After a busy Thanksgiving Thursday, it’s now time for the rest of the NFL. Just once, we’re heading to the AFC South this weekend for the game of the week. The Jaguars host the very in-form Texans in a game that could (re)define this division. In any case, this is THE match not to be missed this week.
We will also talk about a coaching duel, Brandon Staley, Jonathan Taylor and turnovers among the Bills. Here is the program for week 12.
The match: Southern supremacy
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Houston Texans (6-4) – Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
Very clever was the one who predicted that the Texans would only be one game behind the Jaguars entering the 12th week of competition. However, this is the picture that is painted before Sunday’s match. Jacksonville is indeed moving into Texas with the risk of seeing its opponent on Sunday pass in front of it. The Jaguars must absolutely win or risk no longer having their destiny in their hands. Above all, the signal sent would be very bad. While the Floridians are establishing themselves as the leaders of this AFC South for the future years, they are already titillated by this Houston team ahead of its road plan.
You just have to see the result of the first match between these two teams. Los de la week 3Trevor Lawrence’s teammates had indeed lost at home (37-17) in a meeting where they had been dominated from start to finish. Sunday’s meeting should serve to reaffirm their supremacy. They supposedly have more experience than their opponents. With a good season in 2022 and two playoff games (including one victory) behind them, they already have a form of collective maturity. Jacksonville will have to play on this aspect to beat the carefree Texans. Sunday, Jacksonville must cut boss.
The duel: Sean Payton vs. Kevin Stefanski
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (5-5) – Cleveland Browns (7-3)
In this NFL, the duels are mainly on the field, but regularly some of the most beautiful clashes can take place on the sidelines. This could be the case this Sunday between Sean Payton and Kevin Stefanski. Both men are currently leading teams in great form. The first lifted a team that was struggling at the start of the season to make it four consecutive successes. The second leads a franchise which remains on five victories during the last 6 matches. Imagining the Ravens winning the AFC North division (which is still far from being done), these two teams could be in the fight for Wild Card spots.
The two technicians therefore know what is at stake in this part. Without Deshaun Watson, Cleveland must adapt. The Browns continue to rely on their defense which keeps the team in good rhythm. If Cleveland still has a little room to see things coming in this race for the playoffs, Payton and his team have almost no room for error. The next two meetings will be crucial for them. With Cleveland and Houston, Denver will know what the end of its season will be like. Sean Payton is aware of this and will have to dominate Stefanski this weekend.
The stat: 19
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) – Buffalo Bills (6-5)
This season, the Eagles are almost unbeatable. In 10 meetings, they only fell once. The teams who want to bring them down must therefore take inspiration from this unique defeat against the Jets to hope to reproduce the feat. And when we look a little closer at the reasons for this setback against New York in week 6, we see that turnovers had greatly slowed down the Eagles. Philadelphia had lost 4 balls, including 3 interceptions and a fumbleand had only registered 14 pointshis lowest total of the season.
This is when this figure 19 comes into play. The Bills have one of the most turnover-causing defenses in the NFL with 19. Only the Jaguars do better with 20. Buffalo therefore has the weapons to make life difficult for an offensive squad. This will be imperative in Pennsylvania. On the other side of the field, turnovers will also be crucial. We know that Josh Allen has difficulty being consistent in his protection of the ball. If his defense does the job, he won’t have to ruin everything by throwing interceptions for example.
The player: Jonathan Taylor
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts (5-5) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
In Indianapolis, hope is still there. The Colts are in fact only one game away from the Wild Card places. To continue to hope, they must gather the encounters that seem to be within their reach. This is the case for this Sunday’s meeting. Tampa Bay is not an easy team to maneuver around, but the Colts have the weapons. Starting with Jonathan Taylor. The running back is the key to this team’s progress. He is the player who must take charge of this attack. Absent at the start of the season, the rider has been back for 6 matches, except that for the moment, he has still not exceeded the 100 yards. His best performance came against the Saints on October 29 with 95 cumulative yards.
Against the Patriots, before the bye week, he played his game with the most carries of the season (23). Shane Steichen starts feeding him more and more and the bar 100 yards could fall quickly. The question will be whether he can do it against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has one of the best rushing defenses in the league. Floridians only allow 90 yards per meeting with opposing riders (5th in NFL). Pass the 100 yards on Sunday would give a real advantage to his team and announce the return to strength/form of the rider.
Coach: Brandon Staley
Kick-off during the night from Sunday to Monday 2:20 a.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) – Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
Is Brandon Staley experiencing his final moments as Chargers coach? The question is legitimate given the dynamics of Los Angeles. The Californians are not progressing this season and remain on 2 consecutive defeats. Above all, it seems that the workforce is not progressing. For his third season at the head of this team, the pressure is felt. For this Monday Night Football, all eyes will be on the Head Coach and his team which has no room for error.
Problem is, they host one of the most complete teams in the conference. Despite a small hiccup two weeks ago against Cleveland, the Ravens remain very dangerous. They are currently on a five-game streak with 30 points scored or more. The Los Angeles defense is going to have work to do. Especially as we know, for several seasons, the ground game has been a big weak point of this defensive squad. Since the start of the season, they have done better than holding their own with only 102 yards conceded per game (12th), but this Sunday will be a real test. Facing them will quite simply be the best team in the league in this area. (155.1 yards gained on the ground per game). An immense challenge which could decide the rest of Staley’s adventure.
View of the draft
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New York Giants (3-8) – New England Patriots (2-8)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Tennessee Titans (3-7) – Carolina Panthers (1-9)
In an NFL that is still so tight, many franchises are still thinking about the playoffs. Others, however, are already focused on the draft. Two matches this week pit teams from the bottom of the table against each other. First in New York, where the Giants welcome the Patriots. The two teams are having a very complicated season with a relatively solid defense and an apathetic offensive squad. On the New England side, we still do not know who the quarterback will be. At the same time, rookie quarterback duel in Tennesse with Will Levis against Bryce Young. The goal of the Titans and Panthers will be to improve their pitcher, regardless of the result.
The (other) division duels
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6) – New Orleans Saints (5-5)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) – Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) – Match broadcast for free on 6Play
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals (2-9) – Los Angeles Rams (4-6)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) – Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
Kick-off on the night of Monday to Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Minnesota Vikings (6-5) – Chicago Bears (3-8)
This Thanksgiving, we stay family with the NFL. The big league is indeed offering us a lot of matches between teams from the same division this week. In AFC, the North and the West will be in the spotlight. To 19hCincinnati hosts the Steelers (live on 6Play). Both teams will have to adapt to the changes of the week. For the Bengals, it’s the absence of Joe Burrow until the end of the season, while on the Pittsburgh side, Matt Canada, the offensive coordinator, was fired and this attack must enter a new era. In the second part of the evening, the Chiefs will have to recover from their defeat on Monday Night Football against a Las Vegas team which has just fallen for the first time since Antonio Pierce took over.
In the NFC, the match with the most at stake will certainly be in the South. The Falcons host the Saints who are still within shooting range. Atlanta is just one game behind today’s opponent and hopes to regain control of the division with a victory. In the West, Cardinals and Rams meet again after their first leg match in week 6. Los Angeles had won, but Kyler Murray was still injured. This time, the quarterback will be there and Arizona hopes to see a different result. Finally, Monday Night Football offers us a duel in the North between Minnesota and Chicago. The Vikings are still in the race for the playoffs and must avoid a trap match against Justin Fields who was very good in his return. They could also take advantage of the defeat of the Lions to get a little closer to the head of this NFC North.
All posters
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6) – New Orleans Saints (5-5)
Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) – Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) – Match broadcast for free on 6Play
Houston Texans (6-4) – Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
Indianapolis Colts (5-5) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
New York Giants (3-8) – New England Patriots (2-8)
Tennessee Titans (3-7) – Carolina Panthers (1-9)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals (2-9) – Los Angeles Rams (4-6)
Denver Broncos (5-5) – Cleveland Browns (7-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) – Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) – Buffalo Bills (6-5)
Kick-off during the night from Sunday to Monday 2:20 a.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) – Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
Kick-off on the night of Monday to Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Minnesota Vikings (6-5) – Chicago Bears (3-8)
