We’re at the business end of the NFL season. The playoff picture is rapidly changing, with teams like the Packers and Rams finding themselves on the brink of a wildcard spot. Teams that entered the season as long shots are knocking on the door with some of the best. The Texans, Broncos, and and Colts are seemingly outpacing projections, while some teams are starting to lose ground at the worst possible time.
Week 13 was once again full of entertainment. Here are my winners and losers from the latest weekend of football.
Loser – Pittsburgh’s problems
On Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Arizona Cardinals and in the process their playoff hopes dropped dramatically. Kenny Pickett’s injury does not help what was already a struggling offense averaging just 16 points per game this season.
The loss to Arizona doesn’t just fall on the offense though. The defense has to shoulder some of the blame. Nobody expected Arizona to have their way with this Pittsburgh defense, but they found success with their ground game especially. Former Steeler James Conner had a monster day, with 105 yards on the ground and finding the end zone twice.
Injuries have been a problem for the defense, though they are getting star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back at just the right time. They currently sit at 7-5, but will have to outpace some of the league’s hottest teams if they are to remain in position for the playoffs. They now have a quick turnaround before playing the Patriots on Thursday Night Football.
Winner – Green Bay is Loving it
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers got off to a very rough start this season. More times than not there was clear miscommunication, receivers looked lost, and the defense was not playing up to expectations. The team we saw in Week 13 looks completely different.
One of the main reasons this Packers team has looked so good is that the offense has seemingly found their stride. There has been less miscommunication, which has led to some big plays. Jordan Love is the main beneficiary of this as he has been on a roll. In his last three games, Love has thrown for eight touchdowns and 857 yards and has left people wondering whether the Packers have found another franchise quarterback.
It isn’t just the offense that has turned things around though. Joe Barry left 2022 as mortal enemy number one in Green Bay, but is now coordinating a top 10 defense. This unit is allowing just 20.3 points per game, ranking ninth in the league. They have run a gauntlet recently with their last three games coming against Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, and Patrick Mahomes, yet they have managed to keep some very talented quarterbacks in check. The Pack sit at 6-6 and are tied with Minnesota in the NFC North, with a game against the struggling Giants to look forward to on Monday night.
Loser – Tennessee Titans Troubles
This has been a down year for both Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans it feels. And after the loss against Indianapolis, Mike Vrabel elected to move on from special teams coordinator Craig Auckerman. That was understandable, as on Sunday the Colts managed to stay in the game thanks to two blocked punts, one of which saw Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse leave the game with an injury.
There are many fans that are calling for Vrabel’s head, but I am not one of them. This season feels like just another down year for a team that ran the AFC South for a couple of seasons. Whilst their division rivals have all found their quarterbacks, the Titans are still in the ‘maybe’ column with Will Levis, who has played well despite the lack of talent that surrounds him.
Sunday’s loss feels like one that will put the Titans’ season to rest. As it currently stands they hold a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, and that is probably for the best. This is a roster that is devoid of offensive talent and is in dire need of a spark. Tennessee’s schedule won’t look to get any easier either as they will play a hot Miami Dolphins team on Sunday.
Winner – Shane Steichen
Go ahead and give this man his flowers – Shane Steichen is doing the unexpected. The first-year head coach is not the betting favorite for Coach of The Year, but in my eyes he should be. As it currently stands this Colts team is 7-5, and after a Jaguars loss on Monday, they are competing for the AFC South. Heading into 2023, some may have thought this was possible. But did anybody expect this after the loss of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson?
This Colts team has remained competitive despite all of the injuries, with the likes of Gardner Minshew and Zack Moss stepping up into expanded roles and playing well. After the overtime victory in Tennessee, the Colts playoff odds jumped up to over 60%. If this team is to sneak into the playoffs then I believe Steichen is completely deserving of the nod.
This award belongs to the coaches that overcome and exceed expectations. There are plenty who have done that, but my reason as to why I love Steichen to win it is because of his ability to keep his team in it. He has practically ran two different offenses this season, and all the while Michael Pittman has been able to have a career year. Players are finding their rhythm in a system that was never intended to be used heading into the season. Watch out for Indianapolis, they aren’t going anywhere.
Loser – New England Patriots (womp womp)
It is official, the New England Patriots have hit rock bottom. In case you haven’t heard, this team is doing things that haven’t been done since the 1930s. Your grandparents may remember this, but no team has lost three games straight while allowing 10 or less points since 1938. Things are not looking up for this team either and there isn’t much to root for.
On Sunday the Patriots offense’s pressure-to-sack rate was over 40%. To put that into perspective, Sam Howell is expected to lead the league in sacks and he is taking sacks on just 24.6% of his pressured dropbacks. Another sad stat for New England fans is that the team is tied for the fewest plays in the redzone this season with just 74.
The Patriots currently hold the second overall pick and whilst some may be excited, most are not. This team is a long way off, and is lacking answers at key positions including quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line. Thursday’s game with the Steelers has the lowest over/under in a primetime game at just 30 points. This is a tough time to be a Patriots fan.
Winner – A statement from San Francisco
A new MVP-frontrunner has come forward and it is none other than Brock Purdy. The 49ers now have two massive victories against two of the best teams in the NFC, outscoring both Dallas and Philadelphia by a combined score of 55. And this game just goes to show that things could have ended very differently in the NFC Championship last season.
Brock Purdy has been on another level this season. Stop looking at him as just some good “Mr. Irrelevant” story. This is a quarterback that is on historic pace and could very well land himself the title of the league’s MVP. As it currently stands, Purdy has the highest yards per attempt in the NFL at 9.6. That’s not all – he also leads the league in completion percentage, as well as passer rating. It is safe to say the case for him as the MVP is much easier to debate for than against.
The defensive line is deserving of plenty of love as they sacked Jalen Hurts four times on Sunday! Hurts is known for his evasive ability, but it was no match for the talented unit, with Charvarius Ward now leading the league in pass breakups after having four on Sunday. The talent that this defense boasts is what separates them from other favorites like Dallas or Philly. As it stands, this looks like the best team in the NFC.