Tag: Week 13

WATCH: The NFL coddled the Ravens and Cowboys’ Jerry Jones was complicit

The Dallas Cowboys have a bunch of time on their hands following a whirlwind week. K.D. and Patrik return to the airwaves to discuss the NFL’s babying of the Ravens and giving all other teams the shaft, and how it impacts the Cowboys. Jerry? Why is …

The Dallas Cowboys have a bunch of time on their hands following a whirlwind week. K.D. and Patrik return to the airwaves to discuss the NFL’s babying of the Ravens and giving all other teams the shaft, and how it impacts the Cowboys. Jerry? Why is he throwing his guys under the bus to save Goodell?

As for the Thanksgiving Day game, CBS Sports’ Patrik Walker zooms in on a favorite target while Cowboys Wire Managing Editor K.D. stomps over familiar territory too. It’s the pod you’ve been waiting for, pull up a chair so you aren’t the one that has to Catch This Fade!

Enjoy this Free Preview from the first half of our early-week show. Subscribe for full episodes twice a week!

Intro/Outro Music: Crank Lucas
Post-Production: William “SkyWalker” Steele

For the low price of a cup of coffee per month, you get to stream full audio from your preferred podcatcher every Tuesday and Friday morning as myself and co-host Patrik Walker (CBS Sports) give the lowdown on the ins and outs of the Cowboys in the most entertaining fashion you’ll find on a Cowboys podcast. Williams Steele of The Late Night Hype puts the post-production touches on our audio, video and commercials.

For those who are on the Friends of the Show tier, you get full video, including preroll where Pat and I are chopping it up, early access (Monday and Thursday evenings) and bonus content throughout the week, plus discounts on Catch This Fade! events.

It’s an entire movement and we appreciate you taking the ride with us.

Audio (Patron Tier) Video (Friend of the Show Tier)

Free Preview Audio

Here’s some of what is in the second half of the episode:

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys prep for Ravens as the opponent finishes Week 12

The Cowboys start to prepare for their Week 13 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. This preparation coming before the Ravens finish Week 12

The Dallas Cowboys took to the practice field for the first time since their disturbing loss to the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving Day. Their Week 13 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, are finishing Week 12 game as they visit the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was postponed from Thanksgiving night, to Sunday afternoon, to Monday night, to Wednesday afternoon.

Due to the crazy times during the Covid-19 pandemic the Cowboys preparation and practice schedule has been altered as well. Wednesday was the first time the players have been at their practice facility since their lifting session on Friday.

The team has treated this week similar to a smaller bye week. This could ultimately help the Cowboys as they are dealing with a few players on their injury report heading into Week 13.

Defensive end Aldon Smith headlined this list as he sat out Wednesday’s practice with an illness. Offensive guard Zack Martin (calf) and left tackle Cam Erving (MCL) were also not present. Safety Steven Parker (ankle) and cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) were seen working off to the side.

While the status for Week 13 is very uncertain for the majority of those on this first report, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Martin will miss extended time do to the extent of his calf injury. Erving on the other hand might not be as lengthy.

Check back with the Cowboys Wire in the coming days as the Cowboys continue their prep for an opponent who has yet to complete their respective Week 12 game.

Detroit Lions Week 13 injury report: Kenny Golladay, Jeff Okudah miss Wednesday’s practice

Examining the Detroit Lions injuries on the Week 13 Wednesday practice report as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears.

The Detroit Lions (4-7) are traveling to Chicago to take on the Bears (5-6) in Week 13 and they had 10 players injured entering Wednesday’s practice. Five of them were able to see limited work in practice, while the other five missed practice altogether.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ full injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Injured reserve

No Practice

Player Injury Monday Tuesday Wednesday Designation
Kenny Golladay Hip No Practice
Quintez Cephus Non-injury No Practice
Da’Shawn Hand Groin No Practice
Christian Jones Knee No Practice
Jeff Okudah Shoulder No Practice

Interim coach Darrell Bevell said at his press conference this morning that “Kenny’s (Golladay) working. He’s trying to get himself back, and he continues to go each and every day. There’s been progress there.”

While there is progress, Golladay has already missed five games in a row, suggesting he had a setback sometime in the last couple of weeks. The fact that he is still not on the field today, could be an indicator to set expectations low.

Hand has not practiced in two weeks and after not practicing today, he is at risk of missing yet another game.

Jones has been dealing with a knee injury for nearly two months now but has played through it each week. Typically he practices in a limited fashion and this looks like a rest day more than an injury downgrade.

The Lions cornerback group is banged up and Okudah not practicing — especially after Trufant was placed on IR today — is somewhat concerning. On a positive note, the Lions did not sign another corner to the active roster, giving a subtle indication they think they have enough players to cover, and that could be a good sign for Okudah.

Limited practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Matthew Stafford Thumb Limited Practice
D’Andre Swift Concussion Limited Practice
Danny Amendola Hip Limited Practice
Austin Bryant Thigh Limited Practice
Mike Ford Concussion Limited Practice

Stafford has played through his thumb injury the last two weeks and him getting limited work at practice is only maintenance-related.

“I think he’s close,” Bevell said of Swift this morning. “It’s really hard to say. I think it (has) kind of been a little bit up-and-down for him. So, each day’s a little bit different as we come in. What we do is we take him through – it’s progressing so far, take him through it, then see the next day how he reacts to it. Some days there’s a step forward, some days you have to (say), ‘OK, I’ve got to stay here at this level,’ and we’ll continue to work from there.”

After missing the last two weeks, Amendola may finally be turning a corner.

Bryant was not expected to practice today, so the fact that he got in some work is a good sign he is improving faster than expected.

Like Swift, Ford is progressing through the league’s concussion protocols, and getting an opportunity to practice means he is moving forward through the process.

Full Practice

Player Injury Monday Tuesday Wednesday Designation
No Players Full Practice

There are no players listed in this section at this current time.

Bears’ Report

Packers-Eagles television coverage map for Week 13

Most of the country will get to see the Packers take on the Eagles in Week 13. CBS will broadcast the contest.

Most of the country will get to see the Green Bay Packers welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Lambeau Field in Week 13.

There’s only one competing game in the late afternoon slot on CBS, and the Packers and Eagles are the network’s featured game. Although the Eagles are 3-7-1, the matchup represents a late-season showdown between two potential division winners.

Most of New England and parts of the West Coast will get the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers instead.

Here’s the television coverage map as of Wednesday, via 506sports.com:

506sports.com

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, the top commentating pair for CBS, will call the game.

There are no immediate scheduling conflicts in the Upper Midwest because the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions all play at noon. The Vikings host the Jaguars on CBS, while the Bears and Lions will play on FOX.

The Packers played the Eagles in primetime last season, losing 34-27 at home on Thursday Night Football.

[listicle id=53627]

Raheem Morris says Falcons failed former head coach Dan Quinn

After expressing his hopefulness to see the return of RB Todd Gurley and WR Julio Jones, Morris was then asked about how the team has fared in the second half of this season compared to where they started.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris spoke to the media from his home on Monday and gave his thoughts on an array of topics. Morris was asked specifically how the mandated facility closure would impact this team’s preparation for the Saints in Week 13.

Mondays are pretty much normal for us. You kind of go into your own labs and do your own work. So we are all just at our houses working in that form. It is still nice to be able to walk by and see guy in the training room or whatever the case may be. It’s just not the case right now. It’ll be fine, just something we got to deal with. 

After a brief update on Julio Jones and Todd Gurley, Morris was asked about the mindset of the team now compared to the first half of the season.

You just want to get the guys reset every week for this 1-0 mentality and not to ride the emotional roller coaster. To not allow these guys to be too high on themselves or too low on themselves, no matter what happens. You know, when you’re 0-5, it’s easy for everybody to turn on each other and to point fingers and see who the problem was, and that wasn’t the case. 

Jeff Schultz of The Athletic asked Morris what the first thing he must do in order to change the culture around this Falcons team. Morris responded in great detail, laying out what it was like replacing Dan Quinn as head coach.

Usually, you get an offseason and you get a bunch of team meetings and a whole preparation thing where you plan it out and you’re ready to go. ‘Here’s the spill, here’s the philosophy, here’s what we are going to do moving forward.’ And for me, I had about 2 hours. 

You get a chance for your friend, Dan Quinn, to say goodbye to the team and turnover the reigns to myself and then you get to talk to them. And you got to be flat out honest with them and tell them the truth. The truth was we had failed that man miserably through the first five games. And that’s the cost of what happens and the cost of doing business. And we are going to move forward and I asked them guys to let me lead them. 

Morris reinforced his philosophy of wanting the defense to force its will on the Falcons’ opponents. He was then asked if he feels he has an honest shot at being the Falcons head coach beyond 2020.

The only thing I can tell you about give anybody an honest shot just in life, is what they do for me on a daily basis; and all I am getting is the utmost support from the highest level of the organization to the lowest level of the organization and I don’t have to name those two. And somewhere in between, you got a bunch of people trying to do a bunch of things to get that 1-0 mentality and when you feel people trying to get the 1-0 that’s how you know how much support you have from everyone in the building.  

Morris is currently 4-2 with the Falcons. And while it’s important to see how he finishes out the season, it’s also important to see how he handles his first rematch with the Saints. The Falcons lost to New Orleans, 24-9, in Week 11 and will look to upset their NFC South rival on Sunday.

[lawrence-related id=61646,61644,61587,61465]

[vertical-gallery id=61651]

Bears inching closer to NFL’s worst in Week 13 Power Rankings

The Chicago Bears’ fall down the NFL’s Power Rankings continued after Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Chicago Bears’ once-promising 5-1 start to the 2020 season has quickly turned into a nightmare fit for Elm Street.

Now 5-6 and with no end to the losing streak in sight, calls for Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace to lose their jobs have begun. A complete rebuild is on the horizon, or so it seems, but with no quarterback and an offensive line that needs to be completely revamped, will Chicago appeal to any of this offseason’s top coaching candidates?

Maybe. It is the Bears, after all, and regardless of how hard their fall has been this year, it’s the kind of franchise whose fans will adore any coach and quarterback who can breathe life into the city.

For now, the Bears are a sinking ship, as evidenced by their current standing in the latest NFL Power Rankings from NBC Sports.

The Bears dropped from No. 19 to No. 24 after their embarrassing Week 12 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

How far can the Bears fall? After an embarrassing loss to the Packers, Matt Nagy now faces the Lions — a team he’s never lost to — at home. So yes, it can get worse.

If Chicago somehow botches Sunday’s game, there’s a chance — even if it’s a longshot — that Nagy won’t be coaching this team in Week 14. At some point, the cord has to be cut. Nagy’s quest to find an answer to what’s been plaguing the offense has spanned two seasons; he’s lost, and he’s in over his head.

The only good news from the Bears’ losing streak is the fact that it’s moving them closer to quarterback territory in the 2021 NFL draft. They currently hold the 14th pick in Round 1. So, yeah, there’s that.

Breaking down the Falcons’ playoff chances in muddled NFC

Despite an 0-5 start, the Falcons are very much alive in the NFC playoff picture, but will need some help to get there.

The Atlanta Falcons currently sit at 4-7 on the season and have been an afterthought around the league since their Week 7 debacle against the Detroit Lions. A dominant victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 could be the shot in the arm this team needed, though.

Despite an 0-5 start, the Falcons are very much alive in the NFC playoff picture, but will need some help to get there.

Atlanta is two games out of the seventh playoff spot, which is currently held by the Arizona Cardinals (6-5). The Cardinals are an exciting team but if not for a Hail Mary a few weeks ago, they would be on a four-game losing streak. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of competition for that No. 7 spot.

The Minnesota Vikings (5-6), Chicago Bears (5-6), San Francisco 49ers ((5-6), Detroit Lions (4-7) and Washington Football Team (4-7) sit in front of the Falcons in the wild-card race. Atlanta has already lost games against the Lions and Bears. However, with the Vikings leading the way, it could very well come down to a head-to-head tiebreaker with Minnesota, which would go in Atlanta’s favor.

Both the Lions and Vikings face tough opponents down the stretch. Plus, let’s not forget, the Bears were once 5-1 and leading the NFC North. Chicago has since dropped five consecutive games and show no signs of changing course.

The 49ers, who currently sit one game ahead of the Falcons and coming off a huge win over the Rams, could see their stock drop with unfavorable matchups ahead. San Francisco was supposed to play Buffalo in Santa Clara, however, newfound California COVID-19 restrictions have placed a three-week ban of contact sports. This makes preparation even tougher now that they must figure out where they will practice and play.

Where the Falcons could get lucky is if the Football Team takes control of the NFC East. The current leader of that division is New York, but with Daniel Jones likely to miss time, the Giants will have a tough time winning games. If New York were to lose its lead in the NFC East, it would catapult the Football Team to the fourth seed and propel the Falcons one spot higher in the playoff picture. However, that division has proven to be unpredictable.

Atlanta should also pay attention to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) over the final weeks of the season. The Bucs are a team that appears to be one bad game away from completely going off the rails. Plus, the Falcons play the Buccaneers twice, in Weeks 15 and 17. Depending on the result of the first matchup and how the Falcons handle their other remaining opponents, there could be a winner-take-all situation in Week 17.

All of these above scenarios would require the Falcons to win out. Atlanta is 4-2 under Raheem Morris, but will face off against the NFC-leading Saints in a pivotal rivalry game that could end all hopes of January football.

Last but not least, the Falcons could get some help from the NFL. With the Ravens-Steelers matchup getting moved back even further and altering future schedules, a cancellation would result in an eighth team being allowed into the postseason. While no team wants to rely on this situation, it’s a good option to have in your back pocket just in case.

[lawrence-related id=61632,61636,61620,61465,61575]

[vertical-gallery id=61470]

Chiefs open as massive favorites over Broncos in Week 13

The Kansas City Chiefs are back home this week in pursuit of an 11-1 record.

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) are opening favorites over the Denver Broncos (4-7) on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13.

BetMGM’s betting lines for Week 13 have dropped and the Chiefs are favored heavily over the Broncos. It’s the most they’ve been favored by since Week 8 this season when they were 20-point favorites over the New York Jets.

At BetMGM, the Chiefs are currently listed as 13.5-point favorites over the Broncos. The current money line is at -834 for Kansas City and +540 for Denver. The over/under point total is set at 49.5 points. The Chiefs have an implied win probability of 89.29% in this matchup.

The Broncos are tasked with traveling to Kansas City to play at Arrowhead Stadium for their second meeting with the Chiefs this year. When the two teams played in Denver in Week 7, the game a Kansas City blowout and the Broncos were nearly at full strength. Now they’re dealing with injuries to Bryce Callahan and Phillip Lindsay, not to mention the quarterback situation.

Denver is coming off of a game where they were forced to start practice squad receiver, Kendall Hinton, at quarterback due to a COVID-19 exposure that knocked out the quarterback room. Hinton completed just one pass in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints, throwing more interceptions than completions. Drew Lock has a chance to return this week, but it’s not yet certain after exposure to COVID-19.  It is, however, telling that BetMGM didn’t even wait for the quarterback situation to get sorted out before releasing the opening line.

The Chiefs are coming off of a six-game win streak. They’ve won 10-straight games against the Broncos dating back to the 2015 season. This will also be their first home game in front of a limited crowd since Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers in the beginning of November.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[listicle id=81561]

Lions open Week 13 as 3.5-point underdogs to the Bears

Examining the opening betting lines for the Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears Week 13 matchup.

The Detroit Lions (4-7) are coming off yet another disappointing loss and it sparked a need for a change in Allen Park. The Lions fired coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn this past Saturday and named offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as interim head coach but the early odds suggest low expectations for change in Detroit.

The Lions will travel to Chicago in Week 13 and face a Bears team that has lost five games in a row, but the good folks over at BetMGM believe Detroit will bring a change of fortune to town and are favoring the Bears by 3.5 points.

This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, with Chicago’s anemic offense averaging just 17.6 points per game over their losing streak and the Lions’ unpredictable offense projected to struggle against the Bears’ top-level defense. These factors have led to the over/under being set at just 44.5 points.

BetMGM has various bet lines to wager on, but here’s a look at the basic concepts most would be interested in, including the Moneyline, points spread, over/under, and total Lions points scored.

Moneyline

Lions +150
Bears -176

Spread

Lions +3.5 -115
Bears -3.5 -106

Over/Under

Total points scored Over Under
44.5 -115 -106

Lions total points scored

Lions total points Over Under
17.5 -176 +135
20.5 -112 -115
23.5 +135 -176

There will also a considerable amount of player prop bets added throughout the week, including touchdowns scorers, the first player to score, quarterback passing props (yards, touchdowns, interceptions, attempts, completions, longest completion), running back props (rushing yards, attempts, rushing + receiving yards), and receiver props (receiving yards, receptions, longest reception).

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.