The moment everyone’s been waiting for…the jersey reveal (not really though). The Patriots took to twitter to announce the news.
No surprise here — the Patriots seem to play their best in the white jerseys so better to not ruin tradition. Little surprising because they are the home team in the game but this goes to show someone in the front office is a little superstitious.
The Patriots are favored by 5 points over the Eagles.
The best weekend of football (arguably) has come to a close and what a weekend it was. We’re going to start with the two Saturday games, which were not as close to as exciting as Sunday but still solid.
#1 Philadelphia Eagles 15 – #6 Atlanta Falcons 10
What do you know? The Falcons did it again and blew a winnable playoff game. I’m not going to point fingers and say I predicted it — but well, you know. Everyone was on the Falcons, which is why this is exactly the kind of game that they lose.
This game was very lackluster — as evidenced by the low score-line. The number 1 seed did successfully pull off the upset over the number 6 seed, who woulda thought? What had people buzzing on twitter most was NBC’s bird graphic:
Home Birds are now 10-0 against away birds — what a time to be alive. We saw them show Carson Wentz approximately 25 times and the Falcons ran the worst play on 4th down.
Not quite sure why you roll out Matt Ryan here and essentially only give him Julio as a target — who fell down. Regardless, Julio did have a chance to catch it here but I have to chalk up the game to some bad coaching. The Falcons have already given a vote of confidence to their failure of an OC, Steve Sarkisian so expect more of the same next year. Nick Foles did just enough to get the Eagles the win and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
P.S. Lane Johnson wearing a dog mask is nightmare material.
The Eagles are going across the pond for the first time ever to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. The people of London have never seen a matchup between two teams with a winning record and this may be their chance. Both teams are still remaining in the playoffs (though both are projected to lose) and should follow up their successful seasons with more of the same next year.
London will get to see the MVP front-runner before his injury, Carson Wentz live take on the London Jaguars who suddenly cannot lose in London. They shellacked the Ravens 44-7 this season to make it 3 straight in London.
Obviously, the Jags have found success in general now but London used to be the only place they could win. The week hasn’t been announced yet but will be shortly when the NFL officially announces it.
On the last Monday Night Football game on the year, the Eagles managed to wrap up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs after beating the Raiders 19-10. Maybe the worst performance in a win to wrap up the #1 seed but I’m sure they’ll take it. The Eagles wrap up the season against Dallas in a meaningless game for both teams so I’m sure some starters will be rested but Philly remains the only team to not be beaten at home, which does not bode well for the rest of the NFC.
The NFC, of course, is loaded with talent and any one of those teams can make it to the Super Bowl.
If you told me one of these teams would make the Super Bowl (outside of Atlanta & Seattle), I wouldn’t be surprised. Having these teams have to come through a cold Philadelphia atmosphere in the playoffs is definitely a positive for the Eagles but Foles is going to have to play better if they’re going to win in January. He finished Monday night going 19-38, 163 yds and 1 TD. No chance that wins any games in the playoffs unless the defense plays out of their mind — the same defense which got EXPOSED again, this time by Amari Cooper en route to an easy 60 yd TD. They did hold the Raiders, who have been an awful underachieving team this year, to 10 points so there is some improvement there.
Also: stat of the year?
Foles, Keenum, and Goff — the Jeff Fisher effect.
What a week — my #1, #2 & #4 teams all lost and #3 won the game but lost their QB for the season to an ACL tear. Pretty much sums up how volatile this year has been. Tough to quantify the top 5 teams right now as who knows what’s going to happen this weekend. The Patriots-Steelers showdown at Heinz Field is sure to let us know a ton about the AFC race — and let’s not forget the Jaguars who won a big statement. Let’s take a stab at some sort of Top 10.
Had to do it — even despite the loss. The Patriots dropped a Monday night divisional game against the Dolphins, where Tom Brady is 7-9 all-time (don’t know if you heard this stat this week). Not to mention that they were missing their best weapon due to suspension. The Patriots are still the best team in the NFL and will prove it by taking the win against a Steelers team in Pittsburgh. If they don’t? Well then they’re in trouble.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) (LW: #5)
The Steelers are the only top 5 team that won this week (minus the Eagles) — so by default they have to deserve atleast the 2 spot. This sets up essentially a winner-take-all homefield advantage game on Sunday evening. This one’s going to be good as the Steelers just squeeked out a win against the Ravens. Will the Patriots be able to stop Bell & Brown? Tune in.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) (LW: #3)
The Eagles may have won the game against the Rams and were well on their way to making a statement before Wentz went out of the game with what we later found on to be a torn ACL. Devastating stuff for not only the Eagles but NFL fans as well. Wentz was a stud this year and was trending toward winning the MVP. Now his Eagles are left in the hands of Nick Foles — which could be much worse. The Eagles should hang out to home-field advantage but nobody can be too happy in
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57834597/877975116.jpg.0.jpg)
4. Minnesota Vikings (10-3) (LW: #2)
The Vikings lost a tough game in Carolina where they were playing catch-up the entire game. They did bring it within striking distance only to watch Cam rip off a long run and Jonathan Stewart to have a career game. This team is still good despite the 8 game win streak being snapped. Can Case Keenum get it done and possibly secure the 1 seed? A game with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers looms in Week 16. This weekend? The Bengals have never won a game in Minnesota (0-5 all time).
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) (LW: #7)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: It is mid-December and the Jacksonville Jaguars are 9-4. No you haven’t? Neither have we. The Jaguars kept their cool and defeated Seattle in what felt like a playoff game. If Bortles can keep it under control, these Jaguars are legit. Trying to sneak into a first round bye, they will happily enjoy being the 3 seed in the playoffs. They close out with an easy schedule before taking on the Titans in a possible division clinching matchup in Week 17.
6. New Orleans Saints (9-4) (LW: #4)
The Saints lost on Thursday night against the Falcons in a thriller. The game was ugly but the Saints were in the position to win when Drew Brees was picked off in the end-zone with a minute to go. It’s safe to say they probably would have won this if Kamara wasn’t knocked out with a concussion on the first drive. If doesn’t exist, and the Saints find themselves right back in the thick of an NFC South race.
7. Carolina Panthers (9-4) (LW: #9)
I will whole-heartedly admit that I have no idea what to do with the Panthers. This team can beat the best of the NFL when they’re on (see: Patriots, Vikings) but can’t seem to crack the Saints at all. Cam Newton proved once again that he’s an extremely dangerous weapon. Do teams want to play the Panthers in the playoffs? I don’t think so — but in reality I have no idea. Either way, they’re 9-4 and once again tied with the Saints. Next on their plate? The return of Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, we’re excited.
8. Los Angeles Rams (9-4) (LW: #6)
The Rams had a chance to make a big statement in a shootout against the Eagles. Of course, the big story here is the Wentz injury and not the fact that the Rams lost to a NFC contender at home. Their offense is still pretty legit but can they compete with the big dogs? Not too sure. A rematch against the Seahawks will tell us a lot about this team.
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-5) (LW: NR)
Well look who we have here — the Falcons played their worst football in the beginning of the season and are starting to roll at the right time. There’s no time that would love to get back to the Super Bowl more than the Falcons to write the wrongs of last year. They sit in the last wildcard spot of an extremely competitive NFC race. They do control their destiny and have one more game against the Saints to end the season — so the NFC South is definitely in reach.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6) (LW: NR)
The hottest team in the NFL behind the Steelers? The Chargers, who started off 0-4 have rattled off 4 straight wins.. They have a huge game that may determine the AFC West this Saturday against the Chiefs in Arrowhead. A win here and well .. watch out for the Chargers. Rivers & Keenen Allen are starting to look like a deadly duo.
JUST MISSED: Seattle Seahawks (8-5) (LW: #8), Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), Baltimore Ravens (7-6) (LW: #10)
Office Chatter 