BILLS MAFIA INVADES 313

 

          Ford Field will have two shades of blue in their arena tomorrow afternoon.  Nickel City is coming to Detroit and bringing their often-rowdy Bills Mafia fans with them.  We can only hope they don’t bring their tables with them, a fanbase notorious for jumping and slamming people through tables like they are WWE wrestlers.  I am extremely excited about this game!  Though as a fan of a team that also plays in the same time slot, I wish this would have been scheduled as the Sunday Night game and many others may also be wondering why this is not.  These two teams are both very much in the Super Bowl discussion this year and for good reasons.  They are the top two scoring offenses in the NFL through 14 weeks, along with two top 10 defenses in points allowed.  This contest has all the makings of a heavyweight fight!  In one corner you have a man who was being discussed as an early favorite for MVP, Lions QB Jared Goff, and in the other corner, you have another possible regular season MVP in Josh Allen.

          I did some research for this game and found that these two teams have met twelve times in the history of their franchises.  Buffalo leads the series with a record of 7-4-1.  Buffalo, aka Queen City of Lakes, has often left the pride drowning as the Bills not only own the series but have also beaten the Lions 50% of the time in Detroit.  The Bills have been on a roll against the Lions winning six of their last seven meetings, two of which were at Ford Field including their last game when Buffalo beat Detroit 28-25 in 2022.  The biggest difference for the Lions this time around would have to be their dual running threat, Sonic & Knuckles.  In case you don’t know what, I am speaking of this was the nickname given to their two rushers Jahymr Gibbs (Sonic) and David Mongomery (Knuckles).  The nickname just symbolizes the speed of Gibbs which perfectly mixes with the hard-running style of Mongomery.

         

          Detroit has been widely known for being one of the grittiest teams in the NFL ever since Dan Campbell took the reigns as their head coach back in January of 2021.  This has been largely publicized as ultimately the best decision the Detroit Lions have made in the history of their organization.  What Campbell has built there is truly incredible.  Taking a team with a miserable history and turning it into a powerhouse for the foreseeable future is a true testament to how well he knows football and his beliefs for what can become greatness.  Trading Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff was scrutinized and criticized leaguewide when the Lions made the move per Stafford’s suggestion.  There are still doubters when it comes to Goff, but the reality is that he is one of the most reliable quarterbacks in the NFL today.  Sure, he may not be in your top five most desirable QBs when it comes to fantasy football, but going into week 15 he has his Lions sitting atop the NFC and the entire league tied with KC for first place at 12-1.  Detroit’s offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has this unit placed as second-best in total yardage per game and that will only continue with the pieces they have.  They have a top 5 O-line that has allowed the 8^th least sacks this year, and three highly impressive receivers (Amon-Ra St.Brown, Jameson Williams, & Tim Patrick) as outlets at Goff's disposal plus a tight end in his second year who is coming off a Pro Bowl season (Sam Laporta).        

LIONS OFFENSE:

TOTAL OFFENSE P/G- 394.8 (2^ND)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 151.1 (4^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 243.8 (4^TH)

POINTS P/G- 32.1 (1^ST)

TOTAL SKS ALLOWED- 25 (8^TH)

 

LIONS DEFENSE:

TOTAL YARDS P/G- 318.6 (10^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 93.9 (5^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 224.7 (24^TH)

POINTS P/G- 18.0 (T-2^ND)

TOTAL SACKS- 31 (T-19^TH)

 

          The Buffalo Bills are heading to Detroit with a ton of confidence in their back pockets.  Buffalo is coming off a loss, though Josh Allen had his best performance of his career, accounting for six touchdowns himself.  Allen put up all 42 points alone last Sunday (minus PATs) as the Bills still managed to lose 44-42 to a quickly turned-around Los Angeles Rams squad.  Buffalo’s QB threw three touchdowns while also rushing for an added three scores, literally doing everything in his power to win the game, without a single turnover.  Buffalo’s OC Joe Brady will have his full repertoire of players ready to go into combat against Aaron Glenn’s (Detroit’s DC) number-two-ranked scoring defense.  Running back James Cook should be back to himself this week after having a dud against the Rams and Brady should utilize him steadily in their passing game, which should cause mismatch issues for Detroit with all the injuries to the Lions linebackers.  Josh should also greatly benefit from veteran Amari Cooper and rookie Keon Coleman, both back in full health.  Cooper comes into this game being targeted 14 times last week (most targets for him in a game this season) while hauling in 6 receptions for 95 yards.  Their tight end Dalton Kincaid has missed the previous three games but was a full go at practice on Wednesday.  He is listed as questionable, but I’d bet he’ll be available Sunday.

 

BILLS OFFENSE:

TOTAL YARDS P/G- 355.0 (10^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 125.7 (11^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 229.3 (12^TH)

POINTS P/G- 30.5 (2^ND)

TOTAL SKS ALLOWED- 13 (1^ST)

 

BILLS DEFENSE:

TOTAL YARDS P/G- 332.0 (14^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 123.1 (19^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 208.9 (9^TH)

POINTS P/G- 20.6 (8^TH)

TOTAL SACKS- 29 (T-22^ND)

 

          This game may very well come down to whoever possesses the ball last and could be a high-scoring game.  I think the Bills will probably have a pass-happy game plan with Detroit giving up the 22^nd most passing yards per game.  The Lions haven’t had much of a pass rush ever since their all-star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down at the beginning of the season with a leg injury.  On the other side, the Lions' offense can beat you by way of ground or air, though the smarter move would be to ground and pound on Bobby Babich’s (Bills DC) 19th-ranked run defense.  I mean they are the only NFL team currently with two premier running backs, as aforementioned Sonic & Knuckles (Gibbs and Montgomery).  Gibbs is 5^th in rushing yards this season (1,016 yards) while both backs rank in the top ten in rushing touchdowns (Montgomery 3^rd-12tds, Gibbs 9^th-10tds).  It is also notable to add that Josh Allen ironically is ranked 10^th in rushing touchdowns this season with 9.  Allen is the ultimate weapon and one of the most athletic QBs the NFL has ever seen.  He is also 6^th in passing TDs with 23, while Jared Goff ranks one spot higher at 5^th with 25 TDs.  Buffalo goes into Ford Field as +2.5 underdogs, but I would bet the Lions stay hot, winners of their last 11 straight who haven’t lost a game since week 2.

PUGNACIOUS IN PENNSYLVANIA

 

        This upcoming Sunday offers NFL fans some enticing games slated for week 15.  One of these intriguing interconference matchups that is gaining a lot of steam leading up to kickoff is a battle of two teams within the same state.  The Mike Tomlin-led Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Philadelphia as they take on coach Nick Sirianni’s Philadelphia Eagles.  These two franchises will go head-to-head for the 82^nd time in NFL history.  Philly leads the all-time series when competing against Pittsburgh, 49-29-3, 48 of those wins came in the regular season.  No, they never met in a Super Bowl, however, the two franchises met in the 1947 NFL Eastern Division Championship and the Eagles won 21-0.  The largest margin of victory between them was when the E-A-G-L-E-S dismantled them 45-3 in 1942.  The Steelers' biggest win came in 1959, with black and gold shutting out gang green 31-0.  Philly also owns the longest win streak of the series ripping off 7 consecutive victories 1947-1950.  The last meeting was also won by the Eagles, 35-13 in 2022.

 

        Pittsburgh has had a strong season to this point.  Mike Tomlin is proving how great of a coach he is while leading the Steelers to a 10-3 record this season.  They are currently looking as if they could be a legitimate threat to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Is the Steel Curtain era back?  They certainly are making a case for it, T.J. Watt is the odds-on favorite to win DPOTY, Teryl Austin’s (DC) defense is in the top 5 in scoring and total yards, defensive tackle Cam Hayward has turned back the hands of time, and Mike Tomlin is also in the running for the COTY!  Offensively, they’ve also been getting better by the week.  Russell Wilson has been proving his time in Denver was merely a fluke as he has helped them become the 10th-best scoring unit in the league this season.  In terms of passing, they are averaging just over 268 yards in their last 3 weeks.  However, they will have to look towards other weapons for Russ on the outside as George Pickens has already been listed as out with a nagging hamstring injury.

 

STEELERS OFFENSE:

TOTAL YARDS P/G- 338.1 (16^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 132.1 (9^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 206.0 (23^RD)

POINTS P/G- 24.8 (10^TH)

TOTAL SACKS ALLOWED- 35 (20^TH)

 

STEELERS DEFENSE:

TOTAL DEFENSE P/G- 310.2 (7^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 91.5 (5^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 218.6 (18^TH)

POINTS P/G- 18.3 (5^TH)

TOTAL SACKS- 32 (T-15^TH)

 

        The Eagles have been playing great football this year as well.  They are the second-best team in the NFC, only one game back from the Detroit Lions, and have now won nine straight dating back to week 5.  Philly had initially started a little flat on defense this season, then down the stretch, they’ve been one of the best defenses in the league.  Much credit goes to Vic Fangio (DC), he has since coached his men to become a premier unit in defensive scoring.  This Eagles team has two amazing rookie cornerbacks bolstering the back end and holding opposing offenses to the second least passing yards per game.  I don’t know what the Steelers' offense will be able to accomplish against Fangio’s men, they don’t have any real weaknesses, only progressively get stronger with time.  The only real thing that is worrisome for this team is their passing game on the offensive side.  Their air attack has been atrocious this year.  I guess you can attribute that to the fact that Saquon has just been so good that they haven’t had to worry about the passing game in the same way as in past years.  In Philly’s last three games, their air attack averaged roughly 120 yards a game.  Last week was by far their worst, maybe ever for the Philadelphia franchise as Jalen Hurts only threw for 83 yards.  Maybe another piece to this puzzle could be the fact that A.J. Brown and Jalen don’t seem to be on the same page as of late and Brandon Graham made comments to the media about a week ago stating that there may be a problem in the city of brotherly love.

 

EAGLES OFFENSE:

TOTAL OFFENSE P/G- 371.7 (6^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 190.5 (1^ST)

PASS YARDS P/G- 180.6 (31^ST)

POINTS P/G – 26.3 (8^TH)

TOTAL SACKS ALLOWED- 36 (22^ND)

EAGLES DEFENSE:

TOTAL DEFENSE P/G- 284.2 (1^ST)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 105.8 (8^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 178.5 (2^ND)

POINTS P/G – 18.0 (T-2^ND)

TOTAL SACKS- 37 (T-7^TH)

 

        Though Philly has excelled thus far with the ground game having the offense go through the league's leading rusher Saquon Barkley, they may wind up playing right into the hands of the Steelers' strength if they use a heavy dose of running script against them.  Pittsburgh only allows 91 yards per game in rushing as the stats above point out, meaning I think that Hurts will have to get back on track with receivers DeVonta Smith & A.J. Brown if they want to beat this non-bendable ore of defense.  If Tomlin wants to show the state of P.A. that Steel City is bigger than the home of the Liberty Bell, he will need to attack the Eagles where it hurts most.  Pittsburgh, as I already mentioned, will be without Wilson’s number one target, so it makes even more sense to attack the Eagles' rush defense.  Look for Arthur Smith to deploy both running backs to try and wear down their opponents, while also utilizing Jaylen Warren on bubble screens and in other passing situations.  Then Smith can attempt to get Russ out of the pocket to throw some of those moonballs to Van Jefferson, Mike Williams, Pat Freiermuth, and the rest of the skilled players.  My thoughts on this game will be that it will be a closely contested one and quite possibly a lower-scoring game.  Assuming the spread stays where it is currently, Pittsburgh will be +5.5 underdogs.  The funny thing about the Steelers being underdogs is they are undefeated this year when placed as such.  If I were betting on this one, I would take those 5.5 points, it could wind up ending with a three-point margin.    

HEISMAN FINAL FOUR

 

4)  4) DILLON GABRIEL – OREGON DUCKS- QB

Dillon Gabriel started the season a little slow, but before you knew it, he had found his footing and was off to the races.  Week two almost proved too tough a matchup for Oregon when Boise State came into Oregon and barely lost to the Ducks.  They ended up winning on a 25-yard field goal as time expired to stay perfect.  Gabriel went 18 of 21, throwing 243 yards and 2 TDs while also rushing for another score.  Though it may not have seemed so at the time the Ducks beat a great Broncos team.  The reality is that they took down the nation’s 9th-ranked team with the best running back in college football and possibly the best in NCAA history if he breaks the record.  That win was their closest contested game by any opponent until they played Ohio State in week 6.  Gabriel played his heart out against Ohio when he completed 23 of 34 passes, he threw 341 yards and totaled 372 yards.  Oregon’s QB scored 2 air TDs & 1 more on the ground.  His 27-yard scamper put Oregon back up by one point for only the second time in the game.  Gabriel is one of the main reasons they have maintained the nation's top-ranked team (for the first time in program history) while also going undefeated (13-0).

DILLON GABRIEL’S 2024 STATS:

PASS YDS- 3,558 (8^TH-NATION), (1^ST-BIG TEN)

TDS- 28 (8^TH-NATION), (1^ST-BIG TEN)

INTS- 6 (3^RD-BIG TEN)

CMP%- 73.2% (3^RD-NATION), (1^ST-BIG TEN)

PASSER RATING- 166.6 (7^TH-NATION), (3^RD-BIGTEN)

QBR- 86.5 (2^ND-NATION)

 

3) CAM WARD- MIAMI HURRICANES- QB

        Cam Ward is an unbelievably talented football player and will undoubtedly excel at the professional level of football upon entering the NFL next year.  Having only played one ranked team this season in Syracuse and losing is really what ended up hurting their chances of making the college football playoffs this year.  Miami also lost a game to an unranked feisty Georgia Tech team even with Cam passing for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Hurricanes started the season 9-0 and were ranked as the number 7 team in the nation at their peak back in week 4.  Unfortunately, they are in the ACC with both SMU and Clemson, who have better conference records than Miami this year.

CAM WARD’S 2024 STATS:  

PASS YDS- 4,123 (2^ND-NATION), (2^ND-ACC)

TDS- 36 (1^ST-NATION)

INTS- 7 (3^RD-ACC)

CMP%- 67.4% (3^RD-ACC)

PASSER RATING- 171.5 (5^TH-NATION)

QBR- 88.0 (1^ST-NATION)

 

2) ASHTON JEANTY- BOISE STATE BRONCOS- RB

        Aston Jeanty has been nothing short of amazing!  This Boise State team would not be anywhere close to a college playoff appearance had it not been for this young man’s legs.  Jeanty is a ball of fire shot out of a cannon, and he can beat you in so many ways.  He is a master class at breaking tackles, running through you, stiff-arming defenders, spin moves, and quick agile jukes.  No running back had more 60-plus-yard runs this season.  Boise’s running back is well on his way to breaking the All-Time college rushing record with only 131 yards separating him from taking down a record that was set by the one and only Barry Sanders in 1988 (2,628 yards).  Jeanty’s 2,497 rushing yards this season are the fourth-highest single-season total in FBS history while also more than 115 FBS other programs had produced this year.  He has also rushed for 29 touchdowns which is equal to or better than 118 FBS programs.  He accomplished so many great things this year, such as rushing for 125+ yards in 13 games along with 200 or more yards in 8 games his senior year (most in Mountain West history).  Boise State is firmly placed in the college football playoffs as the third-highest-ranked conference champions.  They earned a bye week and now await their next competitor (SMU or PSU).

        ASHTON JEANTY’S 2024 STATS:

RUSH YARDS- 2,497 (1^ST-NATION)

CARRIES- 344 (1^ST-NATION)

AVERAGE YPC- 7.3 (1^ST-NATION)

RUSHING TDS- 29 (1^ST-NATION)

FORCED MISSED TACKLES- 135 (1^ST-NATION)

        *BROKE BIJAN ROBINSON’S RECORD OF 104 IN 2022!!!

YARDS AFTER CONTACT- 1,882 (1^ST-NATION)

*ASHTON’S YAC IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER RB’S TOTAL RUSHING YARDS IN THE NATION THIS SEASON!!!!!

 

1) TRAVIS HUNTER- COLORADO BUFFAOLES- WR/CB

        Travis Hunter is unquestionably one of one.  He is the most decorated college football player and is the only athletic freak that I’ve ever seen who can play each snap on both sides of the ball in every single game he plays.  The biggest question with Hunter is will he play wideout or cornerback in the NFL?  That’s a trick question, right?  I feel like wherever he ends up he will do whatever he can to try and get snaps at both positions.  Though in the pros I don’t think it will be sustainable for him, playing the way he’s been at the collegiate level.  It’s not a question of toughness, though the players are bigger, faster, and stronger.  When playing receiver, you’re constantly taking a beating, making it incredibly hard to then go back out there on defense to put a lick on others while trying to maintain your health for a 17-plus game season, barring your team qualifies for the playoffs.  Coach Prime has spoken about how monumental this young and gifted specimen has been for him and his Colorado program.  Sanders wants to see him not only shine in the NFL but also be rewarded by way of the Heisman Trophy for all the accolades he has accomplished within college football.  The Buffaloes were often overlooked in the past two seasons but did show the entire nation just how special they could be.  They ultimately missed out on the college football playoffs after a devastating loss to the Kansas Jayhawks 37-21 before coming back with vengeance in their last game against OSU pummeling them 52-0!  The highest Colorado ranked this season was at number 16 in the nation.

        TRAVIS HUNTER’S 2024 WR STATS:

REC YARDS- 1,152 (6^TH-NATION), (3^RD-BIG12)

RECEPTIONS- 92 (5^TH-NATION), (1^ST-BIG12)

TOUCHDOWNS- 14 (2^ND-NATION), 1^ST-BIG12)

        TRAVIS HUNTER’S 2024 CB STATS:

TACKLES- 31

SOLO TKS- 20

PASSES DEFENSED- 11 (8^TH-NATION), (1^ST-BIG12)

INTERCEPTIONS- 4 (17^TH-NATION), (3^RD-BIG12)

FORCED FUMBLES- 1 (4^TH-BIG12)

       

*Hunter allowed the fewest receiving yards (205) in the nation, had the most forced incompletions (8), allowed the lowest passer rating when targeted (42), accounted for the 2^nd most coverage snaps (399), and allowed the 2^nd fewest yards per reception (9.3), per PFF.

 

Now there is nothing against either Cam Ward or Dillon Gabriel, they both played outstanding this year while also adding pure excitement to the entire college football season.  The fact of the matter is just that Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are once-in-a-generation types of talent.  What both of those men were able to do in college football this season will truly go down in CFB history!  Make your pick for the Heisman and stick with it.  I can’t wait to see who ends up winning the trophy, either way, we realize the winner is more than deserving of this prestigious award. 

The Heisman Trophy Ceremony is this Saturday, December 14^th at 8 PM ET on ESPN.

TOP 10 QBS THROUGH WEEK 14

 

LOS ANGELES @ SAN FRAN

 

        This NFC West division has been widely open all year long.  Coming into the season it was largely discussed as the Niners division for the taking.  Seattle had the best start pulling off a 3-0 record, then started to crumble.  L.A. was riddled with injuries after just two weeks into the season causing them to rack up more losses than wins through the first half of the season.  Arizona also started slowly but then seemed like the favorites to win the division as they were starting to gain momentum and separation from the rest of the West.  Then the Cards lost three straight games, two to the Seahawks.  With essentially almost every other division sewed up, only four weeks remaining, and this NFC West is the most intriguing group of teams to focus on heading into the postseason.  This sets us up for a massive Thursday Night NFL matchup between the Rams & Niners as week 15 is rapidly approaching.

 

        San Fransico has been in a bad way all season.  The fact that they still have a slight chance of winning this division is a miracle.  This past Sunday afternoon the Niners offense went off.  San Frans’ offense amassed over 450 total yards, 321 passing with 131 added yards in ground production.  They had 22 first downs against a decent Chicago defense, converting 50% of their 3^rd downs (6/12) along with 100% on 4^th downs (2/2).  The offense was seemingly the most efficient it’s been all year long.  The O-line played great only allowing Purdy to be sacked just once.  Shanahan’s offense ran 61 plays, only punting twice and Purdy was back to playing superior football again.  Brock completed 80% of his passes (20 for 25) throwing for 325 yards with 2 touchdowns.  Superstar tight end George Kittle stepped his game up while bringing in 6 receptions for 151 yards, averaging over 25 yards a clip.  Jauan Jennings also showed up in a major way with his 7 catches on 90 yards and scored 2 TDs.  Even their rookie running back got into the act when he scored twice on his 15 rushing attempts.  This was a complete win on both sides of the ball and their defense showed rookie Caleb Williams that they would not be denied on their home field, sacking Williams 7 times.

 

49ERS OFFENSE-

TOTAL YDS P/G- 378.5 (4^TH)

RUSH YDS P/G- 138.9 (7^TH)

PASS YDS P/G- 239.6 (7^TH)

POINTS P/G- 23.7 (11^TH)

TOT SKS ALLOWED- 26 (11^th)

 

DEFENSE-

TOT YDS ALLWD P/G- 298.5 (3^RD)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 115.9 (12^TH)

PASS YDS P/G- 182.6 (3^RD)

PTS ALLWD P/G- 23.7 (21^ST)

TOTAL SACKS-  35 (T-10^TH)

 

        Los Angeles has continued to put up a very strong fight after quickly sinking at the beginning of the season.  They were also going through a tremendous number of injuries to key players much like their rivals.  Sean McVay has finally gotten his team over .500 for the first time this year after a cataclysmic 1-4 start to their season.  They have been in a constant uphill battle and after winning the last two weeks they still have a shot at mid-January football.  L.A. currently has a 34% chance to make the playoffs but will drop to only 23% with a loss on Thursday Night.  If they were to come out on top their odds would then grow to 50%.  Believe it or not, they are sitting in a unique position with Washington losing a few of their last games because now the Rams are the only bubble team that can seemingly make their way into a possible Wild Card spot.  They could potentially overtake either Green Bay or Washington if they win out and if one or both of those teams were to stumble in the last four weeks.  The Rams, much like their opponents this week had recorded the best offensive game of their season on Sunday when they put 44 points on the Buffalo Bills. 

In a game that reminded us just how incredible Josh Allen is (scored 6 TDs, 3 rushing + 3 passing, accounting for 424 total yards).  Somehow the Rams not only matched the Bills' level of intensity but outdid them.  McVay’s offense had 28 first downs, converted 11 of 15 third downs (73.33%), ran 72 plays, allowed 0 sacks, and only punted two times.  They also won the time of possession battle 38:30-21:30 while not turning the ball over once.  Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford made it look effortless, completing 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns as well.  Stafford’s all-star receivers Nacua & Kupp both caught a TD each, Cooper grabbing 5 passes for 92 yards, while Puka had the bigger performance (12 rec, 162 yds).  Let’s not forget the man in the backfield, Kyren Williams who also got into the endzone twice while compiling 87 rushing yards.  

 

RAMS OFFENSE-

TOTAL YDS P/G- 340.7 (15^TH)

RUSH YDS P/G- 103.0 (25^TH)

PASS YDS P/G- 237.7 (9^TH)

POINTS P/G- 22.9 (16^TH)

TOT SKS ALLWD- 28 (13^TH)

 

DEFENSE-

TOT YDS ALLWD P/G- 365.7 (27^TH)

RUSH YARDS P/G- 141.0 (28^TH)

PASS YARDS P/G- 224.7 (23^RD)

PTS ALLWD P/G- 25.5 (24^TH)

TOTAL SACKS -  28 (24^th)

 

        I think we are all in for quite a treat tomorrow night with much more than just an exhibition game between bitter foes.  Look for a high-scoring event as two of the top ten passing offenses will attempt to carve the others' defensive backs all game long.  When you take a glimpse at the numbers both teams are weaker against the run but don’t let that fool you as both squads have great QBs at the helm.  Stafford and Purdy will combine for roughly 600 passing yards while both have immensely talented outlets to distribute the rock to.  Once a part of the same staff old buddies will go mano y mano during this one, coaching on opposite sidelines (Shanahan and McVay).  Only one will come out on top, if San Fran loses, they’re pretty much out of the mix and boarder lined eliminated from playoff contention.  The Rams would technically still have a chance to make the postseason even if they were to lose, though it would certainly complicate things further.  Still, this game is perceived as a must-win for both these NFC West teams.  Los Angeles is a +3 underdog as they hit the road with Levi’s Stadium, their destination.  Rams vs. Niners tomorrow night, 8:15 PM ET only on Amazon Prime Video.        

MY TOP 5 COACH OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

             Week 15 of the NFL season is almost here and will be kicking off Thursday Night Football with an NFC West Divisional matchup between the Niners and Ram.  It's getting close to the time of the year when everyone in the NFL world, including the fans, can vote on many different awards.  The obvious biggest honor is the NFL’s regular season MVP.  There are also smaller rewards such as the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even the Comeback Player of the Year.  Those are the most notable trophies that are given out after the season concludes.  Many of the other less savory honors awarded will include one that solidifies the efforts of whom many feel was the best head coach of the year.  In my opinion, there have been several coaches this season for whom you can make a case that fits as a possible COTY candidate. 

 

JIM HARBAUGH, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- 8-5

            Harbaugh has turned around a franchise that hasn’t been the worst team, although they weren’t reaching their true potential either.  The Los Angeles Chargers have had one of the best young talents at the quarterback position Justin Herbert, since the 2020 season when they drafted him out of Oregon.  Sadly, they didn’t seem to have the right coaching to bring the most out of the rest of the team around Herbert.  Now with Jim Harbaugh, they have looked like a completely different team than just a year ago.  They are dominant on defense, the offense has been getting better throughout the season, and they are even poised for a playoff run.  Though Herbert and McConkey are both a little banged up and they await J.K. Dobbins to hopefully get healthy by the end of the regular season.  At 8-5, the Chargers are firmly in the playoff picture while they’re seemingly back and may even surprise some teams in the postseason.  It has only taken Harbaugh 14 weeks to take a team, which many thought was a joke, and turn them into a contender. 

 

JONATHAN GANNON, ARIZONA CARDINALS- 6-7

            Jonathan Gannon is a lesser-known head coach around the league.  If you are a Philadelphia Eagles fan you may remember him as their defensive coordinator for two seasons (2021-2022).  He has held other coaching positions, but none as highly regarded as DC until the Arizona Cardinals hired him last year to become their head coach.  Though he couldn’t turn the Cardinals' misfortunes around at the pace that Jim Harbaugh was able to do for the Chargers, what he has done in Arizona is still very impressive, nonetheless.  This year he has helped ascend their level of play on defense, while also impacting the overall environment of the locker room.  If you hear how he speaks about the ins and outs of what he preaches to the team week after week, you start to like the guy and realize he is exactly the type of presence they have been needing.  Kyler is 100% healthy and has been balling out, Budda Baker is still balling out as their defensive veteran/captain along with being their number one defender.  The Cardinals just dropped the torch as the leaders of the NFC West, losing twice to Seattle plus a loss to Minnesota in between their games with the Seahawks.  I still have faith in the Cardinals and believe they will go on another winning streak like the one they are just a few weeks removed from.   I do however still like them to wind up winning their division at 10-7 or 9-8.  They still pose a 2-2 division record as of now and have a chance with Seattle’s tough slate of games remaining.  Gannon currently has them as the 10^th-best team in the NFC with a 6-7 record.

 

SEAN PAYTON, DENVER BRONCOS- 8-5

            It hasn’t taken too long for Sean Payton’s offensive ingeniousness to kick in as the Denver Broncos head coach.  Sean wanted to get rid of Russell Wilson, so he got it.  He wanted the Broncos cap to eat over 70 million from Wilson’s deal, so he got it.  Sean wanted to draft Bo Nix, so he got that.  There was speculation that he could make this kid out of Oregon somewhat resemble his once Hall of Fame protégé, quarterback Drew Brees.  Well to his credit Bo is starting to show a glimmer of that type of play.  Payton has Nix looking like the best rookie QB, which is saying a lot when Bo was the fifth player drafted from his position.  Courtland Sutton is looking more like the Pro Bowl rookie version of himself now than he has in any of the past five seasons.  We are now going into week 15, and the Broncos seem to have a top-three, if not the best defense in the league.  Before last week's Monday night high-scoring affair, the Broncos' offense had been rolling while not committing a single turnover in their last 15 quarters played, best of all the Broncos are 8-5.  Coach Payton has this Denver team ready to break their 9-year absence from the playoffs as they are presently in 7^th place in the AFC playoff picture, having at least two fewer losses from the next closest team.

 

MIKE TOMLIN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS- 10-3

            Mike Tomlin is arguably one of the best coaches in the NFL.  I strongly believe he has been one of the best Head Coaches for a long time now.  Yes, Tomlin has only won one Super Bowl, but he has gotten to two of them as the Steelers head coach.  He has also led Pittsburgh to 11 playoff appearances, won 7 division titles, and brought them to 3 AFC championship games.  However, the most impressive thing about Mike Tomlin is that he has never had a losing season in his entire head coaching tenure.  Though a lot of those teams had one of the top quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger or posed as one of the elite defenses.  Even after a few years without “Big Ben” or with banged-up defenses that weren’t so elite, Mike Tomlin still managed to find a way to be a .500 team or better.  This season Tomlin had to coach his way through an unconventional, unique situation that he had never dealt with before.  He had to choose between a good veteran quarterback Russell Wilson or the young and upcoming, talented ex-Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields to become his starter.  To start the season Fields was placed as the Steelers starter due to Wilson getting injured a few weeks before their opening game.  Fields began the season well, though he seemed to limit their offense.  Tomlin chose to go with his gut thus replacing Fields with Wilson and it’s been sunny skies since.  The Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North division after beating the Baltimore Ravens just a few weeks ago.  I believe Tomlin more than deserves a Coach of the Year award, having them in third place in this extremely tough AFC conference at 10-3.  I also think it is crazy that he’s never won COTY honors in the past.

 

DAN QUINN, WASHINTON COMMANDERS- 8-5

            It is only Quinn’s rookie year as the Commanders' head coach, yet he’s looking like a seasoned vet.  Why is that?  Well, for one thing, he’s still in the NFC East.  He has done a spectacular job, especially with a rookie quarterback.  Though this is not your average rookie QB, he set all kinds of records for the Commanders also has set all-time rookie QB records for completion percentage, while he is also in the conversation as the favorite for Rookie of the Year.  No one would have ever thought that come week 15 we would be talking about a Washington Commanders team heading to the playoffs.  This is not the old Dan Synder-owned Washington football team, see what I did there haha.  Only a complete fool would do what he did to a sports organization and even with him trying to run them into the ground it only took one season to pull them out of the depths of despair.  That is exactly why I firmly believe that Dan Quinn should be one of the favorites for Coach of the Year.  Furthermore, he also seemed to turn the defense around from one of the middling-worst units as the season began to a respectable one that is starting to hold its own.  If Washington does make the playoffs and beats the Philadelphia Eagles in week 16, I think there should be no question that Dan should win COTY.

 

            I would just like to clarify the reason why I don’t have some of the other great coaches on my list, such as Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, Kevin O’Connell, Sean McDermott, and even John Harbaugh.  Unlike the head coaches I just named, the coaches in my top 5 list have either been with their teams for less time or like in Mike Tomlin's case have seemed to have less talent to work with.  Also, I believe that it is unfair to slight a great future Hall of Fame head coach like Tomlin, never having him as the COTY, yet someone like Kevin Stefanski who has won the award twice with a far less impressive track record while only being a head coach for a whopping four seasons, now in his fifth. 

FALCONS VS. VIKINGS – KIRK’S REVENGE

 

     This Sunday afternoon Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will return to U.S Bank Stadium for the first time since parting ways with Minnesota.  In the offseason, Cousins signed a 4-year, $180 million deal, which includes a $50 million signing bonus, $100 million guarantees, and holds an average of $45 million per base salary.  Kirk was initially ecstatic that Atlanta viewed him as a starting QB looking to lead their offense and team for the next four years.  The Vikings were seemingly ready to move on to either a younger veteran or draft a rookie for the future.  The QB still wanted to be a starter so he knew if he stayed there could be a possibility that during the season they may wind up turning to another option as their starter, so he just wanted out of that situation.  Upon a possible deal with Atlanta, it was then reported that Cousins spoke about this type of situation that could’ve taken place if he had stayed in Minnesota and wanted assurance that if the two sides were to reach a deal in Atlanta, he would have peace of mind that this wouldn’t happen to him as a Falcon.  He was told that they wanted him as their starter, thus not having to worry about something like that in the peach state of Georgia. 

Then about a month and a half after they reached an agreement on a contract, much to Kirk’s chagrin the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr., ex-Washington Huskies quarterback who had brought the Huskies to the National Championship last year.  Atlanta has mostly been a rollercoaster of a team this year.  They started this season 6-3, but over the past three weeks have gone 0-3.  Fortunately, they have handled their business inside the NFC South with a 4-1 division record.  They also only have two tough games ahead this Sunday against the 10-2 Vikings then another road matchup with the 8-5 Commanders in week 17.  Cousins will look to upset the Vikings on the road as payback moving forward without him after his six proficient seasons in Minneapolis.  During his tenure as their starter, he earned three Pro Bowl trips, passing for 171 touchdowns and 55 interceptions (averaged 28.5-9 TD: INT in 6 seasons).  However, Kirk’s been relatively inefficient as of late, having not thrown a single touchdown in his previous three outings. (last game with a TD in week 10 against Dallas, went 3-0 in TD: INT)

Minnesota has played fundamentally sound football on offense and defense all season long.  The Vikings currently sit in second place in the NFC North, trailing Detroit by only one game while possessing a stronghold on the top Wild Card spot in the NFC playoff picture.  Moving on from Cousins has proven to be a decent decision after all for Kevin O’Connell as their new starter Sam Darnold has thrown for 2,952 yards (10^th) this season, passing for 23 touchdowns (5^th) with 10 interceptions (T-25^th).  Offensively, the Vikings are ranked 9^th best in passing (231.6 ypg) and points (24.8 ppg).  They are 13^th in the league in total yardage (344.6 ypg) while not as great on the ground, averaging 113.0 yards per game (17^th).  Though no team can ever afford to lose a game, this is not to the same degree of importance for Minnesota as it is for the Falcons.  They are locked into a playoff position with 5 games left on the schedule, but they still must play Detroit once more and have the chance of possibly winning their division.  Three of their next five are against NFC rivals plus a game in Seattle which are fighting to keep their playoff dreams alive, they by no means have an easy street en route towards becoming hopeful NFC North Champions.

Falcons’ OC Zac Robinson will look to dial up plenty of passing situations to beat the Vikings 28^th ranked pass defense.  However, Vikings’ DC Brian Flores likes to bring more pressure than most teams and they are 4^th in sacks this season.  Atlanta’s DC Jimmy Lakes has had a mediocre defense at best.  They are ranked dead last in the league in sacks and will try to contain what Wes Phillips (OC) and Minnesota do best which is throw the ball.  The Vikings only have the Division Championship to fight for at this point, having already basically clinched a playoff berth.  The Falcons on the other hand have zero margin of error.  As I have already mentioned, Atlanta has two difficult matchups remaining, while their top divisional foes Tampa Bay have a much easier road ahead playing four teams that have a total of 14 wins between them.  It will be quite a problematic situation for Atlanta the rest of the way if they don’t come out of this one with a win.     

MY TOP DPOY NOMINEES

 

This list is in my opinion who should be considered for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.  I have chosen six players for this award.  While using each player's statistics along with some Next Gen Stats I will plead a case for each one of these individual players to win the DPOY award.  Remember these picks are my opinions, while there may be a few that are also favorites by the NFL, there are also a couple of players I believe deserve recognition for their significant exertion all season long.

 

6) NIK BONITTO- DENVER BRONCOS

        Now let me be 100% clean and clear in telling you all that if you don’t know I am a Broncos fan, and I have been my entire life; however, this is in no way a biased pick.  Let me add context before you think I am crazy or partial by putting Bonitto in my top six picks.  Nik Bonitto is now in his third season, drafted out of Oklahoma as the 64^th pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.  Upon adding Bonitto plus some other edge rushers, the Broncos decided to move on from the likes of Bradley Chubb & Von Miller.  In his first two seasons, he certainly showed some flashes that he may end up being a special player, but now in year three, it is suddenly coming to fruition.  Through 13 games this season Bonitto has recorded 25 SOLO, 11 AST, 36 TOT, 11 SACKS, 13 TFL, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 INT & 1 TD.  This past Monday Night in a home game against the Cleveland Browns Bonitto managed to record a sack, an interception, a tackle, 2 PD, and a TD.  The third-year pro is making franchise history for the Broncos, becoming only the second player in their building to account for 10 or more sacks with an interception for a TD, which ties ex-Bronco Von Miller.  Nik also tied Millers' record for six straight games with a sack. Though in all honesty, he should be tied for another NFL record for consecutive games with a sack.  Let me elaborate further, in week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, Bonitto had a sack on Lamar Jackson though in a weird twist, they decided that this 8-yard loss from the shotgun formation would be recorded as a tackle for loss instead of a sack.  Had they accredited Bonitto with the sack he would have been tied for the all-time NFL record, 11 consecutive games with a sack (Chris Jones- KC DL holds the record).  His numbers aren’t too far off from players like T.J. Watt or even Myles Garrett, with more sacks than either of those two and currently only a half-sack behind the league leader.  However, it is hard to envision that a non-household name like Nik Bonitto would accumulate more votes than those guys.

 

5) ZAIRE FRANKLIN- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

        Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin is often another player who gets overshadowed.  There are tons of talented players across the NFL, but not tons of consistently productive players, at least not at the level of Indy’s beastly tackling machine.  Franklin has already accrued 135 combined tackles this season, 10 more than the next player who ironically enough is also a Colt, Safety Nick Cross.  Franklin’s tackles are also 14 more than any non-Colt player, which shows how good this man is at bringing down the opposing team's playmakers.  This season he is on pace to beat his tackling record that he continues breaking; Zaire ended the 2022 season with 166 total tackles and broke that when he recorded 179 last year.  He owns the Indianapolis Colt’s all-time single-season tackling record since breaking Shaquille Leonard’s in 2022.  Zaire’s numbers for this year stand at 74 SOLO, 61 AST, 135 TOT, 2.5 SACKS, 4 TFL, 4 PD, 1 INT, 3 FF.  This past weekend he had yet another big outing in accounting for his 7^th double-digit tackling performance with 12 tackles, 10 of which were solo, 1.5 sacks, plus a forced fumble.  I believe much like Nik Bonitto, that Zaire Franklin will also probably be overlooked in the DPOY race, but I am happy at the very least to be able to bring his incredible play to light for others to see.    

         

4) ANDREW VAN GINKEL- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

        The Vikings have a dog in Van Ginkel plain and simple.  Vikings’ DC Brain Flores knows he’s got one of the best and most versatile defensive players leaguewide.  Most may not know this, but Van Ginkel had begun playing football as a quarterback in high school, along with snaps as a wideout, plus on defense as both a safety and the position he continues to play today, linebacker.  Van Ginkel made history earlier this season, becoming just the third player in the NFL to have 8 or more sacks with multiple pick-sixes in a season (Terrell Suggs in 08, Jason Taylor in 06).  He is only the 10^th player in Vikings franchise history with two pick-sixes in a season while being the first to do so since 2012 when their safety Harrison Smith had a pick-six.  After week 13 wrapped up Van Ginkel now has the third most solo tackles, combined tackles, and QB hits in his career in a single season and he is on pace to have the best statistical year of his career.  Minnesota has five games remaining for him to tack on more production to his 41 SOLO, 18 AST, 59 TOT, 9 SACKS, 15 TFL, 4 PD, 2 INT, 2 TD, 1 FF.  The linebacker also completed something unique this year by having his two interceptions for touchdowns come against both New York teams.

3) PATRICK SURTAIN II- DENVER BRONCOS

        I believe it is vividly clear that Pat Surtain is the best cornerback in the league—at least he has been this year.  Surtain is already being compared to some of the greatest cornerbacks the Denver Broncos history has ever seen, like Champ Bailey, Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib, and Dre Bly.  Denver selected Pat aka PS2 in the first round of the 2021 draft out of Alabama.  The Broncos solidified their stance on PS2 in the offseason when they made him the highest-paid corner in the league, opting to sign him to a four-year $96 million extension that guarantees him at least $77.5 million (most guaranteed money for a cornerback in NFL history).  Now unlike linebackers, edge rushers, defensive linemen, and the safety position, corners don’t usually rack up huge numbers.  They generally won’t produce the most tackles or sacks, sometimes they may not even have a lot of interceptions, but that’s okay.  The reason is that true number one corners, like Surtain get judged from the production they allow from the men lining up adjacent to them. 

When you put a top receiving threat out against your top defensive back, leave him out on an island with the knowledge that he won’t give up a massive yardage outing or scoring, that’s when you know you got something truly special.  This is exactly what the Broncos know to be true each week since they brought PS2 to Denver.  Surtain has allowed just 202 total yards (the fewest of any CB), the lowest passer rating when targeted (47.6), lowest EPA/target (minus-0.68) among all corners leaguewide on at least 250 coverage snaps.  Pat has shadowed wideouts D.K. Metcalf, Davante Adams, Mike Evans, Garrett Wilson, DeAndre Hopkins, plus Raider’s rookie tight end Brock Bowers this season.  According to Next Gen Stats, he has allowed 15 receptions for 148 yards on 198 routes run against him by opponents' top wideouts.  Surtain also has 128 yards on three interceptions this year with 1 touchdown, two of the three picks came on press coverage plays (only CB with multiple INTs in press).  Through 13 weeks of the season, PS2 holds the third-best odds for DPOY (+1700).

 

2) XAVIER MCKINNEY- GREEN BAY PACKERS

        If you somehow happen to be a New York Giants fan you may want to skip this one.  Then again if you are a Giants fan you already know McKinney’s been balling out, I mean why would you continue to watch New York continue to fall apart like they’ve been doing all year?  McKinney moved on to greener pastures when the Giants chose to move on without his services, yet another questionable move by a team residing in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  The Packers' safety has mostly been pacing the NFL in interceptions since the first game of the year, now he’s tied for the league lead with Detroit Lions Safety Kirby Joseph.  McKinney is a big part of why the Packers' defense is a top-five team in takeaways through week 13.  Xavier has recorded 42 SOLOS, 21 ASSISTS, 63 COMBINED TACKLES, 7 INT for 111 YARDS, 2 TACKLES FOR LOSS, 1 SACK, 9 PASSES DEFENDED.  McKinney is having his best season as a pro while the Green Bay defensive back is now one of the top five favorites to bring home the DPOY honors with +1600 odds.

 

1)T.J. WATT- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

        Already a four-time finalist for the DPOY award (2019-2021, 2023), T.J. Watt is no stranger to hearing his name compared to some of the very best defensive players in the business.  J.J. Watt, T.J.’s older brother, who had won the award three times in his career believes that T.J. has been previously snubbed at least once.   However, T.J. did bring home this prestigious trophy when he tied long-time New York Giants Michael Strahan’s all-time sack record (22.5) in 2021.  T.J. isn’t just one of the anchors on this Pittsburgh Steelers defense but is also the heart and soul of their team!  Watt constantly displays the work ethic, attitude, and presence of a professional.  He helps his team rise to the next level on Sundays with his gameplay, study habits, and overall football knowledge.  Watt leads all NFL players this season in forced fumbles, while collectively pacing the league in that category over the last two seasons.   This season T.J. has 31 SOLO, 12 AST, 43 TOT, 9.5 SK, 16 TFL, 3 PD, 5 FF.  He is currently being favored to win this award with -220 odds.  How he acts, plays, helps teammates, and holds himself accountable is a testament that constitutes how professional athletes should be in the sports world.

PITTSBURGH AT CINCINNATI

        This game feels like a trap game to me.  If you look at the records, it should be an easy win for the Steelers.  However, if you know anything about this AFC North division, the underdog often upsets the better team.  Look at what happened when the Browns played Pittsburgh, sure inclement weather played a part, but a terrible Cleveland team that had won just two games upset an eight-win team.  How about when Cleveland beat the dominant Baltimore Ravens team a few weeks before that game?  Did you see that one?  Once again you can quote the NFL saying, any given Sunday.  Any team can beat any other team, regardless of the stakes.

 

STEELERS-

            Pittsburgh cannot falter at this point in the season.  They need to keep playing their brand of football, which is tough, stifling defense.  Defensive Coordinator, Teryl Austin has been with Pittsburgh since 2019 when he was first brought in as senior defensive assistant and secondary coach.  He held that position until 2022 when he was promoted to DC, and they’ve been an elite defensive unit ever since.  The Steelers have already beaten their top competitors in the North, the Ravens.  Losing last week in Primetime was already problematic enough, knowing they could have separated themselves by going up two games in front of Baltimore.  Then the Ravens won on Monday Night thus setting up another huge game between those two teams for week 16.  Pittsburgh must play hard-nosed defense and limit Cincy’s passing game with their two outstanding targets on the outside.

 

DEFENSIVE RANKINGS-

Rush yards per game- 90.3 (4^th)

Pass yards per game- 214.9 (17^th)

Total yards per game- 305.2 (7^th)

Points per game- 16.9 (3^rd)

Sacks per game- 2.3 (22^nd)

           

            Offensively, the best strategy Arthur Smith (OC) can cook up is running the ball.  Najee Harris has looked much better this year, so they need to keep feeding him the rock.  The Bengals struggle against both the run and pass but Pittsburgh has been much better at producing on the ground this season.  Russell Wilson has looked pretty good at times as well this season.  Though I think they tend to struggle a little bit when they try to focus on airing it out too much, stick to the ground game, then when you get them biting on the run and stacking the box start tossing it downfield to Pickens, Williams, Muth, Austin, and company.  They should also reincorporate Jaylon Warren by getting him more involved on passing downs.  I know Arthur Smith wasn’t there last year when Warren was more of a threat out of the backfield, but he did have a running back with similar skillsets in Bijan Robinson.  

 

OFFENSIVE RANKINGS-

Rush yards per game- 135.2 (8^th)

Pass yards per game- 192.8 (26^th)

Total yards per game- 328 (19^th)

Points per game- 22.9 (14^th)

Sacks allowed per game- 2.9 (23^rd)

 

BENGALS-

            Cincinnati has fallen and seemingly can’t get up.  They had high hopes coming into this season along with explosive talent offensively.  Nothing worked for Burrow’s Bengals this year.  Cincy had countless injuries on both sides of the ball this, including starting wideout Tee Higgins who could’ve helped mask some of their issues, seeing how they lost seven games by only one possession.  To make matters even worse four of their losses came by five or fewer points, two of which were by one point.  It has been all hard-fought losses for the Bengals while only losing by more than ten points just once this season to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Joe Burrow has had the best season of his young career and would certainly be this year's unquestioned MVP if they were a playoff team.  To play spoil against the Steelers in this home game they will need to do what they are best at and air it out.  The Bengals are the league's leading passing attack which is truly the best way to hurt the Steelers as they are weaker against the pass than the run game.  

 

OFFENSIVE RANKING-

Rush yards per game- 91.5 (27^th)

Pass yards per game- 262.7 (1^st)

Total yards per game- 354.3 (9^th)

Points per game- 27.0 (6^th)

Sacks allowed per game- 2.4 (15^th)

 

            Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s game plans haven’t come close to looking the way he had this defense playing last season.  This defense has looked more like swiss cheese opposed to the solid mozzarella form; they showed last year.  They’ve given opposing teams way too much rushing room and even more passing yards per game than the New England Patriots.  Now that’s bad.  Though, to an extent, I do understand.  I know they were banged up, plus they played some powerful offensive teams like Baltimore twice, Philly, not necessarily KC, but Mahomes.  Then there were also the surprisingly polished rookie Jayden Daniels’s Commanders, they came in and smacked their defense in the mouth.  The one that sort of shocked me was the Chargers, I know they have Justin Herbert and correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t LA score more points along with putting up more yards against Cincinnati than they had in a single game all year long?  Isn’t that a dang shame, not to pile on but the Chargers didn’t put that many yards up against the Panthers in week 2.   Lou, you need to do something here man, bring more pressure, stack the box, and try different looks.  Their best chance for success in this game will be to limit Arthur Smiths' run game, forcing them to beat you in the air while bringing more added pressure.

 

DEFENSIVE RANKINGS-

Rush yards per game- 129.8 (20^th)

Pass yards per game- 225.6 (23^rd)

Total yards per game- 355.5 (23^rd)

Points per game- 26.9 (28^th)

Sacks per game- 1.7 (30^th)

 

LAST ANALYSIS-

            In conclusion, this is very much a must-win game for both teams.  Yes, the Steelers are more or less likely to be a playoff team this year, it is to determine if they will keep their top position in the AFC North or potentially fall into a tie with Baltimore again.  They don’t want their next game with the Ravens to be what kicks them back to the 5^th, 6^th, or even 7^th spot.  Cincinnati on the other hand, would need a whole lot to happen to make a magical appearance in the postseason this NFL season.  The Bengals need to start with an upset win at home in this one, followed by literally winning every game they have left.  Furthermore, they need the Chargers to lose 4 of their next six games.  They could also get in if the Steelers or Ravens lose four of their remaining six games.  However, their easiest path would seemingly be if the Denver Broncos were to lose 3 of their last 5 games, plus the Bengals have the luxury of going head-to-head with Denver in week 17 at home.  However, if the Bengals don’t win all their upcoming games this would be all for naught.  Lastly, in case I forgot to mention the Dolphins are also tied with the Bengals, meaning they would also need Miami to end the season with a worse record than them.  Good Luck Cincy!