Things That Made Me Giddy
A Very Steelers Victory: It’s December, and we know that every team has their identity, but it’s incredible the Steelers are still in this thing with their identity: No semblance of an offense, and a defense that can’t stop the run and must take the ball away multiple times every week (which, when you have T.J. Watt, you at least have a chance to do). They won the turnover battle 4–0 against the Titans and stole one on Sunday.
Joe Haden Saves Christmas: It was his return to the lineup after missing the previous four games, and the vet delivered the game-clinching tackle on fourth down.
Chain Gang Drama!: Courtesy of a spot that was off by almost a full yard (the Titans were not close to converting that first down), but still…
Ravens Were Right to Go For Two, Reprise: You can criticize the playcall, a sprint out that cut the field in half and simplified things against a Packers defense that couldn’t get out of its own way in the fourth quarter. But, with your backup quarterback and an injury-ravaged offensive line and secondary, your odds against Aaron Rodgers in OT are not good.
Tyler Huntley Is Game: Greg Roman did a nice job scheming some looks for him and the Packers did a terrible job containing him—right now Huntley probably still profiles as a longterm backup. But how many quarterbacks would be able to not only protect themselves behind a scotch-taped offensive line, but consistently create time and space and then deliver on-target throws late in the down like Huntley did on Sunday? The way Huntley played the past two weeks would be a marked improvement under center for about a fifth of the teams in the NFL at the moment.
The Packers Have Margin for Error: Both to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and to win on the road even in a game when Aaron Rodgers misses on a couple throws he hits 90% of the time.
That's Riiiight, the Cowboys Also Have DeMarcus Lawrence: To go along with Micah Parsons; Lawrence forced two turnovers in the first half against the Giants—a hit on Mike Glennon that caused an interception, and a strip of Saquon Barkley.
Joe Burrow Is Firmly In the MVP Conversation: The cons are that he has a really good receiving corps and a solid offensive line. The pro is that they are putting a on his plate on every snap, and he’s delivering every time they need him to.
Jared Goff Lives: Make it two of three for the Lions, as Goff returned after a lower-leg injury took him out for a snap toward the end of the first half. Upon his return, he stood in against pressure and delivered a 22-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds to make it a three-possession game going into halftime.
Deebo Samuel Out of the Backfield: He had his seventh rushing touchdown of the season on Sunday. The 49ers qualify as a “team no one wants to face in January” primarily because it means having to tackle Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk at the end of a long season.
Christian Wilkins Takes Full Advantage of the TD Celebration Opportunity: After a play-action touchdown catch as a fullback. I believe that’s The Worm.
Evan McPherson Breathes the Thin Air: The Bengals rookie hit from 53 and 58 in a field goals–only first half in Denver.
Davis Mills Is All Right: There probably isn’t a quarterback worthy of the No. 1 overall pick this year; it’s fair to wonder if Mills would have been at the top of the 2022 QB class had he returned to Stanford. He’s far from a sure bet at this point, but Mills is worth a full-season look as a starter. (And I know the city of Houston will disagree, but I like what Tim Kelly has done considering the quarterback situation.)
