After taking a break last week, the diaries are back to cover the mess in the swamp. Unfortunately, by not writing last week I missed out on the chance to write about a pair of wins, and of course now I return to cover a pair of losses. I wish I was surprised but there is no point in engaging in wishful thinking. Frankly I was surprised at how many locals convinced themselves that these teams could make the playoffs this year. But as they say, it’s the hope that kills you.
Giants
The clock may be about to strike midnight on Tommy DeVito’s fairytale few weeks after Sunday’s ugly loss in New Orleans. The 24-6 mauling puts to bed any long shot playoff hopes the Giants had coming off their three straight wins. Even though this game was 7-6 at the half, it never felt Big Blue had much going for them in this contest as the stout Saints defense smothered their weak attack. DeVito was sacked seven times while completing 20 passes for just 177 yards. The running game wasn’t much better as Saquon Barkley had just 14 yards on nine carries.
While they lost in the trenches on offense, the Giants defense didn’t fare any better. Wink Martindale’s unit has had a disappointing season and this past week saw them allow Derek Carr to have his best game in a Saints uniform. Number four in black and gold went 23/28 for 218 yards and three touchdown passes. This was really the outburst that the Saints have been looking for with their season on the line, and they got it in large part due to how poor the Giants have been on defense. Even Kayvon Thibodeaux, this unit’s lone bright spot, was mostly held in check.
While this is hard for fans to accept, nor should it be what players and coaches strive to accept, yesterday’s loss is for the best for the Giants. You can say “they can’t quit, stop telling them to tank,” and frankly the only question to ask, is where was this “intense” effort earlier in the season when they got mauled by their rivals? Enough of the Tommy Devito story, enough of his agent, enough of the playoff discussion. This nightmare season needs to be parlayed into a top pick at the quarterback position. With the desperate Eagles and Rams laying ahead of the Giants, the required losses may be just around the corner.
Jets
This week’s Springsteen song of choice is The Promised Land. It feels like a fitting choice because the Jets once again convinced themselves, and everyone else around here for that matter, that they were headed for the Promised Land. Of course, the Jets have their best laid plans, and the football gods laugh. At least Sunday’s 30-0 loss confirmed that the Jets season was over, as the Browns victory over Chicago confirmed their elimination. We can end the charade and hopefully stop this absurd conversation about indulging Aaron Rodgers ego trip by allowing him to play.
The game was rather uneventful from a Jets perspective. Zach Wilson’s early injury, one he essentially caused because he held on to the ball for eternity behind the Jets turnstile offensive line, pressed backup Trevor Siemian into action. Siemian was no better than Wilson in this one as he threw for just 110 yards and one interception. Really the only thing the offense did Sunday was argued with one another and seemingly beg Aaron Rodgers to save them…hell of a culture they have there.
Rodgers should not be cleared for a return this week, or in the following two, as there is nothing left to play for. Another year filled with incompetent coaching decisions, even worse roster management, and total media circuses. That folks is what we call the Jetlife, 13 long “playoffless” years and counting…what a magical ride it’s been.
Around The League
Now that we’re done talking about the New York football mess, we can get down to the business of discussing the interesting stories around the NFL. Races for playoff spots and seeding are heating up so let’s not waste any time here.
Joe is STILL ELITE: In one of the most unlikely stories in a very long time, the Cleveland Browns are on their way to the playoffs with Joe Flacco under center. The 38-year-old was on the couch just a few short weeks ago and now he has won them two in a row, while throwing seven touchdown passes in the process. While he and the offense have done their part, the Browns defense remains the backbone of this team. Myles Garrett leads the most singularly dominant unit in the league, and they single handedly win this team games on a regular basis. With stars like DeShaun Watson and Nick Chubb on the shelf for most of the year, give head coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz immense credit!
Same old Cowboys: We have had “same old Jets” for a long time now, but I think it’s time we start using “same old Cowboys.” After blasting the Eagles last week at home, Dallas had a chance to win the NFC East and maybe get the number one seed. Some of that went out the window though as the Bills hammered them 31-10 in Buffalo. Dak Prescott’s MVP odds took a hit as he threw for just 134 yards and one interception on the night, and the rest of the offense wasn’t much better. Even their vaunted defense struggled against the Bills run game. While the Cowboys are certainly talented, and they have quality wins this year, I worry about their chances if they have to go on the road in the postseason.
Making a Playoff Case: While Joe Flacco is making headlines in Cleveland, the Texans rode a wily veteran of their own to victory Sunday in Nashville. 35-year-old Case Keenum got the start against the Titans, at the request of his teammates, who wanted him under center instead of Davis Mills with C.J. Stroud hurt. Keenum repaid his teammates faith in him going 23/36 for one touchdown and one interception, with the touchdown coming on a clutch fourth quarter drive to tie the game. With the game tied at 16 in overtime, Ka’Imi Fairbairn (fresh off an injury) hit the game winning field goal at the buzzer. The win moves Houston to 8-6 and keeps them in the AFC wild card hunt, while also still having chance to win the division, a division that is tight with them and the Colts in hot pursuit of the fading Jags. They’ll host the Browns this week with CJ Stroud expected to return from injury. The winner of this key matchup will likely have their coach (the aforementioned Kevin Stefanski or Houston’s Demeco Ryans) win coach of the year.
Baker’s Big Day: The often-mercurial Baker Mayfield has had an interesting journey in the NFL. Number six had some high highs and low lows in Cleveland, a stint that ended with him on his way to Carolina. After a disappointing season last year and a brief cameo with the Rams, the former Sooner landed in Tampa Bay as Tom Brady’s successor. While many discounted Baker’s signing with the Buccaneers, to his credit he has performed well this year in an offense that lets him air it out. With 24 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, he’s been dealing all year long, and saved his magnum opus for their biggest game yet. Baker put up a perfect passer rating of 158.3 with 381 yards, and four touchdowns in Tampa’s 34-20 win over the Packers. The W makes them 7-7 on the year and moves them into a two-way tie with the Saints atop the NFC south who they host on New Years Eve.
Big Turnout: The 2024 season has been an embarrassment for the Carolina Panthers in a lot of ways, yet this past Sunday they somehow reached a new low. All week long we heard about tickets going for 45 cents online and no one coming out for the home game against the Falcons. I’ll give Panthers fans this, they keep their word, as seemingly a few hundred people braved a monsoon to watch their team prevail over the playoff contending Falcons 9-7. It seems the fans in Charlotte have had enough of the dysfunction that has been bred by the constant chaos owner David Tepper keeps this franchise in. Good luck to whoever takes the head coaching job this offseason…they’re going to need it.
CATCH OF THE YEAR: I’ll let the video do most of the talking here. But simply put this is one of the best plays we’ve seen in this league in a long time. The focus, the precision, and the effort to make this play, all with the game and maybe the Bengals season on the line makes it all the more special. Just unreal.
That does it for this NFL recap, let me know what you think about the top stories around the league, along the Jets and Giants in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter @YNWA9623 and subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner of your screen and entering your email address. We’ll be back with more hockey content this week and we are standing by for more breaking MLB news. Stay tuned everyone!
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