contender in the 9-3 Rams next week will provide a clearer marker of where the Eagles sit in the NFC landscape.
Falcons can ride their Super Bowl experience into the playoffs
After a 14-9 loss at home to the Vikings, Atlanta now sits at 7-5 — one game back one game back of the Panthers for the NFC’s No. 6 seed and two behind the division-leading Saints.
The Falcons, after leading the league in scoring last year under former coordinator Kyle Shanahan, simply have not been able to find consistency this season.
Prior to a Week 11 win over the Seahawks, quarterback Matt Ryan had thrown for 200 or more yards in a record 64 straight contests. After Atlanta’s loss against Minnesota in which Ryan tossed for 173, Ryan has now failed to eclipse the mark in two of his last three games.
With all of its four remaining games against NFC South foes, the Falcons have little margin for error. Worst yet for Atlanta is that two of those games (Weeks 14 and 16) come against the Saints, who look like one of the toughest teams in the entire NFC.
On top of that, a season-finale against Carolina could be for a playoff spot.
Atlanta’s experience as defending NFC champs may not be enough to overshadow its significant flaws.
Browns are now a lock to go 0-16
Cleveland tripped up again, falling to the Los Angeles Chargers 19-10 and sending its record to 0-12. In coach nearly two years with the Browns, coach Hue Jackson now has a 1-27 record.
Despite the overwhelming futility and constant self-inflicted errors, the Browns still have a shot to avoid becoming part of some unwelcome history.
With games remaining against the Packers (6-6), Ravens (7-5), and Steelers (9-2), it’s still very likely that Cleveland could fail to win one game.
But a Week 16 matchup at the 3-9 Bears presents Cleveland’s best chance to avoid becoming the sixth team since 1944 to go winless in the regular season.
For Cleveland to win, it will need to avoid turnovers. The Browns have a league-worst 30 giveaways, including two Sunday to the Chargers. They need to move the chains and sustain drives and improve on a league-worst thirddown efficiency rating of 31.1 %. And when they punch the ball in the red zone, they need to finish drives. Cleveland is tied for 30th in red zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns on just 40.6 % of trips inside the 20.
Raiders’ best shot at postseason relies on Marshawn Lynch
There’s a three-way logjam atop the AFC West with the Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders all tied at 6-6.
Wild-card spots are likely out of the question for whoever doesn’t win the division. That means the Raiders, who beat the hapless Giants 24-17, likely need to outlast their division foes.
Lynch was essential to Sunday’s victory, running the ball 17 times for a season-high 101 yards and a score. Fifty-one of those yards, though, came on one play.
While Lynch should continue to remain an integral part of the Raiders’ offense, Oakland simply needs more out of its passing game.
The Raiders were without receivers Amari Cooper (concussion, ankle injuries) and Michael Crabtree (suspension), and they need both to be effective down the stretch. Tight end Jared Cook, in his last three games, has caught four passes for 47 yards.
The team’s combined QB rating sits at 89.9. Oakland – which was considered a Super Bowl contender before quarterback Derek Carr broke his leg – posted a rating last of 95.3 last season. A return to that level of passing efficiency might be necessary to secure a postseason berth. Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks after the Week 13 games:
NFC
1. Minnesota Vikings (10-2): NFC North leader. A superior strength of victory tiebreaker moves them into the top spot over Philly.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2): NFC East leader. Their loss Sunday night in Seattle was a reminder they’ve largely preyed on inferior competition, but they remain one win (or Dallas loss) from putting a bow on the division.
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-3): NFC West leader. Their first winning season since 2003 could also produce their first division title in that span.
4. New Orleans Saints (9-3): NFC South leader. A season sweep of Carolina effectively gives them a two-game lead over both the Panthers and Falcons.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-4): Wild card No. 1. Vanquishing the Eagles cements their playoff position and serves a reminder they’re still legitimate contenders.
6. Carolina Panthers (8-4): Wild card No. 2. Costly loss in New Orleans. The good news is their next three are in Charlotte. The bad news is they’ll be hosting the Vikings, then the Packers, who may have Aaron Rodgers back.
In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (7-5), Detroit Lions (6-6), Dallas Cowboys (6-6), Green Bay Packers (6-6), Arizona Cardinals (5-7), Washington Redskins (5-7).
AFC
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2): AFC North leader. They reclaimed the top seed — barely — based on the strength of victory tiebreaker after Monday’s narrow win at Cincinnati. The Steelers are now one week closer to the meaningful Week 15 duel with New England.
2. New England Patriots (10-2): AFC East leader. After extending their winning streak to eight, they now own 15 consecutive seasons with double-digit victories. One more win will mean a ninth division title in a row.
3. Tennessee Titans (8-4): AFC South leader. They continue to appear less imposing than Jacksonville, which shares first place in the division.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6): AFC West leader. A 2-1 record in division games is the only thing keeping them nominally ahead of the Chargers and Raiders at the moment despite a three-way tie. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): Wild card No. 1. To remain on course for a Week 17 battle for the AFC South in Nashville, the lags must pass stern test against Seattle next week.
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-5): Wild card No. 2. Next Sunday night, they’re in Pittsburgh. A loss to the arch rival Steelers would be a serious setback, especially with the Raiders and Chargers back from the dead.
In the hunt: Buffalo Bills (6-6), Los Angeles Chargers (6-6), Oakland Raiders (6-6), Cincinnati Bengals (5-7), Miami Dolphins (5-7), New York lets (5-7).