The Chiefs remain our certain-prick No. 1 within the most contemporary model of the NFL Energy Rankings, nonetheless there’s a rising superpower within the East gaining tempo admire Kris Kringle in paunchy flight. Puff out your chests, denizens of Western New York. Your time will likely be now.
Within the period in-between, we now acquire a unusual No. 32 for the first time in three months — nonetheless it be no longer exactly reason for occasion in New York. The trip of being a Jets fan is admire no varied.
Merry Christmas and pleased holidays to the whole Energy Rankings readers … even you spoiled cramped elves on Twitter.
Let’s get to it.
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The Chiefs can intention on an practical day what most teams are unable to intention at their simplest. Kansas City accrued extra than 400 yards of offense and 32 functions on Sunday, a workmanlike (by their requirements) efficiency in a slim capture over the Saints. Okay.C. did it playing with a patchwork offensive line that left Patrick Mahomes feeling the warmth of the New Orleans hump flee for unparalleled of the day. Mahomes threw three landing passes anyway, and the Kansas City defense change into as soon as aided by an especially rusty model of Drew Brees, playing his first sport in a month. A neatly being issue to peek: Clyde Edwards-Helaire exited leisurely within the fourth quarter with gruesome-taking a see hip and ankle injuries. If the talented rookie running aid is forced to miss time within the playoffs, Le’Veon Bell will be entrance and heart within the backfield.
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Whereas you happen to haven’t won a division title since “Wonderwall” change into as soon as on the charts, you intention no longer hump in thru the aid door. The Bills announced themselves as AFC East champions with authority, bludgeoning the Broncos in a 48-19 coronation at Mile High. Josh Allen accounted for four extra touchdowns in his most modern wide name-level efficiency, while the rising Buffalo defense continued its December surge. Buffalo piled up 534 yards of total offense, led by playmaking wideouts Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, who will rapidly grow to be the first Bills receivers to head over 1,000 yards within the same season since Peerless Mark and Eric Moulds aid in 2002. The Bills are a rising tidal wave headed for the immense wall that’s the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Drew Brees returned to the lineup, nonetheless he wasn’t in truth aid. The extinct quarterback, who left out the previous four weeks with broken ribs and a collapsed lung, started 0-for-6 passing with an interception and appeared admire a diminished model of himself for most of Sunday’s 32-29 loss to the Chiefs. Brees did give a enhance to as the sport went along, nonetheless no longer ample to steal with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who rolled up over 400 yards offense in a ho-hum efficiency by their requirements. How Brees progresses over the next three weeks will likely judge whether or no longer the Saints belong within the dialog of Principal Bowl contenders. That boulevard merely purchased plenty more challenging: Aid-to-aid losses likely judge New Orleans out of the running for a fundamental-round bye and the home-self-discipline advantage that comes with it.
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After Week 14’s myth high-time capture over the Browns, the Ravens would possibly’ve feeble a bye. That wasn’t that you would judge, in recount that they settled for the next simplest thing: a home sport against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lamar Jackson accounted for four extra touchdowns (he’s up to 10 within the previous three video games since strolling again from the COVID-19 list) and Baltimore took a 26-point lead into halftime earlier than cruising to a 40-14 capture. The Ravens acquire won three straight video games and gape admire a essential player within the AFC playoffs — within the event that they get there, pointless to claim. The Browns, Colts and Dolphins all also won on Sunday, retaining Baltimore locked into the eighth seed for the time being. Beget no longer let them in, AFC. Possess in tips this your warning.
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Or no longer it is miles compulsory to give the Browns credit: When a winnable sport has introduced itself on their schedule this season, they judge care of enterprise. It took space again on Sunday night in a snug 20-6 victory over an undermanned Giants team that moved the Browns one step closer to their first playoff appearance since 2002. Baker Mayfield continued a up-to-the-minute lag of solid play with one other ambiance pleasant efficiency, throwing for practically 300 yards with two landing passes and zero turnovers. Mayfield’s upward thrust has lifted the ceiling of this Browns team. They’re no longer winning video games with their QB along for the bound — he’s grow to be the chief of the offense. This locked-in model of Mayfield, paired with a killer running sport, makes Cleveland in truth, neatly, unhealthy.
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The defense continued its upward thrust on Sunday, shutting out the Washington Soccer Team for many of the first half of, then coming up with three sacks on Washington’s final possession of the sport to be definite a 20-15 capture. Or no longer it is finest fabulous to gape at the sport run of this one when compared with the incessant shootouts that marked the first half of of Seattle’s season. On Sunday, Russell Wilson did no longer tainted 100 yards thru the air till early within the fourth quarter as the Seahawks leaned on a short-strike manner to pronounce Washington’s hump flee. The blueprint made sense, given the opponent, nonetheless it be laborious no longer to get nostalgic excessive in regards to the pleasure of the Let Russ Cook era. Is it already over?
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Derrick Henry rushed for 147 extra yards on Sunday, transferring him ever closer to the hallowed 2,000-yard dashing membership. However the loyal star against the Lions? Ryan Tannehill, who accounted for five touchdowns in a 46-25 capture for the AFC South leaders. Tannehill threw for three scores and rushed for two extra, the most contemporary cash efficiency by a man who went from irregular rman out in Miami to one of many finest QBs in football. Reminder: The Titans gave up fourth- and seventh-round picks to accomplish Tannehill (and a sixth-rounder) from the Dolphins in March 2019. The trade of surroundings change into as soon as an unlimited encourage, as is — pointless to claim — the presence of a transcendent expertise admire Henry, nonetheless Tannehill deserves extra acknowledgement for his position in turning the Titans trusty into a Principal Bowl contender.
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For the 2nd time in three weeks, the Colts wished a come-miracle fumble recovery within the last minute to shut out the Texans. That is no longer the finest manner to acquire your case as a legit Principal Bowl contender, nonetheless Indianapolis has nothing to insist regret for. To quote the immense, leisurely Jim Valvano: continue to exist and reach. The immense stars on defense stepped up: Darius Leonard forced the sport-deciding fumble, surging from within the aid of to punch the ball away from Texans receiver Keke Coutee internal the 5-yard line. Then there’s DeForest Buckner, the Jenga fragment of this defense, who performed thru an ankle hurt to file three sacks of Deshaun Watson. Jim Irsay would possibly soundless float GM Chris Ballard a hefty Christmas bonus for his perfect Buckner trade in March.
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What? How? Huh? The Rams welcomed the 0-13 Jets into their vivid unusual building on Sunday and one way or the other stumbled on a model to get beat by the worst team in football. The Rams dug themselves a double-digit hole, then watched their comeback try get short-circuited by miscues and penalties within the finest upset of the NFL season. “This loss will demoralize us most productive as unparalleled as we enable it to,” Sean McVay said after the sport. “Or no longer it is gonna be embarrassing, in unpleasant health to your stomach about it … But very humbling.” Or no longer it is miles a ugly setback for an inconsistent team, nonetheless there’s a transparent course to recovery. Beat the Seahawks and Cardinals within the last two weeks, and the Rams are NFC West champions. Bury the ball and hump on.
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“We’re no longer a appropriate football team devoted now.” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t pull any punches after Monday night’s gruesome 27-17 loss to the Bengals, Pittsburgh’s third consecutive defeat after 11 straight wins to begin the season. The offense change into as soon as in paunchy meltdown mode early, finishing with extra turnovers (three) than first downs (two) in a fundamental half of that ended with the Bengals retaining a 17-0 lead. Ben Roethlisberger performed a central position within the struggles, and after the sport he change into as soon as answering questions about his arm and the deep passes that wobbled thru the Cincinnati night admire geese that waited too long to flit south for winter. The chance of a playoff bye is all nonetheless history. Now the Steelers wish to trouble about retaining off the charging Ravens and Browns within the AFC North.
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We purchased to see each and every side of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coin on Sunday. Within the first half of, there change into as soon as the gruesome, rusted, scuffed-up side of the currency: left out tackles, blown coverages, errant throws and dropped passes as Tampa Bay fell within the aid of 17-0 by halftime. Within the 2nd half of, we observed the lustrous, freshly circulated, unblemished side of the coin: Tom Brady and the Bucs scored on their first 5 possessions, at the side of four TDs, to stable a 31-27 comeback capture over the eternally tragic Falcons. So, which side of the coin extra accurately shows who the Bucs are? Which side will it land on if Tampa Bay finds its manner into the postseason, as expected? What’s it going to be, Bruce: Heads or tails?
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Taking part in with out DeVante Parker or Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins knew it change into as soon as going to be tough to assault the Patriots thru the air. Enter the lag sport, which delivered immense performances from Salvon Ahmed and Matt Breida in a 22-12 capture that knocked the as soon as-mighty Patriots out of the playoff portray while retaining Miami alive and neatly within the AFC wild-card urge. Or no longer it is laborious to disclaim Brian Flores’ credentials in the Coach of the one year dialog; his management grew to grow to be the Dolphins’ rebuild into the NFL’s model of Operation Warp Velocity. His team is frequently willing, he finds contributors up and down the roster and he’s done educated work nurturing rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Flores is proof that installing the devoted man on the sidelines is half of the battle.
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The Cardinals acquire survived their funk. Arizona is aid to taking a see admire a unhealthy NFC upstart, and Kyler Murray has regained his construct as a younger wide name who can judge out any convention superpower if the celebrities align. The quarterback place a profession excessive with 406 yards passing, racking up four total touchdowns (three thru the air, one on the bottom) in a 33-26 capture over the Eagles that keeps the Playing cards in playoff contention with two weeks to play. Murray’s popular target change into as soon as, pointless to claim, DeAndre Hopkins, who performed with 169 yards and a landing. Hopkins went over 100 receptions for the third straight one year and has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark seven times this season. Sight up No. 1 Receiver within the football dictionary, and also you would possibly see a portray of Nuk.
Washington Soccer Team
6-8
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Dwayne Haskins purchased the inaugurate in space of an injured Alex Smith on Sunday, and for the first half of, it felt admire extra confirmation that Washington erred badly by deciding on Haskins within the first round of final one year’s draft. But Haskins improved as the sport improved, leading the team on two 2nd-half of landing drives earlier than taking Washington deep into Seahawks territory with a wide gamble to capture within the last minute. A trio of Seattle sacks on that final possession squashed hopes of a dramatic comeback, nonetheless Washington held its maintain against one other quality opponent. If Ron Rivera’s team can shut out the NFC East, we’re liable to see a same sport script play out within the postseason: Washington’s defense throwing sand within the gears of a sturdy offense while praying for ample manufacturing from the assorted side of the ball.
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Earlier this month, the Bears had been an also-ran, a pretender that purchased off to a fast inaugurate earlier than cratering when the competition improved. And definite, wins over the middling Texans and Vikings within the previous two weeks intention no longer exactly cry, “Principal Bowl Chase reboot!” But let’s give credit where it be due: This offense is enjoyable to peek. The occasional head-scratching turnover aside, Mitch Trubisky is playing with as unparalleled self belief as we now acquire ever seen one day of his time in Chicago. Then there’s running aid David Bernard Law Montgomery, who has a landing in four straight video games and merely ripped up the Vikings’ defense for a profession-excessive 146 yards and two scores. With the dreadful Jaguars on deck, Chicago would possibly soundless continue to evaluate away darkness from the scoreboard and withhold itself within the playoff urge. Who observed that coming?
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The Chargers adopted that humiliating 45-0 home loss to the Patriots in Week 13 with aid-to-aid wins, at the side of an time previous law thriller to bury the Raiders’ playoff hopes on Thursday night. Justin Herbert emerged from a mini-poke to evaluate away darkness from the Raiders’ undermanned secondary in a 314-yard passing day that included a 26-yard scoring hump to Tyron Johnson to tie the NFL’s rookie passing TD file. You wished the Chargers’ teaching workers would acquire allowed Herbert to total off the Raiders in law, nonetheless some conservative play-calling — and, pointless to claim, the perfunctory particular teams meltdown — made the sport extra entertaining than it needed to be. There is a appropriate team buried within the combine right here. Can the Bolts in finding the person that would possibly bring it out?
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The Raiders accomplished their free tumble out of the AFC playoff portray with one other dreadful loss, this time an time previous law setback at home against the Chargers on Thursday Night Soccer. The Raiders had first-and-purpose on the opening possession of OT, nonetheless — factual to construct over these previous two Decembers — Jon Gruden’s team change into as soon as unable to provide the immense play when it counted. Or no longer it is miles a shame, too, resulting from Marcus Mariota changed an injured Derek Carr within the first half of and change into as soon as fabulous, making immense-time plays with his arm and legs. He performed admire a man who change into as soon as ready to save the season, nonetheless the Raiders can no longer seem to get out of their very maintain manner as soon as the holidays roll round. Bah humbug.
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Joe Think coached on Sunday night with an practically admirable level of desperation. Accidents took away his quarterback (Daniel Jones), while COVID-19 designations sidelined his high camouflage man (James Bradberry) and offensive coordinator (Jason Garrett). So Think opted for fourth-down gambles in two first-half of crimson-zone journeys against the Browns, hoping to steal functions and place aside New York in blueprint for the upset. Sadly, these cowboy maneuvers most productive produce a coach gape appropriate when they work. Every plays resulted in failure (the first on a pretend-self-discipline-purpose throw by punter/holder Riley Dixon that went incomplete, the 2nd with Wayne Gallman being stuffed at the Cleveland 5), and Colossal Blue never in truth threatened after that in a 20-6 loss. New York hasn’t scored 20 functions in a sport in over a month. That is no longer going to prick it, even within the NFC East.
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The midseason resurgence is stale history now. In point of fact, the Viking had been running out of juice earlier this month, even as they had been soundless finding techniques to capture. But this team has been exposed as the middling outfit it is in aid-to-aid losses to the Bucs and Bears, setbacks that judge away any life like course to the postseason. Sunday’s defeat change into as soon as a microcosm sport: The lag defense change into as soon as gashed by David Bernard Law Montgomery, the hump flee failed to provide Mitch Trubisky heart-broken, and Kirk Cousins too in general had defenders invading his space. Throw in some queer in-sport resolution-making by the teaching workers, and it change into as soon as the finest stew for additional disappointment in Minneapolis.
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For the first time since 2008 and the third time within the previous 20 seasons, the NFL playoffs will no longer embrace the New England Patriots. That grew to grow to be official after one other dumb loss on Sunday. ?Cam Newton? again struggled to provide impression plays, while the defense faltered within the 2nd half of against a Miami offense that change into as soon as lacking several playmakers due to the hurt. The Pats also misplaced ?Stephon Gilmore?, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the one year, who exited the sport with what change into as soon as later diagnosed as a partly torn quad. Because the Dolphins and Bills upward thrust as contenders within the AFC East, Invoice Belichick and the rest of the Patriots mind trust acquire an offseason full of tough selections. Reload or rebuild?
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, Falcons, it brings us no pleasure to consistently reference the tragic events of Principal Bowl LI … nonetheless you wish to work with us. Whereas you happen to are seeking to acquire folks to actually hump on from that sport, you would possibly acquire to pause doing issues to remind them what took space that night in Houston. Let’s utilize Sunday for instance: Whereas you happen to acquire a 17-0 halftime lead against the Bucs — a Bucs team led by quarterback Tom Brady — you’re going to are seeking to provide definite the team led by Brady doesn’t stage the 2nd-largest rally in franchise history. Your defense can’t enable four landing drives and a self-discipline purpose within the last two quarters, and your offense can no longer hump into hibernation mode for the last 20 minutes of sport time. The football gods encourage folks who encourage themselves.
Philadelphia Eagles
4-9-1
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The comeback recount fell short against the Cardinals, nonetheless the Eagles would possibly soundless be feeling immense about what they’ve seen from ?Jalen Hurts? to this point. The rookie ended his 2nd profession inaugurate 24-for-44 passing for 338 yards with 63 dashing yards and 4 total touchdowns within the 33-26 loss. That is monster manufacturing from any QB, no longer to mention one who’s supposed to be taking his first tentative steps into the enviornment of educated football. As expected, Doug Pederson announced Monday that Hurts will remain the team’s starter when the Eagles meet the Cowboys in a Week 16 elimination sport for each and every teams. If Hurts continues to acquire within the season’s final weeks, it will most likely completely seal Carson Wentz‘s departure from the team within the offseason. Swap comes fast within the NFL.
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The hope change into as soon as that Drew Lock would acquire off his four-landing explosion in Week 14 against the Panthers and roll into the offseason with a solid conclude to his 2nd NFL advertising and marketing campaign. Those hopes had been deflated some in a 48-19 blowout by the Bills, who had their manner with Lock for many of the afternoon. Lock misplaced a fumble that change into as soon as returned for a landing and fired two passes into the hands of Buffalo defenders that had been dropped. His final numbers had been OK, nonetheless Lock change into as soon as a long way from appropriate. Of route, quarterback is no longer the most productive downside facing Broncos GM John Elway this offseason: Denver’s defense allowed extra than 500 yards to the Bills. One other disappointing day in a disappointing season.
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“This one year change into as soon as the most disappointing one.” That change into as soon as Kyle Shanahan’s judge on the 2020 season following a 41-33 loss to the Cowboys that formally eradicated the 49ers from playoff contention. Shanahan has had merely one winning season in four years in San Francisco, nonetheless this season came on the heels of a come Principal Bowl capture final February. The Niners had been supposed to total the job in 2020 — a minimal of till a wave of injuries and COVID-19-associated madness ruined the whole lot. The correct data? The Niners must acquire a high-15 capture within the 2021 draft so that you can add to a roster that’s fabulous when at paunchy neatly being. Or no longer it has been an gruesome one year by the Bay, nonetheless a return to championship contention in 2021 would no longer be a surprise.
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The Panthers acquire now misplaced eight video games this season by one possession. That sustained level of aggressive play reveals stopping spirit, definite, nonetheless also exposes the incapacity to shut out video games and produce the immense play in essential scenarios. Which takes us to Saturday night, a 24-16 loss to the Packers, whereby Teddy Bridgewater‘s purpose-line fumble acted as Carolina’s most modern “What if?” moment. “I told him from Day 1, we intention no longer reach the ball all the plan thru the purpose line,” Matt Rhule told NFL Community’s Melissa Stark at halftime. It change into as soon as a pissed off lament from a head coach who believes his team is better than its 4-10 file signifies.
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Two weeks ago, after a low snap fired at his shins resulted in the crushing turnover in a final-minute loss to the Colts, Deshaun Watson spent the next several minutes on my own on the Texans bench with a towel draped over his head — total dejection for one of many sport’s immense opponents. On Sunday, after one other crushing purpose-line turnover buried the Texans as soon as extra against the Colts, Watson walked off the self-discipline with an practically bemused gape on his face. That you would possibly portray what the Skilled Bowl quarterback change into as soon as pondering in that moment: This one year has been profoundly, irrevocably, undeniably f—–. To hell with 2020. Amen, brother.
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Matthew Stafford? is one tricky dude. The extinct quarterback knew the Lions wished a capture on Sunday to steal their faint playoff hopes alive, so he decided to play thru a painful rib hurt sustained a week earlier against the Packers. Stafford delivered a solid efficiency despite his physical issues, nonetheless it wasn’t come ample for a Lions team that change into as soon as outclassed in a 46-25 loss to the Titans. There will likely be waves of speculation surrounding Stafford and his future this offseason, nonetheless the Lions will likely be gleaming to position the lion’s portion of their specialize in easy strategies to repair their contaminated defense. It change into as soon as exposed again by an explosive Titans offense, which piled up 463 yards and 6 touchdowns in Detroit’s ninth loss of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals
3-10-1
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What moment for the Bengals and their fans on Monday night. A as soon as-promising season grew to grow to be painful within the aftermath of Joe Burrow’s dreadful knee hurt, nonetheless beating up the Steelers and sending hundreds of Pittsburgh fans out of Paul Brown Stadium with scowls on their faces change into as soon as an even extra or less Christmas point out for the contributors of Cincinnati. Despite the whole lot, the Bengals didn’t merely beat the mighty Steelers — they sent the whole group trusty into a sigh of trouble. That’s the acceptable stuff. “We wished this,” quarterback Ryan Finley said after a stable two-landing efficiency. “We wished to acquire this sense. We wished to portion that within the locker room.” We get it.
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Ravishing on the Jets — the avid gamers and the teaching workers — for inserting together their simplest effort of the season in a gorgeous upset capture over the Rams in Los Angeles. These folks wished nothing to intention with 0-16, and to boot they’ve efficiently refrained from becoming a member of that gruesome cramped membership of two. As for Jets fans? Their trouble is understandable, particularly with a player as particular as Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence presumably sitting atop the list of next one year’s prick of draft potentialities. There’s frequently been a cosmic cruelty to Jets fandom; being place aside within the blueprint to root for your maintain team to head 0-16 is about a next-level misery that no fan hump deserves. The Jets sit within the aid of the Jaguars in the draft pecking expose, nonetheless this “urge” to the backside isn’t over yet.
Jacksonville Jaguars
1-13
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The Jaguars won by losing on Sunday. The Ravens blasted Doug Marrone’s team into orbit in a 40-14 loss, nonetheless when Jacksonville returned to Earth they realized that the Jets had afflicted the Rams for his or her first capture of the season. Every teams are now 1-13, with Jacksonville retaining the all-crucial energy of schedule tiebreaker. Two extra losses and the Jags will steal the first overall capture within the 2020 NFL Draft. ?Gardner Minshew? did his weird and wonderful thing against the Ravens, inserting up finest-taking a see stats in a blowout loss. In a irregular twist of fate, many Jags fans will likely be rooting against their mustachioed folk hero this week against the Bears.
