Hey everybody, we’ve got another great weekend in store for you for Week 12. Of course, three games took place on Thursday for American Thanksgiving, but this Sunday will still be action packed! I’d say that Monday would be too, but have you seen the matchup on MNF? Let’s move on. Here’s your Top 5 things to watch for this Sunday.
1. Rex Ryan’s playoff hopes on the line
It’s the 5-5 Bills against the 5-5 Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs currently sit in the final wild card playoff spot and this matchup will be an intriguing one. Why is this the number one story on our list? Well Rex Ryan’s Bills have all of the pieces in place but just can’t seem to get it done. They’re without a doubt one of the best-worst teams in the league, but have all of the potential in the world in their lineup.
Even with all of that packed power though, our Game of the Week still has the Bills listed as underdogs. It’s a tight AFC wild card race and one loss from here on out, could cost your team the season. It’s all on the line this weekend for Rex and the Bills.
2. Return of Rawls
If anybody stole the show last weekend in the NFL, it was rookie Thomas Rawls of the Seattle Seahawks. The first year kid out of Central Michigan filled in for the injured Marshawn Lynch and then some putting up record-setting numbers. Rawls tallied 255 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the Seahawks win, breaking Sean Alexander’s team rushing record in the process. With Marshawn Lynch’s latest sports hernia surgery, Rawls will get to keep his starting roll for at least a few more weeks. The kid is for real!
3. Seahawks need to win out
It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a very winnable game. It all depends though which Seahawks team shows up. Will the Swiss cheese offensive line that’s let Russell Wilson run for his life for most of the season rear its head? Or will it be the O-line that let Thomas Rawls feel safer than a Volvo last weekend return?
Regardless of which one it is, with the Seahawks currently one win out of a playoff spot and the St. Louis Rams breathing down their neck in the NFC West, every win from here on out is crucial. Their backs are against the wall, but it’s doable if they can manage to consistently put up Ws (for a change).
4. Oz the Magnificent?
Brock Osweiler was excellent in his first start as a Bronco last weekend in Chicago. He went 20-27 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and zero picks. Albeit it was against the Chicago Bears. This week though he’ll have his first real test against the undefeated New England Patriots. If he can find a win with a banged up receiving core and a run game that’s been decently brutal (it’s a new phrase that means inconsistently terrible), watch for people to be saying, “Peyton who?” come Monday morning.
5. Battle for biggest joke of the NFL – SD or JAX?
I know what you’re thinking. “Hey, Jacksonville is pretty decent now.” You’re right, they’re not the worst. They have been known as the worst team in the NFL for years though. Could this be the week that they finally hand that moniker over to the San Diego Chargers?
The Chargers didn’t manage to find the end zone once last week and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at home 33-3. The team is almost in sole possession of last place, but are currently tied with the Cleveland Browns at 2-8.
Speaking of the Cleveland Browns, we’ll be talking lots of third-stringer Johnny Manziel next Friday. Let’s give him a week or so to make another career mistake.
Enjoy the games everyone!