2021 NFL Week 16 Recap

Dolphins 20
Saints 3

New Orleans had 22 players on the COVID list, leading to an NFL-record 57 different starters this season — one of whom was a rookie quarterback out of Notre Dame (which matters for all the wrong reasons) that threw a pick 6 on his second career pass attempt Monday night. The Saints never had a chance and this might be karma for getting a free win in Denver last year.

But Miami is the first team in NFL history to have a seven-game win streak following a seven-game losing skid — and we won’t know which team the Dolphins are until we see them in their final two games (at Titans, Patriots).

Washington 14
Cowboys 56

Dallas had offensive and defensive linemen score touchdowns, Dak Prescott threw for 321 yards and four touchdowns before halftime to make some weird history and Washington’s defense had more fights among themselves on the sideline than they did on the field with their season on the line against a division rival. Football season is effectively over in D.C.

Steelers 10
Chiefs 36

Kansas City is finally playing the way we expect them to and Pittsburgh is making the wrong kind of history — the first team in NFL history to trail by 23 in the first half of three straight road games. No touchdowns in the first half of five straight games for the first time since 1940. Ben Roethlisberger can’t hang up the cleats fast enough.

Broncos 13
Raiders 17

Hunter Renfrow (not to be confused with MLB’s Hunter Renfroe) is sneaky good and so is Las Vegas. Considering the way the two teams ahead of them in the wild card race (Baltimore and the LA Chargers, who they play head-to-head to end the regular season), the Raiders just might mess around and make the playoffs despite an in-season coaching change.

Bears 25
Seahawks 24

Seattle is a last place team for the first time since joining the NFC West in 2002 and have a double-digit loss season for the first time since 2009. If Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll are still Seahawks in April, I’ll be stunned.

Ravens 21
Bengals 41

I don’t know if it was Joe Burrow’s boredom in Cincinnati or Baltimore’s injury-riddled secondary, but the Bengals took out years of frustration on the Ravens.

Burrow’s franchise-record 525 yards were the fourth-most in NFL history and his four touchdowns moved Cincy into sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Given they swept the Ravens and Steelers (in the same season for the first time since 2009) by a combined score of 147-58, the Bengals have earned the division title they’re about to win tenfold.

Meanwhile, Baltimore’s four-game slide moves them from the 1-seed in the AFC to seventh in the conference in just a month’s time. I hate that Josh Johnson’s return was spoiled by that patchwork Ravens defense, but I root hard for a 35-year-old journeyman on his 17th team across three leagues.

Giants 10
Eagles 34

Two things were proven here: Philadelphia is a serious playoff contender and the Giants need to take a wrecking ball to their franchise and start over completely. Eagles by 100 at FedEx Field Sunday.

Rams 30
Vikings 23

Forget the playoff implications here … watching Justin Jefferson break Odell Beckham Jr.’s record right in front of him and then sound off on what’s wrong with Minnesota is peak 2021 on its way out.

Bucs 32
Panthers 6

Matt Rhule needs to keep Jay-Z’s name out of his mouth because trust and believe.  If his Panthers keep living a hard knock life, his 99 problems won’t include getting seven years to fix things in Carolina.

And if you can’t respect Cam, your whole perspective is whack. Maybe you’ll love him when his career fades to black. I just hope that’s not as imminent as it seems.

Bills 33
Patriots 21

Buffalo got payback for New England throttling them a couple weeks ago with (basically) the Navy offense, taking over first place in the AFC East by becoming the first team in 25 years to beat the Patriots in their own building by double digits in consecutive trips. I have no idea what to make of the Bills anymore.

Chargers 29
Texans 41

Hey, L.A. Chargers: If you can’t stop Rex Burkhead or Simone Biles’ boyfriend from balling out, you don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.

Lions 16
Falcons 20

Atlanta picked the right time to win its first home game of the season, keeping their playoff hopes alive for at least another week. But does a team that barely beat two-win Detroit and went 1-5 in its own building deserve to be in the postseason? Methinks not.

Jaguars 21
Jets 26

The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on the clock and Zach Wilson has the sickest QB touchdown run of the year.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1475171477104119808?s=20

Colts 22
Cardinals 16

Here’s all we need to know about Arizona: since 2020, the Cardinals are 12-3 in September and October but just 6-9 from November on. I know injuries have played a role, but I feel vindicated for not to taking this team seriously.

But good for Indy, whose much-maligned quarterback Carson Wentz showed up almost on cue, overcoming a rash of injuries to the Colts’ offensive line to lead them to a crucial win that keeps their playoff hopes alive. If Indy gets healthy in time for the playoffs, that’s a draw nobody wants.

Browns 22
Packers 24

Aaron Rodgers gets enough flowers so I don’t really need to touch on him breaking Brett Favre’s touchdown record (which was only a matter of time). For me, this game gave Cleveland its answer on Baker Mayfield. Do NOT cut this man a big check. But a deal for Deshaun Watson? That rumor might get legs now.

49ers 17
Titans 20

Who cares what John Lynch thinks of Jimmy G? San Fran traded up for his replacement so they’re obviously moving on from the quarterback who’s been more handsome than productive.