Mexico’s missing out on a big one
What some are calling the NFL’s Game of the Year already has made huge headlines by being moved out of Mexico City because of poor playing conditions. ChiefsRams is back in Los Angeles, in prime time and, if it lives up to its billing, could be a wild, high-scoring affair.
Regardless of who wins, both clubs figure to be in the Super Bowl mix. And because of the extracurriculars associated with Monday night’s meeting, perhaps it won’t be a fair measurement which is the superior team. Who cares? For a mid-November match, fans can’t ask for much better than a pair of 9-1 teams with powerhouse offenses and stars galore — leading MVP contenders Todd Gurley of Los Angeles and Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City for starters — going at it as the only show in town. No matter which town.
It’s the first meeting in NFL history this late in a season between two teams averaging 33 points per game.
“He’s made some plays that you sit back and you can’t help but just say, ‘Wow, what a great play,’” Rams coach Sean McVay says of Mahomes, who leads the NFL in yards passing (3,150). Rams QB Jared Goff is second (3,134).
Mahomes set a Chiefs record with an NFL-best 31st TD pass of the season last week. Len Dawson had held that KC record since 1964.
Gurley paces the NFL in scoring (108 points), yards rushing (988), carries (198), yards from scrimmage (1,390) and touchdowns (17). He has scored a touchdown in 13 consecutive games, extending his own franchise record.
“He is a heck of a player. A great player,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid says when asked how to slow Gurley. “You have to be disciplined. They’re a disciplined offense, so you have to be disciplined from a defensive standpoint. Then practice that way and then you go play.”
OK, guys, go play. Let America watch what could be a classic.
The weekend began Thursday night with Seattle’s 27-24 home victory over Green Bay. Russell Wilson threw for 225 yards and his 15-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson with 5:08 left was the difference. Seattle (5-5) snapped a two-game losing streak. Green Bay dropped to 4-5-1.
Off this week are New England (7-3), the Jets (3-7), Miami (5-5), Cleveland (3-6-1), San Francisco (2-8) and Buffalo (3-7).
Today, we will soon find out if the Bears are for real. They are on top of the NFC North, now face the defending division winners in the Vikings, then in a ridiculously short turnaround from Sunday night, they play the early Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit. They also have the Rams and Packers on the road in December.
Other key games include Houston (6-3) at Washington (6-3) and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (4-5) at the high-flying Saints (8-1).
FLACCO DOUBTFUL
Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco is doubtful to play today against the Cincinnati Bengals, opening the door for rookie Lamar Jackson to possibly make his first career start in the team’s most important game of the season.
Flacco missed his third straight day of practice Friday with a right hip injury, and the team did not practice during its bye last week. Flacco last practiced before the Ravens’ Week 9 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he was injured.
Coach John Harbaugh reiterated Friday that Flacco will play against Cincinnati (5-4) if he’s able to, but no Raven in recent history listed as doubtful has gone on to play. Flacco has started every game since the start of the 2016 season, a streak of 41 straight, and has missed just six games in his career, all in 2015, when he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee.