Only one will remain. And that one is always the same. The Miami Dolphins born in 1972, the only team in the history of the NFL to have ended the season undefeated. Larry Csonka and his companions, those who are still there, opened a bottle of champagne on Sunday evening, like every season for 52 years now. Kansas City, the last team not yet to have known the shame of defeat, fell to Buffalo, under the blows of Josh Allen and his teammates in what has become a classic in the chase for supremacy in the AFC. During the first nine games, the Chiefs, reigning double champions, had not dispelled all the doubts about the state of an attack too dependent on the Mahomes-Kelce combination, especially after the loss to injury of runner Isiah Pacheco, out of the second week but who could be available again on Sunday in Charlotte against Carolina. Several times it was the defense that saved Andy Reid’s team, while a week ago Leo Chenal took care of blocking a Denver field goal and extending the unbeaten run. But by playing with fire, you end up getting burned. On Sunday Josh Allen was superior to Patrick Mahomes (262 yards against 196, despite “mister half a billion” throwing three touchdowns): the difference was made above all with his legs, with 55 yards of ball on the ground and the decisive score from 26 yards on the fourth attempt with 2’27” on the clock. Mahomes didn’t have much contribution from the running game (60 yards by Kareem Hunt), but above all he didn’t find the proverbial understanding with Travis Kelce (2 receptions for 8 yards, probably an all-time low).
Kansas City and Buffalo remain the two big favorites in the AFC. For the Chiefs, Sunday’s defeat is the fourth in a row in the regular season against the Bills. Who, for their part, have lost three times in a row in the playoffs. And a fourth meeting is practically certain next January, even if it is not yet known whether it will be played at Arrowhead Stadium or Orchard Park. On the Chiefs’ path there are still the Pittsburgh Steelers (Christmas Day), while on that of the Bills the name of the Detroit Lions stands out, dominators of the NFC and who on Sunday buried the unfortunates under an avalanche of 52 points (absolute seasonal record). Jaguars.
Shahid Khan’s Heated Soup
And speaking of Jacksonville. In the NFL, reheated soups are historically tasteless. From 1967 (Super Bowl era) to today, no head coach has managed to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy with two different teams. Seven tried (Don Shula, Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Dick Vermeil, Mike Holmgren, John Fox and Andy Reid), no one made it. A statistical data that should have sounded an alarm bell for Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville franchise, when in 2022 he decided to sign the coach who in 2018 had led Philadelphia to the title by beating Tom Brady’s Patriots in the final. In two and a half seasons in Florida, Pederson put together a record of 20 wins and 25 losses, two 9-8 seasons (one playoff appearance in the first year), which however was followed by the momentary 2-9 of this ‘year. Pederson also risks paying for the failure of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Having left Clemson with the stigma of a generational product, the man who was supposed to be the new Peyton Manning, despite playing well, did not live up to expectations and was not able to change the dynamics of the franchise, as Mahomes was able to do in Kansas City. After the blowup suffered in Detroit, Jakconsville will have a week to lick their wounds (bye), before returning to the field against Houston. And it’s not a given that Doug Pederson will still be on the Panthers sideline in two weeks.
AFC, the third force is yellow and black
It was said that on Christmas Day, while the United States will be at the table for lunch, Kansas City will have to go to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to face what is the third force of the AFC. The Pittsburgh Steelers have put the arrow in the North Division and overtaken Baltimore at the end of a very tense direct clash. The yellow and blacks won without even scoring a touchdown: six field goals by Chris Boswell and many errors by the Ravens were enough (two missed kicks and three turnovers). And, as per the genetic code of the franchise, a lot of defense, thanks to which Lamar Jackson was limited to 50% completion for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Derrick Henry had to settle for 65 rushing yards and Zay Flowers receiving 39. That’s something to make Jack Lambert and the entire “Steel Curtain” proud, the basis on which the Steelers had built their conquest of four Super Bowls in the 1970s. The attack can obviously be perfected, especially at play, where Russell Wilson certainly didn’t shine with 205 yards, no throws in the endzone and one interception. However, let’s remember the old adage that offenses sell tickets and defenses win games. Maybe it will be a little dated and based on football from times gone by (that of Jack Lambert and his associates, in fact), but if the foundations rest on a dominant game in non-ball possession situations, half the building has already been built.
A few words also about the NFC, where Detroit dominates (9-1), despite the loss of linebacker Anzalone to injury (another bad blow after Hutchinson’s knockout). The NFC North, however, is the toughest division in the entire NFL, with Minnesota not giving in and following the Lions one game behind (8-2) and Green Bay lurking with two games behind (7-3). Speaking of the Packers: last week we were talking about the difficulty of blocking a field goal, a gesture that had given Kansas City the victory (in 2023, 17 cases out of 1012 attempts). Well, within a week the “miracle” was repeated: with 3″ to go, Karl Brooks managed to decisively deflect the 46-yard field goal kicked by Cairo Santos which should have allowed Chicago to seize the fifth victory of the season. Two in two weeks, both decisive: more unique than rare…
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Week 11: Philadelphia – Washington 26-18. Chicago – Green Bay 19-20. Detroit – Jacksonville 52-6. Miami – Las Vegas 34-19. New England – LA Rams 22-28. New Orleans – Cleveland 35-14. Pittsburgh – Baltimore 18-16. Tennessee – Minnesota 13-23. NY Jets – Indianapolis 27-28. Denver – Atlanta 38-6. San Francisco – Seattle 17-20. Buffalo – Kansas City 30-21. LA Chargers – Cincinnati 34-27. Dallas – Houston 34-10
Week 12: Cleveland (2-8) – Pittsburgh (8-2). Carolina (3-7) – Kansas City (9-1). Chicago (4-6) – Minnesota (8-2). Houston (7-4) – Tennessee (2-8). Indianapolis (5-6) – Detroit (9-1). Miami (4-6) – New England (3-8). NY Giants (2-8) – Tampa Bay (4-6). Washington (7-4) – Dallas (3-7). Las Vegas (2-8) – Denver (6-5). Green Bay (7-3) – San Francisco (5-5). Seattle (5-5) – Arizona (6-4). LA Rams (5-5) – Philadelphia (8-2). La Chargers (7-4) – Baltimore (7-4)
