These are the lessons learned in each of the games in the analysis of week 12 of the NFL Season 2020. NOTE: This post will be updated after the MNF game.
HOU 41, DET 25
1. The Lions already ran Matt Patricia, and believe me, they were late. This team never had a clear personality, and for me when a coach supposedly has a specialty, and that side of the ball never works, he is not someone who should take the reins of a complete team.
2. These Texans, when you give them the opportunity, take advantage of the best they know how to do very well: the long pass. Cooks and Fuller are two extremely talented receivers; If only they had more talent on defense, this team could compete.
WSH 41, DAL 16
3. Mike McCarthy is not a good coach today. This match was a defeat thanks in large part to training. MM made two critical decisions with depressing resolutions, like raffling it off in fourth and inches within his own 30 with a pass. Or make a false kick from his ground on fourth and 10. This coach’s case is sad; I don’t know if he deserves to remain Dallas head coach in 2021.
4. Speaking of the other side, what a good coach Ron Rivera is. His midseason team has a clear personality: playing solid defense and gradually developing a more imposing running game. He is clearly succeeding. What a good defense; it will undoubtedly be one of the best in the coming years, anchored by the defensive line.
ATL 43, LVR 6
5. The Raiders didn’t get to play Sunday. There is a clear problem with them: if they do not stay within one or two goals of the opponent, it is almost impossible for them to return. Their defense is so soft and lacking in a pass rush that they can’t stop the opposing offense enough to turn it around, least of all like the Falcons. The Raiders are a good team, but they’re clearly not perfect.
6. When the Falcons are connected, they are hard to stop. It’s worth pointing out that since Raheem Morris has been head coach, the defense has improved by leaps and bounds, and that the players clearly want him to stay ahead; they kill themselves for him on the court.
BUF 27, LAC 17
7. Buffalo’s defense improves every week, and that’s important for an aspiring team like the Bills, especially if they want to do something in January. They have to limit mistakes on offense first, because a lot of the points the Chargers scored were thanks to that.
8. When teams like these leave their bad headcoaches in command, they are making it clear to me that they prefer to lose to get a better pick. I don’t think there is tanking at the player level, but at the managerial level, there is no doubt that it exists. Players trust Lynn less and less week after week.
NYG 19, CIN 17
9. The Giants beat the Bengals in the yardage battle by nearly 200 yards, which tells us that, thanks to critical errors and luck on the part of Cincinnati, this game was even fought.
10. I know he has not had the circumstances in his favor, but Zac Taylor has done little well. The problem is more in terms of franchise, because it is difficult for a good coach to want to go to coach a team that has been mediocrity for decades.
TEN 45, IND 26
11. The Titans were in a good spot to win this game. Divisional game, rematch, and the Colts with their star lineman out, appealing to his strength, which is to run the ball. Either way, I still think they are a very well coached team.
12. So we can see that although he hasn’t had a great season, Jonathan Taylor does make a difference. His talent is vastly superior to that of Jordan Wilkins or even Nyheim Hines.
MIN 28, CAR 27
13. Very good game, and very even in the numbers, but it keeps Minnesota in the fight. There are some great rookie catchers in this class, but Justin Jefferson excels. He is an extremely complete receiver: fast, powerful, physically imposing and with good vision to find the holes in defense.
14. Mike Davis is a good running back. He could barely average 3.7 yards per carry in this game. The return of Christian McCaffrey is urgent.
NE 20, ARI 17
15. If there is one thing this Belichick team has, it is that they never give up. About four or five plays that would have had a different result for this team and will remain in the competition for NFC East.
16. It was noted that Kyler Murray’s shoulder was bothering him, because we clearly didn’t see the same player on the field. That’s the thing, if he can’t throw well, and keep improving, he can’t live off running for 100 yards every game. We’re already seeing it with Lamar Jackson.
Lessons learned from the NFL Week 12 review continued on the next page.
