With almost all the Week 16 video games accomplished, let’s check out among the losers from across the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys in street video games: The Miami Dolphins can’t beat good groups. The Dallas Cowboys can’t win on the street. Certainly one of these groups was going to bust a story on Sunday afternoon, and it was not the Cowboys.
By dropping a 22-20 determination in Miami on Sunday they not solely dropped 3-5 away from AT&T Stadium this season, they elevated their odds of getting to open the playoffs away from dwelling by dropping again right into a wild-card spot. There’s a full distinction between their dwelling success and street success this season, and it isn’t going away.
Jake Browning, QB, Cincinnati Bengals. Browning has been one of many NFL’s backup quarterback success tales this season as he tries to maintain the Bengals within the playoff race following Joe Burrow’s damage, however he didn’t play a very good recreation in a 34-11 loss on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
No less than because it pertains to his skill to guard the soccer. He threw three interceptions within the loss, together with a crippling interception within the pink zone that took factors off the board and one other on his personal aspect of the sector that helped arrange a Steelers landing.
He made some miracle throws by means of his first handful of begins, however there was additionally quite a lot of luck in a few of these performs going his means. On Saturday, that luck ran out.
Case Keenum, QB, Houston Texans. After main the Texans to an enormous win on the street in Tennessee per week in the past, issues went dramatically totally different for Keenum this week in opposition to Cleveland.
He not solely accomplished simply 11-of-17 passes for under 62 yards, he was additionally intercepted twice and finally benched in favor of Davis Mills within the Texans’ 36-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The excellent news for Houston is that common starter C.J. Stroud appears to be getting nearer to a return following a concussion.
Ron Rivera, HC, Washington Commanders. Whereas there was no official announcement from Washington possession, it appears nearly not possible to consider that Rivera can be again because the crew’s head coach subsequent season. Not after 4 consecutive shedding seasons, and never after a loss on Sunday to a New York Jets crew taking part in Trevor Simien at quarterback.
The Commanders trailed by as many as 20 factors to a nasty Jets crew, and whereas they have been in a position to come-from-behind and briefly take the lead late they nonetheless ended up shedding as a result of their protection couldn’t cease Simien and the Jets.
That may be a unhealthy search for Rivera and his protection that has persistently been one of many worst within the NFL this season.
Nick Mullens, QB, Minnesota Vikings. Mullens did quite a lot of good issues for the Vikings on Sunday. He threw for 411 yards, he threw for 2 touchdowns and he helped their offense generate 24 factors in opposition to a reasonably good Detroit Lions crew. And whereas the Vikings protection fell quick — once more — by permitting 30 factors, they weren’t helped out by Mullens throwing 4 interceptions.
Turnovers are one of many largest game-changers within the NFL, and if you quarterback is answerable for 4 of them in a single recreation you’ve got nearly no likelihood of successful.
Indianapolis Colts. After scoring an enormous win at dwelling per week in the past and placing themselves in an amazing place for a playoff spot within the AFC, the Colts merely laid an enormous egg on Sunday by getting completely bullied and dominated by the Atlanta Falcons.
There have been no positives to remove from this recreation for the Colts as their sturdy offense was saved in test, quarterback Gardner Minshew had an terrible recreation, the working recreation was non-existent and the protection was utterly pushed round.
The Colts are nonetheless clinging to a playoff spot, however their 8-7 document has them in a three-way tie for the AFC South lead and on the similar time a three-way tie for a wild-card spot. They’d an opportunity to distance themselves in opposition to a mediocre crew and blew it.
New Orleans Saints. The Saints playoff probabilities took an enormous hit this week, not solely because of their Thursday evening loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but additionally the actual fact Tampa Bay and Atlanta have been each winners on Sunday.
That leaves the Saints (7-8) a recreation again within the NFC South race with two video games to play and nearly a non-factor within the NFC wild-card race. They would wish to leap over each Tampa Bay and Atlanta to win the South, or soar over 4 groups to get a wild-card spot.
Jacksonville Jaguars. Even when the Jaguars handle to get into the playoffs — which is much from a given at this level — they can’t be assured about the best way they’re taking part in. Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay prolonged their shedding streak to 4 consecutive video games and dropped them to simply 2-5 within the seven video games since their bye week.
The one excellent news to come back out of Sunday is that Houston and Indianapolis additionally each misplaced, leaving all of them in a three-way tie for the highest spot within the AFC South. Jacksonville nonetheless wins that tiebreaker, however there’s not a lot to love about this crew proper now.
They do have a positive schedule over the following two weeks (Carolina and Tennessee) however quarterback Trevor Lawrence clearly will not be 100% wholesome and the protection has allowed at the very least 21 factors in six of the previous seven video games.
