12 weeks were enough for a team to be in a position to secure a playoff berth.
Naturally we are talking about the Philadelphia Eagles, the first team to reach 10 wins in the season.
After miraculously escaping a loss against the Bills, the Eagles are already in the postseason scenario.
A victory on Sunday against the 49ers, combined with a loss or tie for the Rams (vs. Browns), will give Philadelphia a trip to the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
It is not the only combination for coach Nick Sirianni’s team, but the win or draw with San Francisco are mandatory elements.
PHI victoria + DET defeat + GB defeats drawPHI draw + LAR defeats + GB defeats draw + ATL defeats drawPHI draw + LAR defeats + GB defeats draw + NO defeats draw
The 2023 season of the National Football League has entered adulthood. When the game between Carolina and Dallas is over, there will be no more November football. Two-thirds of the campaign is history and the places on the postseason map will become a race towards the promised gift.
From now on hundreds of letters will be written to Santa Claus asking for almost impossible wishes to dawn under the Christmas tree. The spirit of the season has been awakened.
And Christmas miracles happen after all: In 17 of the last 19 seasons (2004-22), a team with a losing record in 11 games made the postseason, including each of the last five years.
Not long ago, to be precise, in 2022, the Jaguars reached this point in the season with a 4-7 record. Soaking up the Florida sun like it was their own Popeye’s spinach, they bounced back to win their division, a playoff game and come within one touchdown of advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
This year, four teams enter Week 13 with 5-6 records.
So far the biggest redemption has been the Denvers Broncos, who after starting the campaign 0-3 including a loss where they received 70 points from the Dolphins, have a 6-5 record.
Since 1990, only four teams have made the playoffs after opening 0-3, and only one, the 2018 Houston Texans, has done so in the last 24 seasons.
This week six teams are byes (Ravens, Bills, Bears, Raiders, Vikings and Giants), along with that, in the NFC, eight clubs have at least eight wins through Week 12. That’s tied. with 2020, 2019 and 2003 for the most such clubs during the first 12 weeks of a season since 2002, when the league expanded to 32 teams.
It is a special weekend since there will be five games between teams that starred in a Super Bowls or Conference Finals.
So get ready because December football has arrived and will bring several gifts under its arm. Who will they be for?
Game of the week
49ers en Eagles:
On January 29, late at night in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts took the microphone in the middle of the NFC championship celebrations and said “new times and new moments are coming for our city.”
Hurts was ecstatic about the trip to Super Bowl LVII that the Eagles just achieved by crushing the 49ers 31-7.
On the other side, aligned with the disaster were the San Francisco players with one thing in mind: What would have happened if rookie Brock Purdy had not been injured?
That question could be answered Sunday afternoon when both teams meet at Lincoln Financial.
MAYBE YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: The NFL on Thanksgiving is more watched than ever
The Eagles arrive as we read a while ago after achieving a dramatic victory against the Bills and with options to secure their place in the postseason. They have nine games in a row without losing at home and that statistic is gaining weight on their rivals.
However, teams that have lost their conference championship games have bounced back in subsequent seasons to win five of the last 11 Super Bowls.
The 49ers arrive in that position, but above all with revenge in mind.
The 49ers and Eagles own the two highest conference winning percentages in the NFC, a key tiebreaker in playoff seeding. Philadelphia is 6-0 in NFC games, while San Francisco is 6-1. Philadelphia is 10-1 for the second consecutive season, becoming the fourth team in NFL history to win at minus 10 of their first 11 games in consecutive years. The Eagles are 5-0 in 2023 when trailing at halftime, including each of their last four wins. The rest of the NFL is a combined 35-129 (.213) in those games.
Among the cons that the Eagles have is fatigue. Philadelphia worked for 92 plays to achieve victory over the Bills. Obviously, fatigue will be an issue against a 49ers team that enjoyed a comfortable three-day rest and recovery weekend after Thursday’s game. Also of note will be Philadelphia’s injury woes: right tackle Lane Johnson and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox have groin ailments.
San Francisco is 8-0 with wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tackle Trent Williams in its lineup.
San Francisco is 8-0 with wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tackle Trent Williams in its lineup. The 49ers are not only among the most explosive teams in the NFL, but they are also experts at preventing explosive plays. On offense, San Francisco has 54 plays of more than 20 yards, fifth in the league. On defense, the 49ers have allowed just 31 plays of more than 20 yards, tied with Kansas City for fewest in the league. Last week, Christian McCaffrey became the first player in 48 years and just the fifth overall to reach 10 rushing touchdowns and five touchdown receptions in his team’s first 11 games of a season.
49ers 24-21 Eagles
Sure pick
Seahawks en Cowboys (-9):
After an explosion in the fourth quarter last Thanksgiving, the Cowboys are riding at full gallop in their race to reach the playoffs.
The Cowboys currently occupy the first wild card spot in the conference, while Seattle is two games back but clinging to the final playoff spot. Both teams played on Thanksgiving, but ended up on different sides. The Boys lined up for the win and the Seahawks for the loser.
Seattle has lost three of its last four games, including the last two against NFC West opponents.
Geno Smith ranks 15th in the NFL in total passing yards and averages 234.9 yards per game through the air. He has a 12-8 TD-INT ratio this season. Seahawks 17-30 Cowboys
Upset
Colts (-2) en Titans:
One of the few divisional games of the week sets up a challenge for both teams
Tennessee running back Derrick Henti has six rushing touchdowns this season and became the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with at least five in each of the first eight seasons of his career.
The Colts, who recorded six sacks in last week’s win, are 5-0 this year in games with four or more sacks.
Tennessee is 4-0 at Nissan Stadium in 2023. Colts 17-20 Titans
Two minute drill
Chargers (-6) en Patriots:
Bill Belichick, the winningest coach in the Super Bowl era, had never coached a team as bad as the current Patriots. God gives, God takes away. The Monk will need to pray to another saint to achieve victory over the Chargers, a team that is also heartless. It will be a game to pay penances. Chargers 20-14 Patriots
Lions (-4) in Saints:
Every time the Lions find themselves in a position to stand out historically or send a message of authority to the league, they shoot themselves in the foot. The Lions carry a strong negative karma, but in New Orleans they will have their Mardi Gras. Lions 28-20 Saints
Falcons (-3) in Jets:
In New York they are hoping to have Aaron Rodgers back as quarterback. Rodgers should think 10 times before making that decision. The Jets’ offensive line has more holes in it than the socks we have in the back of our drawers. Falcons 24-10 Jets
Cardinals en Steelers (-5.5):
Mike Tomlin is full of critics inside and outside of Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin is also full of victories and the ability to always make his team fight for playoff spots. The visit of the Cardinals will not be a simple procedure as one might believe. Cardinals 14-17 Steelers
Dolphins (-9.5) en Commanders:
Tyreek Hill exaggerated when he said that the current Dolphins are better than the 2019 Chiefs. But he did not exaggerate when predicting another victory against. to a team that wobbles more than a drunk just out of the canteen. Dolphins 28-14 Commanders
Broncos a Texans (-3.5):
The Broncos have had a transformation as amazing as when a popular neighborhood is going to receive a visit from a President. His internal problems ended overnight. They look clean and orderly, however the 12 bells are yet to come in this Cinderella story. Broncos 20-24 Texans
Panthers en Buccaneers (-5.5):
Chris Tabor? Well, the Panthers have made another bad decision by firing Frank Reich as head coach and putting in a special teams coordinator. Panthers 10-20 Bucs
Browns en Rams (-3.5):
The Los Angeles Rams are starting to gain momentum and will try to keep it at home against an ambiguous Cleveland team. Browns 14-17 Rams
Chiefs (-6.5)en Packers:
This could be considered another sure pick. Patrick Mahomes will have another afternoon to add to his statistics. Chiefs 30-17 Packers
Bengals at Jaguars (-8):
A fight between two felines, however the story will not unfold as planned because the Bengals have run out of claws. Bengals 14-21 Jaguars
2023-11-29 19:09:22
#picks #Week #NFL #arrived
