Category: Game Analysis

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

ATL 30, MIA 28
The Dolphins lost their sixth-straight game even though they battled back from being down 20-7 to lead with two minutes left to play, but the Falcons kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to win. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 291 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 29 yards. Mike Gesicki (7-85, TD) and Jaylen Waddle (7-83) led the receivers, while Tagovailoa used ten different receivers. Myles Gaskin ran for 67 yards on 15 carries and added a touchdown on his four receptions for ten yards. As usual, the Fins’ offense couldn’t quite keep up with what their own defense was giving away. The 1-6 Dolphins head to Buffalo for Week 8.

Matt Ryan threw for 336 yards and two scores between Russell Gage (4-67, TD) and Calvin Ridley (4-26, TD), while Kyle Pitts (7-163) is really starting to figure out this “chosen one” thing. Cordarrelle Patterson gained 60 yards and a score on 14 carries while Mike Davis (4-10) continues to retreat from the box score. Three Younghoe Koo field goals made the difference. The 3-3 Falcons pull up to .500 and host the reeling Panthers this week.

NYJ 13, NE 54
This result was expected. The Jets were never in it and went through two quarterbacks when Zach Wilson left the game with a knee injury and let Mike White finish. The best receivers were running backs Michael Carter (8-67) and Ty Johnson (6-65) though Corey Davis (4-47, TD) caught the lone touchdown. Carter ran for 37 yards on 11 rushes while Elijah Moore ran in a 19-yard touchdown. The Jets drop to 1-5 and host the Bengals this weekend.

It all worked for the Patriots. Mac Jones passed for his first 300-yard game with two touchdowns. The top receivers were Brandin Bolden (6-79, TD) and Kendrick Bourne (4-68), who also threw a touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor (2-51, TD). Eight different receivers recorded at least two catches in the game. Damien Harris ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns, and JJ Taylor scored twice on his nine rushes for 21 yards as the final two scores in the game. The Patriots’ offense was flawless, but some of that credit belongs to the Jets’ defense. The 3-4 Patriots still have a losing record but looked like the Pats of old when playing the Jets. They  head to Los Angeles to play the Chargers.

CAR 3, NYG 25
The Panthers lost their fourth-straight game, and the offense just gets worse and worse. Sam Darnold was eventually benched for P.J. Walker, and the only Panther receiver of any note was DJ Moore (6-73). No other wide receiver gained more than 16 yards. Chuba Hubbard only ran for 28 yards on 12 carries but added four catches for 28 yards. The Panthers scored their field goal in the first quarter and then watched the Giants reel off 25 straight points.  The 3-4 Panthers started 3-0 and now can’t even score a touchdown. They play in Atlanta for Week 8.

The Giants finally won a home game though the offense didn’t do much in the process. Daniel Jones threw for 203 yards and one score while the best receivers were Darius Slayton (5-63) and Evan Engram (6-44). Devontae Booker ran for 51 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries but there weren’t any notable fantasy performances from this side either. The 2-5 Giants now head to Kansas City where the Chiefs are deep in though about what is going wrong.

KC 3, TEN 27
The expiration date on the Chiefs appears to have been passed after the AFC Conference Championship. These Chiefs are just nothing like the one that dominated the AFC for two seasons. Patrick Mahomes threw for just 206 yards and one interception in this shocker. His best receiver was Byron Pringle (5-73), while Travis Kelce (7-65) and Tyreek Hill (6-49) turned in lesser production.  Darrel Williams handled all the rushing duties, which only meant five runs for 20 yards, though he added three catches for 30 yards. Take nothing from the Titans effort, but the 3-4 Chiefs host the Giants in Week 8 while searching for answers to questions that haven’t been asked in many years.

The Titans beat the Bills and Chiefs in a matter of six days, so their defense gets a lot of credit. Derrick Henry (29-86) finally did not break 100-rushing yards, but threw a touchdown just for giggles. Ryan Tannehill passed for 270 yards and one score to A.J. Brown (8-133, TD), but Julio Jones (2-38) and the rest of the receivers didn’t top 40 yards. There wasn’t any need since the Chiefs usually lost the ball whenever they got close to the endzone. These 4-2 Titans look so good that they belong among the top of the class in the AFC.  They  head to Indianapolis for Week 8.

WAS 10, GB 24
It was a surprise that the Packers only scored 24 points, but those were plenty to get the win. Aaron Rodgers passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns between Davante Adams (6-76, TD), Robert Tonyan (4-63, TD), and Alan Lazard (5-60, TD). The Packers’ rushing effort was little use and ineffective, with Aaron Jones held to 19 yards on six rushes and AJ Dillon running for only six yards on three carries. It was an off day for the backfield but an easy win. The 6-1 Packers  head to Arizona for their biggest matchup of the year.

Washington may have only scored ten points, but Taylor Heinicke threw for 268 yards and one score, plus rushed for 95 yards on ten runs. Terry McLaurin (7-122, TD) and Ricky Seals-Jones (6-51) were the only receivers of any note, and McLaurin, in particular, was impressive since he is so heavily covered on every play. That’s also a statement on how poorly all the other wideouts have performed. The 2-5 Football Team plays in Denver in Week 8.

DET 19, LA 28
This game was the Matt Stafford vs. Jared Goff “Trading Places” matchup that played out better than expected for Goff. The Lions led numerous times throughout the game and were ahead 19-17 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Rams reeled off ten points in the fourth quarter for the win. It was a closer game than expected. Goff passed for 268 yards and one score but also had two interceptions. Kalif Raymond (6-115) was a surprise, and T.J. Hockenson (6-48) had the receptions but not the yards.  D’Andre Swift ran for 48 yards on 13 carries and added eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown as one of the most productive fantasy backs this week. The 0-7 Lions host the Eagles this week.

The Rams looked like they stepped into a trap game in their own stadium in Week 7 when the Lions played far better than expected (or the Rams played far worse). By the time the dust all settled, everything was back in place. Matt Stafford posted 334 yards and three scores on his old team. Cooper Kupp (10-156, 2 TD) continues his career year while Robert Woods (6-70) and Van Jefferson (4-43, TD) contributed as well. But Darrell Henderson only gained 45 yards on 15 rushes as a game that seemed primed for a huge rushing effort never got on track. And the Lions were the No. 32 defense against running backs. The 6-1 Rams head to Houston for Week 8, where they get another chance at avoiding a trap game.

PHI 22, LV 33
The results were no surprise, but how the Raiders got there was. Josh Jacobs (6-29, TD) left injured, and Kenyan Drake (14-69, TD) took over and added three receptions for ten yards. Derek Carr passed for 323 yards and two scores, but Darren Waller was out, and Henry Ruggs (4-24) was bottled up. Foster Moreau (6-60, TD) became the lead receiver with help from Hunter Renfrow (7-58) and Bryan Edwards (3-43, TD).  Carr completed 31-of-34 passes while the Raiders took over the game from the second quarter onward. Now a little over a week past the Gruden situation, the 5-2 Raiders look no worse for the event and head onto their bye in good shape to compete for the division.

The Eagles lost Miles Sanders at the end of the first quarter and relied on a combo of Boston Scott (7-24, TD) and Kenneth Gainwell (5-20), who also caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Hurts passed for 236 yards and two scores while also rushing for 61 yards on 13 runs. Dallas Goedert (3-70) and DeVonta Smith (5-61) led the receivers but the Raiders held the passing game mostly  in check. The 2-5 Eagles head to Detroit for a  chance for a win or a very demoralizing loss.

HOU 5 , ARI 31
This was another heavily favored game that played out as expected but started slowly.  The Texans took a 5-0 lead in the second quarter before the Cardinals woke up and took care of business. Davis Mills only threw for 135 yards and no scores, and Brandin Cooks settled for only 21 yards on five catches. David Johnson led the backfield with seven runs for 25 yards and caught five passes for 27 yards. The Texans are getting worse and the entire offense only gained 177 yards. They need to face a very soft defense and, oh look, here come the Rams in Week 8.

The Cardinals reach 7-0 on the season but are about to hit a tougher stretch in the schedule. Chase Edmonds (15-81) and James Conner (10-64, TD) were effective rushing the ball, and Kyler Murray passed for 261 yards and three scores. Those went to Zach Ertz (3-66, TD),  DeAndre Hopkins (7-53, TD), and Christian Kirk (4-50, TD) in a game where everyone was good, but no one was great because the game just called for “win this and get out of here.” The unbeaten Cardinals host the 6-1 Packers for their toughest matchup of the season so far.

CHI 3, TB 38
The game wasn’t as close as the score suggested. Justin Fields faced one of the weaker secondaries in the NFL and threw for 184 yards and three interceptions. Allen Robinson (2-16) can only dream of what an average tight end produces, and the receivers are devoid of any fantasy relevancy. The only interesting aspect to this spanking was that Damien Williams returned and only ran three times for five yards while Khalil Herbert remained the primary back with 18 rushes for 100 yards, plus five catches for 33 yards. The 3-4 Bears host the 49ers for Week 8.

The dominating win didn’t have Rob Gronkowski or Antonio Brown and it did not need them. Tom Brady threw for 211 yards and four touchdowns between Chris Godwin (8-111, TD) and Mike Evans (6-76, 3 TD). No other receiver gained more than 16 yards. Leonard Fournette (15-81, TD) has taken over the backfield though Ronald Jones (10-63) got more work at the end of the game mopping up. The 6-1 Buccaneers head to New Orleans for this week.

IND 30, SF 18
The 49ers dropped their last four games and the Sunday night rain did nothing to help. Elijah Mitchell (18-107, TD) was given nearly all the carries for the backfield but never fielded any passes. Jimmy Garoppolo only threw for 181 yards and a score with two interceptions and one fumble lost. The entirety of the 49ers passing scheme continues to be all about finding Deebo Samuel (7-100, TD) since no other receiver gained more than 30 yards or scored. The 49ers defense wasn’t terrible but the four turnovers committed by the offense killed critical drives and opportunities. The 2-4 49ers  head to Chicago for Week 8.

The Colts didn’t do anything special in the driving rain other than not throwing any interceptions. Carson Wentz only passed for 122 yards and one score to Mo Alie-Cox (3-25, TD). Michael Pittman (3-77) was the only notable receiver and only because of a 57-yard catch. Jonathan Taylor ran for 107 yards and a score on his 18 rushes and added three catches for three yards.  The difference in the game was the turnovers that killed the 49ers chances to stay in the game. The 3-4 Colts host the Titans this week.

The Game-o-the-Week

CIN 41, BAL 17
That’s how you take over a division.  The visiting Bengals only led 13-10 at the half but then scored four straight touchdowns to turn this into a laugher that sent Lamar Jackson to the bench just to keep him from getting hit anymore. Joe Burrow threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns that were split between Ja’Marr Chase (8-201, TD) and C.J. Uzomah (3-91, 2 TD), who is on a plan to blow up every four weeks. The Ravens took away two of the wideouts and still got thumped. Chase included an 82-yard touchdown. Joe Mixon ran for 59 yards and one touchdown and it went so well that Samaje Perine ended up with 11 runs for 52 yards and a score. The win 5-3 Bengals now are tied for the AFC North lead and travel to New York to face the Jets.

The Ravens held about even with the Bengals until it all blew up in the second half. Jamar Jackson ended with 257 passing yards and one score and ran for 88 yards on 12 carries. Marquise Brown (5-80, TD) caught the only touchdown while Rashod Bateman (3-80) made the most of his three catches. Even Mark Andrews was held to just 48 yards on three catches. With Latavius Murray out, the backfield was a three-headed mess that combined for only 29 yards on nine carries. Devonta Freeman (4-14, TD) ran in a touchdown. The Ravens were flat and the Bengals played like a division leader. The 5-2 Ravens head onto their bye wondering how to handle the new version of the pesky Bengals.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

MIA 20, JAC 23
It happened! Granted, still winless in the USA, but the Jaguars kicked two 50-yard field goals in the final 3:40 of the game to squeak out a win over the Dolphins. Trevor Lawrence threw for 319 yards and one touchdown to Marvin Jones (7-100, TD). Laviska Shenault (6-54) and Jamal Agnew (5-78) were next best, and Agnew has been in the last few box scores. James Robinson ran for 73 yards and a score while adding three receptions for 28 yards.  The 1-5 Jaguars take their win streak onto their bye week that will be a little sweeter thanks to London.

The Fins only scored 20 points in a losing effort to the Jags, but at least the passing stats with Tua Tagovailoa back were up sharply and for the right players. Mike Gesicki (8-115) and Jaylen Waddle (10-70, 2 TD) both turned in high fantasy points, while Tagovailoa threw for 329 yards and two scores. The Dolphins split backfield saw all three running backs with around 22 yards each. The 1-5 Dolphins travel home to face the Falcons while hoping no one notices that they were the “it” team that lost to the Jaguars.

LAC 6, BAL 34
The Chargers never really showed up. Just a completely flat performance that started poorly and never improved. Justin Herbert threw for only 195 yards and one score to Jared Cook (4-25). Keenan Allen (5-50) and Mike Williams (2-27) both flopped. Austin Ekeler only ran for seven yards on six carries and caught four passes for 48. Chalk this one up to a trash game and hope they don’t get caught taking any others off this season. The 4-2 Chargers head onto their bye while wondering what just happened.

Lamar Jackson only passed for 167 yards and one score with two interceptions. He ran for 51 yards on eight rushes while the “Old Man Crew” backfield all shared in the scoring. DeVonta Freeman (9-53, TD), Latavius Murray (9-44, TD), and even Le’Veon Bell (8-18, TD) all saw playing time while youngster Ty’ Son Williams was inactive again. Marquise Brown was held to only 35 yards on four catches, while Mark Andrews (5-68, TD) was the only notable receiver. The 5-1 Ravens host the Bengals for Week 7.

MIN 34, CAR 28 OT
This game was only 12-17  near the end of the third quarter. The Panthers struggled to throw on the Vikings, and Sam Darnold ended with only 207 yards and one score to Robbie Anderson (3-11, TD) even though it went into overtime. DJ Moore (5-73) came to life late in the game, but no other receivers gained more than 41 yards. Chuba Hubbard (16-61, TD) ran well but only caught one four-yard pass. The 3-3 Panthers were 3-0 and have now lost three in a row and head to New York to play the Giants.

Dalvin Cook was back to form with 140 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries though he only caught two passes for three yards. Kirk Cousins passed for 373 yards and three touchdowns including the 27-yarder to KJ Osborn (6-78, TD) for the game-winner in overtime. Adam Thielen (11-126, TD) and Justin Jefferson (8-80) were the lead receivers. This is a big win for the 3-3 Vikings who can feel better about the season while on bye this week.

GB 24, CHI 14
This was a close game and the Bears drew to within 14-17  in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Packers had success running the ball between AFJ Dillon (11-59) and Aaron Jones (13-76) who also caught four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown.  Aaron Rodgers only passed for 195 yards and two scores but also ran in the final touchdown with four minutes to play while announcing to the Chicago crowd something to the effect of “I still own you.” Davante Adams. as usual, was the only notable receiver with four catches for 89 yards. The 5-1 Packers host Washington this week.

The Bears were without David Montgomery or Damien Williams, but Kahlil Herbert (19-97, TD) had a career-best day. Justin Fields faced an injury-ravished Packers secondary but only managed 174 passing yards and one score to Darnell Mooney (5-45, TD) and Allen Robinson settled for 53 yards on four catches. Fields did better as a runner, gaining 43 yards on six rushes. The 3-3 Bears head to Tampa Bay for Week 7.

CIN 34, DET 11
The game wasn’t even this close since the Bengals led 27-0 midway through the fourth quarter. Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three scores between Joe Mixon (5-59, TD), Chris Evans (3-49, TD), and C.J. Uzomah (3-15). Ja’Marr Chase (4-97) led the receivers but failed to score. Mixon gained 94 yards on 18 carries and was pulled late in the blowout win.  The 4-2 Bengals turned this into a laugher and head to Baltimore this week.

The score made this look like the Lions might have been in this but nothing could be further from the truth. Jared Goff ended with 202 yards and one interception but only totaled 38 passing yards at halftime. T.J. Hockenson (8-74) was the only receiver with more than 40 yards. D’Andre Swift (13-24, TD) salvaged his fantasy value with the score and five catches for 43 yards. This was an ugly effort by the 0-6 Lions who are now the only winless team in the NFL and travel to play at the Rams this week.

HOU 3, IND 31
Yet another game where one team just never showed up.  Mark Ingram gained 73 yards on 18 carries in a game where the Texans should have just thrown every play. Davis Mills threw for 243 yards and two interceptions, and yet Brandin Cooks (9-89) still offered fantasy value unlike any other receiver. Whenever Tyrod Taylor returns, it may improve, but for now the Texans are, yet again, the team everyone wants on their schedule. They bring their 1-5 record to Arizona next week.

It all worked. For some reason, the Colts had only rushed Jonathan Taylor twice for six yards in the first half but then gave him work in the second half to end with 145 yards and two scores on 14 carries plus a 13-yard catch.  Carson Wentz threw for 223 yards and two scores between Parris Campbell (1-51, TD) and Mo Alie-Cox (1-28, TD), but Michael Pittman was limited to only two catches for 35 yards. T.Y. Hilton debuted for the season and led the receivers with four catches for 80 yards, including a 52-yard reception. The 2-4 Colts head to San Francisco for Week 7.

LA 38, NYG 11
No surprises here in a game that the Rams led 38-3 until late in the fourth quarter. It all worked against the Giants. Darrell Henderson ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, plus caught two passes for 29 yards and a second score. Matt Stafford threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns relying mostly on Cooper Kupp (9-130, 2 TD) and Robert Woods (2-31, TD). The 5-1 Rams dominated throughout and host the Lions this week.

Daniel Jones threw 51 passes but only completed 29 for 242 yards and three interceptions. Sterling Shepard returned and led the team with ten catches for 76 yards while Kadarius Toney regressed to just three receptions for 36 yards. Devonte Booker gained 41 yards on 12 rushes but Elijah Penny came on for the 4-yard score at the end of the game.  Shepard was back to form but the rest of the offense struggled badly. The 1-5 Giants  host the Panthers for Week 7.

KC 31 , WAS 13
The game was only 10-13 at the half, which amazed since these were the two of the worst teams in points allowed. The Football Team never improved, but the Chiefs pulled away in the second half. Darrel Williams was a great substitute for Clyde Edwards-Helaire when he ran for 62 yards and two scores on 21 carries and added three catches for 27 yards. Patrick Mahomes ended with 397 passing yards and two scores between Tyreek Hill (9-76, TD) and DeMarcus Robinson (3-46, TD). Travis Kelce led the receivers with 99 yards on eight receptions. The 3-3 Chiefs play at the Titans for Week 7.

Despite playing at home against a terrible defense, Tyler Heinicke only threw for 182 yards and one score to Ricky Seals-Jones (4-59, TD) and Terry McLaurin was held to only four catches for 28 yards. Antonio Gibson (10-44) is bothered by his shin and gave way to J.D. McKissic (8-45) who also led the receivers (8-65). The 2-4 Football Team is battling through injuries and get to play in Green Bay this week.

ARI 37, CLE 14
The Cardinals assert their dominance with a big win over the banged-up Browns. James Conner (16-71) and Chase Edmonds (4-46) didn’t score, but Kyler Murray passed for 229 yards and four touchdowns. They went to A.J. Green (5-79, TD), Christian Kirk (5-75, TD), and DeAndre Hopkins (3-55, 2 TD).  The 6-0 Cardinals remain unbeaten host the Texans for Week 7.

The Browns were already without Jarvis Landry and Nick Chubb, and later in the game lost Odell Beckham (5-79). Baker Mayfield passed for 234 yards and two scores to the only receiver of any note – Donovan Peoples-Jones (4-101, 2 TD) provided all the scoring and most of the offense on just four catches. The second touchdown was a 57-yard Hail Mary to end the first half. Kareem Hunt handled nearly all the backfield touches with 66 yards on 14 carries and three catches for 12 yards. The loss drops the Browns to 3-3 and they host the Broncos this week.

LV 34, DEN 24
What distraction? The Raiders may have weathered a media storm last week, but the players didn’t show any signs of a negative effect. Josh Jacobs (16-53, TD) and Kenyan Drake (4-34, TD) were effective running the ball and Drake added two catches for 39 yards and a second touchdown. Derek Carr passed for 341 yards and two scores with Henry Ruggs (3-97, TD), Bryan Edwards (2-67), and Darren Waller (5-59) as the top receivers. The 3-3 Raiders set off on their Gruden-less season by hosting the Eagles this week.

This game was never really close. The Broncos trailed 31-10 heading into the fourth quarter and the final score was with just one minute left to play. Teddy Bridgewater ended with  334 passing yards and three touchdowns between Noah Fant (9-97, TD), Courtland Sutton (8-94, TD), and Tim Patrick (3-42, TD). Javonte Williams (11-53) and Melvin Gordon (10-50) split up the rushing and both caught three short passes.  The Raiders handed the 3-3 Broncos their third straight loss and they head to Cleveland for Week 7.

SEA 20, PIT 23 OT
The scoring wasn’t much but the game was a closely-fought match throughout, and the Seahawks brought the game into overtime despite playing without Russell Wilson. Geno Smith passed for 209 yards and one score, with DK Metcalf (6-58) and Tyler Lockett (2-35) turning in lower production than usual. Will Dissly (2-8, TD) caught the only passing score. Alex Collins was very effective versus a stout Steelers’ run defense. He gained 101 yards and a touchdown on 20 rushes and picked up chunks of yardage later in the game. Collins took all but six of the backfield carries, but DeeJay Dallas (5-33) saw work as the third-down back. In overtime, it all came down to Smith losing a fumble at the SEA 15-yard line that allowed the Steelers to kick the game winner. The 2-4 Seahawks host the Saints this week.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 229 yards and one touchdown to Najee Harris (6-46, TD) while Diontae Johnson led the team with nine catches for 71 yards. Chase Claypool was held to only two catches for 17 yards. Harris ran for 81 yards on 24 carries and also was picking up yardage better later in the game. The Steeler defense made a big difference with five sacks and recovering the critical fumble by Geno Smith. The 3-3 Steelers won their last two games and head onto their bye.

The Game-o-the-Week

DAL 35, NE 29 OT
The Cowboys had much more trouble winning this game than expected. Entering the fourth quarter, Dallas led 17-14 when the scoring broke out. With six minutes left to play, Rhamondre Stevenson bulled in a touchdown for the Pats to take the lead 21-20. The Cowboys drove the field but missed a 51-yard field goal with 2:47 left to play. But two plays later, the Cowboys returned an interception for a touchdown but failed on the two-point conversion to lead 26-21. On the Patriots’ first play, they threw a 75-yard touchdown to Kendrick Bourne and made their two-point play for a 26-29 lead with 2:21 left to play.

The Cowboys worked their way down the field and sent it into overtime with a 49-yard field goal. The Patriots won the coin toss but had to punt from their own 46-yard line. The Cowboys then marched the field and finished with a 35-yard touchdown to CeeDee Lamb.

The Cowboys lost a fumble on fourth-down when Dak Prescott lunged at the goal line.  He was also intercepted  in the Patriots’ end zone. The Patriots never went away and nearly took the game.

Ezekiel Elliott ran for 69 yards on 17 rushes and caught seven passes for 50 yards. Dak Prescott ended with 445 passing yards and three touchdowns, and the top receivers were CeeDee Lamb (9-149, 2 TD), Dalton Schultz (5-79), and Amari Cooper (5-55). The 5-1 Cowboys had a huge statistical game but the Pats twice caused turnovers instead of allowing points. The Cowboys head onto their bye.

Damien Harris ran for 101 yards and one score while Rhamondre Stevenson saw his best game yet with five ruses for 23 yards and a touchdown, plus he caught three passes for 39 yards. Kendrick Bourne (1-75, TD) only caught one pass but made it count. Jakobi Meyers (5-44) scored once but it was called back on a penalty.  Mac Jones threw for 229 yards and two scores. The Pats lacked the high production of the Cowboys but played opportunistic defense and remained in the game. The 2-4 Patriots  host the Jets in Week 7.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

NYJ 20, ATL 27
Not bad for a London game, and as usual, one team came out flat, and that was the Jets. But they rallied in the second half and made a game of it, thanks mostly to fortuitous fumble recoveries that robbed the Jets of two scoring opportunities.  Zach Wilson ended with 192 yards and an interception but was horrible in the first half. Corey Davis (4-45) was the leading receiver and the backfield only totaled 17 carries that split three ways. Michael Carter (10-38, TD) and Ty Johnson (4-12, TD) both scored to salvage a little fantasy value. The 1-4 Jets head onto their bye this week.

The Falcons were without Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, but Matt Ryan still passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Kyle Pitts (9-119, TD) had his breakout game, while Cordarrelle Patterson (7-60) also rushed for 54 yards on 14 carries. Mike Davis rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Jets defense couldn’t cover the Falcons regardless of missing receivers, but Ryan looked very comfortable and in control for the entire game. Patterson left to be examined for a concussion but returned shortly after. The 2-3 Falcons head onto their bye.

PHI 21, CAR  18

The Eagles handled this upset with little more than Jalen Hurts rushing (9-30, TD) since he only threw for 198 yards and one interception. Devonta Smith (7-77) and Quez Watkins (3-48) were the top receivers, and Miles Sanders (11-45) handled most of the rushing. Kenneth Gainwell only ran twice but gained 165 yards and only caught one pass as he returned to a complementary role. The 2-3 Eagles host the Buccaneers this week, and  scoring 21 points won’t be enough to get a win.

Sam Darnold only passed for 177 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions. He didn’t score any rushing touchdowns, and no receiver was any better than D.J. Moore (5-42).  Chuba Hubbard did a great job replacing Christian McCaffrey when he ran for 101 yards on 24 carries and added five receptions for 33 yards. The Panthers led 15-6 at halftime and had shut down the Eagles. But the Eagles outscored them 15-3 in the second half when the Panthers went cold. The 3-2 Panthers host the Vikings this week.

GB 25, CIN 22 OT

This was a  cringe-worthy matchup considering the kicking. The Bengals attempted two field goals and made none. The Packers attempted seven and only made four. With 26 seconds left, Evan McPherson missed a 57-yarder that could have won the game but hit the crossbar. With three seconds left, Mason Crosby missed a 51-yarder that could have won the game.

In overtime, Crosby missed a 40-yard attempt. Then McPherson missed a 49-yarder. Finally, Mason nailed the 49-yarder to win the game. Both kickers had two chances on kicks that would have ended the game.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 344 yards and two scores between Davante Adams (11-206, TD) and AJ Dillon (4-49, TD), but no other receiver gained more than 34 yards or scored. Aaron Jones ran for 103 yards on 14 carries and added six more yards on four receptions. Once again, the Packers were little more than Jones running and Adams catching. The 4-1 Packers  head to Chicago for a divisional matchup this week.

Joe Burrow threw for 281 yards and two scores. Ja’Marr Chase (6-159, 2 TD) did nearly all the damage, and Tee Higgins (5-32) was the next best receiver.  Joe Mixon was active and ran ten times for 33 yards and a score, while Samaje Perrine gained 59 yards on his 11 rushes while he split carries with the gimpy Mixon. The 3-2 Bengals could have taken this game with better kicking and heads to Detroit for the Week 6 matchup.

NE 25, HOU 22
The Texans led 22-9 in the third quarter but gave up 16 unanswered points that ended with a game-winning 21-yard field goal by the Pats. Mac Jones threw for 231 yards and one score to Hunter Henry (6-75, TD). Jakobi Meyers (4-56) was the next best receiver, but no one else gained more than 32 yards as a receiver. Damien Harris (14-58, TD) injured his ribs, and Rhamondre Stevenson (11-23) was finally given playing time. There weren’t any special runs as he had in the preseason, but simply getting 11 carries should send each league back to the waiver wire to reclaim him. The 2-3 Patriots host the Cowboys for Week 6.

The Texans had the game but couldn’t close out the game and then their offense went cold. Davis Mills had a career-day, easily, when he passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns.  He threw scores of 11, 67, and 37 yards. Ex-Raven Chris Moore not only saw his first playing time, he caught a team-high five passes for 109 yards and one score for a career-best game. Chris Conley (3-84, TD) also had a big game out of nowhere. Brandin Cooks was held to only 23 yards on three catches and never had the benefit of any garbage time. The backfield had their typical 23 carries for 65 yards and no scores that were split up three ways. The 1-4 Texans travel to play the Colts this week.

TEN 37, JAC 19
This game was actually close until midway in the second quarter when it turned into a whole lot of Titans and just a dash of Jaguars. Derrick Henry ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 29 rushes but never had a target. Ryan Tannehill threw for just 197 yards and one score while Marcus Johnson (3-52) led the team in his first game action of the year. A.J. Brown (3-38) was next best, but it was the same old all-Henry, all-the-time. The 3-2 Titans get back to a winning record and host the Bills in Week 6. So probably a short-lived winning record.

James Robinson gained 149 yards and a score on 18 carries that was boosted by a 58-yard run. Trevor Lawrence threw for 273 yards and one touchdown and scored on his seven rushes for 28 yards. Dan Arnold (6-64) led the receivers while Laviska Shenault saved his game with just one catch that covered 58 yards.  The Jaguars’ defense was the biggest limitation and this offense isn’t good enough to keep up with what they are giving opponents. The 0-5 Jags host the Dolphins this week and look for their first win.

DET 17, MIN 19
Not a lot of points here, but there were a few fantasy performances that helped. Jared Goff was limited to 203 yards and one interception. Amon-Ra St. Brown (7-65) had one of his better efforts in leading the  receivers on this low-yardage matchup. Jamaal Williams (13-57) and D’Andre Swift (11-51, TD) were banged up coming into the game but played well. Swift also added six catches for 53 yards. As usual, the Lions led 17-16 with 37 seconds to play when Swift ran in his touchdown, and they went for the two-point conversion to take the lead instead of a tie. But Cousins completed three passes in 27 seconds to reach the DET 36-yard line where they kicked the winning field goal as time expired.

Kirk Cousins passed for 275 yards and one score, with  Justin Jefferson (7-124) as the top receiver and Adam Thielen was held to only 40 yards on two receptions.  Dalvin Cook was inactive again, and Alexander Mattison (25-113) once again proved to be a more than capable backup. He also caught seven passes for 40 yards and the lone Vikings touchdown. The win lifts the Vikings to 2-3, and they head to Carolina for Week 6.

DEN 19, PIT 27
Teddy Bridgewater was active and effective in throwing for 288 yards and one score to Courtland Sutton (7-120, TD). Tim Patrick (7-89) was the only other receiver with more than 25 yards, and Noah Fant was held to only 20 yards on three catches. The backfield split left both Javonte Williams (8-61) and Melvin Gordon (9-34) with mediocre stats. Williams added 25 yards on three receptions. The Broncos trailed 24-13 in the fourth quarter and mounted a comeback that fell short. They drop to 2-3 and host the Seahawks this weekend.

The Steelers enjoyed a solid effort, with  Najee Harris rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown, while Ben Roethlisberger passed for 253 yards and two scores. Chase Claypool (5-130, TD) and Diontae Johnson (2-72, TD) were the only Steelers with more than 20 receiving yards. JuJu Smith-Schuster left with a shoulder injury. Roethlisberger completed two passes for more than 50 yards, so the game went better than expected. The win keeps  the 2-3 Steelers at home to face the Seahawks this week.

MIA 17, TB 45
The Dolphins led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, but then the wheels fell off, and the expected rout ensued. Jacoby  Brissett threw for 275 yards and two scores but Myles Gaskin (10-74, 2 TD) was the only notable receiver and only gained 25 yards on five rushes. Jaylen Waddle (2-31) and Mike Gesicki (4-43) were nonfactors, and DeVante Parker was inactive. The 1-4 Dolphins head to Jacksonville this week for a much better chance for a win.

Yawn. Tom Brady passed for 411 yards and five touchdowns and then left early so that Blaine Gabbert could mop up the end of the game. Antonio Brown (7-124, 2 TD) included a 62-yard scoring catch. Mike Evans (6-113, 2 TD) also turned in a big game, while Chris Godwin (7-70) was relatively quiet in comparison.  Leonard Fournette (12-67, TD) added 43 yards on four catches, and Giovani Bernard was back and scored on his two short catches. It all worked. The 4-1 Buccaneers play in Philly this weekend.

NO 33, WAS 22
The Saints brought more offense to the matchup, but that’s probably more about the Washington defense that has inexplicably declined from last year. Alvin Kamara ran for 71 yards on 16 carries for one touchdown, plus caught five passes for 51 yards and another score. Jameis Winston continued his up-and-down trend with a season-best 279 passing yards and four touchdowns. Marquez Callaway (4-85, 2 TD) was the top receiver, and while Deonte Harris only caught one pass, it went for a 72-yard touchdown. The 3-2 Saints offense looked the most balanced and productive since the season-opening win over the Packers. They have their bye this week.

Taylor Heinicke threw for 248 yards and two interceptions, while Terry McLaurin received a team-high 11 passes but only caught four for 46 yards. Adam Humphries (3-73) and DeAndre Carter (4-62) were the most productive receivers. Antonio Gibson is playing with a shin injury but still ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns on his 20 rushes. The Football Team was without Logan Thomas, and the Saints covered McLaurin, so the offense stalled. The 2-3 Washington Football Team  hosts the Chiefs for Week 6.

CHI 20, LV 9
This score wouldn’t be that surprising if you had never seen any games in 2021. The Raiders played like they were still shell-shocked from losing to the Chargers last week, or maybe because their head coach just learned about the power of emails. But Derek Carr only passed for 206 yards and one interception. Hunter Renfro (6-56) and Henry Ruggs (3-51) were the best receivers, and Josh Jacobs ran in the only score on his 15 carries for 48 yards. This was about the opposite of how the Raiders played for the first few weeks.  Even Darren Waller was held to only 45 yards on four receptions. The 3-2 Raiders head to Denver for a critical divisional matchup this week.

Justin Fields only completed 12-of-20 for 111 yards and one score but had no turnovers. He also only rushed three times for four yards, and his lack of production using his legs seems like a misuse of the rookie – but they won the game anyway.  Damien Williams (16-64, TD) and Khalil Herbert (18-75) dominated the game and left little reason to throw the ball. Darnell Mooney (3-35) and Allen Robinson (4-32) were the most productive receivers. This was a solid win for the 3-2 Bears who host the Packers this week.

SF 10,  ARI 17
Both teams brought their defenses. Trey Lance took his first NFL start and completed 15-of-29 for 192 yards and one interception. He also ran for a team-high 16 rushes for 89 yards as was hoped.  But that gutted the 49ers backfield’s production that saw Elijah Mitchell (9-43) get the most work, and Trey Sermon was limited to just one carry for seven yards. Mitchell added two catches for 19 yards. Deebo Samuels (3-58) was still the top receiver, but no one else gained more than 35 yards. Lance brings the expected boost as a runner, but at the expense of every other fantasy player on the team. The 2-3 49ers take their bye while waiting for Jimmy Garoppolo to get healthy again.

Credit the 49ers – they slowed this offense better than anyone else has so far. Kyler Murray only passed for 239 yards and one score and only gained one net yard on his seven runs. DeAndre Hopkins (6-87, TD) was the top receiver while the inconsistent Ronald Moore ran for a team-high 38 yards on three rushes  and caught five passes for 59 yards.  Chase Edmonds was limited to only 15 yards on six carries while James Conner (10-29, TD) continues to take that all-important goal-line role. The 5-0 Cardinals take their perfect record to Cleveland for Week 6.

NYG 20, DAL 44
This  matchup happened almost exactly a year ago when Dak Prescott was injured and lost for the season. It went full circle now, since Saquon Barkley injured his ankle and missed almost the entire game. And Daniel Jones was lost to a concussion.  Devontae Booker (16-42, TD) did a credible job filling in, and he’ll step up for however long Barkley is out. The only notable for the Giants was how the rookie wideout Kadarius Toney took over the offense. He dominated the passing with ten catches for 196 yards and the lone receiving touchdown. He’ll be a popular waiver wire pick this week. The 1-4 Giants host the Rams, and this is not an ideal time to face one of the best defenses.

The Cowboys scored 27 points in the second half when the Giants’ offense started sputtering and throwing interceptions. Ezekiel Elliott (21-110, TD) and Tony Pollard (14-75) both ran well, and while Pollard added four catches for 28 yards, Elliott added a second touchdown on his two catches for two yards. Dak Prescott ended with 302 yards and three scores, and CeeDee Lamb (4-84, TD) opened the scoring. Amari Cooper (3-60, TD) also added a touchdown. It all went so well for Dallas that they also returned an interception for their final score. The 4-1 Cowboys  play at the Patriots this week.

BUF 38, KC  20

A bit of revenge for the AFC Championship last year.  The Bills took the lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back. Josh Allen threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushed for 59 yards and a score on 11 runs. Dawson Knox (3-117, TD) continues to the the “IT” tight end like Robert Tonyan last year. Stefon Diggs (2-69) still lags last year but Emmanuel Sanders (3-54, 2 TD) is settling in nicely.  Zach Moss totaled 92 yards on the night. The Chiefs’ lack of a defense made passing productive even despite the rain. The 4-1 Bills play in Tennessee this week before reaching their bye.

Patrick Mahomes is losing his mojo. He threw for 272 yards and two scores on the Bills, but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble. His 70.9 QB rating was almost exactly half that of Josh Allen in the same game. Mecole Hardman (9-76) was the top receiver, while Tyreek Hill (7-63) and Travis Kelce (6-57, TD) could never catch a deep pass. Clyde Edwards-Helaire likely was seriously injured, and that would drop the offense another notch.   The 2-3 Chiefs look to get back on track in Washington this week.

The Game-o-the-Week

CLE 42, LAC 47
How could this not be the best game of the weekend? The Chargers trailed 27-13 midway through the third quarter, and these teams combined for 49 points over the final 21 minutes of the game. The Chargers led 28-27 with 11 minutes left to play, and the Browns  threw a 71-yard touchdown to David Njoku. The Chargers tied it 35-35 with seven minutes left. Then Kareem Hunt ran in a touchdown for a 42-35 lead with only 4:45 left to play. But the Chargers scored with two Austin Ekeler touchdowns in the final  three minutes to get the winning lead.

Baker Mayfield passed for 305 yards and two scores, and David Njoku (7-149, TD) was the top receiver. Odell Beckham (2-20) was little help, but Donovan Peoples-Jones (5-70) had one of his better efforts. Nick Chubb (21-161, TD) and Hunt (12-61, 2 TD) both turned in monster performances. The offense was far more prolific than usual, just not quite enough since the Browns defense shockingly gave up 47 points. The 3-2 Browns  host the Cardinals for Week 6.

Justin Herbert threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns and even ran in a score as well. Mike Williams (8-165, 2 TD) and Keenan Allen (6-75) led the receivers while Austin Ekeler was quiet for most of the game and then went nuclear, scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns while rushing for 66 yards and catching five passes for 53 yards. All four of the typical fantasy starters on this offense all turned in monster stats. The 4-1 Chargers play in Baltimore this week.

This game made history. The Browns became the first team in NFL history to lose a game where they scored over 40 points and committed no turnovers. They are also the first team to ever top 40 points, 500 yards, and zero turnovers in the history of the NFL. Baker Mayfield became the first quarterback to every lose more than one game where his team scored 42 or more points. This was the third in Mayfield’s career dating back to his very first start in 2018 against the Raiders, when the Brown’s lost 45-42. It also happened in a 47-42 loss to Baltimore  last season.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

WAS 34, ATL 30
Washington scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to steal this win from the Falcons. Taylor Heinicke threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns, but the biggest chunk came late in the game. Terry McLaurin (6-123, TD) led the team as always, and J.D. McKissic (5-44, TD) was the only other receiver with more than 24 yards, thanks to his 30-yard touchdown catch and run that proved the game-winner with 33 seconds left to play. Logan Thomas was lost to a hamstring injury.  Antonio Gibson scored once on his 14 rushes for 63 yards and added two catches for 12 yards, but Heinicke won this game. The 2-2 Football Team host the Saints in Week 5.

The Falcons came close, but the defense couldn’t stop  Washington when it counted the most. Matt Ryan cranked out 283 passing yards and four touchdowns which all went to running backs Cordarrelle Patterson (5-82, 3 TD) and Mike Davis (2-12, TD).  Patterson ran for 34 yards on six rushes while Davis only gained 14 yards on 13 runs. Calvin Ridley (7-80) and Kyle Pitts (4-50) couldn’t find the endzone and the rookie still waits for his first big game. Patterson continues to surprise as he breaks out at the age of 30. The 1-3 Falcons host the Jets this week.

HOU 0, BUF 40
That’s going to leave a mark. Rookie quarterbacks are not faring well, and Davis Mills was the worst of the day. He only completed 11-of-21 for 87 yards  and four interceptions, with Brandin Cooks still as the primary receiver but with only 47 yards on five catches because the Bills were unwilling to give up any trash time yards. The offense wisely mixed all three running backs in equal proportions to total up 15 rushes for 44 yards.  This loss was disheartening on a team that already is winless. Nothing worked, and the Bills never let up. The 1-4 Texans slink back home to face the Patriots on Sunday.

The Bills didn’t mail in the win, but they played conservatively throughout. Josh Allen passed for 248 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 41 yards on six rushes. Stefon Diggs (7-114) and Emmanuel Sanders (5-74) turned in solid stats, while Dawson Knox (5-37, 2 TD) turned in both receiving scores. Devin Singletary (14-79) and Zach Moss (14-61, TD) split the carries but did nothing as receivers. It was an easy win, and the Texans were never really in this one.  The Bills scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as they showed how to close a game properly. The 4-1 Bills play in Kansas City for Week 5.

DET 14, CHI 24

The Lions stumbled their way through the first half and fell behind 21-0. They outscored the Bears 14-3 in the second half, but it was too little, too late. Jared Goff ended with 299 passing yards and two scores that went to Kalif Raymond (3-46, 2 TD). Quintez Cephus (4-83) and the rookie Amon St. Brown (6-70) led the receivers. D’Andre Swift was held to just 16 yards on eight rushes and four receptions for 33 yards. Jamaal Williams (14-66) was the more productive runner. The 0-4 Lions play at the Vikings for Week 5.

Justin Fields was much better than he was in Week 3. He only ran for nine yards on three rushes, but he passed for 209 yards and just one interception. Darnell Mooney broke out for the year with 125 yards on five receptions, while Allen Robinson was limited to three receptions for 63 yards. David Montgomery (23-106, 2 TD) had a great performance but left with a knee injury. Damien Williams (8-55, TD) also left injured but returned. The Bears’ defense held the Lions in check in the first half, and that was enough thanks to the rookie Fields playing well again. The 2-2 Bears head to Las Vegas this weekend.

CAR 28, DAL 36
The Panthers came in with the No. 1 defense thanks to a cakewalk schedule to open the year. It didn’t play out nearly so well this week.  Sam Darnold threw for 301 yards and two scores and ran in two more touchdowns for a great fantasy showing. DJ Moore (8-113, 2 TD) was the only notable Panther receiver. Robby Anderson (5-46) still lags last year. Chuba Hubbard replaced Christian McCaffrey and ran for 57 yards on 13 carries and added two receptions for 14 yards. The Panthers’ offense remains solid, but their defense couldn’t handle all the weaponry of the Cowboys. The first loss for the Panthers sends them  back home to face the Eagles on Sunday.

The Cowboys mostly relied on Ezekiel Elliott (20-143, TD) and Tony Pollard (10-67) the keep the sticks moving. Dak Prescott only passed for 188 yards but notched four touchdowns among four different receivers. Amari Cooper (3-69, TD) and Dalton Schultz (6-58, TD) were the top receivers, while CeeDee Lamb was finally limited to only two catches for 13 yards. The offense played a well-balanced game with almost everyone contributing. The 3-1 Cowboys host the Giants for Week 5.

IND 27, MIA 17
The Colts logged their first win behind the rushing of Jonathan Taylor (16-103, TD). Carson Wentz threw for 228 yards and two scores that both ended up with tight end Mo Alie-Cox (3-42 2 TD), while Michael Pittman (6-59) and Zach Pascal (4-44) were the top receivers.  Marlon  Mack (10-22) did little to sell himself if he hopes to be traded to another team. The 1-3 Colts try to find their next win in Baltimore this week.

The Dolphins didn’t reach the endzone until the fourth quarter but lodged two scores to make the score respectable. Jacoby Brissett ended with 199 passing yards and two touchdowns, but it all came too late to matter. DeVante Parker (4-77, TD) and Mike Gesicki (5-57, TD) handled the scoring, while Jaylen Waddle (3-33) turned in his worst performance so far. The running game was all but nonexistent, with a total of just 32 yards on 13 carries between three different running backs. Brissett hasn’t been able to get the offense on track to start the games. The 1-3 Dolphins head to Tampa Bay for Week 5.

CLE 14, MIN 7
What a disappointment, though more for the Vikings. Nick Chubb (21-100) and Kareem Hunt (14-69, TD) did most of the damage since Baker Mayfield was limited to only 155 yards and no touchdowns. Odell Beckham (2-27) and Rashard Higgins (4-63) didn’t do much as the leading receivers. The Browns defense got the job done and the offense was afforded 35 rushes to kill the clock. The 3-1 Browns play at the Chargers this week.

Dalvin Cook (9-34) was not 100% healthy, and Alexander Mattison (10-20) shared the workload. Kirk Cousins only threw for 203 yards and one score to Justin Jefferson (6-83, TD), while Adam Thielen (3-46) was held in check. The Vikings were unable to into gear other than a few passes to Jefferson. The loss drops the Vikings to 1-3, and they host the Lions for Week 5.

NYG 27, NO 21 OT
You have to put an opponent away for good. The Saints led 21-10 in the fourth quarter but allowed the Giants to score on a 54-yard catch by Saquon Barkley, with a two-point conversion,  and then kick a field goal with 31 seconds left to tie the game. In overtime, the Giants drove the field from their 25-yard line and scored a touchdown to win on the first series after regulation play was over.  Barkley ran for 52 yards and a score and caught five passes for 74 yards and a second touchdown. Daniel Jones passed for 402 yards and two scores between John Ross (3-77, TD) and Barkley. Kenny Golladay (6-116) was very effective versus a normally much better Saints secondary. Even Kadarius Toney (6-78) ended with his best game. The 1-3 Giants head to Dallas for Week 5.

The Saints  led this and then let the Giants get back into the game, bring it into overtime, and drive the field for the win. Taysom Hill ran for two touchdowns which only denied them to Alvin Kamara (26-120), who inexplicably had zero targets. Jameis Winston threw for 226 yards and one score, but the only notable receiver was Marquez Callaway (2-74), who left injured. It’s hard to believe that this was the first time that the Saints passed for more than 200 yards. All of the fantasy value is stripped from the offense other than Kamara who failed to be thrown a pass for the first time in his career. He had a game without a catch in 2020, but never one where he wasn’t thrown a pass. The Saints already look like a team that needs rebuilding. They bring their 2-2 record to Washington on Sunday.

TEN 24, NYJ 27 OT
There were plenty of upsets this week, and this may have been the biggest.  The Titans led 17-10 in the fourth quarter, but Zach Wilson threw for two scores over a three-minute span to get the lead that the Titans matched with 16 seconds left in regulation.  But the Jets kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime, and the Titans missed their 49-yard attempt to force the game to end in a tie.

Derrick Henry ran for 157 yards and a touchdown, plus caught two passes for 20 yards. Ryan Tannehill threw for 298 yards and a score, but the Titans were without A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. It made a difference. Running back Jeremy McNichols (8-74) was pressed into duty as a receiver, and Chester Rogers (5-63) also helped. This was the debut for Josh Reynolds (6-59), but when the Titans had to throw, they couldn’t compensate for the difference that Brown and Jones make. The 2-2 Titans play at the Jaguars this week and hope they don’t give yet another team their first win.

ARI 37, LAR 20
Just when the Rams seem unbeatable, they get whooped. At home, in a divisional matchup, no less. Kyler Murray was effective and efficient when he passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran for 39 yards. A.J. Green (5-67, TD) and DeAndre Hopkins (4-67) were the top receivers against the Rams’ great secondary. Chase Edmonds ran for 120 yards on 12 carries thanks to a 54-yard gain, and he added four receptions for 19 yards. James Conner ran 18 yards for just 50 yards but took both short-yardage touchdowns. The Cardinals just plain looked better than the Rams on both sides of the ball. They take their 4-0 record back home to host the 49ers for Week 5.

The Rams could not keep up. Matt Stafford threw for 280 yards and two scores, with Van Jefferson (6-90, TD) as the top receiver and Cooper Kupp (5-64) finally held in check.  Robert Woods only caught four passes for 48 yards but scored once. Darrell Henderson returned after missing last week and rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries, plus caught five passes for 27 yards.  The Cardinals are the first opponent that was able to shut down Kupp, and that made a difference. The 3-1 Rams  have no time to regroup since they travel to Seattle on Thursday for yet another big divisional matchup.

SEA 28, SF 21
The Seahawks stopped their two-game losing streak at an opportune time. Chris Carson only gained 30 yards on 13 rushes, but Alex Collins replaced Rashaad Penny and gained 44 yards and a touchdown on his ten carries. He also caught two passes for 34 yards as the second-best receiver.  Russell Wilson ran in a touchdown and passed for two more but with only 149 passing yards. The Seahawks led 21-7 near the end of the third quarter and then relied on the run to kill the clock. DK Metcalf (4-65, TD) was the best receiver, but Tyler Lockett only managed four receptions for 24 yards. The win lifts the Seahawks to 2-2, and they host the Rams on Thursday  for a chance to crawl back into contention.

The 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo for the second half, and Trey Lance saw his first significant playing time. Over the second half, the rookie completed 9-of-18 for 157 yards and two scores, plus ran for 41 yards on seven rushes. That made Deebo Samuel (8-156, 2 TD) the top receiver, and both touchdowns were thrown by Lance. George Kittle settled for four catches for 40 yards. Trey Sermon ran for 89 yards but never had a pass. Losing their quarterback at halftime wasn’t the problem since Lance threw for almost the  same as Russell Wilson in half as much playing time. The 2-2 49ers play in Arizona this week.

BAL 23, DEN 7
The Broncos  started the scoring, but the Ravens took over for the rest of the game. Ty’Son Williams was inactive so that Le’Veon Bell could run for 11 yards on four carries and fail to catch his only pass. Latavius Murray gained 59 yards on 18 rushes with one score. Lamar Jackson only ran for 28 yards on seven runs but passed for 316 yards and one score. Marquise Brown (4-91, TD) bounced back from last week, and Mark Andrews (5-67) was also involved. The Ravens defense did the work, and the offense took their opportunities where they could. It was a solid win on the road against a very good defense. Plus, knocking the Denver quarterback out of the game also helped. The 3-1 Ravens  host the Colts this week.

The Broncos lost Teddy Bridgewater to a concussion, and Drew Lock finished the game. But no receiver was better than Courtland Sutton (3-47) or Noah Fant (6-46, TD). The backfield split between Melvin Gordon (9-56) and Javonte Williams (7-48) left two mediocre fantasy backs instead of just one with fantasy value. The offense was already struggling under Bridgewater, and Lock was little better when he played. The first loss by the 3-1 Broncos sends them to Pittsburgh for Week 5.

PIT 17, GB 27
The Steelers opened the game with a 45-yard touchdown catch by Diontae Johnson but did little else, and their final touchdown came deep in the fourth quarter. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 232 yards and one touchdown, which was almost entirely short passes other than the touchdown. Johnson (9-92, TD) and James Washington (4-69) were the best receivers, while JuJu Smith-Schuster gained only 11 yards on two catches. Chase Claypool was inactive. Najee Harris rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on his 15 carries, and he added six receptions for 29 more yards. The 1-3 Steelers couldn’t sustain drives and host the Broncos this week.

The Packers didn’t have any big performances, and nor did they need any. Aaron Rodgers passed for 248 yards and two scores while running in a touchdown as well. Randall Cobb (5-69, 2 TD) had his best game in years while helping to replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was placed on injured reserve. Davante Adams (6-64) had a relatively modest game, but they didn’t need much from him to get the win. Aaron Jones ran for 48 yards and added 51 yards on three catches. AJ  Dillon (15-81) helped burn the clock later in the game. The 3-1 Packers travel to the Bengals in Week 5.

TB 19, NE 17

Well. The Patriot fans got to see a Tom Brady experience from the other side, complete with the fortuitous “doink” of the Pats’ final field goal attempt.  They played in the driving rain that only worsened, and Tom Brady passed for 269 yards and no touchdowns. Mike Evans (7-75), Antonio Brown (7-63), and Chris Godwin (3-55) were the top receivers and while Leonard Fournette ran for 91 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards, they let Ronald Jones rush for the only touchdown. The 3-1 Buccaneers squeaked past the Patriots by the matter of about six inches on that final kick. They host the Dolphins this week.

The Patriots lost in the rain by the smallest of margin. But they played far better than expected. Mac Jones threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns and had a higher QB rating (101.6) than Tom Brady (70.8). Jakobi Meyers (8-70) and Kendrick Bourne (5-58) were the top receivers, and Jones did an impressive job spreading the passes around. Six different receivers had five or more targets. The backfield combined for a net four-yard loss on six rushes, so the Buccaneers rush defense ranking will only go higher. The 1-3 Patriots head to Houston this week for a chance to tuck that final field goal inside the goalposts.

 

The Game-o-the-Week

KC 42, PHI 30

This was the game that fantasy football needed this week.  Patrick Mahomes threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns, and that relied heavily on Tyreek Hill’s 11 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Travis Kelce only managed four catches for 23 yards, and no other receiver topped 20 yards. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 102 yards on 14 rushes, with  two receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown. Even Darrell Williams scored on his ten carries for 42 yards. Kelce had the rare down game, but everyone else blew up. The 2-2 Chiefs no longer have a losing record and host the Bills for a shootout this week.

Jalen Hurts passed for 387  yards and two scores, plus was the leading rusher with 47 yards on eight runs. DeVonta Smith (7-122) and Zach Ertz (6-60) led the receivers though Dallas Goedert (5-56, TD) ended with a score. Miles Sanders was only given seven carries to gain 13 yards and added 34 yards on his three receptions. Kenneth Gainwell (3-31, TD) was given the short rushing score. Hurts did a credible job moving the offense but the lack of any rushing support places all everything on Hurts to stay in the game. The loss drops the Eagles to 1-4 and they play in Carolina on Sunday.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

WAS 21, BUF 43

This game was never in doubt. Antonio Gibson turned in plenty of fantasy points thanks to his only catch for a 73-yard touchdown. He only ran for 31 yards on 12 carries, but the one catch salvaged an otherwise dismal day. Taylor Heinicke passed for 212 yards and two scores although the second happened at the end of the game. He also threw two interceptions  and ran in a score. Terry McLaurin (4-62) and Logan Thomas (4-42, TD) were the top receivers,  but Washington was never in this one. The 1-2 Football Team heads to Atlanta for Week 4.

Everything worked for the Bills this week, and Josh Allen was near-perfect when he threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns. Cole Beasley (11-98), Emmanuel Sanders (5-94, 2 TD), and Stefon Diggs (6-62) all shared in the bounty. Just when Devin Singletary seems to be coming around, he only totals 27 yards on 12 touches while Zack Moss ran for 60 yards, caught three passes for 31 yards, and scored once. So no use getting comfortable with anything about the Bills backfield. The 2-1 Bills host the Texans for some fun in Week 4.

CHI 6, CLE 26

Well. He’s going to get better. Justin Fields debut consisted of 12 rushing yards and 6-of-20 for 68 passing yards. He had no turnovers, which surprised  since he was sacked nine times. David Montgomery was held to only 34 rushing yards and two catches for 21 yards. His fantasy value took a hit with the rookie quarterback. Allen Robinson was held to only two catches for 28 yards but was the leading receiver. While Fields looked good in the preseason, it’s all different in the regular season. The 1-2 Bears host the heart-broken Lions this week.

The Browns were without Jarvis Landry but had Odell Beckham (5-77) back for his 2021 debut. Baker Mayfield threw for  246 yards and one score while also rushing for 31 yards. Kareem Hunt enjoyed a big day, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown on ten carries while added six receptions for 74 yards. Nick Chubb gained 84 yards on 22 rushes but had no receptions or scores. All combined, the Browns rushed for 216 yards. Beckham was the leading receiver, but Hunt was the only other player that mattered as a receiver. The 2-1 Browns head to Minnesota for Week 4.

ARI 31, JAC 19
The Jaguars led this 19-10 near the end of the third quarter. Trevor Lawrence ended with 219 passing yards and one score but two interceptions. Marvin Jones (6-62) and DJ Chark (3-49, TD) were the top receivers. James Robinson started the game slowly but ran for 88 yards and a score on 15 rushes, plus caught six passes for 46 yards for his best showing of the young year. The Jaguars were competitive throughout, and Lawrence threw a fourth-quarter interception that was returned for a back-breaking score. The 0-3 Jaguars head to Cincinnati this week looking for their first win since September of 2020.

Kyler Murray passed for 316 yards but no passing touchdowns. He ran in one score, of course, but only gained 19 yards on seven runs. A.J. Green (5-112) and Christian Kirk (7-104) both broke the century mark while the gimpy DeAndre Hopkins (3-21) turned in the rare fantasy dud. Chase Edmonds ran for 26 yards and caught seven passes for 49 yards, while James Conner gained 43 yards and ran in two touchdowns. The 3-0 Cardinals played like they knew they could win but needed a bigger fourth quarter to get the job done. The 3-0 Cardinals get their biggest challenge of the year playing at the Rams for Week 4.

LAC 30, KC 24
The Chargers pulled an upset and handed the Chiefs their first losing record since 2015. Justin Herbert threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns that went directly to fantasy studs. Mike Williams (7-122, 2 TD), Austin Ekeler (6-52, TD), and Keenan Allen 8-50, TD) were all productive. Ekeler also ran for 55 yards on 11 runs, but the backfield did little this week. The difference-maker was that the Chargers had no turnovers while the Chiefs lost the ball four times. The win sends the 2-1 Bolts home to host the Raiders.

This is new territory for a Patrick Mahomes team. And the loss was to a divisional rival. He threw for 260 yards and three scores but threw two interceptions. Travis Kelce (7-104) and Tyreek Hill (5-56) were the top receivers but Hill lost a fumble. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had one of his best games with 100 yards on 17 carries and two catches for nine yards and a touchdown – and he lost a fumble. There are no alarm bells to sound yet, but there is concern with the defense. Andy Reid was brought to the hospital after the game because of an illness. The 1-2 (gasp) Chiefs play in Philadelphia for Week 4.

NO 28, NE 13
There were very few notable performances in this matchup. Alvin Kamara came back  to life with 89 yards on 24 rushes, and he added three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. But Jameis Winston passed for just 128 yards and two touchdowns. Marquez Callaway was the top receiver with only four catches for 41 yards and one score. Taysom Hill ran in a score on his six rushes for 31 yards. But aside from Kamara, nothing much from the rest. But at least Kamara showed up. The 2-1 Saints  host the Giants this week.

Mac Jones ended with 270 yards and one score, but he started slowly and threw three interceptions including a pick-six.  Kendrick Bourne (6-96, TD) and Jakobi Meyers (9-94) were the top receivers, and that’s encouraging that he didn’t resort to throwing short to running backs and tight ends. The rushing effort was anemic, with only 21 yards on 11 carries spread over four different running backs. The 1-2 Patriots have their monster matchup next week when they host the Tom Brady Buccaneers.

ATL 17, NYG 14
Two struggling franchises still struggled.  Matt Ryan threw for 243 yards and two scores though few fantasy leaguers relied on Olamide Zaccheaus (3-32, TD) or No. 4 tight end Lee Smith (3-7, TD). Calvin Ridley (8-61) was busy, and Cordarrelle Patterson again made a difference with 20 rushing yards and six receptions for 82 yards. Mike Davis ran for 50 and added four receptions for 20 yards. The offense is still being installed and sputters but finally recorded their first win. The 1-2 Falcons return home to face Washington this week.

The Giants are still searching for that first win, and the visiting Falcons was their weakest opponent maybe all season. Saquon Barkley ran for 51 yards and a score on 16 carries, plus caught six passes for 43 yards. He was sidelined temporarily but finished the game. Daniel Jones threw for 266 yards but no scores. Kenny Golladay was expected to be limited with a bad hip but led the team with four receptions for 64 yards. Sterling Shepard left the game injured  and was replaced by Collin Johnson (5-51). The 0-3 Giants head to New Orleans for Week 4.

CIN 24, PIT 10
These are divisional rivals that are heading in different directions. Joe Mixon rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries. Joe Burrow threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Missing Tee Higgins didn’t matter. Ja’Marr Chase (4-65, 2 TD) and Tyler Boyd (4-36, TD) did a lot with just a few receptions versus the normally stout Steeler secondary. The success of Mixon combined with the play of the Bengals defense was more than the Steelers could handle. The 2-1 Bengals host the Jaguars this week.

The Steelers rolled up 318 passing yards and one score, but Ben Roethlisberger threw 58 passes, two interceptions and was sacked four times. Chase Claypool (9-96) helped replace Diontae Johnson, but JuJu Smith-Schuster (3-25) didn’t help much.  The rookie Pat Freiermuth caught three passes for 22 yards and a score. The poor blocking caused Najee Harris to only gain 40 yards on 14 rushes but he led the team with 19 targets for 14 catches and 102 yards. The rookie needs the ball, and if he cannot get the running lanes, he’s great as a receiver. The 1-2 Steelers play in Green Bay for Week 4.

IND 16, TEN 25
Carson Wentz was able to play despite sprained ankles, but he didn’t make much difference with 194 passing yards and no scores. Michael Pittman (6-68) was the top receiver, but Nyheim Hines (5-54) was the only other receiver with more than 31 yards. He also ran in a touchdown on his 25 yards on six rushes, if only to ruin the day for Jonathan Taylor gained 64 yards on just ten carries. This was a lighter matchup and the struggles that the Colts had moving the ball is a bad sign for the season. The 0-3 Colts look to right the ship in Miami for Week 4.

Derrick Henry at home usually runs well and he gained 113 yards plus caught three passes for 31 yards in his new-ish role as a receiver. Ryan Tannehill threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns but had two interceptions. AJ Brown left injured, and the best receivers were Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (4-53, TD) and Julio Jones (3-47). This was a very close game until the fourth quarter, when the Titans pulled away. The 2-1 Titans travel to face the Jets this week.

NYJ 0, DEN 26
The Jets are off to yet another rough start, and the new coaching regime experienced their first shut out. Zach Wilson only threw for 160 yards and two interceptions. Corey Davis (5-41) was the top receiver and Keelan Cole (2-30) is active for games now. Michael Carter ran nine times for 24 yards while Ty Johnson only gained 17 yards on his three carries. There’s still a lack of any offensive punch and the blocking is still poor. Wilson was sacked another five times. The 0-3 Jets host the Titans this week.

The Broncos didn’t have to do much to secure this win. Teddy Bridgewater passed for 235 yards but only threw 25 passes. The top receivers were Tim Patrick (5-98) and Courtland Sutton (5-37). Melvin Gordon (18-61, TD) and Javonte Williams (12-29, TD) split the backfield, and Gordon added a 21-yard catch while Williams netted three receptions for 33 yards. No Bronco had a big performance because none of them needed it in this shut-out win. The 3-0 Broncos host the Ravens for Week 4.

MIA 28, LV 31 OT
The Dolphins may have missed Tua Tagovailoa, but they gave the Raiders plenty to handle making up an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to send the game into overtime and then matching the Raiders’ field goal with their own to tie the score yet again. Jacoby Brissett passed for 215 yards and ran for 37 yards and a score on seven rushes. Mike Gesicki (10-86) and Jaylen Waddle (12-58) didn’t gain many yards but totaled 22 receptions between them.  Myles Gaskin ran for 65 yards but only nine yards on three catches.  The Fins stayed in the game by their defense and absence of turnovers. The 1-2 Dolphins host the Colts this weekend.

The Raiders are undefeated by the slimmest of weekly margins. Three weeks in, and they already had two overtimes. Josh Jacobs was out, but Peyton Barber ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 23 rushes and caught three passes for 31 yards.  Kenyan Drake ran eight times for 24 yards and also caught three passes for 34 yards.  Derek Carr passed for 386 yards and two touchdowns while his season continues to burn brightly.  Bryan Edwards (3-89) keeps improving and showing up just when they need him most. Henry Ruggs (4-78) and Hunter Renfrow (5-77, TD) were both more productive than Darren Waller (5-54).  The 3-0 Raiders look to continue their impressive start playing at the Chargers in Week 4.

TB 24, LAR 34
The Buccaneers experienced their first loss since last November, but they had plenty of success passing, just not scoring. Tom Brady passed for 432 yards and one score, and there were plenty of fantasy points to spread around. Mike Evans (8-106), Chris Godwin (6-74, TD), Tyler Johnson (3-63), Rob Gronkowski (4-55), and Giovani Bernard (9-51, TD) were all involved. Brady also ran in a score, and his 14 yards on three rushes led the team. The backfield only totaled 19 yards on nine runs. The 1-2 Buccaneers head to New England this week, where the media will likely have their heads explode at the prospect of Tom Brady playing as the opponent against his old team.

The Rams were without Darrell Henderson and relied on Sony Michel (20-67) for all but one carry in the backfield.  Matt Stafford proved his worth when he passed for 343 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. DeSean Jackson (3-120, TD) scored from 75 yards out, Cooper Kupp (9-96, 2 TD) continues to have tremendous chemistry with Stafford, and Tyler Higbee (5-40, TD) were all bigger factors than Robert Woods (3-33). The Buccaneers have a great rush defense, but Stafford carved up their secondary. The 3-0 Rams host the Cardinals in an important divisional matchup this weekend.

SEA 17, MIN 30
The Seahawks haven’t had the hot start to the season as they normally do. Russell Wilson threw for 298 yards but only one touchdown. He found DK Metcalf (6-107, TD) again but lost Tyler Lockett (4-31) for the week. Gerald Everett (5-54) and Will Dissly (1-39) are producing better than past tight ends but still not making a difference. Chris Carson ran for 80 yards, and a score on just 12 carries but the offense under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense isn’t producing nearly enough touchdowns. The 1-2 Seahawks try to get back on track while playing at the 49ers for Week 4.

The Vikings were without Dalvin Cook, but Alexander Mattison (26-112) ran well and caught six passes for 59 yards. Kirk Cousins threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns in one of his better performances. Justin Jefferson (9-118, TD), Tyler Conklin (7-70, TD), and Adam Thielen (6-50, TD) took care of the scoring while K.J. Osborn (2-26) finally realized that he was just a No. 3 wide receiver. The 1-2 Vikings finally get their first win and host the Browns on Sunday.

BAL 19, DET 17
Sure, the scoring wasn’t much, and a few fantasy starters flopped. But hey, what about that Justin Tucker? The Ravens gave up ten points in the fourth quarter and trailed 16-17 on their 16-yard line with 26 seconds left on fourth down and 19 yards to go. But Lamar Jackson completed a 36-yard pass to Sammy Watkins to reach the Lions 48-yard line with six seconds. He threw an incompletion and Justin Tucker came on to try a 66-yard field goal as time expired. He walked off a winner when it hit the cross bar, bounced up, and fell behind.

Jackson ran for 58 yards and passed for 287 yards and one score. Marquise Brown (3-53) dropped three passes, two of which would have been touchdowns, if not all three. Mark Andrews (5-109) was the leading receiver, while the rushing effort only contained 12 carries for 40 yards. Jackson threw better than usual, even if Brown was interested in catching very many. The 2-1 Ravens head to Denver for Week 4.

The Lions cannot catch a break. Jared Goff threw for 217 yards and no scores, while Kalif Raymond (6-68) was the top receiver, and T.J. Hockenson was limited to only two catches for ten yards. Jamaal Williams ran for 42 yards and a score and caught two passes for 25 yards. D’Andre Swift only gained 47 yards on 14 carries but scored once and caught seven passes for 60 yards for one of his better performances. The 0-3 Lions lost to a 66-yard field goal. That says all you need to know about how their luck is going. They play in Chicago for Week 4.

The Game-o-the-Week

GB 30, SF 28
That’s the way to end a great day of NFL football! The Packers led 17-0 in the second quarter, but the 49ers kept coming back and still trailed 14-24 in the fourth quarter when they drew to within three points, 21-24 with seven minutes left to play. But the Packers kicked a field goal with just 2:39 left to play for a 27-21 lead. Jimmy Garoppolo drove the field and threw a touchdown to Kyle Juszczyk with only 43 seconds left to play. And the Packers had no time-outs. But they had Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.

Rodgers connected with Adams for 25 yards to reach midfield with 21 seconds left. After an incompletion to Adams, he threw to Adams (notice the pattern)for a 17-yard gain to the SF 33-yard line with four seconds left, and Mason Crosby nailed the 51-yard winning kick.

Rodgers finished with 261 yards and two scores between Adams (12-132, TD) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3-59, TD). Aaron Jones ran for 82 yards on 19 rushes with one touchdown but only two catches for 14 yards. The win sends the 2-1 Packers back home host the Steelers.

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 257 yards and one score, and George Kittle (7-92) finally had his big performance. Deebo Samuel (5-52) and Brandon Aiyuk (4-37, TD) were both marginally involved but four catches was a big step up for Aiyuk. Trey Sermon finally started and gained 31 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, plus caught two short passes. The homefield 2-1 49ers lost a heartbreaker and host the Seahawks for Week 4.

 

Taking a quick rundown of the Week 1 Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

PHI 32, ATL 6
The question that comes out of this game is whether the Eagles are this good, the Falcons are that bad, or are both true? Jalen Hurts not only passed for 264 yards and three scores, but he added 62 yards on seven runs. Miles Sanders starts the year with 15 runs for 74 yards and four catches for 39 yards. The rookie Kenneth Gainwell debuted to 37 yards and a score on eight carries and two receptions for six yards.  This was a solid win where everything worked. The touchdown passes went to DeVonta Smith (6-71, TD), Jalen Reagor (6-49, TD), and Dallas Goedert (4-42, TD).  The rookie Smith already looks like the real deal. The Eagles get a stiffer challenge next week versus the 49ers.

The Falcons first game under HC Arthur Smith couldn’t have been much worse. Matt Ryan passed for only 164 yards and no scores. Calvin Ridley led the team with only five catches for 51 yards. Russell Gage failed to catch either of his targets. Worst yet, the all-universe rookie tight end ended with only four catches for 31 yards and most of that happened late in the  already decided game. Mike Davis was mediocre with only 49 yards on 15 runs and shared with Cordarrelle Patterson (7-54). This is just the first game of the year under the new coaching regime, but there was almost nothing positive to take from this matchup. Now the Falcons have to head to Tampa Bay to face the reigning NFL champs.

PIT 23, BUF 16
This pairing was a defensive battle when they met last year. The Bills led 10-0 at halftime, but the Steelers were the only team that made adjustments at halftime. There were no offensive stars for the Steelers. Rookie Najee Harris debuted with only 45 yards on 16 rushes and added just one catch for four yards. JuJu  Smith-Schuster was the leading receiver with only four receptions for 52 yards and Diontae Johnson (5-36) scored the lone Steeler touchdown. The defense is as good or better as it was last year, but the offense sputtered. That should change this week while hosting the Raiders.

The Bills made Zack Moss a surprise healthy scratch leaving Devin Singletary (11-72) to lead the backfield. Josh Allen was held to 270 passing yards and one score but added 44 rushing yards. Matt Breida was the No. 2 back with four yards on four carries, so perhaps Moss can get out of whatever doghouse he seems to have landed. Stefon Diggs (9-69) and Cole Beasley (6-60) were a disappointment since the Steelers took all the deep routes away. The Bills had the game in tenuous control but the Steelers came to life just enough to take the win away. The Bills open against perhaps their toughest defensive opponent and should be better this week in Miami.

NYJ 14, CAR 19
Two of the worst teams from 2020 met, and the result was predictably mediocre in scoring. The Jets under HC Robert Saleh still have a scoring problem but at least the rookie Zach Wilson debuted with 259 yards and two scores with only one interception.  Both touchdowns went to Corey Davis (5-97, 2 TD) in his first start as a Jet. No other wideout mattered and Braxton Berrios (5-51) surprised while Jamison Crowder was inactive. The backfield was the expected mess with Tevin Coleman (9-24), Ty Johnson (4-15), and Michael Carter (4-6) combining for the same lackluster result we’ve come to expect from the Jets for the last several years. The rookie quarterback started slowly but warmed up in the second half, so will take some time to get this offense on track. The Jets host the Patriots this week.

The Christian McCaffrey difference was on display in Week 1, with 21 runs for 98 yards and nine catches for 89 yards. Sam Darnold faced his old team and threw for 279 yards and one score, plus ran in a touchdown as well.  Darnold used McCaffrey, of course, but also his wideouts with DJ Moore (6-80), Robbie Anderson (1-57, TD), and Terrace Marshall (3-26), accounting for almost all other passes. The second year of HC Matt Rhule and OC Joe Brady starts out with their softest matchup of the year and only scored 19 points. It gets more challenging this week hosting the Saints.

MIN 24, CIN 27 OT
This was a great game to watch, more so for the hometown Bengals. Dalvin Cook only gained 61 yards on 20 rushes but ran in a touchdown and added six receptions for 43 yards.  The Vikings trailed 21-7 at the end of the  third quarter and battled back with Kirk Cousins passing for 351 yards and two touchdowns that both went to Adam Thielen (9-92, 2 TD). Justin Jefferson settled for 71 yards on five catches while K.J. Osborn surprised with 76 yards on seven receptions. The offense didn’t rush well but still passed for big yardage to the wideouts. The Vikes could have won this but Cook lost a first-down fumble  on the CIN-38 and the Bengals used the final 1:48 to kick their game-winning field goal. The defense – still a problem. That’s not going to improve playing in Arizona this week.

Joe Burrow returned from his severe knee injury of 2020, and while he only ran once, he threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns with a solid 128.8 QB rating. He is back. The rookie Ja’Marr Chase was plagued with drops in the preseason, but he hung onto five passes for 101 yards and a score in his debut. Tee Higgins (4-58, TD) scored to salvage his fantasy value but Tyler Boyd (3-32) was the odd man out with Chase playing. Joe Mixon roared back to life in Week 1 after a disastrous season. He ran for 127 yards and a score plus added four catches for 27 yards. The Bengals let the Vikings mount a comeback to tie the game in regulation and then got lucky with the fumble recovery that led to the winning field goal. They head to Chicago this week to face a better defense.

JAC 21, HOU 37
 There’s just no good way to spin this for the Jaguars that faced the woeful Texans and made them look like a top NFL team. The critics of HC Urban Meyer were rewarded with plenty of ammo to use. The Jags trailed 34-7 at the end of the third quarter to the Texans. James Robinson (5-25) was a star last year but journeyman running back Carlos Hyde (9-44) was used more often. Trevor Lawrence’s first game ended well enough with 332 yards and three touchdowns, but most of that came from late-game gimmees. D.J. Chark (3-86, TD), Marvin Jones (5-77, TD), and Laviska Shenault (7-50) were the leading receivers, so Lawrence threw downfield instead of dumping the ball off. But that was likely the softest matchup of the year and it was not remotely close. This week, the Jags host the Broncos.

The Texans were in an unusual situation on Sunday when both their defense and offense worked well. Tyrod Taylor passed for 291 yards and two scores, while Brandon Cooks (5-132) started the year with a bang. Tight end Pharaoh Brown (4-67) followed up on his impressive preseason as the next best receiver. Newly signed Danny Amendola (5-34, TD) scored as did demoted David Johnson (3-18, TD). The backfield enjoyed surprising success with Mark Ingram (26-85, TD), while even Phillip Lindsay (8-25, TD) managed a touchdown. The takeaways are that Ingram and Brown are the two surprises, but the Texans home opener went against an opponent that did not seem prepared. This week, the Texans travel to Cleveland where it won’t go nearly so well.

SEA 28, IND 16
The Colts offense looked no better than last year. Carson Wentz threw for 251 yards and two scores but most passes went to Jonathan Taylor (6-60) and Nyheim Hines (6-48). Zack Pascal was the top wideout with two touchdowns on only four receptions for 43 yards. The Seahawks secondary prevented Wentz from going deep which was the one aspect that the Colts hoped he could bring to the offense. Taylor ran for 56 yards on 17 runs while Hines gained 34 yards on nine carries. But the offense moved the ball mostly on the backfield either running or receiving the ball.  That’s not going to help this week when the Rams visit with an even better defense. It’s also troublesome that the Colts’ defense looked much worse than expected in this home game.

The Seahawks were in midseason form. Russell Wilson did almost anything that he wanted, completing 18 of 23 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns with a 152.3 QB rating. Tyler Lockett (4-100, 2 TD) and DK Metcalf (4-60, TD) remained the most-used outlets. New tight ends Gerald Everett (2-20, TD) used his height in the end zone for his score. Chris Carson ran for 91 yards on 16 runs and added three receptions for 26 yards while taking all but three carries for the backfield. The Seahawks looked very polished on the road against one of the better defenses of last year. They host the Titans this week, which should be even less challenging.

ARI 38, TEN 13
The Cardinals looked scary good. And they were on the road versus a team that made the playoffs last year. Kyler Murray passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns, and ran in a score as well. DeAndre Hopkins (6-83, 2 TD) and Christian Kirk (5-70, 2 TD) led the receivers while the rookie Ronald Moore debuted with 68 yards on four catches. The backfield workload was split between Chase Edmonds (12-63) and James Conner (16-53), and both were  effective. Edmonds added four catches for 43 yards. This is just one game against a bad defense, but the Cardinals offense couldn’t look much better than it did. And Murray was just unstoppable. The Cards host the weak Vikings defense this week, so expect more of the same.

This is yet another game that begs the question – are the Titans this bad or the Cardinals that good? Derrick Henry at home was held to only 58 yards on 17 carries. Ryan Tannehill has upgraded targets and yet only passed for 212 yards and one score. A.J. Brown (4-49, TD) and Julio Jones (3-29) actually trailed  Chester Rogers (4-62). There was just nothing happening in the passing game and Brown’s lone touchdown salvaged an otherwise dismal day for the entire offense. The Titans have little time to figure out what went wrong since they play in Seattle this week.

LAC 20, WAS 16
This was a close-fought, low-scoring game, and the Chargers likely won thanks to Washington losing their quarterback at the start of the game. Justin Herbert threw for 337 yards and one score and saw surprising success with his wideouts. Keenan Allen (9-100) and Mike Williams (8-82, TD) both turned in big performances and new tight end Jared Cook (5-56) already became a factor. Austin Ekeler  never caught a pass but scored on his 15 runs for 57 yards. Larry Rountree handled the No. 2 back duties but that only meant 27 yards on eight carries. But it is a positive that they clearly settled on which back is next behind Ekeler. The Bolts host the  Cowboys this week, so the passing offense should continue to move their offense.

Washington lost Ryan Fitzpatrick in the first quarter and that thrust Taylor Heinicke into the starting role. He only threw for 122 yards and one touchdown, but completed 11 of 15 passes for a 119.3 QB rating. The competition between the two quarterbacks was real this summer and there is minimal drop-off with Heinicke if Fitzpatrick’s injury causes him to miss future games.  Terry McLaurin led the team with four receptions for 62 yards while Logan Thomas (3-30, TD) scored the lone touchdown. Antonio Gibson ran for 90 yards and added three catches for 18 yards. The quarterback upgrade to Fitzpatrick didn’t last long and the offense looked no better than it did last year.

CLE 29, KC 33
What a great game that checked all the fantasy football boxes. The Chiefs fell behind 10-22 at the half but reeled off 33 second-half points just like expected.  The Browns were in this until a final-minute interception by Baker Mayfield ended their chance. He passed for 321 yards playing without Odell Beckham but used ten different receivers. David Njoku (3-76), Jarvis Landry (5-71), and the rookie Anthony Schwartz (3-69) led the receivers. Nick Chubb scored twice on his 15 rushes for 83 yards and added two catches for 18 yards.  Kareem Hunt (6-33, TD) also scored and the Browns’ offense looks formidable if they can rely on the run. Hosting the Texans this week should be very profitable for both Chubb and Hunt.

The Chiefs fell behind, but that’s rarely a reason to worry. The Browns defense held Clyde Edwards-Helaire to only 43 yards on 14 rushes but he owned all but one carry for the backfield. He also added three catches for 29 yards to help salvage his fantasy value. Patrick Mahomes has his standard game, mounting an impressive comeback and finishing with 337 yards and three touchdowns passing, and of course, the additional rushing score as well. NFL defenses still haven’t noticed that all he uses are Tyreek Hill (11-197, TD) and Travis Kelce (6-76, 2 TD). The Chiefs head to Baltimore this week where they will probably fall behind, mount a comeback, and then win the game.

MIA 17, NE 16
The Patriots should have won this game, but lost two fumbles by their running backs. Rhamondre Stevenson lost his after a first quarter catch and was never seen again. Damien Harris lost his on the MIA-11 yard line with three minutes left and the Patriots offense never saw the ball again. Harris was effective with 100 yards on 23 carries and two catches for 17 yards. Mac Jones debut produced 281 passing yards and one score, with no turnovers. He was never sacked, so overall it was a solid opening against a good defense. Nelson Agholor (5-72, TD) was the top receiver and Jakobi Meyers (6-44) had a team high nine targets but lacked the success than he had in the preseason. The new tight ends also showed up with Jonnu Smith (5-42) and Hunter Henry (3-31). Playing at the Jets this week should help everything look better.

The Dolphins won more by their defense, and there wasn’t any offensive star other than maybe the rookie Jaylen Waddle who posted four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, while DeVante Parker ended with four receptions for 81 yards and no score. The duo were the only receivers with more than 30 yards and Tua Tagovailoa only passed for 202 yards and one touchdown.  He also ran in a score as well. Myles Gaskin (9-49) shared the backfield with Malcolm Brown (5-16) and Salvon Ahmed (3-4), which will limit him each week. The Dolphins were fortunate to kill the Patriots’ final drive with a fumble recovery. They’ll need to be better this week when they host a wounded Bills team.

GB 3, NO 38
I’m sorry, what did you say? The Packers won in New Orleans 37-30 last year, so this was a bit of a surprise because the team formerly known as the Packers just never showed up. Aaron  Rodgers passed for 133 yards and two interceptions. Davante Adams led the team with five catches for 56 yards. Aaron Jones gained nine yards on his five carries. Every team has a trash game each season (or more). But it is unusual when it is a Super Bowl contender in their first game. The Packers host the Lions this week, so it will should look better. But this was just an embarrassment.

The Saints won by 35 points and the defense never scored. But the win was much more about a Saints defense that shut down the Packers. Jameis Winston threw for five touchdowns, but only 148 yards. Alvin Kamara ran for 83 yards but only caught three passes for eight yards and a score. Deonte Harris (2-72, TD) ended the game with a 55-yard touchdown catch. Juwan Johnson turned three catches into 21 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Jones (11-50) took his first run at being the No. 2 back with success.  The defense was dominating and if they can continue, then the offense doesn’t need to do much. This week in Carolina, chances are the defense again rules the game.

DEN 27, NYG 13
The Broncos’ offense all worked together in their first game with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter. Facing the Giants did not hurt. The backfield did split carries with Javonte Williams (14-45) and Melvin Gordon (11-101, TD) taking turns. Gordon’s 70-yard touchdown run with four minutes left pumped up his stats but so far, there’s no reason to expect either back to become a clear primary rusher. Bridgewater threw for 264 yards and two scores but no receivers did much. Jerry Jeudy (6-72) was the best but left with what is thought to be a high ankle sprain. Noah Fant (6-62) was also involved. The Broncos start to the season has a light schedule and they’ll head to Jacksonville this week before hosting the Jets.

The Giants start 2021 with an effort that was just as bad as any of last year. Daniel Jones threw for 267 yards and a score thanks to Sterling Shepard (7-113, TD) as the only notable receiver. Saquon Barkley returned and the Giants were completely transparent when they said their star running back would be eased back into playing. Barkley only gained 26 yards on ten runs and caught one pass for one yard. But Devontae Booker (4-7) was no better. This week in Washington doesn’t promise to be any better.

CHI 14, LA 34
Benching Justin Fields made sense for this opening day buzz-saw that was never going to end well. And it did not. Andy Dalton threw for only 206 yards and one interception despite trailing for the entire game. No receiver totaled more than 45 yards and Allen Robinson was held to only 35 yards on six catches. David Montgomery was the lone bright spot with 108 yards and a score on 16 rushes. But the Bears just experienced their worst venue of the season, and should see more success hosting the Bengals this week.

The debut of Matt Stafford went very well. He threw for 321 yards and three scores that included scores of 67 and 56 yards against a good Bears defense. Darrell Henderson was effective rushing for 70 yards and a score on 16 runs and he added a 17-yard catch. Cooper Kupp (7-108, TD) and Van Jefferson (2-80, TD) both scored on bombs while Robert Woods drew the most coverage. He ended with only three catches for 27 yards but scored the final touchdown. Tyler Higbee (5-68) was the second most targeted receiver though that reflected the Bears secondary.  It was a solid win and everything worked well. This week, the Rams visit the Colts who had trouble finding their defense last week.

The Game-o-the-Week

SF 41, DET 33

The game totaled 74 total points. Who cares how or why?

This was a beatdown until the 49ers quit trying when they reached 38-10 in the middle of the third quarter. Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 314 yards and one score but also watched Trey Lance throw one pass for a touchdown. The rookie was used on only three plays, but still impacted Garoppolo. Deebo Samuel blew up for a career-high nine catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Aiyuk was active but shockingly never drew a target and was at times replaced by Trent Sherfield (2-23, TD). HC Mike Shanahan later said that Aiyuk’s whiff was due to a lingering hamstring issue and that Sherfield earned the playing time. Odd way to treat the No. 1 receiver of 2020. Raheem Mostert injured his knee on his second carry and left the game. But the 49ers had Trey Sermon inactive and ended up using Elijah Mitchell (19-104, TD) which throws the backfield into an even less clear situation.  The 49ers travel to Philadelphia this week.

Jared Goff threw for 338 yards and three scores which mostly came late when the 49ers were already packing up to leave.  T.J. Hockenson (8-97, TD) led the receivers, but running backs  D’Andre Swift (8-65, TD), and Jamaal Williams (8-56)  were proof that the Lions wideouts are going to struggle to matter this year. No wide receiver gained more than 23 yards in a game where they trailed badly from the second quarter onward. The backfield was the expected split with Williams (9-54, TD) and Swift (11-39) combining for mediocre production. The Lions travel to Green Bay where the Packers won’t be as generous with trash time production.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

MIA 26, BUF 56
The Dolphins needed to win this and get help to reach the playoffs and neither of those happened. This game not only said that the Bills were the best team in the AFC East but also that is likely to continue for a few more years. Tua Tagovailoa threw 58 passes for 361 yards and a score, but also three interceptions. Devante Parker (7-116) was the only notable wideout which was true the entire year. Mike Gesicki (5-47) and Lynn Bowden (8-44) contributed. Myles Gaskin (7-20, TD) and Salvon Ahmed (6-29, TD) never had enough carries to matter. The 10-6 Dolphins miss the playoffs, but greatly exceeded expectations in the process.

Josh Allen threw for 224 yards and three scores and eventually let Matt Barkley pass for 164 yards and a touchdown.  Gabriel Davis (2-107, TD) and Stefon Diggs (7-76) led the group while John Brown added four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah McKenzie (6-65, 2 TD) added an 84-yard punt return for a score that totaled three touchdowns during a seven-minute stretch of the second quarter. Antonio “who? Williams ran for a team high 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in the fourth quarter. The 13-3 Bills own the No. 2 seed and host the Colts this week in the Wild Card Round.

BAL 38, CIN 3

This really wasn’t as close as the score suggested. The Ravens scored in all sorts of ways, but mostly it was Lamar Jackson throwing for only 113 yards but three touchdowns, and he gained 97 yards on 11 rushes. Marquise Brown (5-41, 2 TD) and Miles  Boykin (1-43, TD) did  better than when you dared to start either this season. J.K. Dobbins blew up for 160 yards and two scores on just 13 carries while Gus Edwards gained 60 yards on his 12 carries. Even Mark Ingram (9-39) was allowed to play. The Ravens head to Tennessee for the Wildcard Round.

In a sign that things should change, the Bengals’ Brian Allen completed 6-of-21 for 48 yards and two interceptions, ending with the ultra-rare 0.0 QB rating. Trayveon Williams ran for 74 yards on four carries thanks to a 55-yard carry. HC Zac Taylor’s second season ends with his team going into hiding in a home game. It appeared that most of the Bengals’ players ended the game while stuck in traffic a few miles away from the stadium.

PIT 22, CLE 24
The Browns had to win this home game and nearly didn’t with the Steelers scoring two touchdowns over the final six minutes and missing on a two-point play that could have tied the game with a minute left.  Mason Rudolph threw for 315 yards and two scores with Chase Claypool (5-101, TD) and Diontae Johnson (3-96), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (6-65, TD) as the top receivers. James Conner (9-37) and Benny Snell (3-10) continue to astound the fantasy world with such bad rushing behind a good offensive line. The 12-4 Steelers already won the AFC North.

Baker Mayfield passed for 196 yards and one score but Rashard Higgins (2-55) and Jarvis Landry (5-51) were the best receivers, and Landry added a three-yard touchdown run. Austin Hooper caught the lone passing score on his four catches for 37 yards. Nick Chubb was the difference-maker with 108 yards and a score on 14 carries while Kareem Hunt was limited to 37 yards on ten runs and only caught one pass for four yards. The win gets the 11-5 Browns a wild card.

MIN 37, DET 35
The Vikings won their final meaningless game but the Lions put up a great fight in their meaningless game. Kirk Cousins passed for 405 yards and three touchdowns and ran in a fourth score. Justin Jefferson (9-133) became the best rookie wideout ever but Adam Thielen was held to only 57 yards on four catches. With Dalvin Cook out, Alexander Mattison did a fine imitation by running for 95 yards and one score plus he caught three passes for 50 yards and a second touchdown. The 7-9 Vikings end like they started – a potent offense and a missing defense.

Matt Stafford was banged up, and maybe he’s gone by next year, but he threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns that were divided between Marvin Jones (8-180, 2 TD) and Quintez Cephus (2-51, TD). D’Andre Swift finished his rookie season with 12 rushes for 54 yards and one score, plud three catches for 16 yards. And yet they still gave Adrian Peterson seven carries to gain 63 yards and one score in what may have been his final season.  The 5-11 Lions enter into a postseason on the lookout for a new set of coaches.

NYJ 14, NE 28
The Jets wind down their bad season with Josh Adams (11-47, TD) and Ty Johnson (11-45) sharing the rushing load. Sam Darnold ends the year with 266 yards and one score, but with two interceptions. Breshad Perriman (3-84) and Chris Herndon (7-63, TD) were the best receivers and Jamison Crowder (4-31) ends with a whimper. Herndon caught a touchdown in the last two games after a season of being ignored. The Jets finish 2-14 on the season and get ready to clean house for the next set of disappointing coaches to come on board.

Cam Newton looked like a real quarterback again, throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 79 yards as well. Jakobi Meyers (6-68) and rookie tight end Devin Asiasi (2-39, TD) were top receivers while Sony Michael ran for 79 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.  James White (4-31, TD) also scored as a receiver. The Patriots end up 7-9 on the season with a chance to see what civilian life in January is all about.

DAL 19, NYG 23
The Cowboys’ season mercifully ends with a whimper when Andy Dalton threw an intercepted lob into the endzone with only 1:24 left to play to secure the loss. The team was led by Dalton Schultz (7-70) and Michael Gallup (4-49) as the top receivers and that alone says they had no business in the playoffs. Ezekiel Elliott only gained 42 yards on 14 rushes but scored once and caught three passes for 19 yards. Andy Dalton led in rushing with seven runs for 48 yards which is another way to say that the Cowboys have no business in the playoffs.

Daniel Jones threw for just 229 yards and two scores with one interception. Sterling Shepard caught eight passes for 112 yards and one score and ran in a touchdown as well. Unfortunately, he just used up all of his good-luck points. Dante Pettis (2-43, TD) was credited with the other touchdown though it wasn’t clear that he actually caught it but it was never challenged. Wayne Gallman ran for 65 yards on 11 carries and was oddly not used much. The Giants end 6-10 and now get to be uset for the next seven months that the Eagles threw their game to deny the Giants the division.

ATL 27, TB 44

This was actually a close game until the final  eight minutes when the Buccaneers scored two touchdowns.  Tom Brady ended with 399 yards and four touchdowns between Antonio Brown (11-138, 2 TD) and Chris Godwin (5-133, 2 TD). Mike Evans (3-46) suffered a hamstring injury and left the game early. Ronald Jones (12-78, TD) did not seem hampered by his finger surgery. The Buccaneers end 11-5 and receive that valuable No. 5 seed that will face the NFC East winner.

The Falcons end their nightmare 2020 season without a head coach and a 4-12 record. Matt Ryan passed for 265 yards and two scores with Russell Gage (9-91, TD) and Calvin Ridley (8-52) as the top receivers. Brian Hill ran for 94 yards on nine carries thanks to a 62-yard jaunt while Todd Gurley only managed 18 yards on his nine rushes.  The Falcons hung in until the fourth quarter but they missed Julio Jones yet again and the offense was never quite good enough to keep up with what their defense gave away – and that’s how they started the season.

NO 33, CAR 7

Missing Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara don’t matter – as long as you are playing the Panthers.  Ty Montgomery ran for 105 yards on 18 carries while Drew Brees passed for 201 yards and three scores.  Emmanuel Sanders (9-63, TD) and Jared Cook (4-43, TD) were the top receivers and Taysom Hill ran for 41 yards and a score on his seven carries.  The Panthers scored in the first quarter and then never again.  The 12-4 Saints lock down the No. 2 seed and will host the Bears.

The Panthers never got going.  With both Christian McCaffery and Mike Davis out, Rodney Smith took the start and gained 40 yards and a touchdown on ten carries. Teddy Bridgewater and P.J. Walker combined for 271 yards and an impressive five interceptions. Curtis Samuel (7-118) and D.J. Moore (5-101) were the top receivers but this game was over by the second quarter. HC Matt Rhule’s first season ends  at 5-11 but next year – Christian McCaffery!

GB 35, CHI 16
The Packers had little trouble nailing down the No. 1 seed since the Bears only kicked three field goals after the first quarter. Aaron Rodgers passed for 240 yards and four touchdowns but the top receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2-87, TD) and Davante Adams (6-46, TD) were only moderately successful. Aaron Jones only ran for 42 yards and a touchdown on his 11 carries.  The Packers secured their Round one bye.

Mitchell Trubisky was held to 252 yards and one interception.  Darnell Mooney (11-93) was the best receiver since the Packers’ cornerbacks blanketed Allen Robinson (2-37) and Anthony Miller (2-13). Montgomery ran for 69 yards and a score on 22 rushes and caught nine passes for 63 yards. The Bears have to hit the road and play at the Saints this week.

LV 32, DEN 31
This was an entertaining and hard-fought game that went down to the final seconds. The Raiders trailed 24-31 until they scored a touchdown with only 27 seconds left to play and then went for two points and succeeded on a pass to Darren Waller. The Broncos completed a 25-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy with defensive delay of game also enforced to reach the LV-45 yard line where their 63-yard kick with nine seconds left was blocked.

Derek Carr passed for 371 yards and two scores with two interceptions. Darren Waller (9-117, TD) was about all that mattered. Nelson Agholor (1-57) caught one long pass and the rookie Bryan Edwards (2-51, TD) finally caught his first NFL touchdown. Josh Jacobs (15-89, 2 TD) never caught a pass.  The Raiders squeaked out a win and at 8-8 avoided a losing season.

Drew Lock threw for 339 yards and two scores, but Jerry Jeudy (5-140, TD) was the only receiver with more than 50 yards and his 92-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter accounted for a huge chunk of the offense. Melvin Gordon (6-93, TD) ended with four catches for 17 yards. The Broncos finish their 5-11 season with a heartbreaker despite more points and yardage than they usually produced.

TEN 41, HOU 38
Great game and another heartbreaker for the Texans. Ryan Tannehill passed for 216 yards and one score to A.J. Browm (10-151, TD) as the only receiver with more than 39 yards. Derrick Henry ran for 250 yards on 34 rushes with two touchdowns as he became the eighth NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. The win secured the AFC South title with an 11-5 record and the Titans will host the Ravens this week.

The Texans may be only 4-12 but Deshaun Watson played yet another outstanding game, making do with whatever he had. He passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns with Brandin Cooks (11-166, 2 TD) and Keke Coutee (6-90) as the top receivers. David Johnson ran for 84 yards and a score on his 14 carries and he caught three passes for 36 yards. The Texans could be one of the top-seeded teams if they could just play their own defense every week.

JAC 14, IND 28
The Jaguars made this feel like a real game. Mike Glennon passed for 261 yards and two scores to Laviska Shenault (6-68, 2 TD) while Chris Conley (7-87) took his turn as the top receiver in the always-changing rotation. Dare Ogunbowale (14-50) didn’t add much but caught four passes for 22 yards. The Jaguars ended with a 1-15 record and can help Trevor Lawrence find an apartment just as soon as they get a new batch of coaches.

Remember Marlon Mack? No one else does. Jonathan Taylor ran for 253 yards and two scores on 30 carries like he was back at Wisconsin. Philip Rivers threw for only 164 yards and one score to T.Y. Hilton (3-27, TD) but Nyheim Hines (6-50) was the top receiver.  The Colts cruised to this win behind the rushing of Taylor but won’t be facing the No. 29 ranked defense versus running backs in the playoffs. They head to Buffalo for the Wild Card Round.

LAC 38, KC 21
Have to like any meaningless game that cranks out 59 total points. Justin Herbert used the fact that most of the Chiefs were not playing to throw for 302 yards and three scores even without Keenan Allen around. Mike Williams (6-108, TD) was the only wideout with more than one catch. The backfield was a three-way mess between Justin Jackson (9-72), Kalen Ballage (13-36, TD), and Austin Ekeler (7-18) but at least Ekeler added six catches for 33 yards and one score. Herbert should be a lock for the Offensive Rookie of the Year and this game did nothing to hurt his chances. The Chargers end 7-9 on the season.

Chad Henne threw for 218 yards and two scores in this Chiefs-Lite version of the offense that was without their star players. Darwin Thompson used the occasion to run for a career-best 45 yards and a score on 14 carries plus was the leading receiver with seven receptions for 65 yards and a second touchdown. The Chiefs opted to rest all of the running backs other than Thompson. The Chiefs end 14-2 and take this week off as well.

ARI 7, LAR 18
The Cardinals were bounced out of the playoffs with this loss but losing Kyler Murray for most of the game made it impossible against the Rams defense. All combined, the Cards passed for 192 yards and one score with one interception. Dan Arnold (3-46) and DeAndre Hopkins (4-35) were as good as it got, despite Hopkins fielding ten targets. Kenyan Drake (10-36) did little with his minor role as the offense sputtered even when Murray was healthy to start the game. They end 8-8 but lost tie breakers to the 8-8 Bears for the No. 7 seed.

The Rams played without Jared Goff and John Wolford threw for only 231 yards and no scores with one interception. He added 56 yards on six runs as the leading rusher. Cam Akers played through his high-ankle sprain but only gained 34 yards on 21 carries plus was the leading receiver with 52 yards on four catches. The 10-6 Rams end with the No. 6 seed that plays at the Seahawks this week.

SEA 26, SF 23
The Seahawks held off the 49ers for this close win and trailed 16-6 in the fourth quarter. Russell Wilson only threw for 181 yards and two scores to Tyler Lockett (12-90, 2 TD) while DK Metcalf was held to only 21 yards on three catches. Both scores were thrown in the fourth quarter when Wilson finally came to life. Chris Carson ran for 44 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 39 yards in this defensive matchup. The win secured the NFC West and the Seahawks host the Rams on Saturday.

C.J. Beathard threw for 273 yards and one score while Kendrick Bourn (5-76) and George Kittle (7-68)  were the top receivers with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuels out. Jeff Wilson (20-76, TD) made a case for more work next season and added three catches for 12 yards and a second touchdown as well. The 6-10 49ers wind down a season that saw their roster decimated by injury from the start and their season results exceeded expectations,

WAS 20, PHI 14
That will be a memorable game for Washington, and maybe the Eagles, but definitely the Giants who watched the game knowing that if the Eagles won, the Giants took the division and host a playoff game. But the defensive matchup saw the Eagles go for it on fourth-and-four at the Washington four-yard line. Instead of kick a tying field goal. And they were unsuccessful. But then, with 12:35 left to play, they got the ball back and benched Jalen Hurts and sent in Nate Sudfeld so he could end the game with five-of-twelve completions for 32 yards and one interception. And a lost fumble. And they looked like HC Doug Pederson figured “screw the Giants, I’m throwing this.”

Hurts was not much better, but  he ran for 34 yards on eight rushes with both touchdowns scored by the Eagles. Boston Scott ran for 65 yards on 15 rushes but none of the receivers had any success. Pederson said that he still wanted to win but wanted to get Pederson some playing time when, you know, they were still close and a No. 3 quarterback might be just the thing the game needed. Very odd way to end the 2020 regular season but maybe that is appropriate.

Alex Smith only threw for 162 yards and two scores with two interceptions. Terry McLaurin (7-40, TD) and Logan Thomas (3-37, TD) did the scoring because there isn’t anyone else on the Washington roster that ever merits getting targets. Antonio Gibson ran for 75 yards on 19 carries but only caught one short pass. The Washington Football Team host the Buccaneers on Saturday.

 

 

Taking a quick rundown of the weekend NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

SF 20, ARI 12
This was just the start of teams that needed to win but did not. And teams with nothing to win became spoilers. C.J. Beathard passed for 182 yards and three touchdowns with running backs Jeff Wilson (1-21, TD) and Kyle Juszczyk (2-10, 2 TD) catching the scores. George Kittle was active and though he was expected to play a minimal role, he ended as the leading receiver with four catches for 92 yards. Wilson had a career day (easily) when he ran for 183 yards on 22 carries. More than that, the 49ers’ defense played a tremendous game.

Kyle Murray was held to only 247 passing yards and one interception with 75 yards on eight runs. Christian Kirk (7-76) and DeAndre Johnson (8-48) were the primary receivers but a disappointment facing a secondary that was without key players. Kenyan Drake ran for 45 yards and a score on 18 carries and added just five yards on two catches. The Cardinals played flat and couldn’t sustain drives. The 6-9 49ers end up hosting the Seahawks while the 8-7 Cardinals try to reach a winning season in Las Vegas.

TB 47, DET 7
This game was one of the most lopsided in the NFL this year. The Buccaneers already led 34-0 in the second quarter. Tom Brady passed for 348 yards and four scores before sitting out the second half, while Blaine Gabbert passed for 143 yards and two more scores.  Mike Evans (10-181, 2 TD), Chris Godwin (5-84, TD), Rob Gronkowski (2-58, 2 TD), and Antonio Brown (4-35, TD) all scored  and fantasy owners couldn’t find a potential starter that didn’t go off. Leonard Fournette ran for 34 yards and a score with three catches for 32 yards before he gave way to Ke’Shawn Vaughn (15-62). This one was a laugher from the first play.

Matt Stafford only lasted for three passes, then they tried Chase Daniels and eventually David Bough. The Lions never had a chanceand no receiver gained more than 37 yards.  The only score was from a punt return touchdown. D’Andre Swift ran for 45 yards on ten carries and added four catches for 25 but the game went immediately and irretrievably south from the start. The 10-5 Buccaneers finish up hosting the Falcons and the 5-10 Lions face the Vikings.

MIN 33, NO 52
This Christmas Day game was only a treat for the Alvin Kamara owner in every league. He rushed for 155 yards on 22 carries and ran in six touchdowns while adding three catches for 17 yards. Drew Brees was back and threw for 311 yards and two interceptions. Emmanuel Sanders (4-83) and Jared Cook (3-82) were the top receivers but this game was all about Kamara who could have had seven had they not allowed Taysom Hill to run in a touchdown. Kamara tied the NFL record but could have set a new one.

Kirk Cousins passed for 291 yards and three scores between Adam Thielen (8-97, TD) and Irv Smith (6-53, 2 TD). Justin Jefferson turned in six catches for 85 yards. Dalvin Cook (15-73, TD) added just two receptions for 12 yards and the Vikings even allowed Mike Boone to run in a short score instead of Cook. The loss sends the 6-9 Vikings to Detroit this week while the 11-4 Saints finish up with a trip to Carolina.

NYG 13, BAL 27
This game was never close and the Ravens led 27-6 in the fourth quarter. Daniel Jones passed for 252 yards and one score to Sterling Shepard (9-77, TD) which came in the fourth quarter trash time. Evan Engram ended with seven receptions for 65 yards but no other receiver gained more than 33 yards. Wayne Gallman only ran for 27 yards on six runs and caught two passes for 26 yards.  The Ravens had no problem controlling the Giants from the start.

Lamar Jackson threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards on 13 runs. Mark Andrews (6-76) led the receivers while Marquise Brown (4-25, TD) scored. Dez Bryant (1-8, TD) also scored on his only catch in the game. J.K. Dobbins ran for 80 yards on 13 runs and Gus Edwards gained 85 yards on his 15 rushes.  The rushing offense handled this touch the split meant no individual rusher did that much. The 5-10 Giants  host the Cowboys to end the year while the 10-5 Ravens  head to Cincinnati.

CIN 37, HOU 31
Go figure. The Texans’ defense is nothing special, but the Bengals were down to mostly second-string players. Brandon Allen threw for 371 yards and two scores with Tee Higgins (6-99, TD) and Alex Erickson (6-88) as the top receivers while Samaje Perrine ran for 95 yards and two scores on just 13 carries and Giovani Bernard gained 65 yards on his 16 runs with seven catches for 66 yards. Bengals trailed 27-31  remaining but scored ten points in the final two minutes to take the win.

Deshaun Watson passed for 324 yards and three scores with Brandin Cooks (7-141, TD) and Keke Coutee (5-54) as the top receivers. David Johnson had a big day with 128 yards and a score on just 12 carries and three catches for 11 yards and another touchdown. Watson injured his arm at the end of the game and it looked significant. The 4-10-1 Bengals end by hosting the Ravens and the 4-11 Texans  face the visiting Titans.

CHI 41, JAC 17

The Bears happily accepted their free win but it could have been worse than it was. Mitchell Trubisky passed for 265 yards and two scores with one interception  and he ran in a score a well. Allen Robinson (10-103) and Jimmy Graham (4-69, 2 TD) did most of their damage earlier in the game. David Montgomery ran for 95 yards and a score on 23 carries and added 26 yards on two catches. Artavis Pierce came in for two carries and scored a touchdown and Ryan Nall also had two runs.

Mike Glennon threw for 211 yards and two scores but also had two interceptions. DJ Chark (4-62, TD) and Laviska Shenault (5-48, TD) were the only receivers with more than 27 yards. With James Robinson out, Dare Ogunbowale gained 71 yards on 14 rushes and added three catches for seven yards but this was tied in the second quarter 10-10 and then became all about the Bears. The 1-14 Jaguars finish at the Colts while the 8-7 Bears  host the Bears.

ATL 14, KC 17
Hard to say what is worse? That the Chiefs always play down to the level of their opponent or that they get away with it every time? Patrick Mahomes passed for 278 yards and two scores and ran for 21 yards against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Travis Kelce (7-98, TD) and Tyreek Hill 4-65) were the top receivers as usual and Demarcus Robinson (2-29, TD) had his rare touchdown. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the sideline, Le’Veon Bell only ran for 30 yards on seven rushes while Darrell Williams gained 46 yards on ten runs. This game was tied 7-7 in the fourth quarter and the Chiefs won it with a touchdown pass with under two minutes to play.

Matt Ryan threw for 300 yards and two scores with Calvin Ridley (5-130) and Hayden Hurst (5-47, TD) as the top receivers. Todd Gurley ran for only 16 yards on four carries but gained 34 yards on his three receptions. Ito Smith was the lead back with just 46 yards on ten rushes. The 4-11 Falcons finish up at the Buccaneers and the 14-1 Chiefs host the Chargers.

CLE 16, NYJ 23
Amazing. The Jets took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter and never gave it up. They’ve won two games in a row and the Jaguars are free to win a game now that they have wrapped up the No. 1 overall draft pick.  Sam Darnold threw for 175 yards and two scores and Jamison Crowder not only caught seven passes for 92 yards and a score, he also threw a 43-yard touchdown to Braxton Berrios. Even Chris Herndon caught a score on his four receptions for 34 yards. Frank Gore ran for only 48 yards on 14 carries but remains the primary back.

Baker Mayfield’s hot streak ended with only 285 yards and no scores after 53 passes. Austin Hooper (7-71) and Ja’marcus Bradley (5-60) were the top receivers since all of the starters were on the COVID list as of Sunday morning. The Jets held Nick Chubb to only 28 yards on 11 runs though he and Kareem Hunt (4-11, TD) both ran in a touchdown. The Browns trailed 20-3 in the third quarter and could not manufacture a comeback. The loss sends the 10-5 Browns home to host the Steelers and the 2-13 Jets look for the hat trick at the Patriots.

IND 24, PIT 28
The Steelers pulled this out after trailing 24-7 in the third quarter. Philip Rivers passed for 270 yards and one touchdown to Zach Pascal (3-64, TD). T.Y. Hilton ended with 60 yards on three catches and Jack Doyle caught four passes for 50 yards. Jonathan Taylor ran for 74 yards and two scores on his 18 carries while Nyheim Hines gained 44 yards on eight runs and caught five passes for 20 yards. The Colts had this one won but the Steelers got hot in the fourth quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. JuJu Smith-Schuster (9-96, TD), Diontae Johnson (8-75, TD), and Eric Ebron (5-47, TD) all scored in the fourth quarter in an otherwise lackluster offensive showing for three quarters. James Conner only ran for 20 yards on his five rushes but scored once. He also added five receptions for 45 yards. The 10-5 Colts host the Jaguars this week while the 12-3 Steelers head to Cleveland.

DEN 16, LAC 19
Not exactly a shootout. Drew Lock threw for 264 yards and two interceptions, but he ran in the only touchdown for the Broncos. DaeSean Hamilton (5-77) and Noah Fant (6-65) led the receivers while Jerry Jeudy (6-61) was thrown a team-high 15 targets but dropped most of them. Melvin Gordon ran for 79 yards on 16 carries but had no catches. The Broncos tied the score 16-16 with under three minutes left but the Chargers kicked a 37-yard field goal to win with 41 seconds left.

Justin Herbert passed for 253 yards and one score to Austin Ekeler (3-23) who ran for 45 yards on two carries. Mike Williams was the best receiver with only four catches for 54 yards with Keenan Allen out. This was just a low-energy game and nothing like the fireworks that usually happen when Herbert plays. The 5-10 Broncos  return home to face the Raiders and the 6-9 Chargers  head to Kansas City where they hope the Chiefs are resting their entire team.

CAR 20, WAS 13
Go figure. The Panthers didn’t do much, but the Washington Football Team lost the ball four times and changed quarterbacks. Plus, Terry McLaurin was out. Dwayne Haskins was benched after two interceptions and a 36.9 QB rating on his 28 passes. Taylor Heinicke finished the game and they combined for 291 yards and one score. Antonio Gibson ran for 61 yards on ten rushes and added eight yards on three catches. J.D. McKissic ran for 15 yards and led the team on  eight catches for 77 yards and the one touchdown. Logan Thomas also turned in 63 yards on seven catches but adding Haskins and taking away McLaurin is not a winning combo.

Teddy Bridgewater only threw for 197 yards and one score to Robby Anderson (7-39, TD) while Curtis Samuel (5-106) and D.J. Moore (5-37) accounted for almost all of the other receptions. Mike Davis ran for just 28 yards on 14 carries but scored once and had no catches. Samuel also ran seven times for 52 yards as the leading rusher and receiver. The 5-10 Panthers host the Saints this week while the  6-9 Football Team plays in Philadelphia.

PHI 17, DAL 37
 The Cowboys passing game looked great again and the magic that Jalen Hurts brought to the Eagles was overshadowed by two interceptions and a lost fumble. Hurts passed for 342 yards and one score plus he ran for 69 yards on nine runs. Miles Sanders scored on his 15 carries for 57 yards and he added four receptions for 27 yards. DeSean Jackson was active and his lone catch went for an 81-yard touchdown. But the Eagles stopped scoring in the second quarter while the Cowboys racked up 24 more points.

Andy Dalton threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns and looked better than ever. Michael Gallup (6-121, 2 TD) and Amari Cooper (4-121) led the receivers and CeeDee Lamb (3-65, TD) scored as a receiver and ran in a second touchdown on a 19-yar4d play. Ezekiel Elliott started slowly but ended with 105 yards on 19 carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. It all worked in this home version of the annual series with the Eagles. The 6-9 Cowboys  head to New York to play the Giants and the 4-10-1 Eagles  host the Football Team hoping to be a spoiler.

LAR 9, SEA 20
This was everything that the Rams did not need. Jared Goff threw for 234 yards and one interception while injuring his throwing thumb.  Cooper Kupp (8-66), Josh Reynolds (6-65), and Robert Woods (4-48) show how much the Seahawks secondary has improved. Cam Akers is out with a high-ankle sprain and Darrell Henderson gained 62 yards on 17 runs before leaving with his own ankle injury. If Goff, Henderson, and Akers are out, fold up the tents and make plans for next year.

The Seahawks didn’t have much success either though they had no turnovers. Russell Wilson managed 225 passing yards and one score plus he rushed in a touchdown as well. DK Metcalf (6-59) and Tyler Lockett (3-44) were the best receivers, Chris Carson gained 69 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 10 yards but the offense was just good enough to get this needed win. The 9-6 Rams end up hosting the Cardinals and the 11-4 Seahawks  finish the season at the 49ers.

TEN 14, GB 40
The Titans came within 14-19 in the third quarter but the Packers pulled away permanently behind Davante Adams and AJ Dillon.  Aaron Jones ran for 94 yards on ten carries but Dillon replaced Jamaal Williams and became the primary back with 21 rushes for 124 yards and two scores. Aaron Rodgers looked like he was playing sandlot football with younger kids when he completed 21-of-25 for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Davante Adams (11-142, 3 TD) was mostly unstoppable, and Equanimeous Brown (1-21, TD) handled the receiving touchdowns. The Packers were terrifyingly good at home where they’ll be throughout the conference playoffs.

Derrick Henry (23-98) never broke a run longer than 10 yards. Ryan Tannehill passed for 121 yards and one score with two interceptions like a good quarterback that did not want to play in snowy and cold Green Bay. A.J. Brown (4-43) and Jonnu Smith (3-30, TD) were the top receivers. The 10-5 Titans head to Houston this week while the 12-3 Packers  play in Chicago. 

 

The Game-o-the-Week

MIA , 26, LV 25
Such a heart-breaker for the Raiders.The low-scoring, back-and-forth matchup that was tied 16-16 with only four minutes left to play. Then Nelson Agholor caught an 85-yard touchdown with a missed extra point. 42 seconds later, Myles Gaskin caught a 59-yard touchdown. The Raiders kicked a field goal with only 19 seconds left to play for a 25-23 lead. The Dolphins took over on their own 25-yard line and Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with Mack Hollins for 34-yards on the first play and the Raiders had a roughing the passer penalty that brought the ball to the LV-26 yard line  where Jason Sanders kicked the game winning 44-yard field goal as time expired and Jon Gruden’s head exploded.

Tua Tagovailoa was benched in the second half and Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped in with a nearly-flawless performance. Myles Gaskin ran for 87 yards on 14 carries and also was the lead receiver with five catches for 82 yards and two scores. Mike Gesicki (4-54) was the best of the rest but Devante Parker did not play.

Derek Carr threw for 336 yards and a score to Agholor (5-155, TD) while Darren Waller (5-112) also came up big though no other wideout gained more than 34 yards. Josh Jacobs ran for 69 yards on 13 carries and failed to catch either pass thrown to him. The Raiders should have won that game but Fitzpatrick was magic when they needed him the most. The 10-5 Dolphins travel to Buffalo this week while the 7-8 Raiders  finish up in Denver.

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

BUF 48, DEN 19
The Bills have not looked this good in decades. Josh Allen threw for 359 yards and two scores and added two more touchdowns via three rushes for 33 yards. Zack Moss (13-81) and Devin Singletary (8-68, TD) handled the rushing while Singletary added three catches for 16 yards. Stefon Diggs (11-147) and Cole Beasley (8-112) both turned in high yardage though Diggs left injured near the end of the game. This was a thorough beatdown and the Bills led 21-13 at the half and then owned the second half.

Drew Lock was held to only 132 yards and one score to Noah Fant (8-68, TD). No other receiver gained more than 20 yards. Melvin Gordon rushed for 61 yards and two scores on 11 carries and added four catches for 20 yards. Phillip Lindsay also ran 11 times but only covered 38 yards. The 11-3 Bills now own the AFC East for the first time since before World War I and play at the Patriots this week. The 5-9 Broncos end up at the Chargers.

CAR 16, GB 24
Rather surprisingly lackluster game. Teddy Bridgewater passed for 258 yards but no scores and D.J. Moore (6-131) enjoyed letting Robby Anderson (2-21) draw the shutdown corner this week. Mike Davis ran for 59 yards on 14 carries but only added two catches for two yards. The only touchdown came on a run by Bridgewater and the Panthers trailed 21-3 at the half when the Packers stopped caring and the Panthers could only come up with field goals.

Aaron Rodgers threw for only 143 yards and one score – there’s a sign of how the Packers never had to shift into second gear to win this. Rodgers did run in one score. Alan Lazard (5-56) led the receivers while Davante Adams (7-42) was given the week off. Aaron Jones ran for 145 yards and one score and added three catches for 13 yards. The 4-10 Panthers  play in Washington and maybe, just maybe you can actually use Christian McCaffrey if you somehow reached the league championship without your first overall draft pick. The 11-3 Packers  host the Titans this week.

TB 31, ATL 27
Great game with high points. The Buccaneers trailed 7-24 in the third quarter and the passing game for Tom Brady finally kicked in just in the nick of time. He ended with 390 yards and two scores with Mike Evans (6-110), Antonio Brown (5-93, TD), and Chris Godwin (4-36, TD) all delivering fantasy-relevant performances even if Rob Gronkowski (3-29) did not. Leonard Fournette replaced Ronald Jones and ran for 49 yards and two touchdowns on his 14 rushes. It ended well enough, but the Buccaneers offense took almost three quarters to wake up and their defense never did.

Matt Ryan was in top form even without Julio Jones. He threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns without a shred of rushing support. The backfield only totaled 21 rushing yards and that was with Ito Smith gaining 24 yards on six runs. Todd Gurley lost a yard on his only rush and Brian Hill lost two yards over his five carries. Calvin Ridley caught ten passes for 163 yards and one score while Russell Gage (5-68, TD) did a solid job replacing Julio Jones. Hayden Hurst also scored on his four catches for 21 yards.  The Falcons had this won and then the Buccaneers just took it away. The 4-10 Falcons travel to the Chiefs this week and the 9-5 Buccaneers  pay in Detroit.

JAC 14, BAL 40
Since the Ravens couldn’t afford a trap game, they put forth a full effort which was plenty in this matchup where they led 40-7 until the final two minutes. Gardner Minshew passed for 226 yards and two scores but no receiver gained more than D.J. Chark (4-53). James Robinson only ran for 35 yards on 16 carries but added three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown. There was just nothing happening in this offense that started the game giving up a safety.

Lamar Jackson turned in a predictably great performance with 243 yards and three touchdowns as a  passer and 35 yards and another score as a rusher. Marquise Brown (6-98) and Mark Andrews (5-66, TD) were the only notable receivers other than Dez Bryant scoring a touchdown on his only catch in the game. Mark Ingram was inactive and a lock to be elsewhere next year. J.K. Dobbins ran for 64 yards and a score on 14 carries and added a 17-yard catch. Gus Edwards ran for 42 yards and added two receptions for 36 yards.  The loss plummets the Jaguars to only 1-13 and they host the Bears this week. The 9-5 Ravens  keep their playoff hopes alive and host the Giants.

SF 33, DAL 41
This was a surprise. The Cowboys never trailed but also never led by much until the end of the game. Nick Mullens passed for 219 yards and two scores as a disappointment, and Brandon Aiyuk (9-73, TD) and Kendrick Bourne (4-86, TD) were the only notable receivers. Bourne caught a 49-yard Hail Mary pass on the final play to boost the passing stats here and prevent Mullens from a shockingly low-production game versus the Cowboys secondary. Raheem Mostert ran for 68 yards on 14 carries but left injured. Jeff Wilson (16-60, TD) had the bulk of his production after Mostert left.

Ezekiel Elliott was inactive and Tony Pollard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries and added six catches for 63 yards as the only Cowboy with a truly productive performance. CeeDee Lamb (5-85) also ran back an onside kick attempt by the 49ers at the end of the game but Michael Gallup (3-26, TD) and Dalton Schultz (2-14, TD) handled the receiving scores. The 5-9 49ers stumble to Arizona this week while the 5-9 Cowboys somehow remain in contention for the NFC East and  host the Eagles.

HOU 20, IND 27
The Colts had a bit of trouble winning this game that was tied 20-20 until the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Deshaun Watson passed for 373 yards and two touchdowns. David Johnson was the top receiver with 11 catches for 106 yards while Chad Hansen (2-55, TD) and Keke Coutee (5-53, TD) both scored and Brandin Cooks (6-59) helped out. But Johnson only ran for 27 yards on eight rushes and that was with Duke Johnson out this week. The Colts seemed to play this one with less intensity than expected and let the Texans stay in the game until late.

Philip Rivers passed for 228 yards and two scores that both went to Zach Pascal (5-79, 2 TD) while T.Y. Hilton settled for four receptions for 71 yards. No other receivers gained more than 19 yards on the Texans. Jonathan Taylor ran for 83 yards and one score on 16 carries which was about half of what the potential haul could have been. He added four catches for 12 yards to help but a homefield matchup with the No. 32 defense should have been far more productive. Nyheim Hines only ran five times for 43 yards while this game should have held at least 30 total carries. The 4-9 Texans return home for their final two games that include the Bengals this week. The 10-4 Colts  head to Pittsburgh

NE 12, MIA 22
The Patriots are now officially out of the playoffs for the first time since the invention of grass. Cam Newton passed for 209 yards and ran for 38 yards but the Pats never produced a touchdown and only four field goals made up the score. Sony Michel (10-74) replaced Damien Harris and was effective but little used. Jakobi Meyers ended with seven catches for 111 yards and James White caught four passes for 52 yards to make up the bulk of the receiving production. They can was always close and in reach but the punchless Patriots couldn’t find the end zone.

Tua Tagovailoa passed for 145 yards and added three runs for nine yards that scored two touchdowns. No receivers gained more than 40 yards. Salvon Ahmed was active and ran for 122 yards and a score on 23 carries while Matt Breida added 86 yards on 12 rushes. The Patriots couldn’t sustain drives and the Dolphins were able to run the ball 42 times in all The 6-8 Patriots return home to face the Bills and the 9-5 Dolphins  head to Las Vegas.

CHI 33, MIN 27
As an admitted critic of the usage of David Montgomery since he was drafted last year, it is wildly-confirming to see what he accomplished for the last month when they used him as a true full-time player. Montgomery ran for 146 yards and two scores on 32 rushes. Mitchell Trubisky passed for 202 yards and one score to Darnell Mooney (4-49, TD) while Allen Robinson gained a team-high 83 yards on his four receptions. The passing was down with only 21 balls thrown but feeding Montgomery the ball was enough to win this. What a concept.

Dalvin Cook ran for 132 yards and a score on 24 carries and added five receptions for  27 yards. Kirk Cousins passed for 271 yards and two scores between Tyler Conklin (3-57, TD) and Adam Thielen (2-11, TD). Justin Jefferson led the team with eight catches for 104 yards in the losing effort. The Vikings rallied from being down 20-10 but fell just short. The 7-7 Bears head to Jacksonville this week and the 6-8 Vikings travel to New Orleans.

DET 25, TEN 46
No surprises here other than Derrick Henry “only” rushing for 147 yards and one score. Darrynton Evans ran eight times for 30 yards that could have belonged to the chronically-overworked Henry. Ryan Tannehill threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns between Corey Davis (4-110, TD), A.J. Brown (5-44, TD), and Evans (2-27, TD). The Titans pulled away with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Matt Stafford threw for 252 yards and one score to Marvin Jones (10-112, TD) but no other receiver gained more than 41 yards for the Lions. D’Andre Swift ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and added four catches for 15 yards. The Lions were in this game for three quarters before their defense shrugged their shoulders and left in the fourth quarter. Henry’s potential chase for 2,000 yards isn’t likely if they dial him back and let the rookie backup take eight carries in the game. It is prudent not to overwork Henry, and he’s a lock to end up as the leading NFL rusher for the second season in a row. The 5-9 Lions return home to host the Buccaneers while the 10-4 Titans head to Green Bay for a very stout challenge.

SEA 20, WAS 15
Not a lot of offensive in this matchup that saw the Seahawks leading 20-3 heading into the fourth quarter. Russell Wilson only passed for 121 yards and one score, but he ran for 52 yards on six carries.  DK Metcalf was limited to only 43 yards on five receptions as the lead receiver and the lone touchdown was caught by Jacob Hollister (2-17, TD). Chris Carson (15-63) and Carlos Hyde (2-55) handled the rushing duties in this low-key defensive matchup.

Dwayne Haskins passed for 295 yards and one score but had two interceptions. Logan Thomas (13-101) was the top receiver along with Terry McLaurin (7-77).  J.D. McKissic was the primary rusher with 51 yards on 13 carries and nine receptions for 56 yards and one score as a receiver.  Haskins threw 55 passes in the game but only Thomas and McLaurin mattered. Which is true in most weeks. The 10-4 Seahawks return to Seattle for their final home game and host the Rams. The Football Team also conducts their final home game with the Panthers visiting.

PHI 26, ARI 33
Thanks, Carson. It was almost great while it lasted. The rookie Jalen Hurts lost the game, but he passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, plus ran for 63 yards and a score on his 11 rushes. And he did not lean heavily on any single receiver. Zach Ertz (2-69), Alshon Jeffery (2-63), Jalen Reagor  (5-49), and Quez Watkins (3-40, TD) were the top receivers. Greg Ward only caught four passes for 15 yards but scored twice. Mile Sanders gained 64 yards on 17 carries but has the same problem all running backs do when they play with a running quarterback who can score with his legs.

Kyler Murray threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns with DeAndre Hopkins (9-169, TD) about three times better than any other Cardinals wideout. Dan Arnold (3-54) was the next best receiver while the Cardinals continue to use their tight end. Kenyan Drake ran for just 26 yards on ten carries while Chase Edmonds gained 47 yards on 11 runs and he added three catches for 19 yards and a touchdown. That was above expectations for a player that missed two days of practice and was questionable to play. The 4-9-1 Eagles head to Dallas this week while the 8-6 Cardinals host the 49ers in their home finale.

KC 32, NO 29
Great game and GOTW contender. Maybe a preview of Super Bowl LV? The Chiefs took a 29-15 lead in the fourth quarter but Drew Brees finally got hot after looking very rusty for the entire first half. Patrick Mahomes ended with 254 yards and three touchdowns that benefitted Travis Kelce (8-68, TD), Sammy Watkins (4-60), Tyreek Hill (6-53), and Mecole Hardman (3-22, TD). Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 79 yards on 14 runs but left with a knee injury. Le’Veon Bell took over and gained 62 yards and a touchdown on his 15 carries. There were no monster performances here but all players managed a moderately good game.

Drew Brees passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns playing without Michael Thomas. Emmanuel Sanders (4-76), Alvin Kamara (3-40, TD) and Lil’ Jordan  Humphrey (2-29, TD) were the top receivers. Kamara added 54 yards on 11 rushes. The Saints made a valiant comeback bid but just fell short. The 13-1 Chiefs  host the Falcons while the 10-4 Saints host the Vikings this week.

CLE 20, NYG 6
 This late Sunday game didn’t give much reason to stay up. Scoring was at a minimum and the Giants never logged a touchdown. Baker Mayfield threw for 297 yards and two scores but took it easy in the second half when everyone realized that the Giants were never going to find the endzone. Rashard Higgins (4-76) and Jarvis Landry (7-61, TD) were the top receivers  but the rushing effort was a disappointment. Nick Chubb scored once, but only gained 50 yards on 15 carries and added 16 yards on two catches. Kareem Hunt only turned in 21 yards on seven rushes and caught three passes for seven yards.  It was like a trap game, only without the other side doing anything to trap you.

Colt McCoy passed for 221 yards and no scores. Darrius Slayton (4-74) and Sterling Shepard (4-51) were the top receivers for the Giants. Wayne Gallman only managed 29 yards on nine runs and Alfred Morris led the backfield with 39 yards on seven catches. The Giants without Daniel Jones were unable to generate much offense and the Browns’ defense was good enough to strip all fantasy value from their offense. The 10-4 Browns play at the Jets this week and the 5-9 Giants head to Baltimore where it will not get any better.

 

The Game-o-the-Week

NYJ 23, LAR 20

I’m sorry, what?

Come again? It sounded like you said that the Jets won at the Rams.

Whoa. Wrap your head around that.

The Jets led this 20-3 in the third quarter which was kind of funny in that way that you know will never last. But it did. Just a good thing that season ticket holders in Los Angeles were not in attendance.

The Rams scored a touchdown to make it 20-10 and you knew the comeback was on. Then the Jets kicked a field goal to lead 23-10.

In the fourth quarter, Tyler Higbee caught a 3-yard touchdown to make it 23-17. No problem. One more touchdown and a win, and there was still 13:47 left to play in the fourth quarter. The Jets obliged by going four-and-out. The Rams took over on their 31-yard line with 11:48 left to play. They drove the field and  with 7:42 left to play, Cam Akers ran in an 18-yard touchdown for the go-ahead sco… oh.. offensive holding. They ended up kicking a 42-yard field goal since there was still 6:40 left to play with the score 23-20.

And the Jets obliged, again, by going four-and-out.

All they needed was a field goal to tie.

On second down and six from the Jets 39-yard line, Cam Akers ran for a 22-yard gain to set up the…oh… Illegal block above the waist. On fourth and four at the NYJ 37-yard line, they opted to go for it rather than kick a 54-yard field goal. Incomplete. The Jets took over with 3:54 on their own 37-yard line and THEY RAN OUT THE CLOCK. On third-and-six on the LA 48-yard line with everything on the line, they threw a pass for six yards to Frank Gore for a first and then started kneeling.

Sam Darnold only passed for 207 yards and one score. Jamison Crowder was the top receiver with only 66 yards on six catches. Frank Gore ran for only 59 yards on 23 carries but rushed in a score. The Jets took off in the first half like whenever a great team faces a bad team and just doesn’t care to prepare.

Jared Goff passed for 209 yards and two scores with one interception. Tyler Higbee (4-67, TD) and Robert Woods (6-56, TD) were the top receivers. Cam Akers ran for 63 yards on 15 carries and really 40 yards more and a touchdown but they were called back.

And now the Jets are no longer undefeated. They no longer own the first pick in the draft, the 1-13 Jaguars do.

And somewhere in America. Trevor Lawrence stood to start a slow clap that progressively got louder and more energetic until he was “whooping” and waving his shirt over his head.

Then he did an internet search on “Tampa Bay realtors.”