We have now reached the week of Thanksgiving which suggests it’s the greatest time of the yr.
Meals is everywhere, we might be seeing household and the soccer is beginning to actually warmth up. This previous Sunday’s early slate seemed bleak and meager on paper, however it delivered with all types of chaos, enjoyable and anarchy.
With all the mud settled the time has now come for us, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, to place it by way of the lens of The Skinny Put up and supply our most essential takes, ideas and aggressive concepts.
Let’s start.
The place are the Philadelphia Eagles among the many greatest groups within the NFL?
RJ:
I’ve been apprehensive to purchase all the way in which in on the Detroit Lions from the second that folks began to behave like they had been the primary particular person to say that they had been good. Greater than something it was this precise factor that drove me away. Possibly I’m a hipster.
Regardless of the case I simply don’t know that I can say that I might decide Detroit, as wonderful as they give the impression of being, in a hypothetical recreation towards the Philadelphia Eagles. It pains me tremendously to confess, however Philly is a freaking machine. They’re relentless and appear extra sustainable than any of the earlier variations of themselves and clearly Saquon Barkley is the explanation why. With San Francisco flailing and the remainder of the convention normally disarray (I suppose you’ll be able to toss the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings within the dialog) I can’t decide towards Philly within the NFC.
Fortunately they play the Baltimore Ravens subsequent week which is able to allow us to see how they stack up towards one of many AFC’s greatest.
Michael:
I’m going to be the hipster to your opinion and say that I disagree in regards to the Eagles. They’re a superb group, however to go so far as saying they’re the highest group within the NFL, I don’t suppose so.
Philadelphia has a 9-2 report however solely two of their wins have come from beating one other group with a profitable report. Additionally, these video games had been nonetheless simply one-score selections. On high of that, I don’t like the way in which they ended up beating among the lowly squads on their schedule both.
They beat the Jaguars by 5 factors. The Lions beat that very same group by over 5 TOUCHDOWNS. Let’s add in a four-point win over the Browns and a three-point win over the Saints whereas we’re at it. The report appears to be like good, however I’d solely go so far as saying the Eagles are in the identical tier because the Vikings. They’ve gained shut video games over unhealthy groups and have one or two good wins on the yr out of their 9 victories this season, however they nonetheless have a toe dipped into the “fraud watch” pond and that retains them a step behind a group just like the Lions.
Will Antonio Pierce be one and achieved following his first full season as head coach of the Raiders?
Michael:
The Raiders head coach place has lengthy been a spot the place hopes go to die, just like the Jets, Commanders (earlier than this season), and Bears lately. Antonio Pierce received the vote of confidence from his gamers for the job he did to complete the yr because the interim head coach however issues have seemingly solely modified for the more severe this season.
As an alternative of drafting a quarterback for the longer term early on this yr’s draft, the Raiders went with tight finish Brock Bowers. Bowers has been unimaginable as a rookie as he presently leads ALL rookies in receiving yards. Nevertheless, that hasn’t translated into wins with the Raiders sitting with solely 2 hashes within the win column.
Oh, and the group traded away receiver Davante Adams which actually could as properly have been the nail within the coffin for any form of aggressive viability this yr.
So I ask: Is that this going to be Pierce’s solely yr as head coach of the Raiders? A part of me says no as I don’t actually perceive how you can fireplace a head coach after making transfer after transfer that confirmed you probably did NOT plan to compete in 2024, however we’ve additionally seen loads of examples of one-and-done coaches unfairly blamed for the group’s struggles.
My mind says it will not make sense to maneuver on after the season, however my intestine says in any other case.
RJ:
Personally talking, I put lots of inventory into what gamers need with issues like how the Raiders needed to carry Pierce again. It’s logical to take their phrase as one thing very critical.
Whereas that’s the case, gamers can even, like all of us, change into emotionally compromised. Bear in mind when the Indianapolis Colts petitioned to carry Chuck Pagano again and received their want and it was all horrible? This form of looks like that.
Clearly the Shedeur and Deion Sanders mixture is one to observe right here so I believe lots of the reply depends upon the supply of various candidates. To get private once more although, I’m not certain how one can really feel like something Antonio Pierce is doing is understanding and as an Arizona State Solar Satan, he helped flip this system into an enormous mess when he was concerned… just for it to thrive after he departed and correct management joined.
I believe that I believe it might be one and achieved.
Are the Dolphins making their method again into the AFC playoff image?
RJ:
Just a few weeks again I began the dialog round right here that Mike McDaniel was form of skating by, void of any actual criticism. I stand by that, for what it’s price.
Possibly Mike heard that. Or possibly the Dolphins began taking part in some lower-quality groups. Both method, Miami has gained three video games in a row towards the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots to get to 5-6 on the season. Fortunately for all of us they may go to Lambeau Subject on Thanksgiving evening which is able to permit us to take a seat again and decide with full bellies.
I’m going to say that I’m nonetheless unwilling to behave like Miami is a legit contender, by the way in which. Speak to me on Black Friday if and once they win in skilled soccer’s holiest cathedral.
Michael:
Yeah I’m not offered on the Dolphins as something aside from a middling group that’s presently on the upwards trajectory of their 2024 curler coaster in anticipation of the inevitable drop that tends to comply with.
In my eyes, all McDaniel has achieved in latest weeks is beat bad-to-decent groups whereas nonetheless possessing among the finest offenses within the NFL on paper. If something, these wins solely stopped him from feeling the temperature of his seat improve versus solidifying his standing as an ideal coach.
This was a extremely cool play, although!
Which group presently with a dropping report do you suppose has one of the best likelihood of creating the playoffs this yr?
Michael:
I can’t assist however suppose the Buccaneers are primed to complete this season sturdy with a very easy remaining schedule.
They’re presently 5-6 and coming off a dominant 30-7 win over the Giants behind the return of vast receiver Mike Evans. By the following six video games, they face the Raiders, Chargers, Saints, Cowboys, and Panthers twice. There’s a respectable likelihood they may win all six with an upset over the Chargers on the street however I’d say going 5-1 could be very practical. That may imply they’d end with a 10-7 report and in first place of the NFC South.
The Falcons presently lead the division however with video games towards the Chargers, Vikings, and Commanders left, I believe they falter simply sufficient to let the Bucs leapfrog them on the high.
Baker Mayfield is taking part in among the greatest ball of his profession in Tampa Bay and I wouldn’t need to be the one to guess towards him down the stretch.
RJ:
It is crucial for individuals who don’t know to be educated… Michael appears to be like A LOT like Baker Mayfield so I might supply that he’s a bit biased right here. However shifting on.
I just like the Bucs as a solution however need to throw out the Indianapolis Colts, as properly. Since 2008, we now have seen 5 groups who had been 4-7 (or worse) by way of 11 video games go on to succeed in the playoffs. All of them had one factor in frequent in that they every gained a subpar division. It won’t shock you to study/do not forget that the Buccaneers had been a type of 5… final yr.
In that spirit… inform me that the Colts can’t catch the Houston Texans. Indy is 5-7 for the time being the place Houston is 7-5, however it feels just like the Texans are taking up critical water within Fraud Watch Pond. The Colts go to New England this week earlier than occurring their bye, however after that they’ve video games towards the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. Counting the Patriots we could possibly be speaking about 5 wins right here.