Does the NFC Run Through the West?
Is there an East Coast bias when it comes to the NFC?
The Philadelphia Eagles are the defending champions and are coming off a big Sunday night win over the Detroit Lions. The win moved the Eagles to 8-2 even if it hasn’t always been impressive.
But the two best teams in the conference could reside out west. The Los Angeles Rams (8-2) and Seattle Seahawks (7-3) went toe-to-toe in one of the best games of the day. The Rams edged the Seahawks, 21-19.
Los Angeles’ defense forced Sam Darnold into four interceptions while Kyren Williams ran for 91 yards and a touchdown. If there’s something positive that Seattle can take from the loss is despite how poor they played, they had a chance to win at the end.
The two teams meet again on December 18th, this time in Seattle.
What a Difference a Year Makes
Last season, it seemed like the Chicago Bears found a way to lose every close game they played in all different fashions including the Hail Mary loss to Washington.
This season the ball is bouncing Chicago’s way. Yesterday’s 19-17 win at Minnesota was a prime example.
Minnesota got the go-ahead touchdown on a 15-yard touchdown pass from JJ McCarthy to Jordan Addison but Chicago didn’t fold.
Devin Duvernay took the ensuing kickoff for 56 yards. That would setup up the game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. “We always find a way to make it interesting,” Duvernay said. “We just always find a way. Proud of each other.”
The Bears (7-3) are a half-game ahead of the Green Bay Packers (6-3-1).
Ravens/Chiefs
I don’t know if anyone thought we would see both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs would be 5-5.
Baltimore has battled blown leads, a Lamar Jackson injury, and a defense that hasn’t performed at a level that most thought they would before the season began.
The Chiefs had injuries at the skill positions but there has been a loss of being able to pull games out late the way Kansas City has over the last few seasons.
The Ravens got an important win at Cleveland yesterday in one of the ugliest games of the day. Baltimore won because of Cleveland’s incompetence at the quarterback position and timely plays made by the offense.
Kansas City has watched the Denver Broncos (9-2) have fourth quarter magic all season including the win over the Chiefs yesterday. A week after losing to the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City had a 19-16 lead with a little over eight minutes left only to see Denver kick two field goals, one as time expired, to win the game.
No one thought both teams would be in a position not to make the playoffs but here we are.
