NFL Week 15: Panthers improve to 14-0, Texans take over first in AFC South

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

Close but no Tar Heel

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano (9) kicks the game winning field goal against the New York Giants as time expires during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano (9) celebrates with Carolina Panthers punter Brad Nortman (8) after kicking the game winning field goal against the New York Giants as time expires during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Could any more be written about not only a game itself, but also the pregame and postgame ramifications?

Honestly, Realists. Forgive me if this one recap goes over a thousand words. Yeah, I keep up with my word count for these things.

The letters “M-V-P” are starting to creep more and more and more into the conversation when talking about Cam Newton, but somewhat (but decreasingly) lost in all of the hoopla about this year’s MVP award essentially already having his name engraved on it, the Panthers were 13-0 coming into this game.

They were playing the New York Giants in East Rutherford and if history is any indication, the Giants were very adept at ending perfect seasons. After all…just ask the 2007-08 New England Patriots. Sorry, everyone in New England.

While Carolina was pegged as the favorite to win this game the matchup that everyone was focusing on was that between Panthers corner Josh Norman and New York’s Odell Beckham, Jr. It was seen as the matchup that would likely decide this game.

In addition to that when looking at the remainder of the Panthers’ schedule, it includes only two games left (of course) and both are against divisional opponents in the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Carolina still has a lot to play for despite the fact that they were 13-0. With the Arizona Cardinals being where they are, those two teams are likely the odds on favorites to earn first-round byes in the NFC’s section of the postseason. Except I am pretty sure Ron Rivera and his team would prefer any NFC championship game be played in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte instead of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

This was also a huge game for the Giants given the fact that they have been lapped in the standings by the Washington Redskins of all teams. This was a team that earlier in the season could not decide who their quarterback was going to be but it appears that despite the wishes of Daniel Snyder they are now all in on Kirk Cousins.

A New York loss would put them at 6-8. Stranger things have happened in this league but it would mean the best the Giants could hope for was an 8-8 record to win the NFC East. Big Blue is in this position because of the number of games they have lost in the closing moments of games.

That will more than likely be the story of the Giants this season.

Despite a lot of people thinking that the Giants would give the Panthers a tough go of it this game, early on it appeared as if the Panthers were playing like the 13-0 team that they were and the Giants looked like the NFC-also rans they seem to be.

New York was getting clobbered in their own building by the Panthers. At one point, this game was 35-7 in Carolina’s favor. One more touchdown and the Fox stations outside of the Carolinas and the Tri-State would have been better off showing Chicago vs. Minnesota than the remainder of this game.

At one point in this game, a vicious hit against Josh Norman’s head by Beckham has received a lot of attention as well as the fact that he drew several personal foul penalties for this game. Likely, he will be fined and a lot of people are now starting to look at him as somewhat of a dirty player.

There was another major story regarding Beckham as well for this game—the fact that he had no catches in the first half which contributed to New York’s huge deficit early.

This was before the Giants began to mount a furious comeback which turned a 35-7 score into 28 unanswered points which was aided by a Panthers fumble and a blocked Graham Gano field goal attempt.

The Giants had another drive that also could have translated into points before an end zone interception by Charles Tillman resulted from a falling down Hakeem Nicks gave Carolina possession at the 20.

New York scored two more touchdowns to tie it and potentially preserve their season before a late drive by Newton resulted in a field goal by Gano which gave the Panthers a 38-35 win and upped their record to 14-0.

What is it with the Giants and winnable games resulting in losses? I keep on saying it, but they miss that Victor Cruz guy. He cannot get healthy soon enough for Manning, Tom Coughlin and this New York Giants team.

A 29/46 passing with 245 yards and four touchdowns (plus one pick) day from Eli was not enough for a victory. Rashad Jennings rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown while Beckham had six receptions for 76 yards plus one touchdown.

Want MVP stats? Cam Newton threw for five touchdowns, was 25/45 passing and had 340 yards. He also was the team’s leading rusher with eight attempts for a total of 100 yards. Ted Ginn, Jr. had six receptions for 85 yards.

New York gets Minnesota next week at TCF Bank Stadium while Carolina will have Georgia on its mind when they head to Atlanta to play the Falcons (who finally won a game this week).

Final: Carolina Panthers 38, New York Giants 35

It Goes Down in the DM(V)

Dec 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Hatcher (97) celebrates while leaving the field after the against the Buffalo Bills at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Ask Washington Redskins fans about their thoughts of the way the Panthers-Giants tilt in New Jersey turned out and their response will likely be an oft-bellowed three word phrase made famous by the ‘Skins all of a sudden emerging quarterback.

“We like that!”

Talk about a Capitol December.

The Washington Redskins may not be the Carolina Panthers. They may not be the Arizona Cardinals. They may not be even the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers, or even the Minnesota Vikings.

But hey—someone has to win the NFC East and by virtue of the Cowboys’ loss on Saturday night to the New York Jets, America’s Team will be watching the playoffs from their American homes.
The Cowboys were eliminated from the playoff picture.

Lost in all of the hoopla regarding the NFC playoff picture was that Washington coming into this game was 5-2 at FedEx Field. This is not a team that is competing for a Wild Card—this is a team going for a division crown. Meaning despite them probably finishing with an 8-8 (or 9-7, at best, record) they will still get a home playoff game.

Side note—Washington’s team better hope that home playoff game is not against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks with the way they are playing football nowadays.

The first thing one would think when playing any team coached by Rex Ryan (or any coach with the last name Ryan) is that they should expect a pretty good helping of defense, defense, and defense.
So much for defense when a team like the Redskins puts up 35 points on you and increases their record to 6-2 at home.

In other words this is a classic case of a Jekyll & Hyde type of situation. Washington is an entirely different team in Landover than they are outside of Landover which is why them hosting a playoff game is extremely important for this team. Again—unless that playoff game is against the Seahawks.

Buffalo had absolutely nothing going for them in the first half of this game as it was all Washington as they raced out to a 21-0 lead on the back of three touchdowns from Kirk Cousins (two passing and one rushing).

Things began to change somewhat as the Bills notched 17 points in the third quarter and it would have been 21-17 without Cousins’ third touchdown pass of the game going the way of DeSean Jackson, which made it 28-3 prior to 14 unanswered points from the Bills.

Ultimately, the Bills and Redskins traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter but Buffalo needed much more from that out of their offense and defense as their record decreased to 6-8 and the Redskins’ became 7-7 (and leading the NFC East).

Cousins was 22 out of 28 passing and threw for 319 passing yards plus four passing touchdowns and a rating of 153.7. Alfred Morris had 84 yards on the ground on 14 carries while Jackson caught 153 of those yards with six receptions plus one touchdown.

As for the Bills, Tyrod Taylor had 235 yards on 16 out of 27 passing with two touchdowns. Mike Gillislee had 81 yards on the ground on four attempts while Sammy Watkins had himself a 111 yard day with five catches plus a pair of TDs.

‘Twas the day after Christmas and this one makes me think…as the Redskins play the Eagles in South Philly at the Linc. Ralph Wilson awaits another NFC East team in Dallas next week. There will probably be at least 200 media credentials at that game even despite the fact that the Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Final: Washington Redskins 35, Buffalo Bills 22

Luv Ya Blue!

Dec 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) carries the ball during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

As we have covered all season long, where the NFC has its East (or dare I say, Least) the AFC has its South. Doesn’t it seem that sometimes there is at least one of these every single year.

In most seasons recently the AFC South has been a matter of one team that looks like perennial Super Bowl contenders (Indianapolis Colts) and three other also-rans, including one that only is an also-ran by virtue of them not having a legitimate quarterback.

That is the Houston Texans.

Except the team has caught a break, of course, by virtue of the division not being the same division it is and a certain Colts quarterback by the name of Andrew Luck not playing for the Colts.

Except it would not be T.J. Yates that would be at quarterback for the Texans for the majority of this game. Yeah, that T.J. Yates also known as Andy Dalton’s worst nightmare but rather Brandon Weeden.

Wait a minute…wasn’t this the same Brandon Weeden who was recently let go from the debacle that is the Dallas Cowboys so all he had to do was take a short trip south on I-45 to make his way to Houston?

Yep…that Brandon Weeden. Amazing what can happen to someone when they find out they are actually in a locker room with chemistry and a team that lives more off its name and brand as opposed to its drama.

Weeden was not expected to be Superman this game nor should he be expected to be. Except he was able to hand those duties off to one Alfred Blue. With no Arian Foster, the Texans needed someone at runningback and he gave Houston a ton of production on the ground with 20 carries for 107 yards.

It was also another one of those games where the team did not make much contact with the end zone but they did not need to do so when your defense is holding the other team in check and Matt Hasselbeck looks like AN old quarterback instead of THE old quarterback from his Seattle days.

They can thank Nick Novak’s foot for this win as much as they can anything else. On four occasions, Novak was brought on for field-goal kicking duties and he was true for three of those four attempts.

And what was a 10-3 deficit at halftime for Houston ultimately became a 16-10 lead (and victory) with two of Novak’s three field goals plus a touchdown pass from Weeden to Jaelen Strong from eight yards out at the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

Along with Blue’s 107 yards, Weeden completed 11 out of his 18 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown. He came in relief for Yates who completed six out of 10 passes with 68 yards.
DeAndre Hopkins also contributed 94 yards on eight catches to the Houston cause.

As for Hasselbeck, he had 147 yards on 17 out of 30 passing with one touchdown plus one pick (A.J. Bouye) for nine yards. They only got 44 yards on 16 carries out of Frank Gore while getting five receptions and 51 yards plus one touchdown out of Donte Moncrief.

Side note—Andre Johnson against his former team had only three catches for a total of 32 yards.

Houston is going to be a favorite to go 8-7. Why? They get Tennessee next week even though it is in Tennessee so they will be playing the former Houston Oilers. As for the Colts—South Beach awaits as they go to Miami to play the Dolphins.

Final: Houston Texans 16, Indianapolis Colts 10.

Kansas City….Kansas City, Here They Come

Dec 20, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) breaks free of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Phillip Gaines (23) tackle during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Kansas City Chiefs defeated Baltimore Ravens 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

They’re playin’ some mighty good football and you should head to the field to see some.

Honestly…it is starting to feel like I am writing one recap on the Chiefs virtually every week. All they have done since going 1-5 has been to dust themselves off and win game after game after game.

Heck, this is the team that made Peyton Manning (albeit, an injured Peyton Manning) look like he should have been back at Tennessee and should be currently nowhere near an NFL playing field.

And something has happened to this team ever since going 1-5. They clearly are not the same team—they are a better team and one that is playing with more confidence than they were earlier in the season.

And it has resulted in a team that has risen back into the ranks of the AFC playoff picture.

Earlier in the season, it appeared that the Oakland Raiders of all teams may be the team that would actually challenge the Denver Broncos for AFC West supremacy as Oakland was 4-3 and Kansas City was 1-5. It seems like ever since, whatever the Raiders were doing right and the Chiefs were doing wrong, now Kansas City is doing correctly and Oakland appears to be doing wrong.

San Diego is of course the other team in that division and never appeared to have mounted much of a threat to the Broncos despite them having Philip Rivers at quarterback.

They are doing it with a lot of defense and without having Alex Smith put up gaudy numbers. Not that Alex Smith could not put up gaudy numbers but they have not needed to with the way the defense has played.

This week they faced off against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. Kansas City was the favorite to win this game given that the Ravens lost Joe Flacco for the season and also lost Steve Smith, Sr. as well for the rest of 2015, stoking fears of this being his final hurrah in the league.

Now there are reports saying he’s contemplating a comeback for 2016.

But given the fact that they are now down to Jimmy Claussen at quarterback and much of the soul of this team that made them a force in the 2000’s and much of the early 2010’s is now gone, here you have the Ravens no longer looking like the AFC North beasts they once were.

The same cannot be said for the Kansas City Chiefs who appear to be following a similar track the Seattle Seahawks are—look average-to-bad in the first half of the season then come out looking like Gangbusters in the second half to peak at the right time.

As we know, sometimes it is not necessarily about who has the best record but who is peaking at the right time. Just as the Seahawks are doing just that in the NFC, Kansas City is now doing that in the AFC but the only difference is the AFC has the New England Patriots in it.

In a game that was virtually over at the opening kickoff, Kansas City completely dominated Baltimore. Yes, the Ravens may have been basically even in terms of time of possession. Yes, the Ravens had more first downs. Yes, the Ravens ran more plays and had more total yards.

But as Herman Edwards once famously said, “You play to win the game!” He didn’t say anything about playing to win time of possession or notch more total yards.

Or as Jim Rome would say, “Scoreboard. Look at it.” Look at it and weep Ravens fans.

As they should at these stats. Smith threw for 171 yards on 21 out of 25 passing with one touchdown. Charcandrick West had 16 carries on 76 yards. Travis Kelce was the team’s leading receiver with 73 yards via six receptions.

That Jimmy Claussen character I mentioned earlier? He completed 26 of 45 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. That equaled a passer rating of 72.5.

Terrance West only ran for 35 yards on seven carries and Kamar Aiken had 128 yards on eight receptions plus a touchdown.

Baltimore-Pittsburgh is supposed to be a rivalry, but something tells me it will not look like much of one when the Steelers head to Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium to play the Ravens at Camden Yards. Kansas City will stay within the AFC North when they play the Cleveland Browns next week back at Arrowhead Stadium.

Another story is also hot and developing…the Chiefs won this week and the Denver Broncos lost to those very Steelers. This means that the Broncos are 10-4 and the Chiefs are 9-5 and only one game out of first place. Denver has to play Cincinnati next week on Monday Night Football at Sports Authority Field at Mile High whereas the Chiefs get the Browns.

There is a very good chance the Broncos and Chiefs will both be 10-5 going into the final week of the regular season. Developing hot…for sure.

Final Score: Kansas City Chiefs 34, Baltimore Ravens 14

Bird on Bird Hostilities

Dec 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) reacts after strong safety Deone Bucannon (not pictured) intercepts a ball for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cardinals won 40-17. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Oh, NBC. Oh, NBC…

The decision to flex the Arizona Cardinals/Philadelphia Eagles game to primetime on Sunday Night Football (NBC) prior to the game had me thinking one thing…

Why did NBC decide to flex this game?

The decision to flex the Arizona Cardinals/Philadelphia Eagles game to primetime on Sunday Night Football on NBC had me thinking one thing after the game…

Why did NBC decide to flex this game?

Not that the Cardinals (or Phoenix, Arizona’s NBC affiliate KPNX-TV 12 News) minded. After all, they seem to play their best when they are on in the primetime spot.

Then again, the Cardinals seem to win nowadays regardless of if their games are on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, the NFL Network, TruTV, HBO, AMC, or the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Have football will win is the credo this season for the Cards.

So something like this—a complete blowout of Philadelphia—had to be somewhat expected when these two teams took the field. After all, the Cardinals are probably one of only two teams in the NFC (the other being the Seahawks) that are probably standing between the Carolina Panthers and people throughout both Carolinas booking their flights to OAK for the Super Bowl.

The Eagles are in the NFC East…the stinking NFC East.

Yeah.

And early on in this game, it did somewhat appear as if maybe this game was going to be a little bit competitive as the two teams were knotted up at 10 midway through the second quarter.

That was before the Cardinals reeled off 27 unanswered points that upped their lead to 37-10. In addition to that, David Johnson who already had one touchdown to start the game, eventually scored two more and one of those happened to be a 47-yarder which was the final score prior to the half.

This made it 17-10 in favor of Arizona.

And at one point in this game, Palmer had to be taken out because of issues with his hand. Meaning that for a brief moment in this game, Drew Stanton was brought in to relieve Palmer.

Later, Palmer would return to the game.

In addition to the three touchdowns that Johnson would score on the ground, he also ended up with over 100 rushing yards.

Realists, I admit that I have not really talked all that much about Bruce Arians as head coach, but with everything that has been written about him and the fact that he was already a well-known name going back to his Indy days, it would be something if here to pull off a Super Bowl with a team like the Cardinals that have not exactly had as illustrious a history as the Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, 49ers, or Patriots have had.

Also in all of their years, the Cardinals have never had an 11-win season. That changed thanks to this game. History.

And believe it or not…the Eagles can still make the playoffs.

Palmer completed 20 out of 32 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown. Johnson finished with 187 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns while Michael Floyd had five receptions for 70 yards.

Sam Bradford completed 28 of his 41 passes for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Ryan Mathews had 58 yards on the ground on 11 carries and Jordan Matthews caught eight passes for 159 yards and one touchdown.

All the Eagles have to do to make the playoffs is win their next two games—against the Redskins (next week) and the Giants the following week. The Arizona Cardinals are already in and they get the Green Bay Packers in ‘Zona’s University of Phoenix Stadium next week.

Final Score: Arizona Cardinals 40, Philadelphia Eagles 17

Other Games

Nov 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; NFL logo after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Rams defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23

New York Jets defeat Dallas Cowboys 19-16

Minnesota Vikings defeat Chicago Bears 38-17

Atlanta Falcons defeat Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17

New England Patriots defeat Tennessee Titans 33-16

Seattle Seahawks defeat Cleveland Browns 30-13

Green Bay Packers defeat Oakland Raiders 30-20

San Diego Chargers defeat Miami Dolphins 30-14

Cincinnati Bengals defeat San Francisco 49ers 24-14

Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints (8:30, Monday Night Football)