We’ve got reached the week of Thanksgiving which suggests it’s the finest time of the 12 months.
Meals is in every single place, we shall be seeing household and the soccer is beginning to actually warmth up. This previous Sunday’s early slate regarded bleak and meager on paper, nevertheless it delivered with every kind of chaos, enjoyable and anarchy.
With all the mud settled the time has now come for us, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, to place it via the lens of The Skinny Publish and provide our most vital takes, ideas and aggressive concepts.
Let’s start.
The place are the Philadelphia Eagles among the many finest groups within the NFL?
RJ:
I’ve been apprehensive to purchase all the best way in on the Detroit Lions from the second that folks began to behave like they have been the primary particular person to say that they have been good. Greater than something it was this precise factor that drove me away. Possibly I’m a hipster.
Regardless of the case I simply don’t know that I can say that I’d choose Detroit, as wonderful as they give the impression of being, in a hypothetical recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles. It pains me tremendously to confess, however Philly is a freaking machine. They’re relentless and appear extra sustainable than any of the earlier variations of themselves and clearly Saquon Barkley is the explanation why. With San Francisco flailing and the remainder of the convention usually disarray (I suppose you’ll be able to toss the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings within the dialog) I can’t choose in opposition to Philly within the NFC.
Fortunately they play the Baltimore Ravens subsequent week which is able to allow us to see how they stack up in opposition to one of many AFC’s finest.
Michael:
I’m going to be the hipster to your opinion and say that I disagree concerning the Eagles. They’re a superb crew, however to go so far as saying they’re the highest crew within the NFL, I don’t suppose so.
Philadelphia has a 9-2 report however solely two of their wins have come from beating one other crew with a profitable report. Additionally, these video games have been nonetheless simply one-score choices. On prime of that, I don’t like the best way they ended up beating a number of the lowly squads on their schedule both.
They beat the Jaguars by 5 factors. The Lions beat that very same crew by over 5 TOUCHDOWNS. Let’s add in a four-point win over the Browns and a three-point win over the Saints whereas we’re at it. The report seems to be good, however I’d solely go so far as saying the Eagles are in the identical tier because the Vikings. They’ve gained shut video games over unhealthy groups and have one or two good wins on the 12 months out of their 9 victories this season, however they nonetheless have a toe dipped into the “fraud watch” pond and that retains them a step behind a crew just like the Lions.
Will Antonio Pierce be one and performed following his first full season as head coach of the Raiders?
Michael:
The Raiders head coach place has lengthy been a spot the place hopes go to die, much like the Jets, Commanders (earlier than this season), and Bears in recent times. Antonio Pierce obtained the vote of confidence from his gamers for the job he did to complete the 12 months because the interim head coach however issues have seemingly solely modified for the more severe this season.
As a substitute of drafting a quarterback for the longer term early on this 12 months’s draft, the Raiders went with tight finish Brock Bowers. Bowers has been unimaginable as a rookie as he at the moment leads ALL rookies in receiving yards. Nevertheless, that hasn’t translated into wins with the Raiders sitting with solely 2 hashes within the win column.
Oh, and the crew traded away receiver Davante Adams which actually might as effectively have been the nail within the coffin for any kind of aggressive viability this 12 months.
So I ask: Is that this going to be Pierce’s solely 12 months as head coach of the Raiders? A part of me says no as I don’t actually perceive how you could possibly fireplace a head coach after making transfer after transfer that confirmed you probably did NOT plan to compete in 2024, however we’ve additionally seen loads of examples of one-and-done coaches unfairly blamed for the crew’s struggles.
My mind says it will not make sense to maneuver on after the season, however my intestine says in any other case.
RJ:
Personally talking, I put numerous inventory into what gamers need with issues like how the Raiders needed to deliver Pierce again. It’s logical to take their phrase as one thing very severe.
Whereas that’s the case, gamers can even, like all of us, grow to be emotionally compromised. Keep in mind when the Indianapolis Colts petitioned to deliver Chuck Pagano again and obtained their want and it was all horrible? This kind of looks like that.
Clearly the Shedeur and Deion Sanders mixture is one to look at right here so I believe numerous the reply is determined by the supply of various candidates. To get private once more although, I’m not certain how one can really feel like something Antonio Pierce is doing is understanding and as an Arizona State Solar Satan, he helped flip this system into an enormous mess when he was concerned… just for it to thrive after he departed and correct management joined.
I believe that I believe it could be one and performed.
Are the Dolphins making their method again into the AFC playoff image?
RJ:
A couple of weeks again I began the dialog round right here that Mike McDaniel was kind of skating by, void of any actual criticism. I stand by that, for what it’s value.
Possibly Mike heard that. Or possibly the Dolphins began taking part in some lower-quality groups. Both method, Miami has gained three video games in a row in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots to get to 5-6 on the season. Fortunately for all of us they may go to Lambeau Discipline on Thanksgiving night time which is able to permit us to sit down again and decide with full bellies.
I’m going to say that I’m nonetheless unwilling to behave like Miami is a legit contender, by the best way. Speak to me on Black Friday if and after they win in skilled soccer’s holiest cathedral.
Michael:
Yeah I’m not bought on the Dolphins as something apart from a middling crew that’s at the moment on the upwards trajectory of their 2024 curler coaster in anticipation of the inevitable drop that tends to observe.
In my eyes, all McDaniel has performed in current weeks is beat bad-to-decent groups whereas nonetheless possessing top-of-the-line offenses within the NFL on paper. If something, these wins solely stopped him from feeling the temperature of his seat improve versus solidifying his standing as an important coach.
This was a very cool play, although!
Which crew at the moment with a shedding report do you suppose has the perfect likelihood of constructing the playoffs this 12 months?
Michael:
I can’t assist however suppose the Buccaneers are primed to complete this season sturdy with a very easy remaining schedule.
They’re at the moment 5-6 and coming off a dominant 30-7 win over the Giants behind the return of huge receiver Mike Evans. By the subsequent six video games, they face the Raiders, Chargers, Saints, Cowboys, and Panthers twice. There’s a professional likelihood they might win all six with an upset over the Chargers on the street however I’d say going 5-1 could be very lifelike. That may imply they’d end with a 10-7 report and in first place of the NFC South.
The Falcons at the moment lead the division however with video games in opposition to the Chargers, Vikings, and Commanders left, I believe they falter simply sufficient to let the Bucs leapfrog them on the prime.
Baker Mayfield is taking part in a number of the finest ball of his profession in Tampa Bay and I wouldn’t wish to be the one to guess in opposition to him down the stretch.
RJ:
It can be crucial for individuals who don’t know to be educated… Michael seems to be A LOT like Baker Mayfield so I’d provide that he’s a bit biased right here. However transferring on.
I just like the Bucs as a solution however wish to throw out the Indianapolis Colts, as effectively. Since 2008, we’ve seen 5 groups who have been 4-7 (or worse) via 11 video games go on to succeed in the playoffs. All of them had one factor in widespread in that they every gained a subpar division. It won’t shock you to study/keep in mind that the Buccaneers have been a type of 5… final 12 months.
In that spirit… inform me that the Colts can’t catch the Houston Texans. Indy is 5-7 for the time being the place Houston is 7-5, nevertheless it feels just like the Texans are taking up severe water within Fraud Watch Pond. The Colts go to New England this week earlier than occurring their bye, however after that they’ve video games in opposition to the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. Counting the Patriots we might be speaking about 5 wins right here.
