It is human nature to make an attempt to atone for one's mistakes but Andy Dalton simply compounded a mistake in the worst way possible on Sunday. Throwing a Red Zone INT will light a fire under anyone, especially when the INT came off of a shovel pass, but when the person picking off your pass is a defensive end, the portion of the brain that controls Fight Or Flight needs to take over and force you to back off and let bigger teammates take the DE down. Throwing your body in front of 300+ pounds of rumbling lineman is a poor choice on rectifying your mistake. Big Red breaking his thumb on his throwing hand in Week 14 could be a season-killer for the Bengals. There is a chance that he returns in the NFL playoffs, but the lost time is far more painful than the game loss to the Steelers. Backup QB, AJ McCarron seems to be able to manage the remaining games for the Bengals but no one wants to see a backup in for a Super Bowl quality team. Just talk to any member of the 2014 Arizona Cardinals.
Speaking of the Steelers, it is hard to believe that they are 8-5 and on the outside looking in on a playoff berth and the NFC East keeps plugging along with one team guaranteed to see a game in the playoffs. Ignore MNF, the Giants are not a good team and don't belong in the playoffs, which can also be said of the Redskins and Eagles. Sure, they won this weekend, but the Bears handed the win to the Skins as the Bills did the same to Philly. 15 penalties for the Bills. That is embarrassing.
The times have certainly changed for Seattle. Russell Wilson was averaging one TD pass per game during the first half of the season. He is throwing multiple per game right now to each WR. Who would have thought that fantasy teams are riding the Wilson-to-Baldwin duo to fantasy glory? Not me…and there is no end in sight with their schedule and running back situation after losing Thomas Rawls to a broken ankle.
Hard to remember back to week 5, but, after it concluded, I still thought that Carolina was a mirage and Atlanta was the real deal. A 38-0 shellacking shows just how wrong that assessment was. I can't remember a team falling so far from grace so quickly and without any major injuries. These two teams play again in 2 weeks. The Falcons are playing so uninspired right now that I find it hard to believe that anyone on that team is looking forward to that game as a way to regain some face and possibly end Carolina's perfect season. Where is the self-respect, guys?
Speaking of shellshocked, how do you think members of Indy's defense felt after that second half performance versus Jacksonville? They had to be woozy from how often and how quickly the Jags found the end zone against them.
Aside from Dalton and Rawls being lost for the season, there were multiple other injuries. For those still in the playoffs, at least the competition for pick ups should be less without competition from team owners done for the year. If you are not interested in waiver wire players since your season is over,
QB: Peyton Manning (DEN) - Peyton was released in many leagues after he hit the pine for Denver and Osweiler started off on fire. With backup QB Brock Osweiler cooling off considerably, it is not much of a stretch to picture Peyton returning this weekend. Now, that has not been announced yet, but, if he does, he gets a suspect Steelers' secondary to throw against. If you lost Big Red and Peyton is not available, AJ McCarron may not be a bad fill in. He has good size and good weapons.
RB: Tim Hightower (NO) - when word came out mid-week last week that Mark Ingram was done for the year; many folks scrambled to the waiver wire and grabbed RB C.J. Spiller, which turned out to be a mistake. Hightower is The Man in New Orleans for the rest of the year so nab him if overlooked in your league.
RB: Denard Robinson (JAX) - TJ Yeldon left Sunday's game with knee and ankle injuries and could conceivably be Out in Week 15. Robinson performed admirably last season when called upon and looked solid after Yeldon left on Sunday.
RB: Bryce Brown (SEA) - QB Russell Wilson can't throw to Doug Baldwin on every play so expect someone to carry the ball at times. Brown will probably share time with Fred Jackson, but, desperate times call for desperate measures. He didn't exactly tear it up in Buffalo last season, but he gets a tasty matchup at home versus Cleveland in Week 15.
WR: Tyler Lockett (SEA) - even with WR Doug Baldwin going crazy the past 3 weeks, Russell Wilson has found Lockett numerous times. He had a beautiful 6/104/2 line from this past week. After losing RB Thomas Rawls, it is possible that Wilson throws even more now. If Lockett isn't available, you could look towards Jermaine Kearse if you need a fill-in at WR.
TE: Zach Miller (CHI) - with Martellus Bennett out for the remainder of the year, Miller gets a huge bump, especially since there is no WR2 for Chicago. He is a Must-start going forward.
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