Key events
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 14-14 Rams 12:51, 2nd quarter
The Stafford/Adams roadshow is back on! The QB hits his man from seven yards out to deliver the receiver’s 14th score of the season. Leads the league in touchdown receptions. Quite the comeback at 32 after some slightly down seasons with the Raiders and Jets.
Colts 0-3 Texans 13:12, 2nd quarter
Little of note in this one so far. Star Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner has exited with an injury.
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 3-15 Jaguars 14:45, 2nd quarter
Jacksonville are looking very good so far after Trevor Lawrence throws another touchdown. Brenton Strange makes the nine-yard grab. The Jags go for two and get it on a Lawrence keeper. The Titans may feel a little aggrieved after giving the ball up on a fumble. The runner was judged to be down by contact. The Jags challenged and it was overturned. Looked probably the right call but still tough to take after the refs erred on the side of caution at first.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 7-0 Falcons 13:58, 2nd quarter
New York strike first. Breece Hall punches it in a two-yard trot. That score was set up by some magic on special teams. A muffed punt from Atlanta recovered by Qwan’tez Stiggers who almost scored himself. Top work.
PICK SIX! Panthers 14-7 Rams 1:10, 1st quarter
The Panthers pick off Stafford again only this time they get a touchdown to boot. The throw is too short and Mike Johnson sneaks in and pinches it. He runs it back 50 yards and the lead. Carolina picking up from where they left off against the 49ers. Three picks on Brock Purdy led to little in that loss but they are making them pay now.
PICK! Panthers 7-7 Rams 3:11, 1st quarter
Might have put the mockers on Stafford with the MVP chat. He is picked off in the end zone for his first interception since week 3. Nick Scott makes the play on a wobbler for the easiest of picks.
TOUCHDOWN! Titans 3-7 Jaguars 1:04, 1st quarter
Told you Meyers was doing well. He catches a three-yard pass to give Jacksonville the lead.
Titans 3-0 Jaguars 3:51, 1st quarter
The Jags are knocking on the door. Jakobi Meyers catches one in the centre of the field then runs it up near the goalline. The receiver has been a great pickup. Really elevated Jacksonville’s offense.
Panthers 7-7 Rams 6:11, 1st quarter
The Rams are quickly back into the red zone. Davante Adams hooks up with Stafford again with a darting run across the field for a 32-yard pickup,
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 0-7 49ers 8:51, 1st quarter
Christian McCaffrey’s fine scoring season continues with a goal line run. That is his 13th touchdown of the year.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 7-7 Rams 7:51, 1st quarter
Carolina hit back immediately with a home run from Chuba Hubbard. The running back catches a short pass out to the right and he just speeds through LA’s defense. They stacked the box there and were punished. Excellent play call.
It’s GOOD! Titans 3-0 Jaguars 5:06, 1st quarter
Cam Ward’s day is going well so far too. He has moved the Titans into the red zone. And is unlucky not to have a touchdown. Gunnar Helm catches a beautifully thrown deep pass but is pushed out of bounds. Tennessee settle for a 28-yard boot from Joey Slye.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 7-0 Saints 10:42, 1st quarter
Devon Achane gets Miami off to a flier. He bursts free for a 29-yard scorching touchdown. New Orleans had no chance once he got into space.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 0-7 Rams 12:10, 1st quarter
Matt Stafford cashes in the generous field position to who else than his new favourite target Davante Adams. Poor Kyren Williams can’t get a look in on the goalline. Automatic touchdown. The MVP is looking locked in for Stafford.
Buccaneers 0-0 Cardinals 10:42, 1st quarter
Baker Mayfield has is left arm in a large sleeve looking like he has been hitting the gym rather lop-sidedly. The shoulder injury on his non-throwing arm doesn’t appear to be affecting him though. He moves the Bucs to midfield with a short pass to rookie Emeka Egbuka.
Panthers 0-0 Rams 14:31, 1st quarter
And we’re off! Excellent start for the Rams after a brilliant kick-off return and a personal foul against the Panthers. They start from Carolina’s 40-yard line. Unwise to give this offense such an early leg up.
In more Da Bears news have a dive before kick-off into Andrew Lawrence’s fine piece about the ‘85 title greats. One defense shining like those legends lives in Houston. They will be very excited about lining up against Daniel Jones today. The quarterback has a mysterious fractured leg but is good to go apparently. Could be choppy for Indy if Houston get after him. CJ Stroud returns at quarterback for the Texans too.
Preamble
Hello, football fans! What a treat week 13 has been already. Chicago being a Super Bowl contender certainly wasn’t on my bingo card but football is like a box of chocolates. Delicious. The action continues with a selection of seven games at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(6-6) Carolina Panthers v Los Angeles Rams (9-2)
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(3-8) Cleveland Browns v San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
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(8-3) Indianapolis Colts v Houston Texans (6-5)
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(4-7) Miami Dolphins v New Orleans Saints (2-9)
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(2-9) New York Jets v Atlanta Falcons (4-7)
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(6-5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Arizona Cardinals (3-8)
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(1-10) Tennessee Titans v Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)
The upsets came thick and fast through Thanksgiving and Black Friday so what are the chances we have a few more shocks? Let’s take a walk with the Tennessee Titans. They played Seattle close last week. A garbage time score gilded the lily somewhat but rookie quarterback Cam Ward had the best came of his young career. So today just may be that little bit better. The Ward breakout game is coming. Jacksonville have to avoid complacency or they risk coming a cropper to that fiendish old devil: the curse of S’posed to*. The Jags will be expecting to beat the Titans relatively easily. Yet there is a decent amount of pressure with Kansas City losing to Dallas on Thursday as a win keeps their postseason destiny firmly in their control. One game at a time and all that but if Tennessee can burst out of the traps all bets could be off. Let’s see shall we.
(*credit: Dave Dameshek)
