Pro Football Notebook-Previews -Week 12
Chargers-Jacksonville….Two teams going in different directions….Chargers with a 6-game losing streak….Jaguars putting back to back wins together….Injury nightmare continues with second concussion issue in 5-days with DJ Fluker….Chargers still trying to find running game package for Melvin Gordon to excel….Not much offense without Malcom Floyd-Keenan Allen…Defense continues to be awful….Jaguars QB-‘Blake Bortels (2,623P-20TD-12-Int-32 QB-Sacks)….Big Play WRs–Alan Robinson (17YPC)-Alan Hurns (16YPC)…Jags defense given up 28P-or more 5X this year.
Eagles-Lions…Defiant Chip Kelly not ready to give up on (4-6) season…QB-Sam Bradford hurt-Mark Sanchez has to start…Philly offense very erratic….Lots of nagging injuries…Lions won 2-in a row since firing offensive assistant coaches.
Carolina-Dallas…Lots of storylines…Cam Newton leading diverse (10-0) Panthers offense…Stern road test…Tony Romo shooting for 2nd win in a row….Greg Hardy plays against team that released him after suspension…Hardy insulted Panthers calling them ‘nameless-faceless’ team.
Bears-Packers…Jay Cutler continues to improve making plays down the field…RB-Matt Forte returns from injury…Aaron Rogers has Green Bay back in lst place tie in NFC-North.
Saints-Houston..Drew Brees meet JJ Watt…Texans won 3-in row….Houston 1-of-5 teams in AFC with (5-5) record and chance at 2nd wildcard spot..Houston tied for 1st place with Colts in AFC-South.
Buffalo-Kansas City…Chiefs have won 4-games in row and now at home….Bills beat up after Monday night loss in New England..QB-Tyrod Taylor with bruised collarbone…Chiefs 3-games out of 1st place in AFC-West…QB-Alex Smith playing mistake free-turnover free football.
Raiders-Titans…Oakland lost 4-games on road this season in which they were in lead in 4th quarter….Team looks fatigued and beat-up…WR-Amari Cooper not catching passes recently….Marcus Mariota 1-man gang in limited Tennessee offense.
Rams-Cincinnati….Tough assignment for sinking Rams (4-6)…Bengals have lost 2-in row and expected to come out storming at home.
Vikings-Atlanta…Huge challenge for young QB-Teddy Bridgewater to get Minnesota back on track…Falcons staggering after great start have lost 4-of-5-not getting much performance from Roddy White…RB-Devontae Freeman ailing with concussion.
Giants-Washington…Somehow Eli Manning has New York hanging touch in NFC East…Kirk Cousins-good one week-bad another…Redskins run game virtually disappeared…NY tries put distance between themselves (5-5) and rest of bad division.
Bucs-Colts…Jameis Winston gone 5-games without interception-amazing considering how bad he started….Colts still without Andrew Luck-hoping he is back in another week..Coach Chuck Pagano still on this ice…Bucs playing with enormous confidence now with return to health Doug Martin-Vincent Jackson.
Miami-Jets…Both are struggling…Jets have lost 4-of-5 since great start….DBs are beat up-DL not dominating like it did early…Jets offense very pedestrian now with limited run game….Miami gotten away from big passing days QB-Ryan Tannehill-trying to find more balance.
Arizona-San Francisco…Carson Palmer a possible MVP candidate…..Palmer (21-4) at starter since opening day 20143…Niners is total collapse with loss of Colin Kaeperneck…Fans have stopped coming to games.
Steelers-Seattle…Game of the week-but both has issues….Ben Roethlisberger injuries but still making plays…Russell Wilson offense struggling with sacks, and now no Marshawn Lynch….Pittsburgh defense growing…Seahawks just not same defense.
Patriots-Broncos…Big-maybe last big test to see if they can stay unbeaten…Tom Brady continues to dazzle even with injured WR group…Brady (111-QBR)…(24TD-3Int)….Brock Osweiler makes 2nd career start….leaning on run game to get them another 100-plus yards rushing….Interesting matchup-Wade Phillips defense (#1-284YPG)…19-takeaways-34-Sacks vs Brady led offense (418YPG) …Broncos allowed 16-TDs….Patriots allowed 19TDs on defense.
Baltimore-Cleveland…Monday Night Football…Do we have to play this…Ravens without QB-Joe Flacco-RB-Justin Forsett for rest of year…Browns benching Johnny Manziel for drinking incident again despite (372Y) passing outing in last start.