Tag: Fantasy Football Game Reviews

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

Sunday Snippets

NYJ 13, BUF 6

The Bills rested Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, and John Brown so they were never going to score much in this meaningless game. The only notable was that WR Duke Williams (6-108) and TE Tommy Sweeny (5-76) were the only notable players for the Bills. Frank Gore (6-26) went out with a whimper. The Wildcard Round awaits. The Bills finish 10-6 on the year.

Sam Darnold threw for 199 yards and a touchdown to Jamison Crowder (8-66) but no one else did much even with the Bills only casually involved with the game. Le’Veon Bell ran for 41 yards on 16 carries and added five catches for 36 yards. The Jets finish 7-9 on the season.

NO 42, CAR 10
The Saints needed to win to ensure a first-round bye and they did that with a vengeance. Drew Brees stayed in almost the entire game and threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Thomas only ended with 37 yards on four catches but Jared Cook (2-44, TD) scored once. Once again, Alvin Kamara had a surprisingly good game with 57 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers put up little fight and no Saint gained more than 61 yards in the game. The Saints rise to 13-3 and net a first-round bye.

The McCaffreys had Kyle Allen pass for 295 yards but on scores. Christian Panthers ran for only 26 yards on nine carries but scored once and added seven catches for 72 yards. The top receiver was Brandon Zylstra (6-96) who just tripled the production from his two years in the league. The Saints bottled up McCaffrey whenever he ran so the Panthers had no chance. The loss drops the Panthers to 5-11 while the coaching staff is currently scouring the dumpsters behind grocery stores looking for empty boxes.

CLE 23, CIN 33

The much-anticipated Battle of Ohio actually provided 56 total points so a surprise. The Browns scoring was all about Baker Mayfield pretending he was playing Madden Football and just threw bombs on most plays. He ended with 279 passing yards and three touchdowns just like was expected in the first 15 games (and yet… and yet… ). Jarvis Landry (2-82, TD), Odell Beckham (3-81, TD), and Damion Ratley (2-64, TD) averaged 41, 27, and 32 yards per catch, respectively. Nick Chubb only ran for 41 yards on 13 carries because Mayfield didn’t use that button much. The loss drops the Browns to 6-10 with a three-game losing streak. HC Freddie Kitchens is checking his desk drawers looking for that U-Haul coupon.

The Joe Burrow Bengals end on a high note not only with a win but still owning the first overall Joe Burrow draft pick in April. Andy Dalton only threw for 190 yards and one score but Joe Burrow would have to C.J. Uzomah (5-25, TD). Joe Mixon ends with 26 rushes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, still wondering why the Bengals did not notice him on the roster until mid-season. Let the Joe Burrow era rebuilding begin! The Bengals finish up with a 2-14 record.

GB 23, DET 20

The Packers squeaked out a win on a field goal as time expired and that doesn’t bode well in the playoffs when they won’t face the injury-ravaged Lions again. Aaron Rodgers passed for 323 yards and two touchdowns split between Davante Adams (7-93, TD) and Allen Lazard (4-69, TD) who are collectively known as “the only receivers that ever matter.” Aaron Jones ran for 100 yards on 25 rushes and added 43 yards on two catches. The win brings the Packers to 13-3 and a first-round bye.

The Lions stayed in the game despite David Blough throwing for only 122 yards and the lone passing touchdown was thrown by Danny Amendola on a trick play where he threw it back to Blough. Kenny Golladay led the receivers with 72 yards on three catches. Kerryon Johnson ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on his 11 carries knowing that you will only remember this game, not the other 19 that he missed over the last two years. The loss drops the Lions to 3-12-1.

LAC 21, KC 31

Chiefs wanted to preserve the first-round bye afforded them generously by the Patriots and led this from the second quarter onward. Patrick Mahomes only passed for 174 yards and one score to Demarcus Robinson (1-24, TD) while Tyreek Hill (4-61) and Travis Kelce (3-24) had quiet games. Mecole Hardman returned a kick for a 104-yard touchdown. Damien Williams ran for 124 yards and two scores for his first full game in six weeks and he’s really sorry about abandoning your fantasy team. The Chiefs end 12-4 and net a first-round bye.

The Chargers lost their last three and finished up with Philip Rivers passing for 281 yards and two scores with two interceptions. Keenan Allen (9-82, TD) and Hunter Henry (5-42, TD) caught the touchdowns. Melvin Gordon only ran for 46 yards on 14 carries but scored once and added 76 yards on six receptions. Austin Ekeler ran for 46 yards on nine rushes and caught nine passes for 43 yards. The Chargers end 5-11 on the season.

CHI 21, MIN 19
The Bears logged a win but it took a field goal in the final ten seconds against a Vikings team that had most of the starters on the sideline in this meaningless game. David Montgomery ran for 113 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries like he should have for the entire season. Mitchell Trubisky threw for only 207 yards and no scores. Allen Robinson (9-71) was the only notable receiver like every other game. The Bears finish with an 8-8 record and have to find .500 a better ending than they seemed capable of reaching in this inconsistent offense.

The Vikings almost won this accidentally, using only Sean Mannion at quarterback and relying mostly on Alexander Hollins (2-46) and Obisi Johnson (3-34) since the talent was sitting on the bench. Mike Boone ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and he hopes that the newspaper clipping does not mention the word “meaningless”. The Vikings end 10-6 on the season and will face the 49ers as the sixth seed.

MIA 27, NE 24
Fans for 97% of the NFL (31 of 32 teams) had to enjoy this seemingly improbable ending to a game that the Pats were favored to win by 16 points. At home with a first-round bye on the line, no less. The Fins saw Ryan Fitzpatrick pass for 320 yards and a touchdown to Mike Gesicki (4-34, TD) with Devante Parker (8-137) and Albert Wilson (5-59) as the top receivers. Fitzpatrick also ran in a touchdown while no Dolphin gained more than 21 rushing yards. The ultra-satisfying win raised the Dolphins to 5-11 on the year.

Losing to the visiting Dolphins did not just suddenly happen. The Fins led 10-0 in the second quarter, 17-10 in the third quarter and then scored a touchdown with 24 seconds left for the comeback win. Tom Brady passed for 221 yards and two scores with one interception that was returned for a touchdown. Philip Dorsett (1-50) was the top receiver while  Sony Michel (18-74, TD) was the best rusher. The Pats now fall to the 12-4 and become 3rd seed. It is the first time since 2009 they do not have a first-round bye.

ATL 28, TB 22
This game went into overtime and then ended with – wait for it – a 27-yard return of a Jameis Winston interception. He passed for 201 yards and two scores with two interceptions. Ronald Jones ran for 106 yards on 11 carries and Breshad Perriman (5-134, TD) continued his great sense of timing right before he becomes a free agent. No other Buccaneer gained more than 27 yards. They stopped scoring in the second quarter though expect that their kicker Matt Gay is not on the roster for long after missing all three field goals. The Bucs finish up with a 7-9 record.

The Falcons won in part because Younghoe Koo made all five field goals and they returned the interception in overtime. Devnta Freeman only ran for 58 yards on 18 carries and Julio Jones was the top receiver with 78 yards on seven catches. Matt Ryan threw for 313 yards but only one touchdown. Ryan threw to ten different receivers during his 51 passing attempts. The win also brings the Falcons to a 7-9 record

PIT 10, BAL 28
No matter that the Ravens sat all their star players (and they have quite a few), the Steelers trotted out their injury-decimated, gave-up-already offense to allow Devlin Hodges to complete 9 of 25 passes for 95 yards. Benny Snell ran for 91 yards and a touchdown but this was another whimper of an ending for a team that lost their first starting quarterback at the start of the year and everything went downhill from then on. The Steelers amazingly ended up 8-8 but lost their last three.

The Ravens sat Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram and Mark Andrews, to name a few, but the rest still had fun.  Robert Griffin III probably did not make any inroads to replacing Lamar Jackson when he only threw for 96 yards and one touchdown. But Gus Edwards ran for 130 yards, Griffin ran for 50 yards and Justice Hill rumbled for 39 yards and a touchdown. The defense also recovered a fumble for a touchdown and recorded a safety. The Ravens end up with an NFL-best 14-2 record and a bye next week.

WAS 16, DAL 47
The Cowboys remain the bully when facing bad teams. The Redskins had Case Keenum pass for 2016 yards and a score to Steven Sims (5-81, TD). The rest of the remaining receivers made no impact or scored. Adrian Peterson ran for 78 yards on just 13 rushes in what could be his final year. The Skins end up 3-13 with a four-game losing streak and can finally start interviewing new coaches for 2020.

Jason Garrett’s swan song at least produced 47 points thanks in no small part to facing at home against a terrible team. Dak Prescott threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns with Michael Gallup (5-98, 3 TD) producing a career-best. Amari Cooper (4-92) and Randall Cobb (5-81) were big contributors as well. Ezekiel ends the year with 18 runs for 122 yards and two touchdowns. The search for a new coach begins today and will likely attract more attention than it deserves. The Cowboys end up 8-8 on the year.

OAK 15, DEN 16
It is only appropriate that these lack-luster teams end up with a 31-point total. Derek Carr passed for 391 yards and one score to Hunter Renfrow (6-102, TD).  Darren Waller (6-107) ends as the second tight end that Jon Gruden’s offense ended up revolving around. Dwayne Washington (17-77) replaced Josh Jacobs. The Raiders end up 7-9 for their second losing season under Gruden.

The Broncos won thanks to three field goals by Brandon McManus.  Drew Lock passed for only 177 yards and one score and no receiver managed more than 65 yards. Phillip Lindsay was the top rusher with only 53 yards. The Broncos finish out 7-9 and their first hire of the new year will be someone that can count all the holes they have on offense.

TEN 35, HOU 14
This looks great if you discount that the Texans never cared and sat out most of the best starters including Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. A.J. McCarron threw for 225 yards but no receiver gained more than 65 yards and almost all of them sent people thumbing through their game programs to figure out who they were.  The Texans were locked into their seeding and just played to keep the team healthy. They end 10-6 on the year and will face the 5th seed Bills next week.

The Titans were delighted to discover the Texans stadium empty of opponents. Ryan Tannehill passed for 198 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Brown (4-124, TD) ends his first regular-season already a star wideout and no other receiver managed more than 44 yards. Derrick Henry turned in 32 carries for 211 yards and three touchdowns which would have been much nicer last week instead of sitting out fantasy championship week. The win gives the 9-7 Titans a chance to play in New England next week.

IND  20, JAC 38

An interesting finish for a Colts team that spent the season sending players to the blue tent or the injured reserve. Jacoby Brissett threw for 162 yards and T.Y. Hilton (3-72) did better than usual because Jaylen Ramsey was inactive. No other receiver gained more than 31 yards. Marlon Mack ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. The Colts led 20-13 in the second quarter before the Jaguars reeled off 25 straight points. The Colts end 7-9 on the season.

The Jaguars vary between looking like they are just going through the motions and yet like they are highly motivated in other games. This was a good one. Gardner Minshew did not make the offseason any easier for the Jags deciding what to do with Nick Foles. The rookie passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns spread over DeDe Westbrook (7-72, TD), Keelan Cole (3-67, TD), and Ryquell Armstead (5-52, TD).  Armstead led the rushers with only 33 yards on ten runs. The Jaguars end up 6-10 and ready to also go coach searching.

ARI 24, LAR 31
The Cardinals put up a great fight at the Rams and kept it close for the entire game. Kyler Murray was a game-time decision that would end up active and passing for 325 yards and two touchdowns. TE Dan Arnold (4-76, TD),  Damiere Byrd (7-74, TD), and Christian Kirk (7-60) all had a big part in the offense while Larry Fitzgerald’s potential final game only produced four catches for 45 yards. Kenyan Drake ran for 60 yards and a score on just 12 carries. The Cardinals end 5-10-1 in Murray’s first season.

PHI 34, NYG 17
The Eagles had to win to ensure their right to get beat next week by the Seahawks. Carson Wentz threw for 289 yards and one touchdown even though the receiving corps were without Zach Ertz or any other recognizable name. Miles Sanders left with an ankle injury after gaining 52 yards on nine runs and Boston Scott ended with 19 runs for 54 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles end 9-7 with sole ownership of the broken-down Ford Fiesta known as the NFC East.

The Giants may have lost just to spite the Cowboys. Daniel Jones passed for 301 yards and one touchdown to Golden Tate (5-68, TD) while the rookie Kaden Smith (8-98) showed just what Evan Engram should have been doing. Saquon Barkley ran for 92 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries and added 25 yards on three catches. The Giants slip to just 4-12 on the year and now they know what would happen if Barkley was out or limited in most games. And it is not worth repeating.

SF 26, SEA 21
The NFL stuck this one at the end of the day – good job! A spirited game that went back and forth and ended on the one-inch line for the Seahawks comeback bid. Jimmy Garoppollo passed for 285 yards with Deebo Samuels (5-102) and George Kittle (7-86) as the lead receivers and Raheem Mostert (10-57, 2 TD) as the top rusher. Samuel also added 33 yards on two rushes that included a 30-yard touchdown. The win cements the No. 3 seed for the 49ers and the chance to host the Vikings this week.

Travis Homer (10-62) and Marshawn Lynch (12-34, TD) led the rushing attack. Lynch was never a speedster, but he looked in game shape and even scored on a goal-line hurdle over the line. Russell Wilson passed for 233 yards and two scores between DK Metcalf (6-81, TD) and Tyler Lockett (6-51, TD). The game came down to a fourth-down play that ended right at the goal line. The loss drops the Seahawks to 11-5 and they’ll play in Philadelphia as the No. 5 seed.

The Game-o-the-Year

Buccaneers 55, Rams 40 – Week 4

Runner up – 49ers 48, Saints 46 – Week 14

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

Sunday Snippets

JAC 12, ATL 24
The Jaguars continue their descent with Gardner Minshew passing for 181 yards and one score to Chris Conley (2-56, TD). DJ Chark (2-18) did play. sort of, only wasn’t any help to the Jags or fantasy owners. Leonard Fournette ran for 71 yards and added 34 yards on three catches but the Jaguars trailed 24-6 until the final two minutes. Now the 5-10 Jaguars finish up hosting the Colts.

The Falcons received one of those games from Devonta Freeman that you’ll, unfortunately, remember as being far more common than they really are. He ran for 53 yards and one score plus caught nine passes for 74 yards and another touchdown. Where was that all year? Matt Ryan threw for 384 yards and that one score while Julio Jones (10-166) and Austin Hooper (7-82) both turned in great showings. The 6-9 Falcons head to Tampa Bay for their final game.

BAL 31, CLE 15
The Browns scored first but then it was pretty much all Ravens, as expected. Mark Ingram turned in 102 total yards and one touchdown before leaving injured. Lamar Jackson ran for 103 yards and threw for 238 and three touchdowns. Mark Andrews rewarded fantasy owners with a team-high six catches for 93 yards and two scores. The win secures the No. 1 seed for the 13-2 Ravens who host the Steelers in a meaningless game.

Baker Mayfield threw for 192 yards and two scores but the offense had a much tougher time than their upset win in Baltimore earlier this year. Nich Chubb only ran for 45 yards on 15 carries with no catches. Kareem Hunt ran for no gain on three carries and caught just four passes for 33 yards. Jarvis Landry (7-74) and Odell Beckham (4-44, TD) were both held to just short catches. The loss drops the Browns to 6-9 and they end the year in Cincinnati.

CAR 6, IND 38

You know how rookie quarterbacks sometimes debut to a big performance? Not so with Will Grier. The Panthers rookie passed for 224 yards and three interceptions. Christian McCaffrey ran for 54 yards and while no other receiver managed more than three catches or 33 yards, McCaffrey caught 15 passes for 119 yards. He paid off every week this year and still had 173 yards and 15 catches for the fantasy championships where he was well represented in many leagues. The Panthers fall to 5-10 and host the Saints this week.

The Colts had no trouble here and that was with Jacoby Brissett passing for only 119 yards. No receivers gained more than T.Y. Hilton’s three receptions for 26 yards because there wasn’t any need to throw. Marlon Mack (16-95, TD) and Jordan Wilkins (9-84, TD) both ran well and even Brissett rushed in a score. Throw in two punt-returns for a touchdown (first time since 1997) and the beat was on. The Colts rise to 7-8 and finish at the Jaguars with a chance for a .500 season.

PIT 10, NYJ 16
On a day with such wonderful high scores, we have this dog. The Steelers benched Devlin Hodges (84 YDS, 2 INT) but then Mason Rudolph (129 YDS, TD) ended up with a concussion, so Hodges had to return. Diontae Johnson (8-81, TD) was the only notable receiver while James Conner was held to only 32 yards on six rushes. The loss sends the 8-7 to finish up against the Ravens who may be resting players, so a .500 season is still possible.

Le’Veon Bell faced his old team but only ran for 72 yards on 25 carries. He caught four passes for 21 yards for 93 total yards – better than usual. And better than James Conner. Sam Darnold passed for 183 yards and one touchdown to Robby Anderson (2-32, TD). Jamison Crowder (4-60) led the receivers but there wasn’t much offense happening here. The win brings the Jets up to 6-9 and they’ll finish at the Bills.

NO 38, TEN 28
Great game with big implications for the playoffs. The Saints fell behind 14-0 but then reeled off 24 straight points. They did not secure the win until the final two minutes when Michael Thomas scored. He ended with 12 catches for 136 yards and that touchdown to break the single-season record for receptions which is now 145. And he has one more game to play at the Panthers who rank No. 30 against wide receivers. Can he hit 150? 160? Maybe!

Drew Brees passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns that also included Jared Cook (3-84, 2 TD) and almost no one else. Alvin Kamara was a major disappointment for fantasy owners and yet for the few that may have still reached their league championship, he finally showed up with 80 yards and two scores on 11 carries plus 30 yards on six catches. The win raises the Saints to 12-3 in a tie for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Ryan Tannehill threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns that mostly favored Tajae Sharpe (5-69, 2 TD) and Jonnu Smith (3-63, TD). A.J. Brown was held to just one catch for 34 yards but rushed in a touchdown on a 49-yard run. Derrick Henry was a scratch to rest his hamstring so Dion Lewis (15-68) filled in. The loss drops the Titans to 8-7 and they’ll play in Houston this week hoping to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.

NYG 41, WAS 35
Definite contender for Game-o-the-week. Two of the more disappointing teams came together for a 76-point offensive explosion right when fantasy leaguers needed it most. Saquon Barkley was mostly a dud as the first-overall pick in most leagues but he blew up for 189 yards and a score on 22 carries,  plus caught four passes for 90 yards and a second touchdown. Daniel Jones passed for 352 yards and five touchdowns thanks to overtime. Golden Tate (6-96) and Sterling Shepard (6-76, TD) were the top receivers while Kaden Smith (6-35, 2 TD) showed just what Evan Engram could have done if he had played. The 4-11 Giants host the Eagles this week.

Dwayne Haskins was having a great game with 12-of-15 completions for 133 yards and two scores but left injured and Case Keenum finished the game with 158 yards and a third passing score. Terry McLaurin (7-86) and Steven Sims (6-64, 2 TD) were the top receivers. Adrian Peterson (15-36, TD) became the No. 4 all-time scorer for running backs but only added 19 yards on two catches for a down game. The overtime loss has the Redskins at only 3-12 and they finish at the Cowboys.

DET 17, DEN 27
The Lions led this 17-13 in the fourth quarter of this snore-fest before the Broncos added two touchdowns to win. David Blough passed for 117 yards and one score to Kenny Golladay (6-66, TD), who salvaged his fantasy value, unlike any other receiver. Kevin Johnson led the backfield with ten carries on 42 yards while Bo Scarbrough only managed 34 yards on eight carries. The Lions only seemed to be in this game thanks to a punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. They fall to 3-11-1 and end the year hosting the Packers.

Drew Lock only threw for 192 yards and one score to DaeSean Hamilton (6-65, TD) while Courtland Sutton settled for just five catches for 41 yards. Phillip Lindsay (19-109, TD) and Royce Freeman (9-28, TD) handled most of the first downs and touchdowns. The Lions on the road was never going to be tough and falling behind because of a punt-return just delayed the inevitable. The 6-9 Broncos finish up hosting the Raiders.

OAK 24, LAC 17
The Raiders were on the road without Josh Jacobs but that did not matter. Dwayne Washington (23-85, TD) added 21 yards on two catches for a 100-yard performance. Derek Carr passed for 291 yards and one score to Hunter Renfrow (7-107, TD) who suddenly appeared from the shadows. Tyrell Williams (4-82) even had one of his better games. The win propels the Raiders to 7-8 and a highly unlikely yet mathematical possibility of winning a wild card.

The Chargers backfield accounted for only 26 yards on 13 carries though Melvin Gordon punched in two 1-yard touchdowns. Philip Rivers ended with 279 passing yards while Keenan Allen totaled five catches for 71 yards to lead the team and Austin Ekeler (5-58) was the only other notable receiver. This was an overall low-scoring game with Dwayne Washington as the best fantasy play. The 5-10 Chargers finish their season with a loss at the Chiefs.

DAL 9, PHI 17
Whoops. This latest loss won’t play well with home town fans and Jason Garrett supporters are pretty hard to find. Instead of cleanly taking the NFC East by beating a 7-7 team, the Cowboys opted to make their march to the playoffs as challenging and meaningless as they could. Ezekiel “Cashing Checks” Elliott ran for 47 yards on 13 carries. Pro Bowl snub Dak Prescott was held to 265 yards and no touchdowns against a defense that was ravaged by injury at every level. Michael Gallup (5-98) and Randall Cobb (5-73) were the best fantasy plays while Amari Cooper (4-24) continued his tradition of disappearing in every road game. The Cowboys fall to 7-8 and yet still can win the division by beating the Redskins while the Eagles can win it by winning at the Giants.

Carson Wentz ended with 319 yards and one score to Dallas Goedert (9-91, TD) who took over once Zach Ertz was injured. Miles Sanders was more than the Cowboys could handle with 79 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries plus he caught five passes for 77 yards like Ezekiel Elliot was paid to as the top fantasy play. The Eagles entered the game banged up, constantly lost more players, and yet still held the Cowboys to only field goals. The Eagles rise to 8-7 at the top of the NFC East but are not a lock to win it.

ARI 27, SEA 13
Well, is it too late for a trap game? Do we still have time? Oh, we do? Great, because the Seahawks at home just lost to the visiting Cardinals that rank in the bottom-five of every defensive category. Russell Wilson passed for 169 yards and one score versus the No. 32 defense versus quarterbacks. Jacob Hollister (5-64)  was the top receiver and the only one with more than 26 yards. Chris Carson (8-40) was knocked out for the rest of the year and apparently took the keys to the offense with him. The 11-4 Seahawks fall behind the 49ers but play them this week. If they can beat them, then they still win the NFC West. Otherwise, they are a wildcard.

The Cardinals not only beat the Seahawks in Seattle, they did it with Kyler Murray on the sideline with a hamstring injury. But the Cards combined for only 167 passing yards and one score to Larry Fitzgerald (4-48, TD). Kenyan Drake ran for 166 yards and two scores plus caught three passes for 18 yards. It was a trap game, but it was a refreshing win for the 5-9-1 Cardinals who travel to the Rams this week.

KC 26, CHI 3
The game was never in doubt. Patrick Mahomes passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing in a score. Travis Kelce (8-74, TD) and Tyreek Hill (5-72) were the only notable receivers while Damien Williams ran for 65 yards on 16 carries plus caught three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. LeSean McCoy was inactive and both Spencer Ware and Darwin Thompson each had five carries as well. The win brings the Chiefs to 11-4 still battling for the No. 2 seed. They host the Chargers this week.

The Bears offense sputtered in this home finale’. Mitchell Trubisky played across from Mahomes who was drafted later and yet only managed 157 yards and no scores. Allen Robinson (6-53) was the top receiver but nothing on this offense worked well. David Montgomery ran for 57 yards on 13 rushes and had no impact on the game. The Bears fall to 7-8 and play at the Vikings this week.

The Game-o-the-Week

CIN 35, MIA 38

This game was over, seemingly, when the Dolphins scored and made it 35-12 with only 11 minutes left in the game. But on the next series, the Bengals marched down the field and Andy Dalton hit C.J. Uzomah with an eight-yard touchdown to make it 35-19 with 6:15 left to play. The Dolphins then reached the CIN 29-yard line where they had to settle for a field goal with 3:07 left to play. But the 47-yard kick went wide left. The Bengals took over on the CIN 37-yard line and bled the clock down to only 33 seconds left when Dalton threw another touchdown to Tyler Boyd to make the score 27-35 after the successful two-point conversion.

The obligatory onside kick was recovered by the Bengals with 28 seconds left. After an incomplete, Dalton found Boyd for a 29-yard completion to the MIA 25-yard line. They had no time outs left and when they were able to spike the ball, there were only three seconds left. The final play was a 25-yard pass to the middle of the end zone where Tyler Eifert CAUGHT THE FREAKING BALL. Still trailing 33-35, they went for two points and ANDY DALTON RUNS IT IN! SCORE TIED! OVERTIME!

The ten minute overtime saw each team with two possessions and then the Dolphins drove down and kicked a 37-yard field goal to win as time expired.

How great is it when two of the worst teams in the NFL play like they are in the Super Bowl? This game between teams that total only five wins on the year scored a total of nine touchdowns. Just imagine next year, when they have real players and a chance at the postseason!

Andy Dalton passed for 396 yards and four touchdowns that included Tyler Boyd catching nine passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Eifert (4-57, TD) and C.J. Uzomah (4-37, TD) both scored. Even John Ross (6-84) had one of his top performances. Joe Mixon ended with only 50 yards on 21 carries but added 23 yards on two catches. That’s a lot of fantasy points from a set of players that likely did not appear in your league championship. The Bengals are still the lock for the No. 1 overall pick in April. Andy Dalton did his best to keep the Bengals from filling out the card in advance with “Burrows” this week. The Bengals host the Browns this week.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 419 yards and four touchdowns. Devante Parker (5-111, TD) and Mike Gesicki (6-82, 2 TD) were the top receivers. Albert Wilson (7-79) and Isaiah Ford (5-68) also had one of their better efforts for the season. Myles Gaskin ran for 55 yards and a score while Patrick Laird took a backseat. Gaskin was later injured so the worst backfield is even worse. The win raises the Fins to 4-11 and they finish at the Patriots.

All bad teams should produce 73 total points. Now that is a Christmas Miracle (“a” miracle, not “the” miracle).

Happy Holidays!

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

Sunday Snippets

SEA 30, CAR 24
Great game from a fantasy perspective. Chris Carson ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 24 rushes made easier with Rashaad Penny out of the picture. Russell Wilson passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns with Tyler Lockett (8-120, TD) doing what we wanted him to do all season. DK Metcalf (2-36, TD) also scored but Lockett and Carson handled most of the work. The 11-3 Seahawks host the Cards this week before welcoming the 49ers in Week 17. The 49ers loss makes the Seahawks the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Kyle Allen passed for 277 yards and a score but once against had turnover problems with three interceptions. DJ Moore came through with eight catches for 113 yards while Christian McCaffrey ran for 87 yards and two scores plus caught eight passes for 88 yards. Curtis Samuel (5-31, TD) was the only other notable receiver. At least the offense wasn’t just McCaffrey. It was McCaffrey and Moore. The loss drops the Panthers to 5-9 on a six-game losing slide.

NE 34, CIN 13
This was about as expected. Sony Michel ran for 89 yards but Rex Burkhead (6-53, TD) got the score with a 33-yard run. Tom Brady only passed for 128 yards and two touchdowns between James White (3-49, TD) and N’Keal Harry (2-15, TD). The Patriots padded their score with an interception return for a score. They actually trailed 7-10 at the end of the first quarter until someone finally noticed they were playing the Bengals. The win raised the Pats to 11-3 and still one game behind the Ravens. All they have left are home games against the Bills and Dolphins.

Joe Mixon is ending his year well with 136 yards on 25 carries and he added three catches for 20 yards. But Andy Dalton only passed for 151 yards and one score while tossing four interceptions. The turnovers (they lost a fumble as well) was a major difference between the two teams. No receiver ended with more than 44 yards. Mixon was the only notable fantasy play. That loss drops the Bengals to 1-13. Next week the Dolphins are their last road loss of the year.

TB 38, DET 17
We should be able to weather a fractured thumb by throwing for 458 yards and four touchdowns like Jameis Winston. Chris Godwin (5-121) left with a hamstring injury but Breshad Perriman (5-113, 3 TD) was the correct answer to the question, “what happens without Mike Evans?” Even Scotty Miller (3-49, TD) caught a 33-yard touchdown while Justin Watson (2-17) did not repeat his success from Week 14. The Buccaneers only ran for 40 yards on 21 carries from their backfield. The Bucs rise to 7-7 on the year and spend the last two weeks hosting the Texans and Falcons.

The Lions were never really in this. David Blough passed for 260 yards and two interceptions with Danny Amendola (8-102) as the only receiver with more than 50 yards. Bo Scarbrough was a scratch and the Lions Wheel of Fortune landed on Wes Hills (10-21, 2 TD) who was just called up from the practice squad on Saturday and saw his first NFL action. The loss sends the Lions down to 3-10-1with a seven-game losing streak. Next week the Broncos finally get a much-needed win.

CHI 13, GB 21
The Bears made a game of this with ten points in the fourth quarter. David Montgomery only ran 14 times for 39 yards while Mitchell Trubisky passed for 348 yards and one touchdown along with two interceptions. Allen Robinson ended with 125 yards on seven catches and Anthony Miller (9-118, TD) roared out of nowhere for a great performance. It wasn’t enough and the loss drops the Bears to only 7-7 and ends their three-game winning streak.

Aaron Rodgers only threw for 203 yards and one score to Davante Adams (7-103, TD) but no other receiver topped 49 yards and no other receiver ever matters this year anyway. Aaron Jones only ran for 51 yards on 13 carries but scored twice. Jamaal Williams ran eight times for 26 yards which should have all gone to Jones. The win brings the Packers to 11-3 and still atop of the NFL North by a game over the Vikings.

DEN 3, KC 23

The Broncos couldn’t get much going. Phillip Lindsay only ran for 32 yards on seven carries. Drew Lock passed for 208 yards and one interception. Noah Fant (2-56) still gives optimism to 2020 and turned in a 43-yard catch. Courtland Sutton (4-79) was the only other receiver of any note. The loss drops the Broncos to 5-9 but they get to host the Lions this week.

The Chiefs cobbled together 80 yards on 21 carries using three running backs while Patrick Mahomes threw for 340 yards and two scores. Travis Kelce (11-142) and Tyreek Hill (5-67, 2 TD) were the only receivers with any success and the only ones you would have started anyway. They saved the game from being surprisingly boring. The win brings the Chiefs to 10-4 and they play in Chicago this week.

MIA 20, NYG 36
No surprise here. The Dolphins had a better rushing effort than expected with Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskins combining or 89 yards on 21 carries. Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for 279 yards and two scores that both went to Devante Parker (4-72, 2 TD) and Albert Wilson (5-59) was the only other notable receiver. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still in the running for the Dolphins leading rusher for the season. The Fins fall to 3-11 and host the Bengals this week.

Eli Manning passed for 283 yards and two scores (and three interceptions) in likely his final home game as a Giant. Sterling Shepard (9-111) and Golden Tate (1-51, TD) were the top receivers and Darrius Slayton (2-31, TD) also scored. The great part of this matchup was that Saquon Barkley ran for 112 yards and two scores plus gained 31 yards on four catches. File that performance under “too little, too late.” It was nice that Manning left with a win and the home town crowd gave him a standing ovation at the end of the game. The Giants rise to 3-10 and play in Washington this week.

HOU 24, TEN 21
The Texans take sole control of the AFC South. Carlos Hyde ran for 104 yards and a touchdown while Deshaun Watson passed for 243 yards and two scores. DeAndre Hopkins turned in the obligatory 119 yards on six catches while Kenny Still (3-35, 2 TD) just caught touchdowns. The game was close throughout and the Texans held off the Titans comeback at the end. These teams play again in Week 17 in Houston, so it is not over yet. The Texans play in Tampa Bay this week which is no automatic win.

The Titans ran Derrick Henry 21 times for 86 yards but the rushing score went to Ryan Tannehill. He passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Brown (8-114, TD) continues his breakout rookie season while Jonnu Smith (5-60) also ran for 57 yards on one play. Tannehill hit ten different receivers and just fell short. They fall to 8-6 and need to beat the visiting Saints this week for the Week 17 rematch with the Texans to matter.

PHI 37, WAS 27
This game was much closer than the score suggest. The Eagles returned a fumble for a score on the final play. Miles Sanders blew up with 122 yards and a score on 19 carries and added six catches for 50 yards and a second touchdown. Carson Wentz passed for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Greg Ward (7-61, TD) and Zach Ertz (5-61, TD) did the most damage. Dallas Goedert (5-55) also stepped up since the Eagles were without most of the wide receivers. The win brings them to 7-7 and they remain tied with the Cowboys for the division that should be settled next week when they host them in the NFC East Championship. That’s not a formal title for the game, but it will be a final victory of any significance for the year regardless of who wins.

The Redskins led 27-24 until the final 26 seconds when the Eagles scored. Dwayne Haskins passed for 261 yards and two scores like an NFL quarterback and Terry McLaurin (5-130, TD) is getting his groove back with the rookie quarterback finally stepping up. Adrian Peterson ran for 66 yards and a score plus caught three passes for 25 yards. The Skins drop to 3-11 but host the Giants this week.

MIN 39, LAC 10
No surprise that the Vikings won, but the beatdown was not expected.  Kirk Cousins threw for 207 yards and one score with Stefon Diggs (4-76) as the best play and no one else better than 48 yards. Dalvin Cook left with yet another shoulder aggravation and nine different players carried the ball. Back-up Mike Boone led the backfield with 13 runs for 56 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikes also returned a fumble for a score. They looked like they were in top form and ready for the playoffs. The win elevates the Vikings to 10-4 just one game behind the Packers who they host this week for a critical NFC North matchup.

The Chargers led 10-9 midway through the second quarter but never scored again. Philip Rivers ended with 307 yards and one score along with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Melvin Gordon only ran for 28 yards on seven carries and caught five passes for 36 yards but lost two fumbles.  Austin Ekeler only ran for 19 yards and caught five passes for 62 yards. Keenan Allen (9-99) and Mike Williams (4-71, TD) led the receivers. The Bolts were competitive and then disappeared in the second half thanks mostly to turnovers. They fall to 5-9 and host the Raiders this week.

JAC 20, OAK 16
The Jags ended their five-game losing streak even though they were behind 16-3 at the half. They owned the fourth quarter when Chris Conley (4-49, 2 TD) scored both of their touchdowns. Gardner Minshew passed for 201 yards and the two scores though he only had 69 yards at the half. Leonard Fournette ran for just 42 yards on 15 runs but added five receptions for 31 yards. Keelan Cole replaced DJ Chark and ended with a team-high 76 yards on three catches. The win lifts the Jags to 5-9 but they are back on the road to Atlanta this week.

The Raiders extended their four-game losing stretch. Josh Jacobs was held to 89 yards on 24 runs and caught just two passes for 20 yards. Derek Carr threw for 267 yards and one score to Tyrell Williams (2-45, TD) but Darren Waller’s eight catches for 122 yards paced the team and his ten targets were seven more than any other receiver. The Raiders are still stuck throwing to their tight end just like 2018. The loss drops the Raiders to 6-8 and worse yet, it was their final home game in Los Angeles before leaving for Vegas next year. They wind up on the road at the Chargers and Broncos.

LAR 21, DAL 44

The Rams were outplayed and dominated thoroughly. The fourth quarter had the Cowboys leading 37-7 and the Rams scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to make it look like it was a competitive game that it was not. Todd Gurley ran for only 20 yards on 11 carries and scored once in trash time. He also caught a touchdown.  Jared Goff ended with 284 passing yards with two scores. Tyler Higbee again had a big game with 111 yards on 12 receptions while no other receiver gained more than 46 yards. Cooper Kupp (6-41, TD) saved his value with a meaningless fourth-quarter score. The Rams never looked worse and fall to 8-6 with a matchup in San Francisco this week.

The Cowboys ended their three-game losing streak in a big way, finally beating a team with a winning record. And they did it entirely differently than any games previous this year. Ezekiel Elliott ended his month-long drought with 117 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries plus he caught three passes for 43 yards. Tony Pollard turned in 131 yards and a touchdown playing mop-up at the end of the game. Dak Prescott only passed for 212 yards and two scores that were split between Tavon Austin (1-59, TD) and Jason Witten (4-36, TD). Amari Cooper (1-19) and Michael Gallup (1-6) had nothing to do with the win. The 7-7 Cowboys remained tied with the Eagles and visit them this week for the Battle of the NFC East.

CLE 24, ARI 38
One of the more surprising games. The Cardinals led throughout mostly thanks to Kenyan Drake who ran for 137 yards and four touchdowns while the Browns average defense became a no-show. Kyler Murry ran for 56 yards and passed for 219 and a score. Damiere Byrd (6-86) was the leading receiver (go ahead, check your program, I’ll wait). No other receivers gained more than 42 yards. This was the final home game for the year and the Cardinals sent the home field fans off with a solid win. The Cardinals rise to 4-9-1 and likely won their last with road trips to the Seahawks and Rams left to play.

Baker Mayfield ended with 247 yards and two touchdowns but had only 82 yards at the half. Odell Beckham (8-66) and Kareem Hunt (8-62) were the top receivers while Nick Chubb ran for 127 yards and one score on just 17 carries. The Cards came into this with the worst secondary and played like the ’86 Bears. Jarvis Landry only netted five catches for 23 yards. The Browns made it look competitive by the end but the Cardinals had no trouble winning. The loss leaves the Browns 6-8 and they’ll need to beat the Ravens and Bengals to finish at .500. So – another losing season.

BUF 17, PIT 10
This matchup was just as boring as the score suggests. The Bills took this game largely because they had fewer turnovers. Josh Allen threw for only 139 yards and one touchdown to Tyler Kroft (1-14, TD). John Brown was the only receiver with more than 14 yards when he caught seven passes for 99 yards. All other receivers combined for only 40 yards. Devin Singletary ran for 87 yards on 21 runs while Frank Gore was allowed a mind-bending two runs to gain 15 yards. Josh Allen (7-28) would score the only rushing touchdown. The Bills rise to 10-4 and lock-up no worse than a wild card. The Bills are playing for the AFC East title at the Patriots this week. Week 16, meaningful game, Buffalo Bills. It is a brave, new world.

The Steelers had James Conner back but he only gained 42 yards on eight runs and caught four passes for nine yards with the lone Steeler’s touchdown. Devlin Hodges passed for 202 yards and the one score but also four interceptions. James Washington (5-83) and Diontae Johnson (5-62) carried the mediocre passing offense. The loss drops the Steelers to 8-6 and they wind up on the road to the Jets and Ravens to finish the year.

The Game-o-the-Week

ATL 29, SF 22
This was a great game. Maybe not the normal amount of points that the Game-o-the-Week prefers, but just a fun ending against one of the league bullies that seemed to lose their intensity after their big win at the Saints last week.

The 49ers just wasn’t anywhere near as productive as usual. Raheem Mostert scored once on his 14 carries for 54 yards but he only added one catch for five yards. Jimmy Garopollo ended with only 200 passing yards and one score to Kyle Juszczyk. George Kittle (13-134) tried to carry the team but no other receiver gained more than 29 yards. Deebo Samuels (1-29) and Emmanuel Sanders (2-9) both had surprising struggles versus a below-average secondary. The loss drops the 49ers to 11-3 and they are tied with the Packers, Seahawks and likely the Saints depending on Monday night.

The Falcons only had their backfield produce 56 yards on 14 carries while Matt Ryan settled for 210 yards and two scores. The entirety of the Falcons offense ended up on Julio Jones (13-134, 2 TD) who enjoyed the absence of CB Richard Sherman. Jones was thrown 20 targets – 14 more than any other receiver. Qadree Ollison only had one run but it scored a one-yard touchdown.

The 49ers led 10-19 in the fourth quarter when the Falcons finally drove the field and Qadree Ollison scored to trail 17-19 with 5:15 left to play. The 49ers reached the Falcons 25-yard line where Robbie Gould kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 17-22 with only 1:42 left to play.

The Falcons would reach midfield four plays later thanks to a 25-yard run by Matt Ryan. He hit Julio Jones with a 25-yard strike to reach the 49ers 24-yard line with 47 seconds left. He ran for nine yards, threw an incompletion and then found Julio Jones for ten yards to reach the 49ers 5-yard line with 12 seconds left. And incomplete made it second-and-goal with eight seconds. Ryan hit Austin Hooper for a touchdown but upon review, it was reversed – no touchdown. With only five seconds left on the final play, Ryan hit Jones right at the goal line where he was called down at the half-yard line as time expired.

But that too was reviewed. And the play was reversed for an exciting win at the 49ers by a Falcons squad that is getting hard to predict. The 49ers likely were a bit flat from the victory in New Orleans. But they took down the best defense on a drive that ended as time expired. The playoffs are not as settled as some may think.

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

Sunday Snippets

CAR 20, ATL 40
Apparently, firing a head coach doesn’t improve the team. Kyle Allen passed for 293 yards and a score to Ian Thomas (5-57, TD) but also tossed two interceptions. Christian McCaffrey ran for 53 yards as the leading rusher and caught 11 passes for 82 yards as the leading receiver. DJ Moore (4-81) was the only other notable receiver. Like every week, the offensive revolves around McCaffrey and little else. That drops the Panthers to 5-8 and on a five-game losing streak.

Matt Ryan threw for 313 yards and two scores with no turnovers. While Julio Jones (5-66) and Calvin Ridley (5-76, TD) turned in moderate production, the top receiver was, of course, Olamide Zaccheaus. The undrafted wideout from Virginia made his first (and only) NFL catch be a 91-yard touchdown. Devonta Freeman ran for 84 yards and one score and added four catches for 10 yards. Brian Hill added 62 yards and a touchdown on his nine carries. The win raises the Falcons to 4-9 and ends their two-game losing streak.

BAL 24, BUF 17
Solid efforts by both but the defenses kept everything in check. Lamar Jackson only gained 40 yards on 11 runs but threw for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Hayden Hurst (3-73, TD) caught a 61-yard touchdown but no other receiver ended with more than 29 yards. Mark Ingram only gained 50 yards on 15 rushes but caught three passes for 29 yards. It was a low-key performance by all against s tough Bills defense. The win raises the Ravens to 11-2 on the season and makes it nine straight wins.

Josh Allen only ran for nine yards on two runs and threw for only 146 yards and one touchdown to Cole Beasley (4-29, TD). Dawson Knox (1-37) had the most receiving yardage while Devin Singletary was the only notable player with 89 yards on 17 carries and 29 yards on six receptions. The Ravens defense won this game. The Bills fall to 9-4 and end their three-game winning streak.

CIN 19, CLE 27
The Bengals lost but made a game of it and Joe Mixon ran for 146 yards and one touchdown plus caught three passes for 30 yards. As any Mixon owner will echo – “where has that been all year?” Andy Dalton passed for 262 yards but only Tyler Boyd (5-75) gained more than 50 yards. Randy Bullock kicked four field goals because the Bengals could only get close. The loss drops the Bengals to 1-12 and keeps that No. 1 overall pick in their back pocket.

The Browns benefited from a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Nick Chubb rushed for 106 yards while Kareem Hunt gained 28 yards and a score on his nine carries and added 40 yards on two catches. Baker Mayfield ran in a touchdown but only threw for 192 yards and two interceptions. Jarvis Landry (4-76) and Odell Beckham (2-39) did do much and no other receivers had more than one catch. The win elevates the Browns to 6-7 and keeps theoretical playoff hopes alive.

WAS 15, GB 20
The score suggests a mail-in effort that worked and that’s not inaccurate. The Redskins final touchdown to Terry McLaurin (4-57, TD) came in the final 1:17 to play so he benefited from trash time. Dwayne Haskins ended with 170 passing yards and one score and Chris Thompson (7-43) was his favorite target. He only threw passes to four different players. Derrius Guice ran for 42 yards on five carries and left with a knee injury. Adrian Peterson gained 76 yards on 20 rushes and ran in a touchdown.  The loss leaves the Redskins at 3-10 and ends their two-game winning streak.

The Packers didn’t do much outside of Aaron Jones who rushed for 134 yards and one score plus was the leading receiver with six catches for 58 yards.  Aaron Rodgers-lite only threw for 195 yards and one score, so, yeah, mail-in time. Jimmy Graham (3-49) and Davante Adams (4-41) was as good as it got for the receivers. It was a low-key game on an otherwise good weekend. The win propels the Packers to 10-3 and maintains their lead in the NFC North.

DEN 38, HOU 24
Well. Ain’t that Drew Lock something? The rookie debuted with 309 yards and three touchdowns in yet another one of those shockingly good first games (see Kyle Allen, Daniel Jones, etc.). Noah Fant (4-113, TD) was the leading receiver despite later leaving with a foot injury. No other receiver caught more than 50 yards and Lock impressed by connecting with ten different receivers.  Philip Lindsay ran for 51 yards and one score while Royce Freeman was limited to only 24 rushing yards but caught two passes for eight yards that included a touchdown. The win brings the Broncos to 5-8.

The Texans trailed 38-3 in the third quarter before mounting a failed comeback. The Texans came out flat probably because of their critical matchup in Tennessee next week only now they face the Titans with matching records. Deshaun Watson passed for 292 yards and one touchdown plus ran for 44 yards and two more scores. Carlos Hyde (14-73) ran well, just not enough to matter. DeAndre Hopkins (7-120, TD) but only had three catches for 30 yards at the half. Keke Coutee (5-69) was not only the next best receiver, but he also did not get injured. The loss drops the 8-5 into a tie with the Titans.

DET 7, MIN 20
Oh look, we’re playing the Lions. Let’s dial down the effort. Kirk Cousins only passed for 242 yards and one score but at least Stefon Diggs (6-92) provided solid production even if no other receiver gained more than 42 yards and the 9-yard touchdown went to Bisi Johnson on his only catch. Dalvin Cook only gained 62 yards on 18 rushes and added 13 yards on two catches. Alexander Mattison also ran 14 times for 46 yards and gained 18 yards on his two receptions. The Lions never scored until the final 2:09 so the game was never in doubt. The win raised the Vikings to 9-3.

The Lions never had a chance. David Blough ended with 205 yards and the one score but had two interceptions. He only totaled 59 yards at the half. Kenny Golladay (6-58) happily accepted the trash time slop. Marvin Jones was next best with just 38 yards on three catches. Bo Scarbrough ran 19 times for 65 yards in a game where they should not have bothered with the run. The loss drops the Lions to 3-9-1 with their sixth straight loss.

MIA 21, NYJ 22
Close does not count but at least it makes the game look more competitive than expected. Ryan Fitzpatrick was the leading rusher with 65 yards on seven runs while Patrick Laird (15-48) embraced being the last man standing in the Fins backfield. Fitzpatrick also threw for 245 yards with Isaiah Ford (6-92) adding to his two other career catches. Devante Parker (2-28) finally cooled down just when you think he is reliable. Jason Sanders kicked SEVEN field goals despite the fact that almost no one would have started him on their fantasy team. The loss drops the Dolphins to 3-10.

The Jets were without Le’Veon Bell so Bilal Powell ran for 74 yards and added 14 more on two catches. Sam Darnold passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Robby Anderson (7-116, TD) had a big game and yet no other receiver managed more than 37 yards. Demaryius Thomas (2-28, TD) turned in the other score to save his fantasy value. The Jets kicked their final field goal as time expired to take the win and rise to 5-8.

IND 35, TB 38
Obvious game-o-the-week contender. Jacoby Brissett ended with 251 passing yards and two scores between Marcus Johnson (3-105, TD) and Zach Pascal (5-74, TD) on a day where the tight ends only had Jack Doyle end with two catches for 27 yards.  Marlon Mack was back, sort of, but only gained 38 yards on 13 runs and one touchdown. The Colts led 35-21 in the third quarter before giving up 17 unanswered points. the loss drops the Colts to 6-7 and all but ends any playoff hopes.

The Buccaneers only totaled 22 runs for 70 yards from their backfield. But Jameis Winston had a monster game with 456 passing yards and four touchdowns, plus he ran in a score, plus he threw three interceptions so the Colts could keep up. Chris Godwin (7-91) and O.J. Howard (4-73) were the leading receivers and about the only players on the team without a touchdown. Mike Evans only caught one pass but it went for a 61-yard touchdown but he pulled up lame at the end. This was a classic Buccaneers game that spewed fantasy points. The win brings the Bucs to 6-7.

LAC 45, JAC 10
This is what happens when a team finally throws the towel in for the season. The Chargers are not this good but the Jags are this bad. Gardner Minshew threw for just 162 yards and one score to Nick O’Leary (4-30) while DJ Chark (9-75) was the only other receiver of any note. Dede Westbrook ended with only 25 yards on six catches. Leonard Fournette ran for 50 yards and added 13 more on 13 receptions. It was a flat, uninspired effort in a home game. It is also could be the final straw for HC Doug Marone.

It all worked for the Chargers. Austin Ekeler ran for 101 yards on eight carries and was the leading receiver with four catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. Melvin Gordon ran 12 times for 55 yards and scored once, plus added five receptions for 29 yards. Philip Rivers ended with 314 passing yards and three touchdowns. Keenan Allen (5-83), Mike Williams (2-63, TD), and Hunter Henry (2-39, TD) all turned in good fantasy production. The win brings the Bolts to 5-8.

PIT 23, ARI 17
The Cardinals never led but they were as close as 20-17 with under two minutes to play. Kenyan Drake ran for 37 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards and has lost almost all magic by this point. David Johnson gained 19 yards on three runs and caught two passes for 34 yards and a touchdown so now he seems like he is “playable” again? Maybe? Maybe not? Kyler Murray passed for 194 yards and two scores. Christian Kirk (8-85) was the only notable receiver as all others only gained 20 yards at most. The Cardinals never gave up but just ended a bit short. They fall to 3-9-1 and this is their fifth straight loss.

The Steelers did nothing special.  Devlin Hodges passed for only 152 yards and one score to Diontae Johnson (6-60, TD) but no one else gained more than 33 yards as a receiver. No running back gained more than 41 yards.  An 85-yard punt return for a score made up the winning margin. The Steelers won their third straight game despite minimal offense and are 8-5.

KC 23, NE 16
Another big game and satisfying for the fans of 31 NFL teams. The Patriots defense held Patrick Mahomes to 283 yards and a 48-yard touchdown to Mecole Hardman on his only catch. Travis Kelce (7-66) and Tyreek Hill (6-62) were mostly held in check. LeSean McCoy led the rushers with only 39 yards, and even Kelce ran in a four-yard touchdown. The Chiefs led 23-7 in the third quarter and held off the Patriots rally. The win lifts them to 9-4 and keeps them within striking distance of a first-round bye.

The Patriots struggled surprisingly at home versus a defense that is mostly below average. Tom Brady passed for just 169 yards and one score to Julian Edelman (8-95, TD). No other receivers gained more than 35 yards. James White ran for 33 and added five catches for 27 yards. Sony Michel cannot be healthy since he ran for eight yards on five carries versus the No. 32 defense versus running backs. The Patriots stayed close enough to suggest they could catch up and in most past years, they would have. This time – they didn’t. They fall to 10-3 and drop behind the 11-2 Ravens.

TEN 42, OAK 21
Yeah, that Tannehill guy is a difference-maker.  If only compared to Marcus Mariota. The ex-Dolphin passed for 391 yards and three touchdowns that mostly favored A.J. Brown (5-153, 2 TD).  Jonnu Smith (3-29, TD) caught the other score. Derrick Henry rumbled for 103 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns in this easy beatdown. Tannehill ended with a 140.4 QB rating. He’s not going anywhere else next year.

The Raiders disappeared after halftime when they were tied 21-21. With Josh Jacobs out, DeAndre Washington ran for 53 yards and one touchdown and also caught six passes for 43 yards. Derek Carr threw for 263 yards and two scores but only Darren Waller (6-73) did much. The Raiders still lack any credible wideouts. The loss drops them to 6-7 and puts a major dent in any hope they could make the playoffs.

SEA 12, LAR 28
Only three games left to the season and still no need to get comfortable yet. The Seahawks ended their four-game winning streak in a convincing manner. Russell Wilson was held to only 245 passing yards and no scores. DK Metcalf (6-78) and Tyler Lockett (4-43) were as good as it got. Chris Carson ran for 76 yards and added 15 more on three receptions while Rashaad Penny injured his knee and left with only one catch. This was a down game for the Seahawks and against a divisional rival. At 10-3, they again trail the 49ers by one game.

It all worked well for the Rams. Todd Gurley ran for 79 yards and a touchdown on 23 rushes plus added 34 yards on four receptions. Jared Goff threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns between Robert Woods (7-98, TD) and Cooper Kupp (4-45, TD). Tyler Higbee (7-116) took advantage of Gerald Everett out while facing the No. 28 defense against tight ends. The win raises the Rams to 8-5 and they remain in the thick of the race for a wildcard.

The Game-o-the-Week

SF 48, NO 45
Oh, that they could all be 93-point games. And involve the No. 1 defense.

This was one of the best games of the year. It was 35-33 entering the fourth quarter and there were five scoring events in the final quarter with three touchdowns and two field goals – the final being the 30-yard field goal by the 49ers as time expired. There were a total of 16 scores – 12 touchdowns and four field goals.

Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 349 yards and four touchdowns with Emmanuel Sanders (7-157, TD) doing the most damage. Deebo Samuel (5-76) and George Kittle (6-67, TD) both made critical catches. Tevin Coleman only ran for six yards while Raheem Mostert (10-69, TD) nor only was the best rusher but also caught two passes for 40 yards and a second touchdown. Matt Breida only needed six runs to gain 54 yards. On the road at the Saints, the offense proved it was just as good as the defense (at least usually).

Drew Brees passed for 349 yards and five touchdowns plus ran in a score as well. While Latavius Murray totaled 94 yards, Alvin Kamara only ran for 25 yards and added 18 more yards over four catches. Michael Thomas (11-134, TD) still dominated against the best secondary in the NFL. Jared Cook reeled in two receptions for 64 yards and two scores. The game was full of offensive production yet the two primary backs – Kamara and Coleman – were the worst among the normal fantasy starts.

It was just a great game to watch with constant scoring and lead changes.

Scoring typically declines in the latter part of the season but not this week.  Nine teams exceeded 30 points on the day. Six games totaled 60 points or more. And no bad weather.  Kinda makes it feel like a bad week is going to come soon.

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

SF 17, BAL 20
This was the defensive battle that fantasy football did not want to see. Raheem Mostert ran for 146 yards and one touchdown while Tevin Coleman was held to only six yards on five carries. Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 165 yards and one touchdown to Deebo Samuel (2-41, TD) but none of the other receivers mattered. Aside from Mostert, none of the 49ers were able to do much on the slick field in Baltimore.

Lamar Jackson only threw for 105 yards and one score to Mark Andrews (3-50, TD) while none of the other receivers did anything. Marquise Brown caught one pass for one yard. But Jackson ran for 101 yards and a score on 16 rushes and Mark Ingram gained 59 yards on his 15 carries. Overall, a slow game with mostly rushing and neither team threw more than 23 passes. But the 49ers held on to the end and a rematch on neutral ground would be a coin flip.

WAS 29, CAR 21
Hello, upset! The Redskins only passed for 147 yards but won the game thanks to the rushing effort of Derrius Guice (19-129, 2 TD) and Adrian Peterson (13-99, TD). Dwayne Haskins struggles a bit more than he should but it doesn’t matter when the rushing offense can produce so well.

Kyle Allen passed for 278 yards and two scores between DJ Moore (6-75, TD) and Curtis Samuel (4-65, TD) and the quarterback even ran in one touchdown. Christian McCaffrey only ran for 44 yards on 14 carries but added seven catches for 58 yards to save his fantasy value. The Panthers looked like they planned on taking the afternoon off when they had the 14-0 lead in the first quarter. They never scored again until the final two minutes.

NYJ 6, CIN 22
It’s a Christmas Miracle! The Jets became the “it” team when they allowed the Bengals to win their first game of 2019. Is it still a trap game if the home team is 4-7? Apparently yes. Sam Darnold only threw for 239 yards with Robby Anderson (7-101) the only receiver of any note.  Le’Veon Bell faced his best situation of the year and only ran for 32 yards on ten carries and caught four passes for 35 yards. The Jets were lethargic and were caught trying to mail it in.

Andy Dalton’s return to starting produced 243 passing yards and one score. Auden Tate (4-66) and Tyler Boyd (5-59, TD) were the top receivers and Joe Mixon ran for 44 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and added four receptions for 26 yards. The Bengals offense didn’t do anything special but their defense was more than the Jets could handle. When was the last time that happened? It wasn’t this year, to be sure.

TEN 31, IND 17

The Titans are not going away this season. Ryan Tannehill threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns although no receiver gained more than 45 yards and Adam Humphries scored on his only catch in the game. Kalif Raymond also scored on his only catch. Derrick Henry ran for 149 yards and a score on his 26 carries. The Titans controlled the ball with the run and played solid defense. They also blocked two kicks and returned one for a touchdown.

Jacoby Brissett ended with 319 passing yards and one score with two interceptions. Zach Pascal (7-109) and Jack Doyle (6-73, TD) were the primary receivers with T.Y. Hilton out. But Jonathan Williams short streak as a starting running back is over with only eight rushes for 14 yards while Jordan Wilkins gained 47 yards on 11 runs. Nyheim Hines only ran four times but gained 22 yards and scored once. The Colts killed themselves with two interceptions and one lost fumble. But they were also playing without Marlon Mack, T.Y. Hilton, Eric Ebron, and Parris Campbell.

TB 28, JAC 11

This was a head-scratcher. Nick Foles was at home against the worst secondary in the NFL and ended up benched when he was 7-of-14 for 93 yards and one interception at the half. Gardner Minshew didn’t fare much better with 147 yards and one touchdown to Dede Westbrook (5-60, TD).  DJ Chark faced the worse cornerbacks in the league and only caught two passes for 47 yards. Leonard Fournette ran for 38 yards on 14 carries and added nine catches for 53 yards.

To add to the odd results, Jameis Winston passed for 268 yards and no touchdowns because Peyton Barber (17-44, 2 TD) was the preferred option instead of Ronald Jones (6-8). It gets better. The top receivers were not Mike Evans (4-53) or Chris Godwin (4-50), but instead were Brett Perriman (5-87) and O.J. Howard (5-61). It was like sitting for three hours and just listening to the “B” side of the record.

GB 31, NYG 13
The Packers took this game with ease but only led 17-13 to start the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers ended with 243 passing yards and four touchdowns. Alan Lazard (3-103, TD) and Davante Adams (6-64, 2 TD) were the only notable receivers. Aaron Jones only ran for 18 yards on 11 carries and added four catches for 13 yards for one of his worst showings this year. The Packers had no turnovers and Rodgers picked the secondary apart.

D.J. Jones threw for 240 yards and a score but had three interceptions. The best receiver was the second-string rookie tight end Kaden Smith (6-70) subbing for Evan Engram. Sterling Shepard caught three passes for 40 yards and the one touchdown. Saquon Barkley ran for 83 yards on 19 carries for one of his better recent efforts and he added 32 yards on three receptions. The Giants were overmatched and Jones kept losing the ball.

CLE 13, PIT 20
The Steelers got back at the Browns for that loss a couple of weeks ago though they changed quarterbacks to Devlin Hodges to remove the temptation for anyone to try to conk Mason Rudolph on the head again. Hodges threw for 212 yards and one score to James Washington (4-111, TD) who has warmed up to Hodges lately. No other receivers gained more than 28 yards. Benny Snell ran for 63 yards and one score while Jaylen Samuels turned in 32 yards on seven runs and caught two passes for 22 yards.

Baker Mayfield was limited to 196 passing yards and one score to Kareem Hunt (5-19, TD) who also ran for 46 yards on seven carries. Jarvis Landry (6-76) and Odell Beckham (3-29) were the top receivers. Nick Chubb ran for 58 yards on 16 carries but only caught one pass for 21 yards. The offense was lethargic and this was just another 33 total-point game where both teams struggled to produce points.

LAR 34, ARI 7
The Cardinals were never in this. Their lone score was the final one in the game and prevented a 34-0 shutout.  Kyler Murray passed for 163 yards and one interception and no receiver gained more than Larry Fitzgerald (6-56). Kenyan Johnson finally had a quiet game with only 31 yards on 13 carries and two catches for 20 yards. David Johnson showed up for four rushes that gained 15 yards. Despite playing at home, the Cardinals have never looked more outmatched than this game.

Jared Goff held off his critics this week with 424 passing yards and two touchdowns. Robert Woods (13-172) and Tyler Higbee (7-107, TD) led the offense while Cooper Kupp (6-65, TD) still managed to score. Todd Gurley ran for 95 yards and a score but only caught one pass for 20 yards. Goff look great and was in synch with his receivers while not focusing on just Kupp. Woods fielded a ridiculous 19 targets so he is back from his personal issue with a vengeance.

LAC 20, DEN 23
This was a close, last-second loss just like the Chargers often do. The Chargers tied the game with only 14 seconds left to play. Drew Lock had one play and threw an incompletion to Courtland Sutton who was interfered with by Casey Hayward and that placed the ball at the LAC 35-yard line where the 53-yard field goal was good to end the game. That’s a bitter way to lose. Philip Rivers passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns between Keenan Allen (6-68, TD) and Austin Ekeler (4-51, TD). Mike Williams (5-117) led the crew. Melvin Gordon ran for 99 yards and added 11 more on two catches.

Drew Lock’s debut ended with 134 passing yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Courtland Sutton (4-74, 2 TD) caught both scores in the first quarter and no other receiver gained more than 15 yards. Phillip Lindsay ran for 58 yards on 17 carries. This was a defensive game and Lock didn’t do much after the first quarter. The defense kept the Broncos in the game and the loss was stinging for the Chargers to battle back, tie the game and in one play, let a 37-yard penalty spot them a winning field goal to Denver.

OAK 9, KC 40
The Raiders never scored until it was 31-0 in the fourth quarter. Derek Carr ended with 222 passing yards and one score but threw two interceptions. Darren Waller (7-100) and DeAndre Washington (3-44) were the lead receivers and no other receivers gained over 15 yards. The wide receivers combined for only six catches for 47 yards Josh Jacobs ran for 104 yards on 17 carries but never had a pass. The Raider’s inability to throw to more than the tight end and a running back doomed them in this matchup.

Patrick Mahomes only threw for 175 yards and one touchdown in the blustery conditions and Travis Kelce (5-90) turned in half of that yardage. Darrel Williams (6-13) was ineffective and left injured. LeSean McCoy (5-10, TD) scored but did little else. Darwin Thompson (11-44, TD) was the best running back but the overall results were mediocre like most games for the Chiefs. The defense scored on an interception return and even scored two points when they blocked the extra point and returned it.

NE 22, HOU 28

That just happened. The vaunted Patriot defense that had only allowed four passing touchdowns this year just gave up four more. Deshaun Watson not only passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns, DeAndre Hopkins even threw one as well – to Watson! Hopkins ended with 64 yards on five catches while Watson focused more on the rest of the roster. Kenny Stills (3-61, TD), Duke Johnson (5-54, TD), and Darren Fells (2-23, TD) all scored. The backfield was limited to just 53 yards on 19 carries but the Texans led by as much as 21-3. It was a feel-good game for the hometown crowd.

Tom Brady passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns – most of it in the second half. Julian Edelman (6-106, TD) and James White (8-98, 2 TD) were the top receivers and White even ran for 79 yards on 14 carries to lead the offense. Sony Michel was held to 45 yards on ten rushes. At halftime, Brady only had 82 passing yards and Edelman only caught two passes for 23 yards. The Texans dropped back once they got the big lead and let the Patriots draw closer.

The Game-o-the-Week

PHI 31, MIA 37
I’m sorry, what did you say? What?

The Eagles have joined with the Cowboys to make the NFL East the division that no one wanted (or at least deserved).  The Eagles led 28-14 in the third quarter and then the Dolphins laid down 23 straight points to lead 37-28 with only 3:37 left to play. The Eagles drove to the MIA-19 but settled for a field goal with 1:55 left to play. After an unsuccessful onside kick, the Fins went three and out and punted to the  PHI-31 with only eight seconds left. The game ended on an interception.

Carson Wentz passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns and Alshon Jeffery (9-137, TD) finally had a monster game this year. Dallas Goedert (6-66) and Nelson Agholor (3-41) were better than usual. Miles Sanders was given almost every touch for the running backs and ended with 83 yards on 17 carries and caught five passes for 22 yards and one touchdown. It was a nice showing by the rookie and a reminder of what can happen when a team ditches the committee approach.

Ryan Fitzpatrick led all fantasy quarterbacks with 365 yards and three touchdowns. DeVante Parker turned in a career-best seven catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Gesicki (5-79, TD) was the other top receiver. There was no rushing production of note like every week since they ended with 15 runs for 25 yards all combined.

The play of the game, and perhaps the winning margin, was a trick play on a field goal attempt when the punter (holder) dropped into a quarterback position with all others spread out to either side. He threw a touchdown to the kicker. How great is that?

The Dolphins are 3-9 and won three of their last four games. The Eagles fall to 5-7 but are still, amazingly, in the race for the NFC East.