ESPN Digital23 de nov, 2023, 21:32 ETLectura: 9 min.
Is Tom Brady right when he claims that the current level of the NFL is mediocre? Will the Broncos’ reaction take them to the Playoffs? ESPN Deportes experts analyze these and other topics and give their picks for Week 12.
Thanksgiving Day has arrived and with it, Week 12 in which we turn the corner that puts the final stretch of the NFL regular season in sight.
This panorama also implies that several teams begin to feel the obligation to win their respective games, such as the Buffalo Bills in their visit to the Philadelphia Eagles, the unexpected duel at this point in the campaign for the leadership of the AFC South between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in the Playoff zone, arrive at Week 12 after the dismissal of their offensive coordinator and with a system of two coaches in charge of giving more vitality to their attack and they will do so against the Cincinnati Bengals who have a new starting quarterback after Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury.
Each game begins to be more important week by week, as well as the picks in a close race among ESPN Deportes experts, who also express their opinions on relevant topics around the NFL.
DO YOU AGREE WITH TOM BRADY’S STATEMENT ABOUT THE MEDIOCRITY OF THE NFL TODAY?
IVIS ABORTO / X: @IvisAburto
Totally agree. The problem is not new, but the fact that it is said by the man considered by many to be the best quarterback in the history of the NFL puts the issue on everyone’s lips.
Tom Brady pointed out that the NFL currently has a mediocre level due to bad habits that have been acquired since the preseason, such as the poor tackling techniques of the defenders.Getty Images/Ian Maule
Brady mentioned bad habits that are acquired in training and reproduced in games and that has to do with the fact that the NFL and the players’ union, a little more than two decades ago, began to limit practice sessions and training with equipped players in the offseason and that limits the work of the coaches to reinforce and refine offensive techniques, such as the development of quarterbacks, and on defense, tackling, which becomes evident when defenders worry more about hitting the ball to cause a loose ball or to the player carrying it than to stop it, which translates into two, three or even five more yards for the attack.
In general, the level in the NFL in 2023 has been lower than in previous seasons, but the decline in the quality of the product has been notable for many years and has a lot to do with the changes in the rules that have made it practically untouchable to quarterbacks and receivers, something Brady also benefited from.
SEBASTIÁN M. CHRISTENSEN / X: @SebasMCESPN
There is some truth in his statements. On the one hand, we never had so much athletic ability and for many players in the past, it would be impossible to play today, but, at the same time, sometimes quarterback protection is overdone – curiously, Brady was a standard bearer in this trend – and there are not enough of them. level pins.
An aspect of the game that, I think, made most of us fall in love with this sport, is the physical part and although I understand that the priority must be the health of the players, I also understand those who think that the sport is not the same, without However, the reality is that times have changed, as have the interests of youth, and the NFL, which is the queen of ratings, has decided to change with them.
ALFONSO MANCILLA / X: @poncho_mancilla
At forty-something, Mr. Tom Barbie, sorry, Brady, already began to be a victim of what in Mexico we call chochear.
It cannot be denied that the league made some questionable decisions in the choice of some of the matches in prime time and that would make one think that the level of competition is bad, but the season has been rich in providing games with close endings and even emotional, with stories that will transcend, such as that of quarterback CJ Stroud leading the Houston Texans and the now surprising Detroit Lions.
In short, perhaps what Brady finds difficult to accept is that the league survives and that it will survive his retirement.
CARLOS NAVA / X: @TapaNava
Tom Brady exaggerated. True, many college programs have had to change due to the new NCAA rules regarding transfers, among other things, but it does not mean that they stop producing and developing good talent for the NFL.
Brady is also partly right about the rules that are slowly taking away the essence of the football that is played today.
WHICH TEAM WITH A 7-3 RECORD IS THE MOST RELIABLE IN THE AFC?
I went: According to expectations, the Kansas City Chiefs, although, in reality, the four teams with that record heading into Week 12 have shown irregularity at various times during the campaign.
The Chiefs were expected to be in the fight for the first seed in the AFC, but not in the way in which they have remained in it, with an inconsistent Patrick Mahomes in command of an inconsistent offense and a defense that is mainly responsible for their victories.
Kansas City, however, is where it should be, but if we talk about what happened in the previous weeks, the answer could be the Miami Dolphins, who have taken advantage of the circumstances (in particular, Aaron Rodgers’ injury with the New York Jets and the irregular pace of the Buffalo Bills) to put themselves in position to win the AFC East.
SEBASTIÁN: Although they technically have an 8-3 record and one more game than the rest, I’m going to lean towards the Baltimore Ravens. While it may not be the team with the highest ceiling, it has been the most consistent this season.
Baltimore has the best defense in the NFL and Lamar Jackson is a differential talent at the most important position. Add to that the AFC North going through the winds of change (Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson out for the year and offensive coordinator Matt Canada recently fired), and the Ravens have to be considered the most reliable team right now.
ALFONSO: The Chiefs. I bet what’s left of my hair that the offense will wake up during December to finally support the good work their defense has done.
Despite their offensive inconsistency, the Chiefs look like candidates to win the AFC after doing so in three of the last four seasons.Getty Images/Justin Tafoya
As if that were not enough, with the dominance they have had over their divisional rivals, it is almost a fact that they will have a new AFC West title and they will only have to wait for the seeding with which they will end up with respect to Baltimore and Miami, who look like the two other heavyweights.
CARLOS: Kansas City is the most reliable team. They lost on Monday night against a very good team, which, by the way, they dominated by up to 10 points in the first half. Furthermore, this is the Chiefs team that has had the best defense in recent years.
It’s hard to count out the team that has made the AFC its kingdom.
HOW WILL THE FIRING OF MATT CANADA IMPACT THE STEELERS OFFENSE?
I went: The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has been so bad, any improvement will be noticeable.
It will be necessary to consider that the Steelers no longer have time to make radical changes in the offensive system that Canada implemented, but the work that Eddie Faulkner will now share as the new coordinator and Mike Sullivan as the one who will decide what plays to execute will be noted with a more vertical performance that It allows quarterback Kenny Pickett to make use of play action and look more to his receivers, particularly George Pickens, who is averaging just three receptions per game in 2023.
Additionally, Canada’s departure also puts Pickett in the position of proving that the problem was on the bench and not on the field.
SEBASTIÁN: Honestly, Canada should have been fired a long time ago, because Pittsburgh’s offense is maddeningly conservative and inept. The Steelers franchise is not used to changes, much less in the middle of the season, but this modification was necessary.
With the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Steelers could get more out of the connection between quarterback Kenny Pickett (left) and receiver George Pickens (right).Getty Images/Joe Sargent
Now, Canada was far from the only problem and with each passing game, I have less confidence in quarterback Kenny Pickett. We’ll see if the coordinator change alters how the offense works, because if not, Pickett’s time could start to run out.
ALFONSO: It will have a positive impact due to the mere fact that only the Jets have a worse offense than the Steelers.
The core point will be to work on the development of quarterback Kenny Pickett, which Canada did not achieve and it is expected that the new person in charge of calling the plays on offense, Mike Sullivan, will do so.
It’s not that Pittsburgh will suddenly achieve what Miami does, but, at least, it should give them hope of raising support for a defense that has shown its face.
CARLOS: Difficult to anticipate, because this Steelers offense, led by Kenny Pickett, has never been seen without coordinator Matt Canada.
Even more complicated if you consider that the traditional tasks of offensive coordination will be alternated between several assistants without experience in that position.
At the end of the day it’s about execution on game day.
WHICH TEAM CURRENTLY OUT OF THE PLAYOFF PICTURE WILL EARN A TICKET TO THE POSTSEASON?
I went: Las Vegas Raiders. Yes, they have two games left against the Chiefs, but given the way they have responded to their change of coach and Kansas City’s irregularity on offense, it is not unreasonable to think that those in black and silver could win one of those games .
If so, the rest of their schedule suggests that the Raiders could finish with nine or 10 wins and in an AFC as tight as in 2023, that could be enough to get into the Playoffs.
SEBASTIÁN: The Bills. Just another team that changed the offensive coordinator and it paid off, at least initially. Joe Brady arrived after the firing of Ken Dorsey and although the sample is small, the offense showed signs of improvement.
The idea is to protect Josh Allen from himself. How do you do it? With more balance on offense and Brady gave more volume of carries to James Cook, who can be a great runner in this league. At the same time, much more “motion” was noticed, that is, pre-snap movements and more creativity.
The Bills have too much talent not to be in the Playoffs.
ALFONSO: With four consecutive wins and a Russell Wilson who seems like he is now going to pay off his mega salary, the Denver Broncos seem like an interesting bet to get a last-minute postseason ticket.
Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson (right) have revived the Broncos with the performance expected of them before the 2023 season.Getty Images/Dustin Bradford
It’s amazing how quickly things change in the NFL. Two months ago, Sean Payton was talked about as one of the great disasters of the season and now he is given the benefit of the doubt given the improvement that his team has shown.
CARLOS: The Broncos have a less complicated path than the Bills, the other team that I would think should be in the Playoffs and that at the start of Week 12 is out of the picture.
Denver is on the rise on both sides of the ball, has won four straight and the rest of its schedule is much less complicated than Buffalo’s.
2023-11-24 02:32:00
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