$.01--There will be one win-or-go-home game in the final week. The 6-8-1 Carolina Panthers will visit the 6-9 Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title and a home playoff game. This comes thanks to Carolina winning its third game in a row, a 17-13 decision over the Cleveland Browns, while the Falcons blew out the faded Saints 30-14 to eliminate New Orleans and make this a race of just two lame horses.

Carolina can thank Cam Newton’s gritty performance. Less than two weeks after breaking some bones in his back in a car accident, Newton ran for 63 yards and a touchdown while also throwing for 201 yards and the game-clinching TD pass to Jonathan Stewart. Moreover, Newton exuded toughness and leadership against a game Browns defense. Cleveland’s secondary did a great job even without Joe Haden (hello Pierre Desir!), but between Stewart’s hard running and Newton’s smart passes, Carolina found just enough success.

That’s more than can be said for the Browns anemic offense. That’s becoming such a recurring theme I’m certain it cannot be described in any other way. Cleveland managed just 8 first downs. Only two of those came under Johnny Manziel, who left the game late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Brian Hoyer came in and had exactly one good play, finding an uncovered Jordan Cameron on the left side and allowing the big tight end to amble 81 yards for Cleveland’s only touchdown. That one play represented more than a third of their meager production on the day.

The Falcons had a much easier go of it. In sending the Saints to their fifth straight home loss, and perhaps sending New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton to the unemployment office, Atlanta created four turnovers and gained over 400 yards on offense. They padded the score a bit at the end on Atlanta’s fifth sack, where Osi Umenyiora took the ball from a weary Drew Brees and sauntered 86 yards for an exclamation point touchdown. Other than the opening kickoff, which Jalen Saunders took 99 yards to the ATL 1, the Saints really didn’t offer much of a fight.

Atlanta won the first matchup with Carolina 19-17 in Charlotte back in Week 11, which was the Panthers’ 5th loss in a row at that point. The Panthers are the hotter team right now, and I’m not sure how much home field will matter to a Falcons team that is 3-4 as the home team.

$.02--For the second week in a row the Dallas Cowboys showed heretofore unprecedented December gumption in the Tony Romo era. A few days after throttling Philadelphia to take over the NFC East lead, Romo and the Cowboys trounced the visiting Colts 42-7.

If this game were a Beastie Boys song, it would be Paul Revere; Dallas did it like this, they did it like that, they did it with a wiffle ball bat.  The three bad brothers you know so well--Romo, Dez Bryant and Demarco Murray--rode roughshod over the hapless Colts. Romo had one of the most efficient games in NFL history, completing 18 of his 20 passes for 218 yards and four TDs. Murray ran for just 58 yards but scored a touchdown and was clearly protecting his broken left hand. Bryant elevated way up to snare his TD grab, a 19-yarder at the end of the first quarter immediately following one of many Colts gaffes.

Normally I tend to be more critical than most of Andrew Luck, but the celebrated QB had no chance in this one. His offensive line couldn’t block. Without TY Hilton, his receivers couldn’t get open when or where Luck needed them to be. Luck got yanked after throwing for just 109 yards on 22 attempts, two of which wound up being caught by Cowboys too.

Luck also doesn’t play defense, though it’s hard to imagine he could have fared much worse than his Colts mates on that side of the ball. It’s rare to see a playoff team like Indy so thoroughly overpowered and overwhelmed physically by an opponent. Even though the Colts had nothing to play for, their effort was pathetic and inept. This is the third uninspiring effort from Indy in a row, after narrow wins over Cleveland and Houston. They finish at Tennessee in a game the Titans would be wise to lose, as it would secure the #2 overall pick in the draft and give them a shot at a franchise QB, so if the Colts can’t rise up and beat down arguably the worst team in the league, it’s hard to see them finding any success in the postseason. Then again, they’re currently 0-4 against teams that have already clinched playoff berths.

Dallas’ postseason fate is looking rosier. They will be the No. 3 seed in the NFC, hosting the loser of next week’s Detroit/Green Bay game. The Cowboys shook off one big knock by beating a good team at home on Sunday, and that’s something they can carry forward. Of course it all goes out the window if they wet the bed in Washington next week, and in year’s past that would be a predictable outcome. But this Cowboys team feels different. They might have finally turned the proverbial corner. 42-7 over Andrew Luck is no accident.

$.03--The Houston Texans kept their dim playoff flame flickering with a decisive 25-13 pounding of the visiting Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens entered Houston with a 9-5 record and their own playoff fires stoked, but the Texans snuffed them out even though they started a quarterback who was on the Rams practice squad last week.

Case Keenum didn’t do a lot for Houston, but he didn’t have to. Arian Foster threw (yes, threw) a touchdown to C.J. Fiedorowicz (take that spell-checker!) and Randy Bullock made his fantasy owners champions with six field goals. The Texans defense did the rest, and boy did they do a job on Joe Flacco and the Ravens ill-conceived offense.

 

Baltimore heated up a bit in the final stanza, but Joe Flacco finished with a putrid game. Here’s an example of where ESPN’s in-house QBR does a better job than the more traditional but equally mysterious QB Rating. ESPN issued Flacco a 3.2 on a scale of 1 to 100, while the math says Flacco rated a 41.7, a number inflated by a late garbage-time touchdown drive. He was Stone Sour’s Absolute Zero for much of the game, not the devil but in no way a hero.

Amazingly, at 8-7 Houston could still get into the playoffs. If they beat Jacksonville--and they’ll be favored at home--they only need two fairly realistic outcomes to make it. Kansas City would have to beat San Diego and Baltimore must lose to visiting Cleveland. It’s not wise to bet on the Browns but they kept the first meeting close, and Cleveland’s defense is not without teeth. Baltimore makes it with a win, a Kansas City win and a Houston loss.

$.04--The Seattle Seahawks ventured into Arizona with a chance to seize the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They stayed on course, blasting the injury-ravaged Cardinals 35-6.

It was not really that close. Seattle dominated the action, racking up just under 600 yards of total offense. Two missed field goals and a litany of penalties helped keep the scoring down far more than Arizona’s strong defense. Little-used TE Luke Willson went off for 139 yards and two TDs, while Doug Baldwin also topped the century mark in receiving yards. Russell Wilson was his typical fantastic self, including a nasty ankle-breaking TD run that left two Cardinals tilting at windmills. Marshawn Lynch broke several half-assed tacking attempts on a physical 79-yard TD run.

Seattle is the team to beat entering the playoffs. As if their defending champion status didn’t dictate that already, their play over the last month has clearly been the cream of the NFL crop. A win next week in St. Louis would secure home-field throughout the NFC playoffs. The way Seattle is playing now, and with their well-established home field advantage, that’s as safe of a Super Bowl pick at the onset of the playoffs as any I can recall since the undefeated Patriots.

Arizona, well, they’re lucky they already clinched that playoff berth. They’ve scored one offensive TD in December, unable to overcome injuries to the first and second string quarterbacks and running backs. Ryan Lindley handing off to Kerwynn Williams is a lot different than Carson Palmer giving the ball to Andre Ellington. This current combination might be the worst QB/RB duo in the league, and that’s saying something in a league where Charlie Whitehurst and Matt Asiata are starters. They appear destined to be the 5th seed, which means a road date at either Atlanta or Carolina. I’ll take the home team in either matchup despite what will be a losing record they carry into it.

$.05--Philip Rivers is not the most talented quarterback in the league. There might not be a tougher one, however, and that toughness helped keep San Diego’s playoff hopes alive on Saturday night.

Rivers led the Chargers back from a late 35-21 deficit. He did this behind a line ravaged by injuries, including losing Chris Watt and Johnnie Troutman in this game. He did this without top wideout Keenan Allen. And top running back Ryan Mathews. The quarterback himself played through rib and back injuries. Rivers simply would not let his team lose, even though two terrible INTs on his part (he threw three on the night) helped dig the Chargers’ hole.

In crunch time and the hurry-up, there might not be a better QB than Rivers even though he’s one of the least athletic guys in the league. His fourth-down pass to Eddie Royal was a perfect throw under tight coverage. He smartly bailed on a well-defended screen pass, saving several precious seconds. As the Niners continued to devolve and implode, Rivers kept the Chargers focused on the prize. Every poor San Francisco decision--and there were plenty by lame-duck Jim Harbaugh and his deflated team--was matched by San Diego brilliance. The Chargers fed off their fearless leader.

The net result is the second-biggest comeback this season, as the Chargers overcame a 31-7 deficit to secure the 38-35 overtime win. Now they sit at 9-6 and in control of their own playoff destiny. Rivers won’t win MVP and might not even get any 3rd place votes, but few players can will their teams to win like he did once again. Rivers is now 33-8 in December and January, the best record outside of Tom Brady when the games matter the most.

$.06--Just when you thought it was safe to throw manure on the dirt already on RG3’s grave in Washington, Mr. Griffin goes and leads his Ethnic Slurs to a stunning Saturday win over the rival Eagles. The win eliminated Philly from the playoffs just two weeks after they held the #2 seed and looked ready to cruise in January.

Now they’ll spend the playoffs wondering what the hell happened to their seemingly legitimate Super Bowl aspirations they held at Thanksgiving. A few things led to their demise, none more critical that their dire lack of playmaking talent in the back end of the Philly defense.

For all the hype about Chip Kelly and his frenetic offense, the Eagles defense continues to be the downfall. Then there’s the unintended consequence of going so quickly on offense: the Eagles defense will face the most opposing plays for the second year in a row. When that’s the weak point of the team, it behooves Kelly to understand his offensive scheme is unwittingly exacerbating the defensive weakness.

In this game the kicking sure didn’t help either, as Cody Parkey missed two midrange field goals, the second of which was comically wide right. Kelly’s Eagles also committed 13 penalties, six of which gave the Skins first downs. Washington needed some help to win a game and they got it, and I suspect they won’t apologize one iota. Nor should they. Playing the spoiler has to be a sweet way to salvage some dignity from a season marred by myriad breakdowns and controversies. 

$.07--Detroit knocked off Chicago at Soldier Field 20-14 hours after learning they clinched a playoff berth with Philly’s loss. The Lions played like a team with some buffer built in, and it nearly cost them.

Chicago was the better team for the first 52 minutes of the game. Jimmy Clausen acquitted himself pretty well in place of the demoted Jay Cutler, benefitting from better line play but dogged by several drops (five by Alshon Jeffery). Detroit’s passing offense was not sharp enough, producing in fits and bursts but struggling to sustain success.

Unfortunately for Chicago, NFL games are 60 minutes long. Detroit finally roared in the final eight, thanks to some strong running from Joique Bell and increased pressure from Ndamukong Suh and the defensive front on the other side of the ball. Bell strapped the offense to his back, and the Lions ground out a season-high 138 yards rushing. Suh and the defense finally started hitting Clausen, and the shocking Jeffery drops ruined any chance for the Bears.

The Lions are now 11-4 and will play in Green Bay for the NFC North title and the #2 seed. Detroit hasn’t won 11 or more games since 1991, which happens to be the last--and only--time they won a playoff game. If that is to happen in this postseason, these Lions must play much better football for 60 full minutes. The comebacks are exciting and very reminiscent of last year’s Colts, but when the stakes are raised and the competition better, those early holes are a lot deeper. The defense is still strong enough to beat anyone, but the offense and special teams (three huge negative plays on the day) sure don’t look capable of holding up their ends of the bargain.

$.08--NFL Quickies

--We’re often forced to write about a lot of negative things involving NFL players. Here’s a positive one on Raiders OT Menelik Watson, who donated his game check to a 4-year-old girl with serious heart problems. Even better, she got the game ball after Oakland’s win over Buffalo. Awesome.

--49ers safety Eric Reid suffered his third concussion in two years on Saturday. Regardless of the severity, it’s time for Reid to seriously consider retiring. He needs to study up on Al Toon.

--In Detroit’s win, center Dominic Raiola blatantly stomped on Chicago DT Ego Ferguson’s leg after a play. I wrote about my disgust with Raiola and why he should be done in Detroit for Bleacher Report. When I asked a team official late Sunday if that was a possibility, I was given a rather exasperated “no comment”. Do the right thing, Jim Caldwell!

--Miami defeated Minnesota in a 37-35 barnburner, and apparently that was enough for Dolphins coach Joe Philbin to keep his job. The Dolphins are an interesting team going forward, but I’m not sure Philbin is the right guy to drive that bus. Judging from social media reaction, most Miami fans don’t think so either.

--New England edged the Jets 17-16 in what will almost certainly be Rex Ryan’s last shot at beating Bill Belichick. It’s always amused me that Ryan focuses so intently on building up this rivalry at the expense of so many other games where his Jets were uncompetitive against far lesser opponents. Ryan is a good coach who should get another head gig after serving as a defensive coordinator for a year or two, but that team needs to not be in the AFC East.

$.09--College/Draft Quickies

--What if I told you a great athlete, dare I say a Colin Kaepernick clone, could only complete 51% of his passes in a conference where five teams finished in the bottom 10 in pass defense? What if I told you in the Camellia Bowl (yes that’s a real thing!) he misfired four short passes so badly his receivers couldn’t reach them with 20’ extension ladders for arms?

You would respond that the quarterback has no business playing QB in college, let alone the NFL. Yet for some reason Brandon Bridge of South Alabama will continue to get love from some draftniks and message board guys rooting hard for the underdog and the athlete. Don’t be that guy. Try Tyler Heinicke from Old Dominion or Terrance Broadway from UL-Lafayette instead.

--Boise State RB Jay Ajayi declared for the draft, and he’s a middle-round runner to watch. He’s not the biggest or the fastest, but he’s got a great blend of both speed and power. Be sure to check him out Wed. against Scooby Wright and the Arizona Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl, a nice final showcase for Ajayi.

--Oregon CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu tore up his knee in practice recently and will miss workout season. It’s the latest blow for a player I have consistently touted as my top corner in this draft. Teams figured out how to attack his lack of size this year, and he wasn’t as assertive in man coverage in 2014 as he had been earlier in his Ducks career. Now the knee injury hits hard, because at his size he’s heavily dependent on being explosive. I still think he can make an outstanding slot corner at the next level, but the first round is no longer realistic. He could fall to the third day of the draft.

--Western Michigan lost the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Air Force, but it was still a remarkable season in Kalamazoo for Coach P.J. Fleck and his Broncos. They played more than a dozen true freshman as regulars throughout a season where several starters were lost to injury. They were 1-11 a year ago and at the bottom of the MAC, but Fleck’s “Row the Boat” mantra quickly turned things around. He’s a coach on the way up, and someone the school 100 miles to the east on I-94 should consider a little more seriously. Remember, Michigan didn’t think Brian Kelly was good enough for them a few years ago, and now he’s elevated Notre Dame far beyond them. Good job, Coach Fleck! 

$.10--The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its newest class this week. As is customary for the Cleveland-based organization, it was not without controversy.

This year’s class:

  • Ringo Starr
  • Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble
  • Paul Butterfield Blues Band
  • Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
  • Green Day
  • Lou Reed
  • The 5 Royales
  • Bill Withers

The 5 Royales and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band are both well before my time, so I’ll reserve comment on their merit. It does strike me as strange The 5 Royales get into the “fame” part as I’ve never heard of them before, nor has my mother who is a devout music fan in from the 1960s and beyond, but I digress…

I’ll focus on the more familiar to me and my generation. I don’t have any quibble with Bill Withers, though I wouldn’t consider him “rock”. Lou Reed’s music makes me want to slaughter small animals with my bare hands, but he has his ardent fans and I’ll let them have their time in the sun. He’s at least edgy and original, two pillars of rock music.

Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble are this year’s most worthy inductees. For many of us, Vaughn was the entry point into southern and southwestern rock and rockabilly music. He kept the roots of his bar-band and chord progression from the likes of Robert Johnson and the old-school blues and early rock, modernizing it with classic songs like “Pride and Joy” and “Texas Flood”. They belong, period.

So does Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who are often wrongly pegged as one-hit wonders. Yes they had just one colossal hit, but they’re far more than “I Love Rock N Roll”. I saw them in concert at the Newport in Columbus back in January of 1988 and it remains one of my favorite shows in more than 150 concerts I’ve attended.

Then there’s Green Day and Ringo Starr. It seems strange Ringo gets in on his own, after he’s already in with The Beatles. His solo work is innocuous pop and his All-Star tours were wildly popular for years, so I guess that’s worth something.

Green Day belongs as the godfathers of the modern punk movement and all its descendants. As much as Nirvana, they helped kill the hair metal and cheesy pop rock of the 80s and early 90s. Without Green Day’s massive initial popularity but also enduring legacy with the “American Idiot” opus, the story of modern music could not be told.  

My beef with both Ringo and Green Day is who they beat into the R&RHOF. Ever hear of Deep Purple? “Smoke on the Water” is one of the most instantly recognizable songs in music history. My 6-year-old daughter knows the riff, so does her 95-year-old great grandmother. They’re not in.

How about Iron Maiden? They’re only the most successful British rock band of the 1980s outside of Def Leppard. Their bass-heavy hard rock is hugely influential to this day, and nobody screams like Bruce Dickinson. They still sell out large venues in their frequent tours, drawing generations of fans who all know the words to every song.

Other actual “rock” bands who must be inducted before any more soul or disco or vocal groups from the 1950s include The Scorpions, Judas Priest, Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne or either INXS or Peter Frampton from the less rocking side. Until the Hal fixes its blatant prejudice against hard rock and heavy metal--which is all that’s left of “rock” these days--I will never attend the museum in my home city.