There are the teams you’re born rooting for, for better or worse, and then there are the bandwagon clubs — the franchises and star players that pique your interest, draw you in and drop you off. Each week of the 2022 season, we’re recapping some of the most encouraging and discouraging developments from around the NFL and deciding whose bandwagon to hop on or off — even if only for a week.
There’s often a correlation between a team’s momentum during a playoff race and how healthy the roster is down the stretch. Week 13 in the NFL was a stark reminder of that as a handful of notable stars, including several key starting quarterbacks, sustained injuries that will impact contending rosters throughout December and into the new year.
Hopping on: Bengals deja vu
Joe Burrow's Bengals have faced Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs three times in the 2022 calendar year, and won all three by just three points. First, there was the 34-31 Week 17 comeback win to ring in the new year on Jan. 2, then another comeback thriller that needed OT to settle the 27-24 score and send the Bengals to the Super Bowl. And, finally, Sunday's victory that saw Burrows once again put on a show to outscore Mahomes 10-0 in the fourth quarter for another 27-24 win (salt, meet wound).
There's just something about these Bengals when they take on the Chiefs. Of all quarterbacks league-wide to have played Mahomes more than once, Burrow is the only one he hasn't defeated.
And the way the Bengals are playing right now – much like this time last year – it feels like few will be able to defeat them down the stretch. Four straight wins now has Cincinnati poised to once again grab hold of the AFC North. They conclude the regular season with three winnable matchups (Browns, Buccaneers, Patriots) before two big tests to finish off the campaign: A Week 17 meeting with the Bills, which by that point could be for all the marbles, and a home date against a Baltimore team that’s got plenty of question marks right now. (ES)
Hopping off: The Ravens staying atop AFC North without Lamar Jackson
The Ravens got quite a scare Sunday against the Broncos when Lamar Jackson went down early with a knee injury. The outlook brightened considerably on Monday with news that the injury is a knee sprain, and not something structural (and more serious) but Jackson's status will be uncertain down the stretch. Labelled "week-to-week" and, as coach John Harbaugh said, "less likely" to be available Week 14 against the Steelers, the Ravens' place atop the AFC North is very much in question. Even with Lamar, Baltimore's inability to hang onto leads has poked holes in the team's status as real-deal contenders, but without their fearless leader? There's no room for error. Backup Tyler Huntley is a proven talent, and his mobility means this offence doesn't have to change much. But with the Bengals breathing down their necks and continued questions on defence, there's plenty of cause for concern here. (ES)
Hop on: Mr. Irrelevant leading a Super Bowl contender
Losing two different starting quarterbacks within the same season would typically take the wind completely out of a team’s sails, however this year’s 49ers might just be built different. With Jimmy Garoppolo going down in the first quarter Sunday with a broken foot – and Trey Lance already done for the year with a broken ankle – San Francisco was forced to turn to third-stringer Brock Purdy. The rookie, selected with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, became the first “Mr. Irrelevant” to throw a touchdown pass in NFL history. Purdy ended up going 25 of 37 for 210 yards, two passing TDs and one interception as the 49ers beat the surging Dolphins 33-17.
The 49ers have the NFC’s fourth-best record at 8-4. They were considered a Super Bowl contender with Jimmy G behind centre. Can Purdy go on an improbable run and lead San Fran to a division title? Kyle Shanahan’s offence is a QB-friendly system and his team has a top-tier defence, so it’s not necessary to be down on the 49ers now that they’re rolling with a rookie pivot. The team did sign veteran backup Josh Johnson on Tuesday as insurance. (MJ)
Hop off: Watson regaining his form with Browns
It had been about 23 months since Deshaun Watson had suited up for a regular-season game and it showed. Cleveland got its first look at the new franchise quarterback, who was frequently booed by the Houston crowd, following a suspension and off-season trade that occurred amid sexual assault allegations and various litigation. The Browns defeated the lowly Texans despite Watson’s poor performance. The 2017 first-round pick of the Texans didn’t look like the three-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in passing yards in 2020. Watson went 12 of 22 for 131 yards, no touchdowns and an ugly end zone interception. The Browns are 5-7 and still alive in the AFC playoff race but face a stiff state rival test when they visit the Bengals this week. (MJ)
Hopping on: Brady being Brady
Never a doubt.
Well, actually, that's not true. There were doubts. And rightly so, considering how this Buccaneers offence has looked most of this season.
And yet, when it's Tom Brady we're talking about, we really should know better. Down 13 points with 5:31 left to play against the Saints Monday night, Tampa Bay's offence wasn't exactly looking like it was prepared to put on a show. But Brady was, and he did just that. First, he marched the Buccaneers down the field, covering 91 yards in 10 plays, to score his first touchdown of the evening. Then, when he re-gained the ball after a sad three-and-out by New Orleans that saw Dennis Allen fail to go for it on fourth down with 2:29 on the clock, Brady & Co. again got to work, and as the seconds ticked down to 0:03 he threw the game-tying TD to Rachaad White before Ryan Succop’s extra point clinched the win.
It was Brady's 44th career fourth-quarter comeback, giving him the all-time lead over Peyton Manning. And in a division in which no one seems all that keen on clinching the top spot, it’s nice to at least see a .500 record and a little magic, you know? (ES)
Hop off: Covering A.J. Brown in a revenge game
Any Titans fans unhappy with the off-season trade that sent A.J. Brown to the Eagles likely didn’t enjoy what they watched this past Sunday. That’s because Brown played against Tennessee for the first time since being dealt and he lit up his former team to the tune of 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight catches in Philly’s 35-10 win. Brown had 10 receptions, 113 yards, one TD and two lost fumbles in his previous three games combined but broke out for his third 100-yard game of 2022 versus the club that drafted him three years ago in the second round. Brown now ranks sixth in receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns among WRs so far this season. Jalen Hurts had a perfect passer rating when targeting Brown in Week 13. (MJ)
Hopping on: A tie game? In this economy??
Yeah, tie games can be the most frustrating thing in pro sports. But honestly? I love them. And give me a tie game between division rivals Giants and Commanders, two seven-win teams battling for a wild card spot down the stretch, and I'm all over it. The NFC East has already been chaos all season – even the 11-win Eagles can't coast to the finish line! – the implications of this tie game to start the stretch run will haunt both clubs right down to the finish line... or, at least until their next meeting, in two weeks on the Sunday night stage. A flex-worthy showdown, to be sure.
Washington, on bye this week, has extra time to prepare for this one while New York will face its toughest test yet when they meet with the Eagles for the first time. Bring on more chaos. (ES)
Hop off: Victory formation when you’re down five touchdowns
We’ve all been there, right? One of those days where not much is going right, and you just feel like throwing in the towel and clocking out early. Well, the Colts did exactly that at the end of their embarrassing fourth quarter against the Cowboys Sunday night in prime time. The Colts managed to hang around until the fourth quarter when Dallas exploded for 33 points and Indy decided to kneel out the final seconds to avoid further embarrassment -- an uncommon look at the NFL level to say the least. On the bright side, the Colts won the time of possession battle and managed to avoid a sixth turnover in the game by kneeling and walking off the field with their collective tail between their legs. (MJ)
Hop on: Christian Watson proving he’s WR1
In his past four games, Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson has made 15 catches for 313 yards and EIGHT touchdowns. That's a Randy Moss-like stretch.
Not much has gone right for the Packers this year, but considering all the question marks at the WR position, Watson is proving to be the solution. (ES)
A late-season application for OROY is incoming, but we're already calling the POTY (Photo Of The Year) winner:
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