Lady Speaks: My Top 5 Winners & Losers From Week 14

Funny how one specific thing that was on my loser side from Week 12 jumped on the other side this week with a jaw-dropping performance. The teams that lost this week due to small mistakes can’t afford to lose anymore if they plan to make or stay in the playoffs. On the bright side, three players went over 200 yards this week. You know what that means. All three will be on the list – but where?

Winners

5.Lamar Jackson

Although the Ravens lost, they lost in overtime to the Chiefs – favorites to make it to the Super Bowl this year. Ravens were on a 3-game losing streak before Lamar Jackson took over and won every game until now. It’s already been said that Jackson will be starting quarterback Sunday against the Buccaneers and supposedly, Joe Flacco isn’t too happy.

According to reports, Flacco is “disappointed” that he’s a backup. He will more than likely stay a backup if Jackson continues to performing the way he is. Since starting, he has 600 passing yards, 336 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

4.George Kittle

First 200+ yard game of the season and against a Broncos defense and without Jimmy Garapollo. We’re not expecting the Niners to make a playoff run but at least the effort is there and not an obvious tank. Off of 7 passes from Nick Mullens, the tight end gained 210 yards and a touchdown. Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said about Kittle’s performance, “We were very surprised. We didn’t play well in the first half. Obviously, defensively we gave (George) Kittle way too many opportunities. He had 210 yards in the first half which is unacceptable.”

3.Derrick Henry

In Week 12, I stated that Henry wasn’t getting enough touches and/or coach didn’t know what to do with the former Heisman winner. Then, Thursday night came and Henry magically gets 17 carries and what do you know, he gets 238 yards and 4 touchdowns just like that against the best defense (once upon a time), the Jacksonville Jaguars. Henry had more rushing yards and touchdown than Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota had throwing the ball (162). Maybe after this game, Mike Vrabel will write up some more running plays.

2.Bears Defense

Mitch Trubisky didn’t have a great game but the Bears defense showed up and stopped the LA Rams to six points. The LA Rams offense are top 8 in everything! Total yards (3rd), passing yards (5th), rushing yards (5th), points (3rd) and third down conversion (8th). They also kept MVP candidate Todd Gurley under 60 overall yards and zero touchdowns (his second scoreless game of the season). Besides shutting down Gurley, they made Jared Goff suffer with four interceptions and three sacks. Rams looked out of sync that they even let Jordan Howard get 101 yards, his first 100+ yard since December 10 2017. Still leading the NFC West with a 11-2 record, they have to figure out what was missing from this game because you cannot enter the playoffs with this type of game.

1.Amari Cooper

Eagles LB Kamu Grugier-Hill said the Cowboys would choke in their match up since that’s what they do in December. However, the Cowboys new addition is panning out for the Cowboys. Cooper score the game-winning touchdown after scoring two and gaining 217 yards against their NFC East rivals. Coincidentally, both former Raiders, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, are performing better and their new teams are winning ever since they were traded away.

He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, his second in three weeks

Losers.

5.Jameis Winston vs. Ryan Jensen

It’s never a good look when you argue with a teammate on the sideline. It’s even worse when you’re spot on the team is not promised and the guy you’re arguing with is the one who protects you the most.

Jameis Winston got into it with his center, Ryan Jensen, after he received penalties on the first-half drive. What’s wild is the Buccaneers were winning 14 to 3 when the spat happened. However after the verbal exchange, the Buccaneers fell off and lost to the New Orleans Saints who served them 25 unanswered points in the second half. Jensen settled the beef and said, “Me and Jameis are highly competitive guys, and we cleared the air and we’re good.”

4.Vikings

This team is probably the most on-and-off team in the league. When they’re hot, they’re hot. When they’re cold, it’s ice cold. The Vikings have lost their last two games, (Patriots, Seahawks) and I’ve realized their offensive weapons have simmered down. Adam Thielen, who was averaging 100+ yards a game, had 28 against the Patriots and 70 against the Seahawks. Stefon Diggs had 49 against the Patriots and 76 against the Seahawks. Dalvin Cook ran for 84 against the Patriots and 55 against the Seahawks. Overall, they’ve been held to under 300 total yards four times in the last five games. Right after the Seahawks loss, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo was fired.

Thielen addressed the firing, “The players have got to make the plays. It doesn’t matter what play is called, you have to run that play and you have to be successful on it. It just comes down to execution, all 11 players doing the right thing.’’

The 6-6-1 Viking are a far behind second in the NFC North but are barely holding on to the Wild Card spot. Their next two games may be easy (Dolphins, Lions) but the last game is against the top team in their division, the 9-4 Chicago Bears.

3.Panthers 5-game losing streak

Week 8, the Panthers were 6-2. Six weeks later, they’re 6-7 and now in the hunt to make playoffs. In the last five losses, only two of the teams are in the playoffs (Steelers and Seahawks). Christian McCaffrey has been going off but Cam Newton’s decision making has been a concern. In the last two games, he has had five interception and two touchdowns.

In addition, their defense has been slacking. They still remain 7th in allowed rushing yards but Browns managed to get 116 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. “It’s been a tough few weeks for us to say the least. I want to apologize to all of our true fans. For all of you that feel like I’m the problem “to old, to slow, lost a step, cant cover, I’ve heard it all. I’ll take full responsibility for it all!” Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.

2. Slipping on Game-tying FG

Ben Roethlisberger did all that he could do after suffering a rib injury. HE returned and threw a 48-yard hook-and-lateral pass and got Chris Boswell in field goal range to tie to the game. Should be a easy 40-yarder for the vet but his cleats said otherwise.