Author: Neel Byrappagari

Week 14 marks the start of the playoff race. For teams that have not clinched a playoff berth or been mathematically eliminated, every game from now on is absolutely crucial. The Steelers have not yet clinched the AFC North, and a win against Buffalo would help their chances dearly. The Patriots and the Rams meet for the first time since Superbowl LII. And in Philly, Jalen Hurts will look to prove that he can be a starting QB in the league when he plays against the New Orleans Saints. Here’s what to look for in this week’s matchups. 

Will James Conner help the Steelers bounce back?

The Steelers finally lost a  game last week, falling to the surging Washington Football Team. As I mentioned last week, the lack of any kind of running game was probably the biggest problem that the Steelers had. With a very challenging schedule coming up (Buffalo, Cinncinati, Indy, and Cleveland), the Steelers need to return to the Steeler team that knocked off the Ravens and the Titans in back to back weeks and not the team that almost lost against RGIII and fell to a team that had only won 4 games all season. The Steelers don’t need Connor to be a pro-bowl caliber running back like he was two seasons ago. He just needs to be able to get three to four yards per carry, which should keep the offense moving even if the air attack stalls.

Can Bill Belichick and Cam Newton create a repeat of Super Bowl LIII?

It’s been almost two years since the Patriots and the Rams faced off in the worst Superbowl of the decade. Now the two teams will face off once again…without their star players. The Patriots lost two future first ballot hall of farmers in Quarterback  Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Rams have lost star running back Todd Gurley, but they at least still have the best defensive player in the NFL, defensive tackle  Aaron Donald. This is yet another test as we try to figure out who really was the GOAT in New England. Was it Brady or was it Belichick? Regardless of the outcome, I expect this matchup to be more exciting than their last. It shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.

Is Jalen Hurts for real?

I had Jalen Hurts as a late first-rounder or early second-rounder at worst during the draft last year. I think if he had not struggled with injuries, it may have been him going 5th overall to the dolphins and Tua falling till the second round. I found it even more surprising that a team like the Steelers, who saw first hand how bad they were without Big Ben, passed up on him. Now Hurts is making his second start as an Eagle, and I think he will perform much better than he did against the Packers last week. If he can put up a good showing against New Orleans and stay consistent for the next few weeks, he may be a starting QB in the league next year. He has the athletic ability to do it; he just has to execute. 

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Will Chase Young carry his team to victory?

Answer: Yes. While Young and the rest of Washington’s front 7 weren’t able to get to Big Ben at all, they did completely slow down the Steeler running game. In the absence of star running back James Conner, the Steelers turned to Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels, and rookie running back Anthony McFarland, who combined for just 21 rushing yards. This prevented the Steelers from icing the game in the second half allowing Alex Smith to mount a comeback. The Steelers will still maintain their number one seed because their loss came out of the division. 

Can the Niners pull off an upset?

Answer: Nope. The Niners never really got back from that second-half deficit. Despite a strong rushing attack and a near hundred yard game from rookie Brandon Aiyuk, the Niners couldn’t keep up with the high powered Bills aerial attack. If Mullens was able to protect the ball, the game could have ended up very differently. I still think the Niners will not re-sign Jimmy G, but Mullens may not be handed a starting job due to players like Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan potentially hitting free agency. Mullens still has a chance to win the job, as strong performances against Washington, Seattle, and Arizona could still be enough for the Niners to pass on a QB.

Will Damien Harris be at his best?

Answer: Yes. Harris had limited opportunities against the Chargers as Sony Michel got a good chunk of carries at the end, but he made the most of his share, finishing with 80 yards on 16 carries at an outstanding 5.0 ypa. He seemed explosive, racking up a handful of solid runs, and consistently getting to the second level. While the statline says that he finished with 0 touchdowns, it should be noted that there were two Cam Newton rushing touchdowns which could have very easily been Harris’. I think if the Patriots keep playing like this, they could have a legitimate shot at a playoff run.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 14 matchups.

Week 13 is here, and the playoff picture is starting to become more evident. The Steelers, the Chiefs, and the Saints all have opportunities to clinch a playoff berth this week. A win for the Buffalo Bills will keep them in a comfortable position to fend off Tua Tungovila’s surging Dolphins. A win for Cam Newtons Patriots is an absolute must if they want to even have a chance to make it to the playoffs. Here’s all you need to know for this week’s matchups

Will Chase Young carry his team to victory?

Chase Young is arguably the best rookie in the NFL. He’s already proven to be a pro-bowl caliber edge rusher in his first 12 games. If the Washington Football Team wants to knock off the unbeaten (but very much beatable) Pittsburgh Steelers, they will have to do it with their defense. While Young is the main guy in the best defensive front line in football, there are plenty of other big-name guys. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne will need to get penetration upfront and allow Young and fellow star edge rusher Montez Sweat to get to Big Ben. With the Steelers looking like a very one-dimensional team right now, Young and Sweat will be the ones who can win this game for Washington.

Can the Niners pull off an upset?

Despite all the injuries that the Niners had to deal with, they have not been too bad under Nick Mullens. They’ve had one of the more challenging schedules, facing the Rams twice as well as the Packers, Saints, Cardinals, and Seahawks once. It will be up to Nick Mullens and Co. to keep pace with Buffalo’s high-powered offense. Mullens could be the starter next year as there has been a lot of talk about not resigning Jimmy G. If Mullens can string a few good performances here at the end, not only will the Niners look like a more respectable team, but he could end up as a starter in the league.

Will Damien Harris Stay be at his best?

After a breakout game against New England, Harris has had lackluster performances in the last two weeks. With the Patriots still in the hunt for a playoff spot, Harris will need to be firing on all cylinders for the rest of the season. In what should be an easy game against Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers, Harris needs to pull in a big game.  It should not be too difficult as the Chargers have allowed at least 90 yards rushing in every game since week 3. If Harris gets the run game going, the Patriots may still have a shot to make the playoffs.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 12, or Thanksgiving week, features a slew of interesting games. The Titans and the Colts will face-off against each other in a crucial matchup that could decide who will win the AFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pose a serious threat to Mahomes and the 10-1 Kansas City Chiefs. And last but surely not least, Broncos’ practice squad receiver Kendal Hinton will make his debut in the NFL not as a receiver but as a QB. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

How far can Philip Rivers lead the Colts?

This is one game where I doubt the Colts’ defense will win the game for Philip Rivers. Derrick Henry has been unstoppable this year, and it seems like how good the defense is doesn’t seem to matter. This game will likely be a high-scoring one for the Titans, and it will be up to Philip Rivers and the offense to keep up. Rivers has all the tools he needs. He has a great offensive line and plenty of weapons, including TY Hilton, Mo Alie-Cox, and the always explosive Nyheim Hynes. However, I think Rivers is too far from his prime, and I don’t think he can keep up with the Tennessee offense.

Can Brady prove he’s still a dominant force in the NFL?

Tom Brady has declined considerably since making the move from Foxborough to Tampa Bay. He has shown glimpses of his past self but he has struggled with turnovers and I don’t think he’s fully gelled with his new teammates. Brady has a golden opportunity to prove that he’s not done yet. If he can defeat the Chiefs, he could go from a meh QB to a good QB. His defense is more than capable of slowing down the explosive Chiefs offense, but it’s up to him to execute on the offensive side of the ball.

How will Kendall Hinton fare in his first NFL start?

This is a truly 2020 situation. The Denver Broncos will have no eligible QBs to play in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. If, in the very odd case that all of a team’s QBs get hurt before a game, the usual protocol would be to sign the best available free agent QB, and hope for the best. However, due to the NFL COVID-19 restrictions, new signings will have to quarantine before joining their new team. Since the Broncos didn’t realize that their QBs were ineligible till this week, they couldn’t just sign a QB as he would still be in quarantine on Sunday. That’s why WR Kendal Hinton, who played one year of QB in college, will have to be under center. I would expect that the Broncos won’t do much with Hinton, so look for plenty of runs and wildcat formations in Sunday’s game.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 12, or Thanksgiving week was one of the most unique weeks this season. We witnessed great successes (Tyreek Hill’s monster game) and great failures (Kendall Hinton’s attempt to play QB). The Titans ran over the Indianapolis Colts and the Steelers got a somewhat easy win against the Baltimore Ravens. Let’s see how our featured players performed this week.

How far can Philip Rivers lead the Colts?

Answer: Only as far as his defense and run game can. Philip Rivers regressed significantly in his last season with the Bolts. This season surely isn’t Rivers’ best but no one really knew how good he was. The Colts have, in my opinion, the second-best defense in the NFL. Their run-the-hot-hand run game hasn’t been particularly nice to fantasy owners of Nyhiem Hines and Johnathan Taylor, but it has surely worked for the Colts. The Colts were unable to stop Derrick Henry (but then again no one can), and their run game just couldn’t get going. This forced Rivers to throw the ball around 66% of the time. This may not seem too bad, but for a team that has a strong running game and passes on less than 50% of their offensive plays, it shows that something didn’t go well.

Can Brady prove he’s still a dominant force in the NFL?

Answer: Nope, he did the opposite. There’s so much hype about Tyreek Hill’s 200-yard game that people forget a very important fact. The Buccaneers kept up with the Chief’s offense. And it makes me wonder if this was a winnable game for Tampa Bay. The two interceptions thrown by Brady could have been the deciding factor in this football game. Brady, who was so reliable in New England, seems to be on a turnover spree in his new home. Brady has thrown 11 interceptions already, and the last time he threw for more than 11 was way back in 2011. Perhaps Bellichick really was what made the Patriots tick.

How will Kendall Hinton fare in his first NFL start?

Answer: Bad, like really BAD. I have to cut Hinton some slack, it’s tough having to play QB with less than a week’s notice. But Hinton’s numbers of 1/9 for 13 yards, 2 interceptions, and understandably no touchdowns, just seem off. It’s not as though Hinton has never played QB. He played QB in high school and also in his freshman year of college at Wake Forest. I wasn’t expecting anything special, but it seems like the Broncos should’ve just stuck with their emergency QB, Royce Freeman. I mean he can’t be much worse.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 13 matchups.

Week 11 was a fairly unsurprising week. The Steelers stayed undefeated, the Raiders couldn’t upset the Chiefs again, the Saints kept on winning, and the Patriots kept on losing. Let’s see how this week’s featured players played.

Is Patrick Queen Derrick Henry’s Kryptonite?

Answer: No, but he’s still really good. This is a great example of football being a team sport. Queen led the Ravens with nine total tackles. The problem is the defensive line couldn’t slow Derrick Henry down. I like to think of Henry as a diesel engine. It takes him a bit of time to get going, but then he is unstoppable. Queen and the Ravens needed to get better penetration upfront, as Henry is at his weakest when you hit him in the backfield. I think Queen is still a pro-bowl caliber LB but he alone cannot stop a generational talent like Derrick Henry.

Is Jake Luton the one to break the Steeler’s win streak?

Answer: Nope. Luton had little to believe that he could beat the Steelers. Despite being sacked only twice, Luton threw four interceptions against the Steeler D. I think part of the blame needs to go on the defense. Subpar QBs like Garett Gilbert, have been able to keep the game close without too much offense, relying on their defense and slow starting Steeler offense. Unfortunately for Luton, the Jags fell behind early, forcing the rookie to have to throw the football 37 times. Any QB under that much pressure will make mistakes sometimes.

Can Taysom Hill keep the Saints on track?

Answer: YES. Hill looked like he was a veteran starter on Sunday. Expectedly, Hill ran the ball often, as he amassed 49 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries, which was more than Alvin Kamara’s numbers. But what was more surprising was how well Latavius Murry played with Hill under center. The veteran backup was tied with Hill at the top of the Saints rushing attack, and also hauled in two catches for 36 yards. The only worrisome note for the Saints is that Alvin Kamara’s numbers have dropped significantly. If the Saints keep playing like this, a February game in Tampa could be on the cards.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 12 matchups.

Week 11 features some exciting games. The Ravens will take on the Tennessee Titans in a rematch of last season’s divisional championship game. Jake Luton will face his first test against the destructive Steeler defense. And in New Orleans, it’s QB/WR/RB/Special teamer, Taysom Hill who will be leading the Saints out after Drew Brees suffered a rib injury last week. Here’s what to look for in this week’s matchups.

Is Patrick Queen Derrick Henry’s Kryptonite?

After Derrick Henry single-handedly destroyed the Ravens last year (Tannehill threw for only 88 yards), the Ravens drafted ILB Patrick Queen. Queen is a tackling machine similar to former Raven and current Jet, CJ Mosley. When the Ravens selected Queen in the first round of the draft, it seemed pretty clear to me that they didn’t want a repeat of that ill-fated divisional playoff game. Queen has already had a pretty good rookie season, and I think he will be in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but if he can stop Henry he could become a much bigger blip on people’s radars. Stopping Henry is not impossible; the Steelers held him to just 75 yards on 20 carries without star ILB, Devin Bush. It won’t be easy but I think Queen and the Ravens will be able to at least contain Henry.

Is Jake Luton the one to break the Steelers’ win streak?

Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz, Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Jackson, Garret Gilbert, and Joe Burrow all have one thing in common: they fell to the Steeler defense. Now it’s Jake Luton’s turn. A sixth-round pick out of Oregon state, Luton will be the 12th QB to try to defeat the Steelers. The struggling Jaguars gave the Packers a run for their money last week with Luton at the helm. Can he pull off an upset in what is the biggest game of his career? I doubt it, but with the Steelers, you never know.

Can Taysom Hill keep the Saints on track?

The Saints seemed like Superbowl contenders until Drew Brees got knocked out of last week’s game. The Saints then made a questionable decision by starting do-it-all QB Taysom Hill, someone who lines up more at wideout than QB, instead of Jameis Winston. I think this is a surprising move as Winston was a starter and has much more experience under center. It will be interesting to see how Sean Payton will adapt the playbook to fit Taysom Hill’s unique playstyle. Look for plenty of designed QB runs and short throws.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 10 was a wild and exciting week. Alex Smith finally started a football game after a leg injury sidelined him for almost two years. Kyler Murray’s “Hail Murray” to DeAndre Hopkins saved the game for the Cardinals, and Tua Tagovailoa won the battle of the rookies against the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.

Is Joe Burrow the GOAT?

Answer: Nope. I will admit that this was a longshot, but I seriously thought Burrow would be the one to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s probably not much Burrow can do as his o-line is rather disgusting. The one bright spot was Tee Higgins, one of my favorite rookies coming into this year, who is really breaking out. He’s not at the same level as Justin Jefferson or Henry Ruggs III, but he is more than capable of helping Burrow out. Burrow will be the GOAT but only once the Bengals decide to get a decent offensive line.

Will the Buccaneer’s O-Line keep Brady upright?

Answer: Yes. Tampa Bay fans all around the world can breathe a deep sigh of relief. Brady and Co. made it more than clear that the performance against the Saints was a major fluke. The Buccaneers dominated on both sides of the football, but the offense was the one that I was most excited about. Ronald Jones had a monster game in which he ran for 192 yards including a 98-yard touchdown run. What was even more surprising is that despite the monster running game, Brady threw for over 300 yards and threw 3 touchdowns. If the Buccaneers keep playing like this, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the Superbowl.

How will Alex Smith fare in his debut back?

Answer: He won’t miss a beat. Smith acted like he hadn’t missed a single game, throwing for over 350 yards. What was even better was that six players had more than 40 yards receiving. Smith certainly proved that he was back in business. It will be interesting to see if he can keep his spot even after the previous starter Kyle Allen is able to return. I mean, they’re not going to start Dwayne Haskins, right?

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 11 matchups. 

In Week 10, we’ll see a lot of games between division rivals. Now that the playoff race is heating up, these games are absolutely crucial to a team’s success. A win this week could help their playoff chances, but a loss could be devastating. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Is Joe Burrow the GOAT?

Joe Burrow has been the best QB in the NFL for the last few weeks. He will face a big test against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. The Steelers seem to be intent on taking every game down to the wire and almost lost to a 4th string QB last week. Burrow has already upset one premiere team in the Tennessee Titans, and if anyone can beat the Steelers in the regular season, it’s him. Burrow has nothing to lose as bigger quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson have succumbed to the Steeler defense. If he can win, he will cement his position as one of the best young talents in the league.

Will the Buccaneer’s offensive line keep Brady upright?

The Buccaneers had a horrendous game last week against the Saints. They have a chance to redeem themselves against a Carolina defense that has struggled to get pressure on the quarterback. If Brady is upright, he is unstoppable. The offensive line needs to give Brady time to work his magic. If the o-line can’t get back on track, the Buccaneers may slip out of the playoffs, even if their defense stays dominant.

How will Alex Smith fare in his debut?

It has been almost two years since a gruesome leg injury forced Alex Smith to miss almost two years. After seventeen surgeries and a scary bacterial infection, Smith was cleared to play before the start of the season. He caught a lucky break after Dwayne Haskins was benched. This meant that Smith would become the primary backup behind Kyle Allen. Last week, Smith threw 3 interceptions last week after he replaced Kyle Allen late in the first quarter. Maybe he will have a better game after a week of first-team reps and preparation in practice. A good performance here will give Washington football team fans something to look forward t0.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.