Another week of football has come and gone. This week didn\’t have as much excitement as last week, but make no mistake it was still a good week of football. The top seeds in both conferences switched hands as well as some playoff spots. So let\’s jump into this week\’s winners and losers.
Winner #1 NFC East
This division has been the butt of jokes all this season, but not this week. 3 of the 4 teams snagged wins this week and increased the likelihood that the division winner won\’t have a losing record. The Eagles and Washington Football Team both won against teams in the playoff picture. The Cowboys did beat a pretty bad Bengals team, but it still counts as a win. Oddly enough the only team not to win this week was the former division leader NY Giants. Their loss means Washington somehow finds themselves in first place. However, only two games separate first from last in that tight division. Expect one or two more changes before the season ends.
Loser #1 New Orleans Saints
I mentioned in the last paragraph that the Eagles won against a team in the playoff picture. What I didn\’t mention was that they beat the number one team in the conference. The fact that the Saints lost to a team starting a rookie QB making his first start is inexcusable. Not only did they lose a very winnable game, but also surrendered the number 1 seed in the conference. Starting QB Drew Brees is expected to miss one more game before coming back. Unfortunately for the Saints, they face the red hot Kansas City Chiefs next week which could cause them to lose even more ground.
Winner #2 Buffalo Bills
It wasn\’t pretty but the Bills won the Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a battle between #2 and #3, the Bills came out on top. While they still are the number 3 seed, they now own the tiebreaker over the Steelers should Pittsburgh slip up further. This win was important because it\’s against a quality team in a prime time moment. Winning these types of games go a long way in helping teams make deep playoff runs. As of right now, the Bills stand as the team most likely to take down the dominant Chiefs in the AFC.
Loser #2 Dan Bailey
Minnesota Vikings kicker Dan Bailey had an afternoon to forget. Bailey missed three field goals and an extra point in Sunday\’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Several of his attempts never had a chance as they sailed well wide of the intended target. The worst part of it all was the fact that Minnesota had the Buccaneers on the ropes early in the game. A missed extra point and then a missed field goal in the next drive gave Tampa life. Had Bailey been able to convert on those chances there\’s a good chance Minnesota wins that game.
Winner #3 Baltimore Ravens
In what could end up being the game of the season, the Ravens outlasted the Cleveland Browns. It was a thrilling game with the lead changing hands multiple times in the 4th quarter. The win keeps the Ravens playoff hopes alive as a loss would\’ve made things much more difficult. With three games left every win matters just a little bit more as the playoffs draw near.
Loser #3 Las Vegas Raiders
While the Ravens may have saved their season the Raiders did the exact opposite. In a must-win game against the Colts, the Raiders fell flat. They were dominated throughout the game and gave little reason to believe this team can make the playoffs. Shortly after the game, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was fired which tells you all you need to know about the situation. Raiders need to win their last three games to have a real shot at the playoffs.