Paid Dirt: Best Games of the Week

Tennessee Titans (10-5) defeat San Francisco 49ers (8-7) 20-17

Both teams were in similar situations, with consistently doubted Quarterbacks in Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Tannehill and top ten Wide Receivers with Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown. Samuel had nine receptions for 159 yards, while Brown had 11 receptions for 145 yards with a TD. Starting with the 49ers, their utilization of the play-action is comparable to the Vikings' success, albeit with less talent. Kyle Shanahan gets the most out of his skill players each week but relies on who is starting at the Quarterback position. Jimmy Garoppolo is not a Super Bowl-winning Quarterback and the 49ers, along with John Lynch’s Twitter mistake, believe he is not the future of the position in San Fran. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s defense is single-handedly saving their season and ranks third against the rush. It may not always show up in the stat sheet, but their defense has played well when it has mattered and picks up for their offense, beset by injuries, but Derrick Henry will return in the playoffs. No team should want to play Tennessee in the playoffs in Henry is in the backfield, no matter how banged-up he is.

Green Bay Packers (12-3) defeat Cleveland Browns (7-8) 24-22

The Browns nearly defeated the Packers, but ultimately Baker Mayfield’s four interceptions took away the hope of a Cleveland upset. The last of Baker’s interceptions was game sealing, even as there was a missed defensive pass interference call from Cornerback Rasual Douglas, who has played tremendously as a spot starter but should have been penalized. When healthy, the Browns offense is a top-five unit, but with Baker at the helm are at risk of missing the playoffs. This Browns team is playoff-caliber with any other Quarterback, and this offseason should spark questions that the Browns front office will have to answer. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers made history in Green Bay, as he passed Brett Favre in passing touchdowns (443) as the Packers' all-time leader, doing so in 45 fewer games, and throwing 193 fewer interceptions. If there was any doubt, Rodgers is the greatest Quarterback in franchise history. It’s up to the Packers front office to cement Rodgers’ legacy in Green Bay—and it’ll be the central storyline of the offseason. The Packers are the standard in the NFC, and until the Rams or Buccaneers prove otherwise, it’s the Aaron Rodgers show in the NFC.

Buffalo Bills (9-6) defeat New England Patriots (9-6) 33-21

The Buffalo Bills came into Foxborough needing a win against the New England Patriots, and they delivered. Josh Allen took over the game by completing 30/47 passes with 314 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 12 carries for 64 yards on the ground. Allen balled out, especially when throwing the ball to Isaiah McKenzie, with 11 receptions for 125 yards. Damien Harris, New England’s elite Running Back, rushed for three touchdowns on 18 carries for 103 yards, but the Patriots struggled to convert on 3rd down (1/10) and played from behind for most of the game. These two teams have the potential to meet again in the playoffs, which would be captivating between two AFC East heavyweights.

Los Angeles Rams (11-4) defeat Minnesota Vikings (7-8) 30-23

Matthew Stafford may have thrown three interceptions, but the Rams still pulled the victory. Sony Michel rushed for 131 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown and proved the Rams can sprinkle Cam Akers into the Running Back rotation. They contained Adam Thielen, but Justin Jefferson was not, as he caught eight passes for 116 yards. It’s a promising sign the Vikings hung around in a game against one of the NFL’s best teams, raising the question of whether this is Mike Zimmer’s last season with Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Vikings have been playing as one of the NFL’s best in the past two weeks.

Atlanta Falcons (7-8) defeat Detroit Lions (2-12-1) 20-16

Both Head Coaches, Arthur Smith of the Falcons and Dan Campbell of the Lions, were two of the best hires of the 2021 offseason and have changed the culture of their respective organizations. Statistically, both teams are amongst the NFL’s worst, but their coaches have brought much-needed promise to Atlanta and Detroit. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the best receiver in Detroit and a potential building block on offense. He had nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. Kyle Pitts is another skill player who has officially broken out for the Falcons but is not the red zone target that many thought he would become in his first NFL season, with only one touchdown on the year. Pitts finished with six receptions for 102 yards against Detroit, who need more talent infused on their defense. Both teams will be fascinating to monitor going forward as they add more talent to their rosters.

New York Jets (4-11) defeat Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) 26-21

: In what many expected as the worst matchup of the 2021-22 NFL season, Jets-Jaguars exceeded all expectations. Zach Wilson went off on a long 52-yard rushing touchdown, along with a prolific rushing effort from Running Back Michael Carter with 16 carries on 118 yards. Carter is the future at Halfback for the Jets, and he, along with Wilson, are two building blocks on offense for New York. Jacksonville finally had a number one overall pick performance from Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who threw 280 yards on 26/39 passing. In a season that many consider a failure, there needs to be a significant coaching overhaul, especially at Head Coach. Look for the Jags to go for an experienced candidate that has proven success in the NFL, such as Eric Bienemy or Jim Caldwell, to right the ship with the masthead fallen off with Urban Meyer.

Chicago Bears (5-10) defeat Seattle Seahawks (5-10) 25-24

Chicago finally pulled out a win, even though it was against one of the worst teams in the NFL in Seattle. Nick Foles proved he can still win games in the NFL and should find a backup job in the offseason. Chicago needs to revamp their offensive line, which gave up four sacks against one of the weaker defenses in Seattle. Rashad Penny will be the starting Running Back for the Seahawks, and well deserved after rushing 17 carries for 135 yards. So much has gone wrong for Seattle on offense, but the team still has talent at Running Back and Wide Receiver. These teams may be some of the worst in the NFL but played a decent game all-around in Week 16.

Fair Catch: Games with Middling Results

Houston Texans (4-11) defeat Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) 41-29

The Houston Texans deserve credit for not only staying with but defeating the Los Angeles Chargers by two possessions. Davis Mills (21/27 with 254 yards and two touchdowns) and Rex Burkhead (22 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns) had standout performances and easily their best games of the year. For Los Angeles, it’s a disappointing loss on multiple levels, with the foremost being that the team was thought to be a strong playoff contender and is now lucky to squeak in. Justin Jackson had a great game despite the rest of the team’s lackluster performance, specifically Justin Herbert, and rushed for 96 yards on eight carries with 64 receiving yards on 11 catches and two touchdowns out of the backfield. Chargers’ fans are looking to next season.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) defeat Baltimore Ravens (8-7) 41-21

Joe Burrow will win Comeback Player of the Year after his tremendous 37/46 525 yard and four touchdown standout act. He obliterated a banged-up Ravens defense that has faced adversity all year but couldn’t hold it together against Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and company. The Rams were underdogs going in with Lamar Jackson ruled out with an ankle, and Tyler Huntley, who impressed in Week 15, was placed on the COVID-19 list. Josh Johnson answered the call and threw for 304 yards with two touchdowns and an interception after limited practice time. This year’s Ravens team can't be taken at face value due to their injury luck and should be healthier—and play better—next season.

 Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) defeat Denver Broncos (7-8) 17-13

Hunter Renfrow is a top-five route-runner in the NFL, along with Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs. If he continues to develop his standout chemistry with Derek Carr, the Raiders could have an elite QB-WR duo there. Factor in an often overlooked Running Back in Josh Jacobs, who performed to his talent level against Denver, and the Raiders have the makings a potentially potent offense. The Broncos are a Quarterback away from being considered an AFC threat, but if they get a Rodgers, Russ, or even Ryan, they could be one of the best teams in the NFL. Both teams had familiarity with each other, resulting in the 17-13 close outcome.

Punted: Worst Games of the Week

Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) defeat New York Giants (4-11) 34-10

The Eagles outplayed the Giants, and the score reflects it. DeVonta Smith is a Wide Receiver to build on and had five receptions on 80 rushing yards. Jalen Hurts must continue to develop with Smith if the Eagles believe he’s the future at the Quarterback position. If not, the Eagles have their first-round pick and the Colts to trade or draft a replacement. On the Giants' side, Saquon Barkley played poorly, and it’s fair to question if he will ever return to top-five Running Back status. The talent around him doesn’t help, and as usual, the Giants need to improve their offensive line while finding a long-term answer at Quarterback. There isn’t a lot to like about the Giants in 2021-22 and face a significant overhaul in the offseason.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) defeat Carolina Panthers (5-10) 32-6

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved they can win without their top two receivers in Chris Godwin (out for the season with a knee injury) and Mike Evans (out for the game with a hamstring). They relied on Antonio Brown, who played like a number one Wide Receiver with ten receptions for 101 yards. Ke’Shawn Vaughn had a standout game and should quench the Buccaneers Running Back issues. On the defensive side, Defensive End William Gholston had two and a half sacks, with six and a half total for the Buccaneers. Watch out for Tampa Bay’s pass rush. The Panthers have injected talent into this roster, but it has not paid off and will finish in 4th place. Start at the top and find a short-term Quarterback who can lead the team to the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) defeat Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) 36-10

The Chiefs are the clear number one seed in the AFC and cemented that status with a dominant win over the Steelers. Mahomes has shredded the “disappointing season” narrative." Kansas City should be as feared as any with offensive talent and a defensive effort that improved drastically over the second half of the season. Pittsburgh has a budding superstar in Najee Harris, limited by his offensive line, but gains offensive yards in bunches and never fumbles. Starting new at Quarterback, if Roethlisberger retires and finding a productive offensive line is a priority for the Steel City.

Dallas Cowboys (11-4) defeat Washington Football Team (6-9) 56-14

The blowout of the week. Dallas looked as proficient at the offense as any other in the NFL, and Dak Prescott continues to play at a high level. With their Wide Receivers, two Defensive Player of the Year candidates with Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, and a terrific pass rush, the Cowboys must be seen as legitimate. Their coaching will decide the fate of their season because Dallas has championship-caliber talent. Washington is not mathematically out of the playoff hunt, but it sure feels like it after this crushing loss. Taylor Heinicke faltered after a strong start and isn't the answer. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start if healthy but doesn’t exactly strike fear into defensive play-callers.

Miami Dolphins (8-7) defeat New Orleans Saints (7-8) 20-3

With many unsure of rookie Quarterback Ian Book's play in his first NFL start, some people had the Saints winning this game. Through the half, it was a one-possession lead from Miami. At the end of the game, it was far from close. The Dolphins sacked Ian Book eight times, forced a pick-six, and an interception at the end of the game, utilizing their trademark Cover 0 defense: strict man-to-man and all-out pressure from the remaining defenders. Book played behind a practice squad offensive line due to four offensive linemen on the COVID-19 list, which took out starter Taysom Hill and backup Trevor Siemian. There isn’t much to build on from Book, but no player should be evaluated solely off one game, especially in a game as short-handed as the Saints were. It must be upsetting for New Orleans to field that offense in Week 16 with playoff hopes on the line. Miami has played well over the past seven weeks, with seven victories in that span. The Dolphins could make the playoffs depending on how they play the next few weeks, and must win out.

Reference Page

• Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference and NFL.com

• Images courtesy of Getty Images

• Contract information courtesy of Spotrac

• Score information courtesy of NFL.com