Views from the Nosebleeds: 2016 NFL Regular Season, Week 13

When doing this week's edition of "Views from the Nosebleeds", the natural choice of a lead story was last week's senseless murder of former Jets running back Joe McKnight in an alleged road rage incident with 54-year-old Ronald Gasser at an intersection in Terrytown, Louisiana right outside of New Orleans.  However, because of the racial, social and political layers involved, I decided to make that a post unto itself.  Furthermore, as a Black man in America whose spirit has grown weary from constantly being reminded the lives and memories of people who look like me don't matter--see the mistrial in the Walter Scott case as further evidence--I have too much frustration in my heart to take away from what is intended to be a half-serious, half-light-hearted series about my favorite sport.  Since these posts are already long enough on their own, there is plenty of good and not-so-good football to discuss, so let's kick things off with two not-so-good, but-not-as-heavy stories...

THE PLUS/MINUS TAKE OF THE WEEK: THIS IS THE CLEVELAND SHOW (+14)???  Guess who didn't have to go through the pain and embarrassment of playing a single down this week?  That's right...the 0-12 Cleveland Browns, which is proof God is merciful after all.  Word on the street is Robert Griffin III has finally been cleared to play after breaking a bone in his non-throwing shoulder during a Week 1 loss to the Eagles in which he only completed 12 of 26 passes for 190 yards and a pick.  Unfortunately for him, his return doesn't guarantee him an automatic return to his starting position, although reports suggest he could start against the Bengals on Sunday.  Granted, the combination of Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, Charlie Whitehurst, Kevin Hogan and Terrelle Pryor, Sr., hasn't produced any wins either--not to mention Kessler and McCown have been banged up as well and Pryor has been effectively converted into the team's best receiver in the absence of rookie Corey Coleman.  Nevertheless, having missed eleven games, RG3's troubled history of winning the NFL's unofficial Mr. Glass Award every year since he entered the league won't win him any style points with Hue Jackson.  In the illustrious words of our President-Elect, "What the hell do you have to lose?"  Elementary, my dear Watson: four more games.  Speaking of losers...

THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE TAKE OF THE WEEK: ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING SKINS.  Despite moving out of the NFC East in 2002 with the divisional realignments, the Cardinals still know how to annoy me by playing spoiler; however, they don't annoy me more than the Skins' defense.  Carson Palmer has been inconsistent all year long, but he looked more like the guy who led Arizona to an NFC West title last year with a 30-of-46, 300-yard, three-TD clinic while David Johnson showed why he's one of the best all-around offensive players in the NFL with 175 all-purpose yards and two TDs.  Although the 42-yard TD from Palmer to J.J. Nelson they allowed with 2:03 left in the game to push the score to 31-23 was egregious, even worse than that was what they didn't do the entire game: the Skins' defense not only forced no turnovers, but they also allowed the Cardinals to convert 62.5 percent of their third downs.  Meanwhile, despite contributing a passing TD and a rushing TD, Captain Kirk got beamed back down to Earth as a sack fumble led to Cardinals points and a two-minute drill resulted in an INT to kill the Skins' chances of winning in the desert.  Furthermore, rookie Rob Kelley averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the No. 11 rushing defense, but only received a baffling 14 carries.  You would've never thought the Skins were the team holding on to a No. 6 spot in the NFC as the Cardinals played with more urgency.  If they don't make the playoffs, then Washington is going to look back at this game as one of several they could've and should've won...

SCRIBBLER'S GAME OF THE WEEK: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 29, ATLANTA FALCONS 28.  Whenever two teams have such high stakes coming into an NFL game in December as the Chiefs and the Falcons did, it's bound to be eligible for anybody's "Game of the Week"...but I honestly didn't expect 1) this game to be that game and 2) the Chiefs to be involved in back-to-back games of the week, especially after a dramatic and emotional win in Denver last Sunday night.  Now we could talk about the back and forth matchup this was for most of the game as there were five lead changes--including one major shift which we'll get into in a few.  We could debate how nearly-evenly matched these two teams were from a statistical standpoint: the Chiefs had 389 yards of total offense, possessed the ball for over 28 minutes and had one turnover while the Falcons had 418 yards of total offense, possessed the ball for nearly 32 minutes and had only one on paper turnover.  We could even discuss big plays like Julio Jones (seven catches, 113 yards) torching the Chiefs' secondary in the Falcons' first two drives, Albert Wilson's 55-yard TD run on a fake punt, Travis Kelce making mincemeat of the Falcons' defense (eight catches, 140 yards) or Levine Toilolo's 42-yard catch which helped set up Atlanta's final TD drive which gave them a 28-27 lead with 4:37 left in the game.  However, all of that stuff pales in comparison to our hero of the week...

After receiving chemotherapy treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta nearly two years ago and being the AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2015, emotions were riding high for Chiefs four-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry as he returned to his home area.  During the NFL's inaugural My Cause My Cleats Campaign, Berry promoted a pair of purple ribbon cleats (although he did not wear them in the game) and sounded the alarm for leukemia awareness arguably louder than anyone else representing their worthy causes.  Toward the end of the first half, he got a 37-yard pick six at the expense of Matt Ryan--which shifted momentum and gave the Chiefs their first lead of the game at 20-13.  (Notably, Berry handed that ball to his mother, which he said he made his mind up to do before the game.)  After being visibly upset about the secondary giving up a five-yard TD from Matt Ryan to Aldrick Robinson which briefly gave Atlanta a 28-27 lead, he spoiled the Falcons' plans to go up three points and returned a two-point conversion attempt, giving the Chiefs the 29-28 lead they would never relinquish.  "I shed a few tears before the game, but I shed a few during the game and I shed a few after," Berry said after the game.  "So I think I held it together pretty good, but it's just a lot of emotions, so I just tried to contain them and let them show through my play...I was just thankful for the opportunity.  You know I take pride in a lot of things people take for granted, so when opportunities come my way, I just cherish them and try to make the most of it."

SCRIBBLER'S CHECKDOWNS: 

• DAL 17, MIN 15: if I were to tell you the Vikings defense held the league's No. 4 offense to only 264 total yards, held their third-down conversion percentage to 11.1 and went +1 in the turnover ratio while the offense won the time of possession battle by nearly seven minutes, you would've thought Minnesota would've come away with a victory, right?  Well, when your offense musters only 54 more yards but one less touchdown, you're prone to lose against the team with the league's best record.  That 5-0 start seems like a lifetime ago, right;
• BAL 38, MIA 6: I had a bad feeling the Dolphins would feel the pressure of maintaining an edge in the playoff hunt and ultimately lay an egg against a quality opponent.  However, I didn't think they'd go into halftime down 24-0 and eventually get thumped by 32 points by a team who hadn't scored that much in any game all season.  Then again, they were playing the league's No. 1 defense.  Hate to say it, but in Ryan Tannehill I do NOT trust and NEVER HAVE trusted and now the Dolphins are back on the outside;
• CHI 26, SF 6: when there's snow on the ground, it's only natural it wouldn't help two of the league's worst teams complete any passes in the first quarter.  In fact, San Fran attempted one pass before running the ball the rest of the quarter and ended up with SIX net passing yards for the entire game.  That's not a typo, ladies and gents...SIX...as in 294 less than 300...as in both Colin Kaepernick AND Blaine Gabbert combined for SIX TOTAL PASSING YARDS...as in this is why they're 1-11.  As for their already-porous run defense, Jordan Howard gashed them for 32 carries, 117 yards and three TDs.  Nothing else to see here, people;
• CIN 32, PHI 14: when Carson Wentz has to throw the ball 60 times with a non-threatening receiving corps against a defense who can still reek havoc when necessary, it leads to three INTs.  Meanwhile, Andy Dalton had one of his better days of the season (23 of 31, 332 yards, two TDs).  Neither of these teams have much of a shot of making the playoffs, but the Eagles are dropping like a rock after what seemed like a promising start to the season;
• GB 21, HOU 13: as evidenced from the 49ers-Bears game, teams used to playing in the snow simply know how to win.  However, unlike the Niners, the Texans at least made it interesting as Brock Osweiler (22 of 35, 202 yards, two TDs) went toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers (20 of 30, 209 yards, two TDs).  Their "Houston, We Have a Problem" moment was the Aaron Ripkowski TD reflected in the final score.  The Packers get back to .500 and stay in the playoff hunt while the Texans are barely holding on as they should thank God for their undefeated record in the AFC South (3-0 DIV) being the difference between them, the also 6-6 Colts (2-2 DIV) and the also 6-6 Titans (1-3 DIV);
• DEN 20, JAX 10: not only did rookie Paxton Lynch not need to do much against a bad Jaguars team, he didn't do much at all (12 of 24, 104 yards).  However, when your defending-champion defense gets three turnovers--including Blake Bortles throwing two INTs amidst an abysmal 45-percent-completion-rate, 181-yard "performance"--you don't need to do much.  Hopefully, Trevor Siemian gets back ASAP because if Lynch can't torch the Jags' defense, then he'll have his hands full against better defenses;
• NE 26, LA 10: poor Jared Goff (which is starting to become a theme).  He had the misfortune of 1) facing a team who are 7-0 in Foxboro against rookie QBs in the Bill Belichick era, 2) being on a team who re-signed Jeff Fisher aka Mr. 8-8 or Worse to a two-year contract extension (I swear he's got dirt on folks in the league) and 3) going head-to-head with Tom Brady, who would become the most winningest QB in NFL history (201 wins).  Other than that, what else is there to say except who actually gave the Rams a chance to beat the Pats even if they were in L.A.?  Like I thought...nobody;
• DET 28, NO 13: it's natural to assume this score was possible if the Saints were on the road...but they were at home.  Yes, Matthew Stafford (30 of 42, 341 yards, two TDs) outplayed Drew Brees (31 of 44, 326 yards) by leaps and bounds.  However, the Lions defense were the story of this game as they picked off Brees three times and kept the passing attack out of the end zone--John Kuhn scored the Saints' lone TD.  Although the Cowboys are the biggest threat to the Seahawks having the No. 1 seed, the Lions could be the biggest threat to Seattle keeping the No. 2 seed;
• OAK 38, BUF 24: for the first three quarters of this game, I thought Big Dadi Scribbler's warning would come true as the liability which is the Raiders defense allowed the Bills on Wheels to get loose--LeSean McCoy (17 carries, 130 yards) and Mike Gillislee (eight carries, 49 yards, two TDs) in particular.  However, led by November's AFC Defensive Player of the Month, Khalil Mack, they made up for it by going +2 in turnover ratio while the offense engineered a 29-unanswered-point comeback on the strength of Derek Carr's arm (19 of 30, 260 yards, two TDs),  Latavius Murray's legs (20 carries, 82 yards, two TDs) and an offensive line now dubbed "Block and Silver".  No matter what, the Raiders find a way to win and they have to keep winning;
• PIT 24, NYG 14: honestly, I knew the Giants would lose this game because 1) it's extremely difficult to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh and 2) the Giants hadn't beaten anybody wildly impressive.  Add in the fact the Steelers' defense was the star of the show by forcing two turnovers and holding the Giants' offense to 234 yards of total offense--despite Odell Beckham, Jr.'s 100-yard performance on ten catches.  Pittsburgh keeps their playoff hopes alive while the road gets no easier for the Giants to hold on to their spot in the NFC;
• TB 28, SD 21: this was a candidate for the "Game of the Week", but it didn't have a Eric Berry-esque feel good story.  Nonetheless, the Bucs' defense forced two Philip Rivers INTs, including a backbreaking Lavonte David pick six.  While Jameis Winston (20 of 30, 280 yards, one TD, one INT) and Doug Martin (17 carries, 45 yards, one TD) had modest days at the office, Cameron Brate (six catches, 86 yards, one TD) continued his ascension as a reliable tight end and end zone target.  It's official: the Bucs are especially a problem for the Falcons, but there's still more football to play;
• SEA 40, CAR 7 (SNF): I should've known this would be a beatdown for one simple reason: the 'Hawks are now 18-3-1 in prime time under Pete Carroll.  This is the same team who upset Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots a few weeks ago in Foxboro, so I frankly licked my chops for no reason.  On the strength of a healthy running game led by Thomas Rawls' 15 carries for 106 yards and two TDs as well as Tyler Lockett's 75-yard score, Seattle was eight yards shy of doubling Carolina's total offense with 534 yards.  Watch out, Dallas: the Pacific Northwest has a say in the NFC's Super Bowl representative; and
• IND 41, NYJ 10 (MNF): be honest...did anybody care about this game at all or expect the Jets to keep up on offense with the Colts?  Despite having the league's 28th-ranked defense, Indy was playing the 24th-ranked overall offense and kept them to 250 yards and forced three turnovers--all via one Ryan Fitzpatrick INT and two Brice Petty picks, who took the reins from Fitz in the second half.  If Todd Bowles is still on the sidelines in MetLife Stadium come next year, then I'd be highly surprised.  Meanwhile, the Colts made things interesting in the AFC South in a three-way tie for first with the Texans and the Titans.  Although they'll probably get bounced early as they always do, the Colts might sneak their way into the playoffs after all and possibly save Chuck Pagano's job.

SCRIBBLER'S CHOP LICKERS FOR WEEK 14:

• OAK (10-2) @ KC (9-3), 8:25 p.m. (TNF): can I tell y'all how giddy and nervous I got for this game when I saw the advertisements and looked at the upcoming schedule?  Seriously...I might have to be at somebody's bar on Thursday night because the Raiders owe the Chiefs an L for beating them 26-10 at home in Week 6.  With the No. 5 offense as well as the No. 1 seed in the AFC going on the road to face the No. 5 scoring defense and the best team in turnover ratio (+14), this AFC West showdown has the makings of the "Game of the Week".  If Oakland wins, they maintain their lead in the conference and the division; however, if Kansas City wins, then they'd sweep the season series and control the West.  As Keith Murray said in the beginning of R. Kelly's "Home Alone", "It's gon' be a party, y'all;"
• WAS (6-5-1) @ PHI (5-7), 1 p.m.: in order for either one of these teams to make the playoffs (especially the Eagles), both of them would have to win out.  Therefore, they'll be playing for their postseason lives in what should be a typical NFC East dogfight.  However, I have more faith in Kirk Cousins, Rob Kelley and the Skins' mighty O than in Carson Wentz and the Eagles' struggling O-no.  Granted, Philly owes the home team an L, but they're gonna need all of the troops to keep up in this one;
• DEN (8-4) @ TEN (6-6), 1 p.m.: if the Titans want to move ahead in the up-for-grabs AFC South, then one important thing must happen: they must find a way to score on the league's No. 5 defense.  Their best bet is their triple threat of a ground attack with DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and the occasional Marcus Mariota scramble as Denver is 28th against the run.  The problem, however, is even if they win, they'll still be behind whoever wins between Houston and Indy because of their division record.  Meanwhile, the Broncos must win and hope the Dolphins lose to the Cardinals if they don't want Miami snatching back the No. 6 seed;
• SEA (8-3-1) @ GB (6-6), 4:25 p.m.: these ain't your uncle's Seahawks...you know, the Matt Hasselbeck or Shaun Alexander Seahawks.  These 'Hawks, who are getting healthy at the right time, don't need the 12th Man to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau Field.  However, don't ever count out Mr. Discount Double Check, especially when that chip on his shoulder gets even bigger with the thought of missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years on his mind.  Simultaneously, Seattle doesn't want to lose any more ground in the NFC behind the Cowboys, so expect this interconference rivalry to be hard fought (and potentially controversial) as always;
• DAL (11-1) @ NYG (8-4), 8:30 p.m. (SNF): the Cowboys would be undefeated right now...that is if it weren't for that pesky 20-19 loss they suffered at the hands of the Giants in AT&T Stadium on kickoff weekend.  However, a Cowboys fan I ran into at Target on Sunday said she's glad they have a loss because it 1) humbles them and 2) gives them a reason to payback the G-Men.  I wouldn't be surprised if this game was either close or resulted in Dallas taking New York (or New Jersey as some New York folks call them) to the woodshed; and
• BAL (7-5) @ NE (10-2), 8:30 p.m. (MNF): although these aren't the Ray Lewis Ravens, Baltimore is back on top as the best overall defense in the league and still know how to beat Belichick and Brady--who boast the league's No. 6 overall offense--in Foxboro.  The problem is both teams are desperate to maintain their leverage as the Ravens need to stay ahead of the Steelers (who are also 7-5) in the AFC North while the Patriots can't afford to lose ground in the AFC--especially considering the gravity of Raiders-Chiefs game.  While I don't see the Ravens putting up 38 on the Pats, I do expect this to be a competitive prime time contest.