2020 Season - Week #16

 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

PHOENIX - The race to the finish line in the NFC West is on after the Arizona Cardinals beat the visiting 49ers 23-20 Sunday.  San Francisco needed a win to lock up the division but couldn't get it done as Arizona (9-6, 3-2 NFC West) used a late field goal to win it.

San Francisco (9-5-1, 2-3) was down a large portion of their roster due to injury and it showed.  Especially detrimental to their game plan was having both Julio Jones and Tyler Boyd out with injuries.  "No excuses." Coach Kyle Shanahan said, "Next man up.  This is the NFL.  Everyone is dealing with injuries."

Alvin Kamara did what he could, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough.  Now San Francisco heads into week 17 with everything on the line.  Winner of their game against Seattle (9-6) takes the division.  With a loss, the Niners would need a loss by either Arizona (9-6) or Atlanta (9-6) to get in as a wild card.

Seattle and San Francisco for the division in week 17?  Sign us up.

Tennessee Titans @ GREEN BAY PACKERS  

GREEN BAY - The Packers continued their hot second half of the season beating up the Tennessee Titans 28-3 in a snowy Sunday night game at Lambeau Field.  With the weather impacting game plans, Green Bay (10-4-1) turned to the running game and Damien Williams.  The running back out of Oklahoma did all the heavy lifting, rushing for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns.

On the other side Derrick Henry struggled to get going for Tennessee (6-9) and the Titans didn't have a game plan for playing from behind.  In a critical moment late in the 2nd quarter and Green Bay up 7-0, Tennessee decided to go for it on a 4th and goal from the one-yard line.  Henry was stuffed by rookie linebacker Zack Baun.  The Packers went down, kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive and the Titans were never close again.

The Packers (10-4-1) locked up a playoff berth with the win but now need some help if they want to win the division.  Green Bay would need to beat Chicago next week and hope for a Detroit upset of Minnesota to take the NFC North.  Anything other than exact scenario locks the Pack into the 5-seed and a trip to the winner of the NFC East in the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals @ HOUSTON TEXANS    

HOUSTON - The streak continues! The Texans took down the visiting Bengals 34-17 Sunday.  The win was Houston's 4th in a row and keeps their slim playoff hopes alive.  Cincinnati (7-8) was greatly impacted by the absence of first overall pick Joe Burrow.  Backup DeShone Kizer did admirably but it wasn't enough as the Texans came out hot.

Houston (6-9) scored on their first two drives of the game (touchdown and field goal) then used a forced fumble on the ensuing kickoff to score again on a Le'Veon Bell touchdown.  "This team is clicking." Bell said, "I told y'all when I signed here that I was playing to win."

The Texans now sit in 2nd place in the division in a three way tie at 6-9 with Tennessee and Indianapolis.  Jacksonville is ahead of all three by one game at 7-8.  If Indianapolis can take down the Jaguars next week and the Texans can beat the Titans, there would be a three way tie at the top of the division with Jacksonville, Houston, and Indianapolis all at 7-9.  NFL tiebreakers would then come into effect, potentially causing chaos after a full 256 games have been played.

Buckle up folks.  Week 17 in the 3GML is going to be a good one.

2020 Season - Week #15

 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys

DALLAS - The Dallas Cowboys played themselves into the NFC East lead with a 24-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers.  The storyline coming into this one was the matchup between Teddy Bridgewater and Marcus Mariota.  There is quite a history with these quarterbacks.  Both were on New England last season after GM CD traded for Mariota mid-season following a poor start by Bridgewater.   Mariota ended up taking the Patriots all the way to the AFC Championship game.  When the team moved out west with CD this offseason, coach Kyle Shanahan named Bridgewater the starter, prompting the team to trade Mariota to the Cowboys.

Mariota was asked before the game if this one had any extra meaning.  "Yes and no I guess.  I mean I was disappointed they gave up on me, but I'm really just focused on getting this team to the playoffs."  Mariota said.  

Whether or not there was extra meaning, Mariota had the last word, driving the Cowboys (7-7) down the field and taking it in for the score on a 21 yard scramble.  

The score left San Francisco (9-4-1) shell-shocked after Teddy Bridgewater led his own scoring drive seconds earlier to give the Niners the lead.  "Wasn't good enough today.  Need to complete more passes." Bridgewater said after the game.

Things are getting interesting for San Francisco as they hold a 1.5 game division lead over both the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks with two games left on their schedule.  Their next two opponents?  Arizona and Seattle.

Carolina Panthers @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

GREEN BAY - Aaron Rodgers continued his torrid play of late as the Packers beat the visiting Carolina Panthers 48-26.  Green Bay (9-4-1) moved the ball with ease on offense all afternoon.  Actually, Rodgers and JuJu Smith-Schuster moved the ball with ease.  Smith-Shuster was dynamic all afternoon and accounted for the majority of the offense, racking up 191 yards on 11 catches and three touchdowns.

"Happy to be a part of this team.  Just want to quietly go about my business and get the job done.  I'm not going to be flashy and dance on Instaface or TikTweet before a game or anything like that." Smith-Schuster said after the game.

Green Bay is all of a sudden within striking distance of their division and the number one seed after loses by New Orleans, Minnesota, and San Francisco.  All four teams now have four loses and if the Packers finish strong they could be looking at a division championship and playoff bye.  A lot still has to go right as the Pack do not control their own destiny, but things have changed dramatically in a week.  Green Bay will try to keep rolling next week against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau field on Sunday Night Football.

HOUSTON TEXANS @ Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS - Three weeks removed from a top draft pick, the Houston Texans suddenly find themselves less concerned with who they will draft and more concerned with a potential playoff spot after their third win in a row.  Houston (5-9, 3-2 AFC South) used a late 4th quarter score to down the Indianapolis Colts 27-20 and keep their slim hopes alive.

The Colts (6-8, 1-4) looked unstoppable most of the game as Philip Rivers completed his first 27 attempts and the Texans defense struggled to get off the field.  However, they did just enough to give their offense a chance.

Combined with a Jacksonville Jaguars loss, the Texans now find themselves only one game out of the division lead with two games to go.  "To quote Herm Edwards, 'You play to win the game.'" Coach David Shaw said, "I'm not concerned with draft picks in April, I'm concerned with wins in December."

Houston will look to make it four in a row next week as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

2020 Season - Week #14

 Washington Football Team @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - In a game that turned on a dime, the San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1) battled from behind to score 22 unanswered points and beat the Washington Football Team 22-14.  Things looked bleak early as the WFT raced out to a 14-0 lead and were in the redone ready to score again.  That's when safety Marcus Williams made the play of the game and intercepted former Texans quarterback Cam Newton.

"Right place, right time.  We were giving up way too many yards early so I'm glad I could turn things around for us." Williams said.

Even though the turnover didn't result in points, it kept Washington off the board and allowed the offense to warm up.  Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has looked a little shaky of late, but settled in during the second half.  Add a JC Jackson pick six into the mix and you had just enough for a Niners victory.

San Francisco will try to stay in the hunt for the number one seed as they head to Dallas next week to take on the Cowboys.

GREEN BAY PACKERS @ Detroit Lions

DETROIT - The Green Bay Packers bounced back from their disappointing overtime loss last week to defeat the Detroit Lions 24-20.  Detroit (4-9, 2-3 NFC North) was riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak, but came up just short in the end.

The Packer defense had a field day, racking up nine total sacks including four by Harold Landry.  Landry has been stellar all year for this Green Bay unit and now has 16 total on the year.  "I feel like everything is clicking.  I have seven in the last two games, so I want to build on that heading into the playoffs." Landry said after the game.

On offense, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on fire most of the game throwing for 257 yards and ending up with three total TDs (two passing and one rushing).  Rodgers has narrowed or eliminated the gap in MVP voting with his late season purge.  The latest Vegas odds have him neck and neck with San Francisco quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.  "Winning back to back MVP awards would mean a lot, especially at my age." Rodgers said when asked about the race.

Green Bay (8-4-1, 3-2) looks to be headed for a wild card spot at this point as Minnesota may be too far away to catch.  The Packers will continue their campaign next week as they host the Carolina Panthers.

HOUSTON TEXANS @ Chicago Bears

CHICAGO - Don't look now, but the Houston Texans have a winning streak.  The Texans bested the Chicago Bears 21-14 in Chicago Sunday.  Houston (4-9) now finds themselves only two games back in the weak AFC South which is remarkable considering two weeks ago the conversation was about the number one overall pick.

The Houston defense was once again the story as the rag tag unit stymied the Bears (5-8) offense most of the afternoon.  Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson continued his strong year and was very disruptive to the running attack on multiple occasions.  "I'm glad coach gave me a chance.  I feel great." Johnson said about his impact role.

The defensive backs unit stepped up as well Sunday.  Tied 7-7, Chicago had the ball and looked ready to score when Bobby McCain intercepted a Mitch Trubisky pass and returned it 94 yards to the house.  McCain has been arguably the best player on the entire Texans roster all year and it's plays like these that make Houston fans excited for the future.

The Texans will get a chance to inch closer in the division as they take on the AFC South leading 6-7 Colts next week.

2020 Season - Week #13

 Buffalo Bills @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO - The Teddy Bridgewater for MVP train got back on the tracks Monday night as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the visiting Buffalo Bills 23-17.  Bridgewater used his legs to pick up multiple first downs in a game where the rushing attack couldn't get going.

"I felt locked in tonight.  The scramble was open.  They took other aspects of our attack out of things, so I did what I had to do to help our team win." Bridgewater said.

San Francisco (8-3-1) stayed in the race with Minnesota, New Orleans, and Green Bay for the NFC's all-important number one seed.  When asked about the race, coach Kyle Shanahan said, "We're only focused on who's in front of us.  We have a tough game against Washington next week.  I didn't pay attention to the other scores this week.  If we win games, things will take care of themselves."

The Niners host the NFC East leading Football Team next week.

Indianapolis Colts @ HOUSTON TEXANS

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans snapped their five game losing streak to upset division leader Indianapolis 16-13.  The Colts (6-6, 1-3 AFC South) looked to be in control all game and were up 13-0 later in the third quarter.  Then Houston (3-9, 2-2) woke up and looked like the team from earlier in the year.

Andy Dalton was efficient on the day throwing for 254 yards and moving the offense when the team really needed it.  "Man, it feels great to get a W." Dalton said.

The game ball however, has to go to Mike Daniels, who was.disruptive all afternoon.  Daniels ended up with eight tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.  His play will likely have him in the conversation for defensive player of the week.  "This team's got fight, man.  I know our record doesn't show it, but we're a gritty group that is going to bring it every game." He said after the game.

Houston will try to make it two in a row as they head to Chicago to take on the Bears.

Philadelphia Eagles @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

GREEN BAY - In what will go down as a very strange game, the Green Bay Packers lost in overtime 26-23 to the Philadelphia Eagles.  This was Green Bay's (7-4-1) fourth overtime game of the season.

The Packers out played the Eagles (4-8) most of the afternoon, but couldn't put them away.  Carson Wentz flipped a switch late and carved up the Green Bay defense throwing for 356 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.

Green Bay lost the coin toss in overtime but got the ball after they forced a punt.  A holding penalty and a sack on their offensive possession proved fatal as they had to give the ball back to Philadelphia and that was that.

The Packers will try to regroup from this crushing loss next week in Detroit against a Lions team that has won three in a row.

2020 Season - Week #12

 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

LOS ANGELES - The San Francisco 49ers lost their second game in a row Sunday, falling to the Los Angeles Rams 23-16.  After rattling off seven wins in a row, the Niners (7-3-1, 2-2 NFC West) have gone winless their last three games (0-2-1). 

"Our offense just seems a little out of sync." Coach Kyle Shanahan said, "We have to do a better job of getting started. We took three quarters to get out of first gear."

Alvin Kamara, who was garnering MVP talk early in the season, only touched the ball 10 times (5 carries and 5 receptions).  He appeared visibly frustrated after the game.  "Man, I want to help.  I know I can help.  It's just frustrating sometimes." Kamara said.

The loss muddies the water a bit for the Niners playoff seeding hopes.  The number one seed and bye is still attainable but the team likely will need some help getting there.  The road doesn't get easier as San Francisco hosts the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football next week.

HOUSTON TEXANS @ Detroit Lions

DETROIT - The Houston Texans stayed in the hunt for the top pick in next years draft after falling 28-21 to the Detroit Lions.  In what was a matchup of two 2-8 teams, it was the Lions (3-8) that came out on top in the end.

Things were not going Houston's way early, including some questionable clock management before half time that left points on the board.  However, gritty 4th quarter play by Andy Dalton and company got the Texans (2-9) back into it.  Trailing by 14 with seven minutes to go, Houston marched down the field and scored on a Ryan Switzer touchdown reception to cut the lead in half.  Detroit ran a fair amount of time off the clock but had to punt it back to the Texans with 57 seconds left.  Dalton got his offense to the 50 yard line with 18 seconds left but, when his team needed him most, threw an interception to end the game.

"That's on me man.  I was trying to get us a little closer so we had a shot at the end zone but it was the wrong throw." Dalton said after the game.

Houston will continue on next week as they host the division-leading Indianapolis Colts.

Chicago Bears @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers won their third game in a row in blow-out fashion, dismantling the Chicago Bears 59-10.  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was otherworldly, throwing for 503 yards, 6 touchdowns, rushing for another touchdown and finishing with a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3.  "I felt locked-in today.  The reads were easy and receivers were open.  I have to give Coach Bieniemy credit for bringing in Matt [LaFluer] earlier this season.  That tandem has been able to do wonders with our offense these past few weeks."

Rodgers is right as Green Bay (7-3-1, 2-2 NFC North) has been on a tear of late, scoring 133 points (44.3/game) during the last three wins.  Stefon Diggs has been unleashed in the new offensive scheme and went off for nine catches, 181 yards and three touchdowns.  Diggs now leads the entire league in receiving yards. "Blessed.  I have the greatest quarterback in the league throwing me the ball.  Did you guys see that last one?  I looked back and thought Aaron was down, next thing I know the ball is coming my way in the end zone." Diggs said, referring to a 51 yard touchdown pass where Rodgers avoided a sack by Roquan Smith to thrown the bomb.

The loss moved the Bears (5-6. 1-2) down the ladder in the NFC North while getting Green Bay within a game of the outright division lead.  The Packers will look to keep rolling next week as they host the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field.