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It’s all about the game plan. Last week Bill Belichick saw a weakness in the Colts’ run defence and the Patriots exploited it. Sunday, facing the league’s best run defence, Tom Brady keeps it in the air. The Pats can win any way Belichick wants. |
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What makes the 2014 Packers so dangerous is that, in addition to their high-flying pass game, they can grind out wins with Eddie Lacy, which is exactly what Green Bay did on Sunday. |
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No one needed a win in Week 12 more than the Broncos. While Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas had great games, it was C.J. Anderson that made the difference Sunday; Denver accumulated seven times the rush yards they did against St. Louis. |
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The Cardinals defence was spectacular in Seattle, but the offence did absolutely nothing. Drew Stanton and company were held to just 204 yards, Arizona’s lowest total since a Week 5 loss to Denver. |
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Superb special teams and LeSean McCoy fueled Sunday’s bounce-back blowout of the Titans. Philly will need “Shady” at his best with a crucial Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Cowboys Thursday. |
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If the Seahawks make the playoffs, Russell Wilson should get at least a couple MVP votes. He was a one-man team against the Cardinals, accounting for 284 of Seattle’s 293 yards despite being sacked seven times. |
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Not to take away from what DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo have done this season, but who wouldn’t have success behind that offensive line? They face a stiff test Thursday against an Eagles team that ranks second with 38 sacks. |
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Andrew Luck was ransacked in the first half by the Jaguars’ defensive line; thankfully Indy played Jacksonville and weren’t severely punished for a couple of bad turnovers. But even with the win, the Colts can’t be happy with their play of late. |
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Playing with a lead, there are few better to have under centre than Alex Smith, but when you need big plays late from the quarterback, Smith just can’t get it done. That was painfully obvious Thursday. |
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Since a dreadful showing on Thursday Night Football three weeks ago, Andy Dalton has been much improved in two road wins. Give a lot of the credit to the return of A.J. Green, who has 248 yards and a score since returning Week 11. |
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Over the last two games — both losses — the Lions’ offensive struggles have been their downfall. Early in the season great defence helped mask it, but that ineptness has Detroit facing another late-season collapse. |
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With three turnovers and just 66 yards rushing Sunday, the 49ers have made it a habit of winning ugly. You have to figure they won’t get away with that Thursday in a crucial NFC Championship rematch against the rival Seahawks. |
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Things didn’t become any clearer in the AFC North during the Steelers’ bye week. Three of Pittsburgh’s final five games will be crucial to their playoff hopes – two against division rival Bengals and a home meeting against wild card hopeful Chiefs. |
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Justin Forsett has been a difference maker for the Ravens this season, who were in desperate need of a replacement at RB after the Ray Rice suspension. Forsett is one of only three players this season with at least 65 yards every game (DeMarco Murray, Antonio Brown). |
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Cleveland’s winning the close ones: five of their seven wins have been decided by three points or less. And so much for easing Josh Gordon into the Browns’ offence; No. 12 recorded his ninth career 100-yard game in his season debut. |
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Coming off a tight and unconvincing win against St. Louis, the Chargers face the Ravens, Patriots, Broncos, 49ers and Chiefs to finish the season. Good luck. |
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Ryan Tannehill was awesome again in Denver, but the Dolphins needed to pressure Peyton Manning and they failed to do that. Now at 6-5 in a jam-packed AFC wild-card race, Miami needs a miracle. |
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Aside from smothering defensive play and another beastly game from Mario Williams, the emergence of Robert Woods as a formidable receiver is great for the Bills, as Sammy Watkins continues to garner double coverage. |
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After not scoring a touchdown in the last two weeks, Matt Forte ran for two Sunday in the third quarter. Forte will be the key to any late-season push the Bears hope to put together. |
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Nobody wants to play for overtime, but Shaun Hill should be benched for the late interception in the end zone to seal San Diego’s win. |
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With Arian Foster out and J.J. Watt surprisingly quiet, the Texans were mostly ineffective. Now Ryan Mallett is done for the season and Houston is back where they started, with Ryan Fitzpatrick under centre. |
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Poor clock management and even poorer defence on the Browns’ final drive doomed the Falcons, who squandered a great chance to build on their NFC South lead. |
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The Saints’ chances of taking over possession of first place in the NFC South ended with Drew Brees’ pick six – his third of the season. Turnovers have been the story of this offence: with 20 in 2014, they’ve surpassed last year’s total of 19. |
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The worst part about the Vikings close loss to the Packers was that it could easily have been a win if Teddy Bridgewater was more accurate. The rookie missed a lot of open passes. |
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Far from 100 percent, Cam Newton needed a bye week badly and the Panthers enter Week 13 no worse for wear. Despite being winless since Oct. 5, a division title is well within reach if Carolina can get it together. |
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Beckham Jr.’s catch was enough to boost the Giants four spots. Eli Manning was better Sunday night against the Cowboys, but his untimely mistakes and zero pass rush late cost New York a game they should’ve had. |
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From the first play of the game – a 107-yard kick return TD – the Titans played from behind and never recovered. Despite five consecutive losses, Tennessee’s roster of rookies has shown promise for the future. |
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It looked good early for Lovie Smith in his return to Chicago, but it’s the Buccaneers. So there’s that. Tampa Bay mustered up just 136 yards in the second half and was outscored 21-3 after halftime. |
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Despite the Raiders’ atrocious record, praise of Derek Carr has come out of Oakland all season. Thursday night he showed the football world why; Carr’s first career game-winning drive was an impressive one. |
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Another underwhelming performance from RG3 against the 49ers in a game the Redskins should’ve won and it’ll likely be his last of the season. It’s ironic that RG3 is getting benched again as his team gets set to face draft mate Andrew Luck and the AFC South-leading Colts. |
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From a Jets standpoint, Monday night’s game was painful to watch. Rex Ryan’s team had every advantage after Buffalo’s trying week and didn’t even bother to show. Time to blow it up. |
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This week in “Remembering when the Jaguars didn’t suck”: the 2007 wild-card game against the Steelers. Down one after giving up an 18-point lead and with less than two minutes left, David Garrard runs for 32 yards on 4th and two, and Josh Scobee kicks the game-winning field goal. Those were the days. |
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