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NFL Quick Hits: Reviewing Each Game From Week 14

Andrew McKagan |
December 10, 2013 | 1:54 p.m. PST

Staff Writer

Frank Gore had a 51-yard run in the 4th quarter on Sunday, keying the 49ers' win over Seattle. (Daniel Hartwig/Wikimedia Commons)
Frank Gore had a 51-yard run in the 4th quarter on Sunday, keying the 49ers' win over Seattle. (Daniel Hartwig/Wikimedia Commons)
-Thursday Night-

Jaguars 27, Texans 20

Chad Henne played an overall good game, trusting his receivers to make plays downfield. Next season, with the presumed additions of a first-round quarterback, Justin Blackmon and Luke Joeckel, this offense could be fun to watch. Also, Paul Posluszny might be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation if the Jaguars had a better record.

The Texans really shouldn’t be this bad. Put a good quarterback behind center next year with players like Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Owen Daniels, Arian Foster and Duane Brown as his supporting cast, and you’ve got the potential for something special there.

-Sunday-

Ravens 29, Vikings 26

The story of this game for the Ravens is Dennis Pitta’s return. He’ll be a free agent after this year, but he’s more valuable to Baltimore than he is to anyone else.

Cordarrelle Patterson! Yes! Vikings’ defense! No! This team misses Harrison Smith. But at least they’re finding ways to stay competitive in most of their games, which is a very good sign.

Bengals 42, Colts 28

Ever since moving their normal left tackle Andrew Whitworth to left guard to compensate for the loss of normal left guard Clint Boling, the Bengals offensive line as a whole has gone to another level. Whitworth’s versatility makes him an elite NFL player in my book.

Is Indy really this bad? Looks like they'll get destroyed in the playoffs.

Packers 22, Falcons 21

I love how Jordy Nelson catches the ball away from his body and with his hands. He’s a receiver who never gets talked about, but he deserves to be up there with the greats in the game today.

Paul Worrilow is a beast. And Steven Jackson is looking better by the week. Not that it really matters anymore for Atlanta, whose season is a lost cause. They’ll need to fill out some depth on both the offensive and defensive lines through the draft before they’ll be able to compete with division rivals New Orleans and Carolina again.

Patriots 27, Browns 26

Shane Vereen is really good. The Patriots will need him now more than ever since Rob Gronkowski is done for the season with a torn ACL.

“How did NFL scouts miss on this guy?” is what many will say about Josh Gordon, who was taken in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft by the Browns. Well, “many people” don’t pay attention to the NFL—receivers with impressive physical measurables like Gordon’s come into the NFL all the time, yet the vast majority of them do not have the same success (see: Mike Williams, Stephen Hill, Kenny Britt, Jerome Simpson and many others). That’s what makes Gordon’s accomplishments thus far impressive. The dude is a beast.

Jets 37, Raiders 27

LeSean McCoy somehow managed to rush for over 200 yard in last Sunday's blizzard in Philadelphia. (Matthew Straubmuller/Wikimedia Commons)
LeSean McCoy somehow managed to rush for over 200 yard in last Sunday's blizzard in Philadelphia. (Matthew Straubmuller/Wikimedia Commons)
Geno Smith threw his first touchdown pass since early October, so I guess that’s something to be excited about. But to be perfectly honest, it looked as if the recipient of that pass, Jeremy Kerley, wasn’t Smith’s intended target. Still, good for the Jets. Love that defensive line.

It doesn’t look like the Raiders have their set quarterback for the future, as the weird quasi-quarterback rotation bullcrap between Matt McGloin and Terrelle Pryor would suggest. But on the plus side, running back/fullback/H-back/tight end/receiver/can-opener Marcel Reece is a total baller. He should definitely be used more in creative matchup situations.

Eagles 34, Lions 20

The conditions were so severe that I’m not sure there’s anything of significance to be taken away from this game. Still not sure how LeSean McCoy managed to run for over 200 yards in that snow, though.

When you fumble six times in the first half like the Lions did, it’ll be hard to win a football game. Especially with the blizzard conditions making it essentially impossible to throw the ball downfield, an essential component to Detroit’s offense.

Dolphins 34, Steelers 28

Charles Clay is making the Dolphins forget all about Dustin Keller.

Cam Heyward looks like the next great Steelers defensive lineman. Pittsburgh has had an underwhelming season thus far, but there are definitely some pieces in place.

Bucs 27, Bills 6

Linebacker Lavonte David has six sacks and five interceptions on the season to go with over 100 tackles. That’s some throwback James Harrison-type stuff right there. He’s a stud.

A pretty abysmal overall performance from the Bills. Hopefully they get some better quarterback play while that talented defensive line is still in its prime. And too many dropped balls for Stevie Johnson.

Chiefs 45, Redskins 10

Special teams performance of the year by the Chiefs.

The Redskins are a disaster. General manager Bruce Allen should be taking some heat for the RGIII trade, with no depth on the roster and RGIII looking terrible. Some changes are coming in D.C.

Broncos 51, Titans 28

What is there to say? The Sheriff gets it done again, with another four-touchdown performance. The way he uses the pass to set up the run is unparalleled in NFL history.

On the plus side for the Titans, rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter looks like the real deal. He’s 6’4”, 205 pounds, and can run like a mother. Hopefully the Titans will get a competent starter to throw to him next season.

Cardinals 30, Rams 10

A big win by the Cardinals to stay alive in the playoff race. Cornerback Jerraud Powers had a tough day and was repeatedly victimized by the Rams, but the rest of the defense, including John Abraham, Calais Campbell, and Tyrann Mathieu, all notched stellar performances. Unfortunately for Arizona, however, Mathieu tore his ACL and is now out for the season. A huge loss.

Bucs linebacker Lavonte David is enjoying a stellar second year during which he has been one of the top playmakers on Tampa Bay's young defense. (Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall)
Bucs linebacker Lavonte David is enjoying a stellar second year during which he has been one of the top playmakers on Tampa Bay's young defense. (Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall)
Not much to say about the Rams. Couldn’t stop Arizona on defense and couldn’t do much on offense, either. It would be a shame if they couldn’t find a way to complement such a powerful pass-rushing defensive line with any sort of consistently competent offense next season.

Chargers 37, Giants 14

The Chargers’ interior defensive duo Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget pretty much had their way with the Giants’ offensive interior. On the offensive side, very solid performances from Ryan Mathews, Phillip Rivers, Danny Woodhead and Keenan Allen. If they get their pass rush and secondary situations figured out on defense, the Chargers have the potential to be a perennial playoff team. Easier said than done.

Justin Tuck continues his out-of-nowhere success with another couple of sacks on Sunday. Good to see Hakeem Nicks have some nice numbers in his contract year, but Eli’s turnovers once again hurt the Giants.

49ers 19, Seahawks 17

San Francisco’s front seven is good enough to shut down most teams’ running games. This allows them to play two deep safeties most of the time, which is why Seattle had trouble finding room to throw downfield last Sunday.

Penalties doomed the Seahawks for much of the game, as they had eight total. Their defensive line also had trouble getting pressure, as they were forced to stay in base defense more than usual because of the 49ers’ run tendencies—in their base personnel, strong-side defensive end Red Bryant is much stronger against the run game than he is as a pass rusher, therefore limiting the effect of Seattle’s pass rush in such situations. Seattle's pass rush is really turned loose when they go into sub-package personnel, when they can put players like Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Chris Clemons on the field at the same time.

-Sunday Night-

Saints 31, Panthers 13

The Saints’ offensive line dominated the Panthers’ defensive line. Biggest difference in the game.

When the Panthers’ defensive line doesn’t get pressure the defense is simply helpless—their secondary isn’t good enough to cover for long without that quick pressure from Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy and company.

-Monday Night-

Bears 42, Cowboys 28

Whoever the quarterback is in Chicago next year will have an excellent supporting cast of weapons, including Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Matt Forte and a very solid offensive line. The defense, however, needs some work.

Speaking of defenses that need work, Dallas should make defensive talent upgrade a priority in the offseason. They aren’t going anywhere with the current quality and depth of talent.

Reach Staff Writer Andrew McKagan here or follow him here



 

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