PATS’ STATUS UNCHANGED
Team lost game but not position as AFC favorite
The New England Patriots are no longer favorites in the AFC.
Let’s take a step back and breathe for a little. It’s just one loss.
Certainly, the Patriots would love to have Sunday night’s game back. But considering the defeat came on the road against a very talented Denver Broncos (9-2) team while the Patriots dealt with another tough injury, New England should be just fine.
But the Patriots need to stay healthy. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was carted off Sunday with a knee injury, is essential. As a person told USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero, initial tests were promising and indicated that Gronkowski might have escaped a serious injury.
Receiver Danny Amendola (ankle) is expected to return within the next couple of weeks, and Julian Edelman (foot), arguably the best slot wideout in the NFL, could return for a postseason run.
As long as the Patriots get a clean bill of health and handle the rest of their schedule (Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins), they’ll hold home-field advantage in the playoffs.
As seen in last winter’s postseason — just ask the Baltimore Ravens, who blew two separate 14-point leads in their divisional-round loss to New England — Foxborough, Mass., is a place where opponents don’t fare well. In the last two years, counting the playoffs, the Patriots are 15-1 at Gillette Stadium.
The Washington Redskins are the best team in the NFC East.
They are in a tie for first place in their division after beating the New York Giants 20-14 Sunday, but the Redskins still have a lot to prove.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been drastically better in avoiding turnovers. In his last five games, he has two interceptions. The Redskins have won three of those, the losses coming to the Patriots (10-1) and Carolina Panthers (11-0).
There’s a lot of progress that has Washington looking like a team trending in the right direction. But there’s one weakness that will doom the Redskins this season if they don’t get it fixed.
Washington has lost all five games it has played on the road. Cousins’ passer rating at home is a pristine 113.0. On the road, by comparison, it’s a dismal 69.8.
Until Washington proves it can go on the road and play effectively, it will continue to be at a disadvantage in the NFC East. With three remaining road games in its final five, including back-to-back games vs. the division-rival Eagles and Dallas Cowboys to close the season, it will need to figure it out quickly.
The St. Louis Rams are just in a slump.
There are serious problems in St. Louis in what already looked like a transitional year. The franchise is stuck in the middle of a potential move to Los Angeles, and a four-game losing streak has the Rams at 4-7 and in danger of having their season spiral out of control.
After Sunday’s drubbing by the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Jeff Fisher said of critics of his team’s effort, “They can kiss my ass.” But soon fans might be questioning Fisher’s status. He has gone 2434-1 in his four years with the Rams. His roster is full of talent on defense and has dynamic playmakers on offense. But when offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti calls just nine rushing plays for rookie running back Todd Gurley, who is one of the best players in the NFL at his position, something is not working.
Quarterback Nick Foles has been abysmal, and Case Keenum likely isn’t the long-term answer, either.
The remaining schedule features games against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
If Stan Kroenke is able to move his team to Los Angeles, he will want to take a winner to the city. That might mean starting over with a new coaching staff.
The Kansas City Chiefs are just on a hot streak.
The Chiefs, winners of five in a row, are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and look like legitimate playoff contenders. After taking down the Buffalo Bills 30-22 on Sunday, the Chiefs stand at 6-5 and have a hold on one of the two AFC wild-card spots. The best news for Kansas City is that it holds the tiebreaker over the other four teams in the conference with the same record.
Kansas City has the recipe for a playoff run: a clock-eating running game, efficient
quarterback play and a stout defense that is allowing the league’s seventh-best total of 20 points per game.
Even with big injuries at running back, Kansas City found a gem in second-year pro Spencer Ware, who has rushed for 210 yards and three TDs on 30 carries in his last two games.
Quarterback Alex Smith is playing clean and efficient football and is a big part of the resurgence. He has not thrown an interception in his last 283 pass attempts dating to Week 3, which is the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.
The cherry on top might be Kansas City’s remaining schedule that features games against the San Diego Chargers, Ravens and Cleveland Browns and two against the Oakland Raiders.
January football looks like a very real possibility.
The Indianapolis Colts are better with Matt Hasselbeck under center than Andrew Luck.
It’s hard to argue against Hasselbeck based on what he has done while filling in for Luck. The 40-year-old has led the Colts to four of their six victories and has seven TD passes with two interceptions in the four games he has been forced to start with Luck sidelined because of various injuries. That stands out next to Luck’s record of 2-5 as a starter.
And while Hasselbeck has done what you want your backup quarterback to do, he has faced the Jacksonville Jaguars, Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank 29th (27.2), tied for 13th (21.3), tied for 13th (21.3) and 24th (25.4) in points allowed. That’s not exactly murderers’ row.
There’s no question Luck (55.3% completion rate, 1,881 yards, 15 TDs, 12 interceptions) has struggled significantly this season. But a lot of that was because of a plodding, unimaginative offense led by former coordinator Pep Hamilton. Since Hamilton was fired and replaced by Rob Chudzinski, the offense has been built better for success. The tight ends are more involved. The ball is out quicker.
Indianapolis’ primary focus should be getting Luck back healthy. After that, the Colts will need to protect him from hits. Because when Luck is in a system that highlights his abilities, he’s one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL.