Week 15 Thoughts
The Kirk Cousins of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
I’m sorry I’m super late. I’ve been playing a fun game of tag with my asthma. The guy is very persistent I must say, but I’ve managed to get him to stop taking over time so breathing’s all good.
I do have to say his teaming up with Fever and Migraine seemed a little excessive to this man, but I respect hard work.
Anyway, my health issues are not why you’re here. So what of the predictions?
Well we’ve found ourselves another snag.
Going into Monday Night Football, Brother was out of it (it’s really not looking good for the kid) and Mother and I were tied. Once again either a victor would be crowned or the spoils of war would be shared.
Now I admit, I believe Mother when she says she would’ve picked the Steelers regardless, but Brother and I found it mighty suspicious she waited till midway through Sunday Night Football to submit her pick. I’m happy enough to accept the tie, but she says she’s happy to accept a DQ for that pick.
So I shall leave it up to you good people.
To the games.
Falcons 29 Buccaneers 28. Mere hours after saying Kirk Cousins in a primetime game was a recipe for a dud, Kirk Cousins absolutely balled out. 373 yards and three touchdowns for my coworker’s favourite QB. (I was right, he was very unhappy about the Sam Darnold comparison.) However this is really about an atrocious Bucs collapse. They had a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. They had the Falcons in third and 28 then fourth and 14 with less than two minutes left in the game. It was an abysmal loss to the team that has patented abysmal losses from winning positions this year. I will get back to this later but about the NFC South, I wasn’t wrong. Just early.
Ravens 24 Bengals 0. SOUND EVERY ALARM IN THE CITY OF CINCINATTI. Two weeks ago Joe Burrow returned from his injury basically for the love of the game. Now he’s questioning if he even wants to keep playing. After those comments, and with hindsight as our trusty companion, this was as predictable a performance and outcome as there ever was. For Baltimore they needed to win, so good job, but I can’t put much if any stock into this game.
Raiders 0 Eagles 31. This game was finished and most of the other games in the one o’clock window had more than half a quarter to play. That is all.
Cardinals 20 Texans 40. So the Texans defense is horrifying and now their offense is putting up 40 burgers. C.J. Stroud had three touchdowns and one fumble, but that was recovered by his own teammate, who scored a touchdown. Yet, at 9-5, the Texans are still looking up in their division. Might’ve been wrong about the AFC South. Meanwhile, if you give up 40+ points in four of your last six games, you probably aren’t doing a lot of winning. Cardinals fans, you poor souls.
Chargers 16 Chiefs 13. The nail in the coffin (along with three other games if we’re being completely transparent.) The Chiefs missing the playoffs is basically the Titanic sinking. For whatever reason, they just haven’t been the Chiefs we’ve come to know over the last seven years. Now Chiefs fans may say, if Mahomes hadn’t gotten injured they might’ve gone to OT and might’ve won. I think might is the right word. I’m not going to say Justin Herbert was great but just like against the Eagles he did what he needed to do. To sweep the Chiefs, having lost six straight to KC, including knocking them out the playoffs in their building is very impressive from this banged up Chargers team and they could still win the division.
Bills 35 Patriots 31. The quintessential game of two halves where both teams were very good for one and sucked for the other. Needless to say I loved the first half and HATED the second. I will also say it would be nice if the refs attempted consistency and not make three calls that seemed very “Please Mr. Allen would you win this game.” Yes I know that’s salty but it’s also my article so there. Truth be told I did think the Patriots would lose the game before kickoff, so I’m not that upset at the result. I’m furious at how we got here.
Jets 20 Jaguars 48. So the Jags saw the Texans hang 40 on the worst team in a division and say I shall raise you 48. Fair enough. Five TDs for Trevor Lawrence as the Jags continue to streak towards the division title. I’m actually shocked the Jets scored 20 points.
Commanders 29 Giants 21. Two quite bad divisional teams.
Browns 3 Bears 31. The Bears loss to the Packers last week impressed me and this thumping of Mile Garrett and Co. is also impressive considering these Browns beat those Packers. Just a good, serious performance from Chicago to hand a bad team a loss in efficient fashion. Now they get ready to fight for the division title against Green Bay tonight.
Panthers 17 Saints 20. Please be reminded, if the Panthers win this game they take a game lead in the division and hold their playoff destiny in their hands. So obviously the lose to the SAINTS. Worse yet Carolina had a 17-7 lead, meaning New Orleans score the last 13 points of the game to keep the Panthers level with the Bucs in terms of record. It can’t get worse surely. It can and it will. The Panthers lost both their games against the Saints. The NFC South is bad.
Lions 34 Rams 41. My brother was stressing badly. That is until the Rams scored 17 points in the third quarter and had an answer for every question Detroit asked. Now, because I’m writing this when I am, I know the Rams predicament, but after that game I would’ve said if this team gets the one seed I think they’re in the Bowl come February. I think the Lions are pretty much done, barring Green Bay’s injuries facilitating a collapse.
Colts 16 Seahawks 18. The New Kirk Cousins living up to the primetime reputation. Sam Darnold wasn’t bad per se, but no touchdowns and a two point win against the 44-year-old Phillip Rivers led Colts is not good either. All that being said, Seattle is 11-3. Regular season Sam Darnold is a problem. Meanwhile, just a devastating end to what looked like a very promising season for Indianapolis. Maybe I’m jumping the gun, but I’ll say it anyway. They’re missing the playoffs.
Packers 26 Broncos 34. Micah Parson laying on the ground holding his knee is a truly mortifying sight. This was a tremendous game. The Packers looked every bit the team I’ve thought they are whenever they play a big game. Patrick Surtain II (nicknamed PS2. Fire nickname alert) intercepted Jordan Love to stop Green Bay from building a double digit lead. Bo Nix was tremendous, finishing with four touchdowns and no picks. To his credit, he had three of those TDs before Parsons left the game. It’s a massive injury for the Packers. All year I’ve said if they get it right they could win the Super Bowl. I don’t think they can without number 1. Denver however (and I hate to say this), if they get the one seed, is going to be absolute hell to play in January and very well could be playing the last game of the year.
Titans 24 49ers 37. Very good team plays worst team in the league. If I were the Niners I would be annoyed I gave up as many points as 24. That is all.
Vikings 34 Cowboys 26. The Replacement Kirk Cousins doing what the original couldn’t. In 2022, the Vikings were 8-1 and hosted Dallas for Sunday Night Football. Kirk Cousins has changed the narrative the people said. I didn’t believe it for a second. I believed it even less when Minnesota were annihilated 40-3. Cousins had 105 yards. Embarrassing. So to see J.J. McCarthy (effectively Cousins’ replacement’s replacement) go to Dallas on SNF and play his best game to hang 34 on the Cowboys were perfection. Looking at his two best wins, McCarthy might just be a bright lights merchant. Do not be surprised if he’s awful against the Giants.
Dolphins 15 Steelers 28. A game that says more about the Jets than either of these two teams. It was a cold outdoor game and thus Miami lost. Very simple. To be the only team to not win when presented with this very situation is just horrific for New York.
Just my luck to deem three gents Kirk Cousins Past (Kirk), Present (Sam) and Future (J.J.) and they all win big primetime games within a week of each other. Seahawks Rams will be full addressed next week, but to lead a comeback after a 16 point fourth quarter deficit and to complete the win in OT is very, very impressive for the Present.
Something else that needs addressing we three love a good 0/3 when it comes to Thursday Night Football. We’ve only gone and done it again all going Rams, after all going Bucs last week.
No wonder all these weeks come down to Monday night, we’re clearly not very good at this.