On the 15th week of the season, the NFL Recap gave to us: Childlike enthusiasm, A-Rod’s return, and the two worst things about the league.
Bucs 21 Fifteen years after he coached Tampa Bay to their only Super Bowl season, Jon Gruden was added to the Bucs Ring of Honor during halftime of a game he was already calling for Monday Night Football. Considering the tension between Jameis Winston and the current coach, perhaps this honor was less about saying “thank you” than begging “please come back.” (AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack
Raiders 17 I don’t care what this means for Dallas’ playoff hopes. It was an ill-gotten gain because once again the worst rule in the NFL reared its ugly head and cost a team a game. Add this to the list of things the league desperately needs to fix this offseason, along with …
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)One of worst rules in football: fumble into end zone is a touchback. One, why should own end zone benefit a defense? Secondly, why disincentivize offensive players from trying hardest to score? — Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 12, 2017
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Steelers 24 … the NFL’s breathtaking inability to properly define just what the hell a catch is in this league. If there’s an AFC title game rematch between these two teams, it will probably be played in the wrong stadium because this game was overshadowed by the controversial TD-not-TD by Jesse James at the end and Antonio Brown’s calf injury. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
AP Photo/Don Wright
Seahawks 7 Todd Gurley ran for 144 yards and 3 TDs before halftime, the Rams negated half of Russell Wilson’s 142 passing yards by sacking him seven times, and L.A. dealt Seattle their worst home loss in 20 years along with a deathblow to any hopes of the Seahawks stealing the NFC West crown. Los Angeles could make some noise in a wide open NFC playoff bracket. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images
49ers 25 Maybe there’s something to this Jimmy Garoppolo mystique after all. The dude has yet to lose a start in his career, which includes a 3-0 record for a San Francisco squad that couldn’t win before he arrived. This dude makes Parker Lewis look like a loser.
(AP Photo/John Hefti)Jimmy Garoppolo career stats: 154-for-209, 73.7% complete.
1,716 yards, 8.2 yards per pass.
8 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
106.5 passer rating.
5-0 as a starter.
This kid is special. — Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 18, 2017
AP Photo/John Hefti
Jaguars 45 There’s a lot to like about Jacksonville’s first playoff team in 10 years: Paul Posluszny’s long road to the postseason, the historic performance by the Jaguars defense, and the feel good story of Jaydon Mickens. But these good times keep rolling only if their much-maligned QB keeps up his torrent pace. Blake Bortles posted a career-best 143.8 QB rating Sunday, giving him a 71 percent completion rate for an average of 301 yards while tossing seven touchdowns and zero picks during the Jags’ 3-game win streak. This a Super Bowl contender if this carries into the playoffs. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton
Panthers 31 Aaron Rodgers was right: He’s not the savior. A-Rod’s return yielded his first 3-INT game since 2009 to keep Green Bay home for the holidays for the first time since 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
AP Photo/Bob Leverone
Redskins 20 Even with leading tackler Zach Brown setting some kind of record for most reasons for missing a game (illness along with injuries to his toe, Achilles and hip), the ‘Skins defense sacked Blaine Gabbert five times and forced him into both Arizona turnovers. Is it the Cardinals’ curse of the 1 p.m. EST games (they’re 2-10 in such games the last two years) or Bruce Arians losing his touch as a QB whisperer? Either way, his retirement looks like a good idea for all parties involved. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Giants 29 No Carson, no problem in Philadelphia? While Wentz was loopy, Nick Foles found four different receivers for touchdowns to keep the Eagles’ flight pattern fixed on home-field advantage. But that Philly defense better get its act together or else that advantage will be a one game deal. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Saints 31 While one Jets receiver was getting urine tainted by apparitions, Michael Thomas made history by becoming the second player in NFL history to notch 90 catches in his first two seasons. Even with the Saints finding religion in the run game, they still have some damn good pass catchers. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Vikings 34 On a day when Mike Zimmer led Minnesota to the NFC North title, his former boss’s team played like the Marvin Lewis era is already over. Say what you will about his all-time worst 0-7 playoff record and underwhelming success in Cincinnati … but Lewis is a lot like Andy Reid: a good coach that got the best-ever results for a historically bad franchise. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
Browns 10 Baltimore and Cleveland both stayed on track: The Ravens for the 6-seed in the AFC playoffs and the Browns for the second 0-16 season in NFL history. Nothing to see here, folks. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Bills 24 I know it was a short week, but this was a horrible no-show for a Miami team that just got a Michael Jordan flu game from Xavier Howard to crush the Pats in prime time. Meanwhile, Buffalo currently sits in the final AFC wild card but probably not for much longer; the Bills have to win in New England and repeat this feat in Miami to even have a chance at ending the longest playoff drought in the NFL. Don’t bet on it. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Chiefs 30 Kareem Hunt had his second 150-yard rushing game (ironically, both against the Chargers). Tyreek Hill got his 4th catch of 60+ yards (twice as many as anyone else in the NFL). Good of Kansas City to remember they have two of the most explosive players in the league just in time to reestablish themselves as top dog in the AFC West. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Lions 20 How bad are the Bears? They’ve lost nine of their last 10 games against the Lions (the Lions) and eight straight in-division. It’s time for another rebuild in Chicago. Meanwhile, Detroit (whose gray unis actually look pretty cool) still looks like a team that could get to the dance. And by “dance” I mean, the playoffs … not this throwback to the Rockettes. Or this Golden Tate twinkle toes move. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Colts 13 Though the last Thursday night game of 2017 was perhaps the one we looked forward to the least, there were some bright spots. Frank Gore achieved another milestone in his underrated career. Brock Osweiler got to exhibit some childlike enthusiasm. But best of all, Indianapolis is close to becoming the biggest second half chokers in NFL history. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
AP Photo/AJ Mast
