NFL Week Ten: Football goes on in wake of Paris tragedy

Every Monday morning, Section 215’s Akiem Bailum gives an in-depth and unfiltered look at all of the latest sports news in The Monday Morning Realist. You can follow Akiem on Twitter @AkiemBailum.

The Game Goes On

Nov 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles fans show their support for France prior to the Eagles

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view as the scoreboard displays an image of the flag of France during a moment of silence for the November 13th terror attacks in Paris before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chiefs won 29-13. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Realists, as I tweeted late Friday night, it was a difficult time to think about anything sports-related after the events of this weekend that unfurled in Paris.

A series of attacks in the French capital left over a hundred dead and has inflicted an immeasurable amount of suffering on so many people.

It also came with a modicum of added pain for sports fans as one of the targets hit was the Stade de France. The French and German national soccer teams were playing in that stadium on that night with the French president—Francois Hollande—in attendance.

It was an attack that was described as the “French 9/11.” I will not get into any of the politics surrounding the attack—that content is better left for another site at another time.

At its core, sports is trivial if we put it into a context of only wins, losses, and statistics. Sports was especially rendered trivial this weekend. It is very easy sometimes to forget that in the grand scheme of things, especially when we only look at sports through the lens of wins, losses, and statistics.

As I have grown up and have evolved into a more mature fan and sportswriter, I have learned to look at sports more for its intangible values. Among those are its ability to unite people from different races, backgrounds, communities, and generations.

Another one of the concepts I look at sports nowadays are the litany of issues that permeate sports and what we can do to make sports better for everyone.

This is why when things happen like what happened in Paris over the weekend that it reinforces my belief in what sports and pop culture should be about.

The Statue of Liberty in New York City was a gift to us from the French. It serves as a symbol of not only the American image around the world but unarguably the greatest symbol of just how strong the bond is between the United States and France.

The fact that one of the numerous attacks that occurred in Paris happened at a sporting venue was not lost among NFL teams this weekend. Security was beefed up at all stadia this weekend. All games also held moments of silence in honor of those that were lost in France.

I can’t help but think back to shortly after 9/11 happened and the Braves played the Mets at Shea Stadium, then came the Mike Piazza home run.

For all of the bad we hear about sports nowadays, one of its qualities that has endured over time, event after event, tragedy after tragedy, surreal moment after surreal moment has been its ability to be a healing force in society.

As much as we have a tendency to blow sports out of proportion—it is times and weekends like this sometimes that we remember it is only a game. It is times like this where we also why sports are so sorely needed.

It will take a long time for Paris to heal from this as it did New York and Washington, D.C. after 9/11 which is why it should also be a time to remember to embrace your fellow woman or man—whether it be at a sports venue or just any venue, just because.

Hear Me Roar

Nov 15, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) rushes with the football after catching a pass during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Detroit won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The start and ending to this game would actually be one where sports and politics would intersect—one for a brief moment of what was supposed to be paying respects—and another at a postgame press conference.

But aside from that un-needed and un-wanted moment of political mess, there was likely an expectation by most television watchers and spectators that the Green Bay Packers would defeat the Detroit Lions.

If most people had to choose between taking the Packers on their worst day and the Lions on their best day, nine times out of ten someone would go with the Aaron Rodgers-led team instead of the Matthew Stafford-led team.

A few weeks ago, the Packers all but had the NFC North won (theoretically given no playoff berths can be clinched after Week Six). Then they run into a buzzsaw that was Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Green Bay got dominated in front of a national audience on Sunday night in the Mile High City of Denver. Rodgers had unarguably one of the worst games of his career.

If that was something, they had to turn around and continue their road trip in Carolina. They were beat by the Panthers to up their record to 8-0.

Facing Denver and Carolina on the road is one thing. Facing Detroit at home is another. That (at least on paper) is a virtual bye week against a team that was coming into Week Ten at 1-7 with no playoff aspirations in sight.

Honestly—this is a win, correct? Correct? Correct?

It says a lot about where your team is when you score zero touchdowns against a team you are supposed to beat until the closing moments of said game. Richard Rogers and Justin Perillo were the recipients of the football A-Rod’s two passes for paydirt.

Except in that same time frame, the Lions’ Lance Moore was also the recipient of a touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford that drove Detroit’s tally up to 18.

The TD from Rodgers to Perillo made it an 18-16 game, but the Packers did have a chance to return to the win column if they could convert on a 52 yard field goal off the foot of Mason Crosby.

No good.

Three straight losses for Green Bay. In addition, the Minnesota Vikings (thanks once again to somebody named Adrian Peterson) ran all over the Oakland Raiders today. That upped Minnesota’s record to 7-2 on the season.

Again—raise your hand if you are outside of the state of Minnesota and expected the Vikings to be 7-2 and in firm contention for not only a playoff berth but a potential division championship. Nobody’s hands are raised for the most part.

I cannot put my hands on it but one has to wonder if getting dominated by Denver on Sunday night had a little something to do with what is going on right now in Green Bay. If that had the potential to deflate a team’s confidence and swagger, this could all but get rid of it.

The last time the Lions won in Wisconsin, I was one year old. I am 25 now and not getting any younger.

In all reality while the Packers may have lost on the field, Rodgers is clearly a winner at life by addressing some moronic fan who yelled “Muslims suck” during the pregame moment of silence to honor the Paris attack victims.

That response from Rodgers…Realist approved. *thumbs up emoji and a standing ovation to boot*

Rodgers threw 61 times and completed 35 of his passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. James Starks only ran for 42 yards on 15 carries while Davante Adams caught 10 passes for 79 yards.

Stafford threw for 242 yards on 24/38 passing, two touchdowns, and one pick. Megatron lived up to his name—Calvin Johnson’s line—six receptions for 81 yards. Joique Bell only had 17 yards on 14 carries.

As Detroit returns home to face the Oakland Raiders, the Packers better get right soon. Guess who they have this upcoming Sunday—the first place Minnesota Vikings…in Minneapolis. And with the trajectories both of those teams are on right now—Minnesota, barring any midweek injuries, will be favored to win this game.

Final: Lions 18, Packers 16

What has Happened to Peyton? (Nationwide jingle)

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts on the sidelines during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chiefs won 29-13. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

I did not see the fight as I refuse to shell out my money for mixed martial arts events, but a little birdie (or tech-savvy cockroach) told me the other day that Ronda Rousey got second-round KO’ed by someone by the name of Holly Holm.

I have no idea who Holly Holm is as I am not an aficionado of UFC. I do know, however, who Ronda Rousey is and I know that her getting knocked out and losing a fight is a sports story that writes itself.

On Sunday in Denver, it looked like the Kansas City Chiefs played the role of Holly Holm to the Broncos’ Ronda Rousey.

The Broncos did lose last week to the Indianapolis Colts in Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis, but at least that was somewhat of a winnable game (and may have been one the Broncos would win if Manning did not throw two interceptions).

The way Manning played this Sunday, Denver could have had 17 men on the field for every play (even if it was legal and the Broncos still would have lost.

And just as teams like the Packers are not supposed to be getting worked at home by teams like the Lions, on what planet do the Jamaal Charles-less Kansas City Chiefs dominate the Broncos on Denver’s home turf?

There must be something in the water (or dare I say the Remy) they are drinking these days in Kansas City. After the Royals won the World Series, and all. Maybe it’s the Fetty Wap-1738 vibe they’re feeling nowadays in KC-MO-KS.

The irony of this game is Manning began the game only three yards shy of passing Brett Favre for the all-time passing yards record—another achievement he can add to his soon-to-be-completed plaque in Canton, Ohio at the Hall of Fame.

It was all downhill from there.

Manning only completed five out of 20 passes. FIVE out of TWENTY. For a mere 35 yards through the air. ZERO touchdowns. FOUR interceptions plus TWO sacks. Oh…not to mention a passer rating of ZERO-point-ZERO.

Yeeouch…

This was a Kansas City Chiefs team that earlier in the season blew a lead late at home to these very Broncos in a loss some say would be a debilitating loss for the team. I guess the team with the arrowhead on its helmets wanted some revenge.

Did they ever get it. Not only did they deliver on forcing Manning into arguably his worst game ever since his rookie season in the league—they also forced him to the bench. In fact, was he even healthy?

Peyton Manning benched. That will write itself in newspapers and internet sites throughout Colorado.

Some Denver fans perturbed about Manning’s average-at-best performance this season had been calling for Brock Osweiler to take on the reins at quarterback. Those fans would get their wish. He did throw for 14/24 passing with 146 yards, one touchdown, one interception.

It is times like this where Manning has to be fortunate he won that one Super Bowl with the Colts, because if he did not, he’d still be hearing it from the sporting press.

Meanwhile, on the side of the Kansas City Chiefs, Alex Smith looked like an actual NFL quarterback. He threw for 17/31 passing with 204 yards, and one touchdown. Some guy named Charcandrick West also had one touchdown on the ground in addition to 69 yards on 24 carries. Some guy named Charcandrick West also had three receptions for a grand total of 92 yards.

And of course, just as in the case of the Packers, both of Denver’s touchdowns (via a Ronnie Hillman TD run and a pass from Osweiler to Andre Caldwell) came in garbage time when the game was already out of reach. At least in the case of the Packers—their game was still winnable.

This one probably serves as the stat of the night. Manning had only five completions for the game before being benched by head coach Gary Kubiak.

Cairo Santos is the kicker for the Chiefs. He had five field goals. He had as many field goals as Manning had completions. What a statistic.

File this one under things (and games) that make you go, “Hmmmm…”

And all of a sudden even without Charles, this season now appears to be at least partially salvageable for the Chiefs. They get the San Diego Chargers in San Diego next week. What that team seems to do best nowadays is let Philip Rivers throw for 300-plus yards while still losing the game late. Ask the Chicago Bears last week on Monday Night Football.

According to Kubiak, Manning is still the team’s quarterback as long as he’s healthy which means he will be Denver’s starter next week against those very Chicago Bears.

Final: Chiefs 29, Broncos 13

Not this Time, Eli

Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots punter and holder Ryan Allen (6) congratulates kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) on the game-winning field goal against the New York Giants with 1 second remaining at MetLife Stadium. New England Patriots defeat the New York Giants 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

There is only one thing I am looking for associated with the ending of the Patriots-Giants game from this week. Ok, Realists, make that two things.

One—a meme or a GIF that illustrates how Eli Manning may be better than Peyton at their respective points in their careers. The second is a GIF showing Tom Brady doing the Dikembe Mutumbo finger wag in Eli Manning and the Giants’ direction.

Because we, of course, know the history of Big Blue when it comes to the Patriots. Between 2008 and 2012, the Giants seemed to have the Pats number in big games so much it was like the Yankees and Red Sox prior to 2004.

A team that once again looks like the best team in the NFL against the first-place team from the mediocre-at-best NFC East. On paper, this looks like a Patriots blowout even in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

But the Giants have managed to halt one undefeated season before and even though the stakes are a little bit less than what they were in 2008, one should not be surprised if New York were to pull off a similar feat again.

As I followed this game—at first I was thinking it’d be blowout after the Pats assumed a 7-0 lead thanks to a Scott Chandler touchdown reception from Brady before the Giants answered via 87 yards from Manning to Odell Beckham, Jr. 7-7.

That 7-7 score later became 10-7 prior to New York answering with 13. A fumble then later led to a Josh Brown field goal, then a Dwayne Harris touchdown reception, then another Brown field goal. 20-10. Wait a minute now…

One LeGarrette Blount touchdown later, that became 20-17 until the Giants extended their lead back to six after another Josh Brown field goal.

At one point while ahead 23-17, the Giants had the football at the Patriots’ 31 yard line before Manning took a 13 yard sack courtesy of Rob Ninkovich. The rest of that drive stalled thanks to that big play on defense. New York came away with zero points as a result of that drive.

The defense that was brought from the Pats allowed New England’s offense to do what it does best—score touchdowns and a 76-yard connection from Brady to Rob Gronkowski gave the Patriots their first lead since 10-7 at 24-23.

It appeared that 24-23 score would become 30-24 as the Giants made it into red zone territory but they were faced with another one of those “should we score or should we not score” situations ala Ahmad Bradshaw in the Super Bowl.

It appeared as if Manning had a touchdown to Beckham before it was waived off as an incomplete pass because the officials ruled despite him having two feet on the ground when he caught the ball, he did not make a football move after the catch and before it was batted out of his hands.

Ultimately, the Giants had no choice but to settle for a field goal and if it is one thing we know you cannot do it is settle for field goals against the Patriots.

There are so many examples of why teams should not settle for field goals against the Patriots it probably deserves its own exhibit somewhere by Patriot Place in Foxboro. This game can be added to that museum when with one second left, Stephen Gostkowski kicked New England to its ninth win of the season.

Brady was 26/42 with 334 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception along with a 92.8 passer rating. I know—pedestrian numbers by #12’s standards. Blount’s 66 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown can also be considered pedestrian. Gronk: five for 113 and a touchdown.

It did come at a price as wide receiver Julian Edelman left the game and did not return. He broke a bone in his foot. He may not return until the playoffs start. Prior to him leaving the game, he had four catches for 53 yards.

Manning threw for 361 yards with two touchdowns, no picks, three sacks, and completed 24 of 44 passes. Rashad Jennings (11 carries for 39 yards) was New York’s leading rusher. As what seems to be the case many days nowadays—Odell Beckham, Jr. was the team’s leading receiver with one touchdown plus four catches for 104 yards.

Unlike what most of the media will do, this Realist still refuses to start driving the 16-0 bus. Let’s wait until they actually cross the 14-0 threshold before we start talking about undefeated seasons and comparisons to the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Has anybody heard of the phrase “Any Given Sunday?” Detroit has—at least this week they did.

After all, after the New Orleans Saints upped their record to 4-4, I thought they had a decent chance of passing the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South—that is before they dropped two games they had no business losing (to the Tennessee Titans AT HOME and the Washington Redskins in Landover). Now they’re 4-6.

Moral of the story—let’s not get too ahead of ourselves re: the Patriots. After all, something tells me they may not even care all that much about 16-0 as long as they bring another Lombardi Trophy to New England.

My question is this: is anyone in the AFC going to stop them? Cincinnati? Anyone? Bueller?

And as for the Giants—this is probably the second game this season at least they played good enough to win and they did not win.

New York’s porous defense already wasted a six-touchdown outburst from Eli Manning in his home state of Louisiana earlier in the season when they lost to the Saints because Drew Brees was one touchdown better than Eli. Now this. The Giants could be 7-3 but then again would it be the 2015 NFC East if a team in that division won a game it was supposed to win.

They will not have to think about that this upcoming week as they will be on bye. As for the Patriots—they get Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills at home in Foxboro. 10-0?

Final: Patriots 27, Giants 26

Sunday Night Football After Dark

Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) gives high-fives with fans following a 39-32 victory against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

There are plenty of stages one goes through when watching any football game. There is the pregame stage where we analyze the matchups, the quarterbacks, coaches, offenses, defenses, stadia, etc.

When looking at Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks, the NFC West as a division comes to mind. The Rams have their eyes on Los Angeles, but until then appear to be undergoing a Todd Gurley-led Renaissance.

The primary team of the Bay Area may be the “San Francisco” 49ers but they play in the San Jose/Santa Clara area at Levi’s Stadium. This is a team with damaged jeans and virus in its proverbial computer. Colin Kaepernick has benched and Jim Tomsula dialed a Hotline Blaine en route to beat Atlanta last week.

The Cardinals are 6-2 entering this game—where many people (myself included) figured the Seahawks would be this year. Also entering this game—Seattle was 4-4 but would probably be 6-2 if they did not blow a couple of egregious fourth quarter leads to the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers (both of whom as of this writing remain undefeated).

As I got a chance to watch more of this game, though, the more my thoughts turned to…will this game ever conclude.

By the time the clock reached 11:30 p.m. the third quarter was concluding and the fourth quarter was just beginning. Channel 10 WCAU-TV in Philadelphia is normally beginning its nightly news by that time.

I am not one by the way to complain when sporting events go late into the night. In fact, I like it. In my opinion, it somewhat irks me when I hear someone in Boston complain because a game in Seattle did not end on an east coast schedule when they forget (or do not even know) the idea of time zones. When it is midnight in the east, it is 9:00 p.m. in the west. The games should end on their schedule, got it? Get it? Good.

Okay…off soapbox.

At one particular point in this game, Arizona had leads of 19-0 and 22-7. The Cardinals looked like the best team in the NFC not named Carolina or Minnesota and the Seahawks looked like a team prone to blowing leads. The 22-7 score became 25-10 after Chandler Catanzaro and Steven Hauschka traded field goals.

A scary moment happened when a collision resulted in Arizona’s Mike Iupati being taken off the field in an ambulance. In addition to the severity of the injury in itself, it also was a huge injury in terms of giving Carson Palmer the pass protection he needs.

After a 33 yard pass from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin, that got Seattle within 25-17. The defense then went to work as the absence of Iupati began to loom large for the Cardinals. Seahawks pass rush began getting to Palmer on two consecutive drives—both resulting in Seattle touchdowns.

The second one of which was a strip-sack that put the Seahawks in the lead 29-25.

That lead did not last long as on the ensuing Cardinals drive, they went 10 plays and 83 yards in a four-minute and nineteen second timespan with the scoring play being a Palmer pass to Jermaine Gresham as Arizona went ahead again 32-29. And after a 48 yard run on a 3rd and 4 by Andre Ellington on the following drive, this one was as good as over.

Looks like Carolina, Arizona, and Minnesota (Panthers 9-0, Cards/Vikings at 7-2) are the teams to beat this year in the NFC and the Seahawks’ earlier contract issues with Kam Chancellor plus them blowing those games are coming home to roost. With Atlanta and Green Bay ahead of them still with six wins and the Seahawks stuck at four—they may not even make the playoffs.

And they would indeed join a long list of teams that lost a Super Bowl the previous year only to not even sniff the postseason the following season. Still a lot of football to be played, but is it time to sound the alarms in the Puget Sound?

Palmer threw for three touchdowns and one interception in addition to 363 yards plus 29/48 passing. Chris Johnson had 58 yards on 25 carries and Larry Fitzgerald caught 10 passes for a total of 130 yards.

As for the now 4-5 Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson threw for 240 yards on 14/32 passing along with one touchdown and one interception. Along with that, he was also sacked on a couple of occasions. At 52 yards rushing on six attempts, he was also Seattle’s leading rusher. Doug Baldwin caught seven passes and accounted for that Wilson pass touchdown in addition to 134 of those 240 yards.

Al Michaels described NBC facetiously as the “Official Network of the Arizona Cardinals…for at least two weeks.” KPNX-TV Channel 12 (NBC affiliate) in Phoenix probably appreciated the hidden shoutout as the Cards will be on NBC next week as well in ‘Zona against the Cincinnati Bengals (Carson Palmer’s former team).

As for the Seahawks, they will remain at CenturyLink Field in Week 11 as they go up against another division rival in the San Francisco 49ers.

Final: Cardinals 39, Seahawks 29

Other Games

Nov 15, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Denver Broncos fan holds a sign in reference to the Paris, France shootings in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills defeat New York Jets 22-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Dallas Cowboys 10-6

Carolina Panthers defeat Tennessee Titans 27-10

Chicago Bears defeat St. Louis Rams 37-13

Washington Redskins defeat New Orleans Saints 47-14

Miami Dolphins defeat Philadelphia Eagles 20-19

Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cleveland Browns 30-9

Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Baltimore Ravens 22-20

Minnesota Vikings defeat Oakland Raiders 30-14

Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8:30-Monday Night Football)