Compared to last week, this week of the NFL was a lot of fun! Lots of good games like Bengals-Ravens, Steelers-Commanders, and Lions-Texans. But also, how can something be good without something being bad? We also had Eagles-Cowboys, Vikings-Jaguars, and the legendary Panthers-Giants. A lot of fun, but also a lot of buns! Let’s go over the aspects of both sides!
Scrubs: Falcons
Five minutes, Atlanta, can you not be yourself? FOR FIVE MINUTES!?! The Falcons have been dubs for the past two weeks to return to their old ways by losing to the now 3-7 Saints. Not only that, but they lost in the first game to Darren Rizzi as the Saint’s head coach. The man who clogged the toilet in the head coach’s bathroom right before the game! Could this be an overreaction? Possibly. Any given Sunday, after all. The Falcons could turn it around as they always do in the second half of anything. Ugh.
Dubs: Lions
If you’ve been following the Lions, specifically Jared Goff, this performance surprised you—not in a good way. Goff has yet to throw a pick since week three, hasn’t thrown a completion percentage of 50% or less since the wild card game versus the Seahawks from the 2020 season, and this is the most amount of interceptions thrown by Jared since the 2018 season when he threw four versus the Bears in a week 14 matchup. A team hasn’t won a game when a QB throws five interceptions since 2012. Is it more that the Lions won or the Texans lost? It’s probably the latter, but 19 unanswered points are worth noting after being down 23-7. Good job, Lions, but don’t you dare let us admit the Chiefs are the best team in the league.
Scrubs: Texans
The Texans are in trouble. They’ve lost three of the last four games after a 5-1 start. CJ Stroud has thrown two touchdowns and two interceptions in the previous four games. And it gets worse: The Texans have been outscored 15-60 in the second half. The good news is they face their Texas cousin in the Cowboys on Monday night. This game will be a “prove it” type of game. Do the Texans want to prove they’re a contender? Win this game, I beg of you.
Dubs: Eagles
The Eagles will only do a little in the playoffs, but a five-game winning streak is still noteworthy. Even though the last five games have been against teams with a losing record, Jalen Hurts, and Saquon Barkley has been impressive in the previous five games—a 7:1 touchdown-interception ratio for Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley has 556 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the last five games. And a decisive victory against an NFC East rival in a beaten-up Cowboys squad.
Scrubs: Bears
I warned you last week, Bears, that this is a must-win game versus the Patriots. If it were a close game, I would have been more lenient. But NOPE! You lost 19-3 to the freaking New England Patriots! Do you want to know how bad it was? The Bears had more punting yards (335 yards) than total yards (142), Caleb Williams got sacked nine times, and their average yards per play is 2.4, which is not even enough for a first down on four plays! The Bears are bad! Good luck with Green Bay next week!
Dubs: Steelers
The Steelers got a gigantic win and proved they can hang with the big boys in a 28-27 win against the Commanders. There weren’t a bunch of big performances, but in terms of variety, the team put the Commanders down. And they won because of a game-winning…false start? Of all the ways the Steelers have won games, I’m half expecting the Steelers to beat the Ravens in overtime via safety next week. But either way, the Steelers get a good performance from George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, and Cam Heyward. Despite a game in which Warren fumbled at the one-yard line, James Pierre dropped a fake punt pass on the Steelers’ 16-yard line, and Russell Wilson threw his first interception, and only 50% of his passes were completed, the Steelers won and face their biggest challenge yet in an AFC North matchup versus the Ravens.
Next week is enormous: Ravens vs. Steelers, Chargers vs. Bengals, and Chiefs vs. Bills. Will these teams be on the dubs and scrubs next week?
