"The Stack" 12-5-16
Cam Newton was sat for the first possession of Sunday night's game against Seattle Seahawks. Derek Anderson threw a pick on the first play of the drive and it only got worse from there. The Panthers got drummed 40-7.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Berry's interception on a Matt Ryan two-point conversion was returned for two points and lifted the Chiefs to a 29-28 victory.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Flacco was sensational with over 340 yards passing and four touchdowns as the Ravens slaughtered the Dolphins 38-6.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Stack is back on this Monday and we will be talking about the College Football Playoff final rankings and which team has most to gripe about on Tuesday, but for today, let’s look back at the week 13 Sunday NFL action in “the stack” for today, Monday, December 5th:
Kansas City 29 Atlanta 28
The Chiefs didn’t look too tired from their five quarter affair in Denver last Sunday. Tight end Travis Kelce had a big day with 140 receiving yards and the Chiefs defense came through with another defensive score. The Falcons actually came back to take the lead, but on a two-point attempt up 28-27, Eric Berry stepped in front of the Matt Ryan pass and returned it all of the way for two points. Those two points were the deciding factor. This win shows another reason why the Chiefs are going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs and while the Falcons still can’t be fully trusted.
Baltimore 38 Miami 6
I may have said in my preview for this week that the Dolphins had won six games in a row and I didn’t think the Ravens could match them. Boy was I wrong. Joe Flacco had an incredible day with 381 passing yards and four touchdowns as the Ravens whooped the Dolphins in every phase of the game. This was not pretty for the Dolphins. They came back down to earth in a hurry.
Chicago 26 San Francisco 6
So about that 49ers offense that was getting going. Colin Kaepernick was atrocious (is that being too kind) and once again the 49ers run defense was a sieve as Jordan Howard had a big day rushing with 117 yards and three touchdowns. This was a bad game to watch if you’re a 49ers fan, but then again haven’t they all been this year?
Cincinnati 32 Philadelphia 14
One of the few games I got right this week. The Eagles just don’t have enough offensive weapons to compete with most of the other teams in the NFL. Andy Dalton played really well and the Bengals defense came to play keeping their very slim playoff hopes alive.
Green Bay 21 Houston 13
This one wasn’t easy for the Packers as the game was tied in the fourth quarter, but Jordy Nelson had a big day and a go-ahead score that helped the Packers keep the Texans at bay to pull into second place in the NFC North. For the Texans, thank goodness they are in the AFC South where they still have a shot at the division title.
Denver 20 Jacksonville 10
Here is something that is bound to shock you…Blake Bortles threw a pick six. It happened in the third quarter that essentially put the game away. Bortles throws interceptions and garbage time touchdowns. That is about all he does. Paxton Lynch got his first career win which was nice for the Broncos in a bounce-back win.
New England 26 Los Angeles 10
Hey, Rams fans. Jeff Fisher just rewarded you after he received a two-year extension with a putrid performance against the Patriots. LaGarrette Blount scored a touchdown. Tom Brady only threw one touchdown, but he was effective and Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals to help the Patriots win this one convincingly. Their defense was phenomenal.
Detroit 28 New Orleans 13
Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions for the first time this year didn’t trail going into the fourth quarter and that is because they played perhaps their most complete game of the year. Stafford threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns plus the defense picked off Drew Brees three times delivering both a damaging blow to the Saints and their playoff hopes and sending a message to the rest of the league that they are in fact the team to beat in the NFC North.
Oakland 38 Buffalo 24
The Raiders had some troubles getting their offense going in the first half. Buffalo was running the ball at will early on with LeSean McCoy and company, but once Derek Carr got hot in the third quarter with the Raiders trailing 24-9 and Khalil Mack started taking advantage of the Bills offensive line, it was see you later time for the Bills. Oakland is looking really legit.
Arizona 31 Washington 23
This game was really entertaining in the second half with the two teams exchanging scores, but in the end it was Cardinals running back David Johnson who had the go-ahead score. Johnson has been unbelievable this year. He scored twice and J.J. Nelson added an insurance touchdown reception as the Cardinals saved their season with a big win over Washington.
Pittsburgh 24 New York Giants 14
Eli Manning did not have a great game in this one. The Steelers weren’t overpowering like we thought we would see, but they did enough including getting a big game from tight end Ladarius Green who finally had a breakout game for the Steelers with 110 yards receiving and a touchdown. If Green can become another viable weapon, no one will want to face the Steelers in the playoffs if they can get in.
Tampa Bay 28 San Diego 21
Jameis Winston and the Bucs are getting hot at the right time. They had a big second half and the defense came up with some big stops and forced a Philip Rivers interception at the right time to extend their win streak to three. This team is not a team you want to face right now.
Seattle 40 Carolina 7
This game was incredibly bizarre. First Cam Newton didn’t start the first possession of the game for the Panthers due to a team dress code violation. That drive’s first play resulted in a Derek Anderson interception. Then Seahawks safety Earl Thomas broke a bone in his shin and tweeted that he was contemplating retirement at halftime. Then the Panthers essentially gave up in the second half and the Seahawks coasted to victory. Strange, strange, strange.
Indianapolis Colts @ New York Jets 8:30 PM ET ESPN MNF
The Colts are right where they need to be in the AFC South race. A win and they are part of a three-way tie atop the division. Andrew Luck should play. The Jets of course will try and win, but they aren’t that good. Give me the team with more to play for.
Prediction: Colts 26 Jets 13
Coming up Tuesday: MNF reaction, CFP reaction and more.
