2017 NFL Week 13: Quick Takeaways From Every Game
By Erik Lambert
Broncos defense found the Way Back Machine
The Jets offense has really played well the past month. Most expected them to do more of the same in Denver, especially given how the Broncos have played all year. It didn’t go as planned. Josh McCown was lost to a broken hand and Denver found some of their old magic from years past, suffocating New York the entire afternoon for their first shutout in a long time.
Nobody wants to play the Chargers in January
People will talk about the Patriots, Eagles, Rams or Steelers going into the playoffs. However, the one team that none of them or anybody else wants to see get in right now are the Los Angeles Chargers. After a terrible start to the year, there isn’t a hotter team in the league. They’ve won four-straight including blowouts of Buffalo, Dallas and now Washington. Everything is clicking.
Jacksonville got their signature win
All year long critics have felt happy for the Jacksonville Jaguars and their turnaround but never took the final step of seeing them as serious contenders. That may have changed. Hosting a Seahawks team loaded with playoff experience and coming off a huge win over Philadelphia, the Jaguars pounced on them offensively and defensively for a statement 30-24 statement win.
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Philadelphia won the battle but may have lost the war
The Eagles recovered in time to get back on track with a victory over the pesky Rams in a 43-35 shootout. At the same time most in the locker room are getting a sour aftertaste from that win knowing that leader and star quarterback Carson Wentz may be done for the year with a knee injury. It could be an ACL but information remains sketchy. Either way, it’s bad.
Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are one of the greats
Every generation seems to have that great quarterback-wide receiver tandem. The one that carries its team to victory after victory and racks up ridiculous numbers. There can be no doubting that for this decade it is unquestionably Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Those two put on a clinic every week. Getting 213 yards in a must-win divisional game? That’s special.