2023-12-25 04:31:00
Week 16 began with the resounding victory of the Los Angeles Rams over the New Orleans Saints and with which the Angelenos entered the Playoff zone and that was the first of several results that invite overreaction.
The Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions were added to the list of invitees to the Postseason by winning their respective games, while the Seattle Seahawks surpassed the Tennessee Titans to take, for the moment, the last postseason berth in the NFC .
In the AFC, on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills strengthened their tag as the team no one wants to see in January by beating the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Pittsburgh Steelers refuse to die and continue in the fight for that last postseason berth following beating the Cincinnati Bengals.
Let’s put several of Sunday’s results to trial.
JOE FLACCO AND THE CHARGE OFFENSE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BROWNS ADVANCING TO THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
The Cleveland Browns are back in the Playoffs following beating the Houston Texans and secured their ticket in style and in a way that few believed they might do, with an explosive passing game that seems to be an ideal complement to their good running attack.
Joe Flacco’s experience and leadership helped the Browns reach the Postseason. Getty Images/Richard Rodriguez
Joe Flacco completed 27 of 42 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper, but it was from the first play of the game that the veteran quarterback announced that he would give the Browns a postseason ticket with style with a 53-yard pass to Cooper to set up the first score for Cleveland, who from that moment on never looked back in the duel once morest the Texans.
Verdict: ES OVERREACTION
This is not a negative judgment but quite the opposite, because the only thing that can be concluded from Cleveland’s victory over the Texans is that the Browns’ passing game will be a good complement to their running attack and also to the defense led by Myles Garrett, who can play with the confidence of having an offense capable of managing the pace of the game or scoring quickly if required.
Editorial Selections
Flacco’s experience is valuable, but even more so is the leadership of the veteran quarterback, who has given the Browns offense a solid presence at the most important position, something that Deshaun Watson and PJ did not offer, and probably never will offer. Walker nor Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
THE BUCCANEERS WILL BE THE EXECUTIONERS OF THE COWBOYS IN THE WILD CARD ROUND
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers achieved their fourth victory following dominating the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game in which the defense, following Baker Mayfield shone in Week 15, raised its hand to show that it can be trusted by adding three sacks of quarterback and caused four turnovers, including two interceptions to Trevor Lawrence, and capitalized on two of them with touchdowns.
The Buccaneers defense was key in the victory over the Jaguars. AP Photo/Jason Behnken
While his defense did the dirty work, Mayfield turned in another efficient performance, completing 26 of 35 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns, both to Mike Evans.
Verdict: NO ES OVERREACTION
The Buccaneers are beginning to look like a team worthy of being a division champion, even if it is the NFC South, while Mayfield and the defense raise their level, at home or away.
Facing an efficient defense that causes turnovers and can physically dominate at home does not seem to be shaping up to be a good duel for the Cowboys who, if there is one thing they have suffered in 2023, is being dominated in the trenches when they leave Dallas, something that is very likely to happen if they finish with the fifth seed in the Playoffs.
THE DOLPHINS ARE RELIABLE TO BEAT ANYONE IN THE PLAYOFFS
The Miami Dolphins needed a victory to ensure their place in the Playoffs and they achieved it by beating the Dallas Cowboys with a defense that showed an aggressive face rarely seen in the current campaign, to the point of even being punished for unnecessary roughness once morest the passer. in actions that, as evidenced by the replays in the broadcast of the game, did not merit sanction.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins got their ticket to the Playoffs following beating the Cowboys. AP Photo/Rebeca Blackwell
In turn, Miami’s offense operated regularly, with an efficient Tua Tagovailoa completing at least one pass with nine receivers and finishing 24 of 37 for 293 yards and a touchdown pass.
Verdict: ES OVERREACTION
In the official record, the victory over the Cowboys will prove that the Dolphins learned to beat teams with a losing record, but, if we are honest, they beat a Cowboys who are weak when they play on the road and who, in addition, lost the opportunity to add At least, a field goal that would have been very useful at the end of the game following a fumble at the Miami 1-yard line that the Dolphins recovered and who, defensively, chose not to put more pressure on a Tua who operated with relative calm in the aerial game.
Beyond taking advantage of the circumstances to score an important victory, the Dolphins still have to show that they can beat a Playoff-caliber team at home or away.
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