This is it ladies and gentlemen, the home stretch of the 2016 season is upon us and every game suddenly has extra meaning for all 32 teams in the NFL. For those working toward the playoffs, a win is paramount to either locking up a spot in the tournament, or securing a bye week and for teams on the outside looking in, these final games are an opportunity to finish the season on a high note and fulfill a sense of pride. Either way, we are in for some incredible football this weekend, one filled to the brim with great games and fascinating stories and here are the ones we will be keeping on an eye in Week 13.

Does Jeff Fisher find himself on the hot seat if the Rams lose again?
The Los Angeles Rams 2016 campaign has clearly not gone according to plan in the slightest. With a strong D and a new franchise quarterback, it's safe to say many of us expected them to be in a far better place record wise than 4-7, and while exercising patience is important when it comes to a rookie quarterback, that same kind of patience is usually not extended to Head Coaches. Enter Jeff Fisher, a coach that once took the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl, but his tenure in St.Louis/Los Angeles features little to be proud of since the team has boasted an average win/loss record of 7-9 and at this point, Owner Stan Kronke and the executive brass have to be discussing whether or not they should make a change at Head Coach in the offseason and considering that switching to Jared Goff has yielded little change in how the team plays, is Fisher's job in jeopardy if they lose to New England this weekend? The answer is a resounding...maybe? Kronke is a fickle owner, one who has put up with mediocrity the entire time he's owned the team so really...who knows what will happen after this weekend, that is outside of Coach Fisher making excuses at the podium when they lose to the Patriots.

It is possible that the Denver Broncos could lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend.
I think we can all agree on a couple of things. Number one, the Jaguars are one of the worst teams in football and two, the Broncos have the worst offensive line in football and that matters because Denver's rough line...could cost them dearly come Sunday. The right tackle position is simply a mess and well...the only thing Jacksonville has going for them is their defensive line which ironically enough, features a former Bronco in Malik Jackson. That means this desperate squad will send everything they can at the right side of the line in the hopes of shutting down Denver's run game and to sack whichever quarterback is under center since Trevor Siemian has missed practice all week with an injury and is listed as 'day to day', leaving his status for the game up in the air at this point, and if they are successful in their endeavor, and there is a strong possibiltiy that they might be, then the defending Super Bowl Champions will suffer more than an embarrassing loss...they may miss the playoffs altogether. 

Do the Detroit Lions continue to solidfy their position atop the NFC North?
The Lions are one of the finest, feel good stories of the second half of the season with their incredible win streak that has made the them the surprise leader in the NFC North and while on paper they are about to face off against a team with a losing record in the Saints, a win in The Big Easy is far from a certainty. New Orleans is a team that can still surprise, as was evidenced last week when the team took on Los Angeles and beat them handily by turning Drew Brees loose which means Detroit will have their hands full. But it is possible for them to win, they simply have to find a way to slow down Drew Brees and control the damage he can inflict so that Matthew Stafford and the offense can go out there and do their thing. Will the Lions for sure win this game? It's hard to say, but there is a fair chance this may be a wild shootout of a game and the potential of that alone makes this one a priority to watch.

Can the Carolina Panthers upset the Seattle Seahawks?
Seattle is quite the fickle team this year. For the most part, they have played some good football, often times either hanging with their opponents or beating them handily once the offense gets into a rhythm. But when they lose (or tie) they truly earn it by playing some sloppy football and unfortunately for the Seahawks they're coming off of an ugly loss to Tampa Bay, and the tape from that game has no doubt inspired the Carolina Panthers. While the Panthers have been awful all season long, they do have a tendency to hang on in close games and considering how badly Seattle collapses when a team surprises them with some physical, smash mouth football, there is a solid chance that Carolina can get the upper hand and pull off quite the upset. But will they? Well that's entirely up to Seattle and if they can score early and keep the game out of reach, the Panthers will sulk and fold. Either way, this is a game to keep an eye upon, simply due to the fact that this one may also turn into a shootout.

Can Tampa Bay continue to build on their current win streak?
The Buccaneers have turned into quite the pleasant surprise over the past couple of weeks, stunning both the Seahawks and the Chiefs on their way to 6-5 and this week they face off against the San Diego Chargers, a team quite similar to Tampa Bay. The Chargers also feature a strong armed QB, a defense that can play stout football and they also tend to surprise teams when they least expect it. Which means that this may end up being quite the defensive slug fest since San Diego is playing for pride and is more than happy to embarrass any team they face at this point and Tampa Bay wants the win and a shot at a playoffs and if the Bucs can slow the Chargers pass rush and keep the offense to a dink and dunk style of play, they have a solid shot at going 7-5, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

It was quite the polarizing weekend of football in the NFL for one reason and one reason alone, the playoffs. Yes, the all important post season added extra weight to just about every game played over Thanksgiving weekend and it made the wins and the losses all the more special and all the more bitter for the fans. If anything those same wins and losses taught us plenty about our favorite teams, giving us an idea of how good they are going into this all important time of year...or how their mistakes are going to continue to cost them and it made for some fascinating stories to say the least and here is what we learned from Week 12 in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions are one tough team.
Normally when people talk about the Detroit Lions, the word 'inconsistent' comes up often in the conversation and with good reason. When this team takes the field they're either stunningly good, or shockingly bad, there's never an in between with them; and while they have seem some wild ups and downs this year, after watching this team play on Thanksgiving, it's high time we add a few new labels to properly describe this squad...specifically that they are both tough and resilient. Not only have they fought their way to the top of the NFC North at the most critical time of the season, they've done it by playing smash mouth football. The defense is finding ways to stop opposing offenses and Matthew Stafford has played at an elite level this season, willing a win when necessary and inspiring his teammates as only a leader can and they are clearly sending a message to the rest of the league, that they will battle every opponent that comes their way in fierce and exhausting fashion. 

The Houston Texans need to part ways with General Manager Rick Smith.
Look, I completely understand that the Houston Texans needed to make a big change at quarterback following their embarrassing loss in the playoffs and I totally get the need to make a splash in free agency to show the fans they're serious about winning, and that's why they signed Brock Osweiler...but by panicking and signing him to a deal without even meeting him, well they basically screwed themselves over for the next few years. Osweiler is a flat out free agency bust and he once again stunk it up on Sunday, tossing three interceptions in their loss to the Chargers and as Houston's season begins to unravel, it's clear now that they will either miss the playoffs or make an early exit from them and well...someone needs to be held accountable for this boneheaded move and I hate to say it, but Rick Smith needs to lose his job over this. So when the offseason arrives, I certainly hope that ownership sends him packing to remind the league and their fans that they absolutely want to win and that they're prepared to exercise a little patience to figure out how to win the right way.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are suddenly one impressive team.
I'll be the first to admit that I more or less wrote off Tampa Bay at the start of the season simply because they kicked off the year in awful fashion. But clearly something special has happened in that locker room. Because suddenly the defense is stout and Jameis Winston is laser sharp and most importantly, the team is playing like a team and everyone on this squad is flat out doing their job and the end result has been some breathtaking football. That's two weeks in a row now that the Bucs have pulled off a pair of major upsets. First they knocked off the Chiefs, and on Sunday they toppled the mighty Seahawks, keeping their playoff hopes alive by moving their record to a respectable 6-5. Either way, this is a team to keep an eye on as the season winds down because this is a team that has suddenly come to life and is fully aware of the fact that they are completely in control of their own destiny.

The Denver Broncos are now at a crossroads.
Early on in 2016, it seemed like it was business as usual for the Broncos. They were winning on defense, their quarterback was doing just enough to keep them in it and everyone assumed they would be back in the playoffs this year with minimal effort. But following their loss on Sunday night, Denver now sits at 7-4 and there is a solid chance that they might not make the playoffs considering how talented other teams are in the AFC  and AFC West and well...it's time for this team to quit goofing around, and fix the glaring problems they've been dealing with all season long. They need consistency out of Trevor Siemian, they need the offensive line to play fundamental football to protect their QB and get the run game going and they need their defense to settle down and stop handing their opponents great field position by way of stupid penalties. Either way, it falls to Gary Kubiak to fix these messes and hopefully he won't waste any time in doing so...

The Cleveland Browns have a tough choice to make at Head Coach at the end of the season.
Another week, another loss for the Cleveland Browns, and at this point, as the season begins to come to close, the executive brass in Cleveland have one big decision to make...do they keep Hue Jackson around or fire him after one year and when you weigh the pros and cons here...this really is a tough call to make. On one hand, new GM Sashi Brown clearly has no idea how to interpret the NFL version of saber-metrics the team is using since he's assembled an awful roster for Hue to Coach, but on the other hand...Hue's job is simple...get the most out of the talent he has been provided with, and that certainly hasn't happened either. When all is said and done however, I think that Hue will get at least one more year to coach the Browns since injuries have plagued this team all year long especially at the all important QB position but honestly when it comes to this erratic franchise who knows what will happen when Cleveland's awful season finally comes to its merciful end.

For many teams in the NFL, time is running out. The mantra of 'we'll get the next one' no longer applies because as the losses mount, their chances at the playoffs are slipping away and the result of knowing that the clock is ticking...are games with a sense of desperation, and you see teams pushing a little harder on the field, fighting with extra effort to try and seize their destiny and a shot at glory.

They know that they have squandered away their opportunities and with five weeks to go in the regular season, they also know one more loss may mean there's no chance at seeing the field in the postseason which means now is the time to give it their all and leave everything they have left out on the field. As it turns out, there are several games tomorrow that feature teams in some precarious positions, with some of them on the verge of seeing their season end early and others that are in need of a win to solidify their spot in the standings and those are the games we will be keeping an eye on because to see what these players do with their season, or the playoffs on the line...will be downright fascinating.

When you look at this game on paper, it should be quite the lopsided affair mainly due to the fact that Seattle has gone on a tear since they tied the Cardinals, putting together an impressive three win streak and solidifying their status as the number two overall seed in the NFC if the playoffs started today. But despite their prowess they are going up against a Tampa Bay squad that is starting to put it all together. Jameis Winston is finally figuring out how to play quarterback and the defense is solidifying as a unit to the point where they upset Kansas City last week, meaning that there is a strong chance that the Bucs are going to be quite the handful for the Seahawks and considering the fact that there is a slim chance that Tampa Bay could make the playoffs, you know they are going to bring their A game. 

While the Chargers are likely going to miss the playoffs, they're a squad filled to the brim with pride and bravado and well...because of that pride, I've noticed that San Diego has their own special tradition this time of year that they like to extend to opponents that just so happen to have a better record than they do...they love to hand them a nasty and shocking loss. Enter the Texans, a team that is still trying to figure out how the heck to put it all together this late in the season, and they are still reeling from their loss against Oakland last week. They are truly struggling to finish drives and games for that matter and with San Diego in essence coming in with nothing to lose, they are going to harass Brock Osweiler all day long in an effort to force a turnover or two from him and they'll also unleash their fury on offense, airing it out and letting Philip Rivers do his thing. This doesn't guarantee that San Diego will win, since Houston has an incredible record at home...but there is a fair chance that the Chargers may walk out of NRG Stadium holding their heads high with a victory.

This is another game that seems quite lopsided on paper since the Raiders are the toast of the AFC and they're squaring off against a once successful Panthers squad. However, the Panthers are coming off of a solid win and well, they're full of ego and bravado which means they won't be phased by anything that Oakland throws at them, unless of course the Raiders run up the score and sack Cam Newton a few times. But, if by chance the Panthers can hang with the Raiders the same way the Texans did last Monday, there is a chance they can shake up both the AFC and NFC playoff standings with a giant upset. But more than likely, Oakland will simply cement their status as the number one overall seed, and crush any remaining hope that Carolina has when it comes to making the playoffs.

Every year, late in the season, a game arrives that flat out feels like a playoff game with all the implications that come with it and this...is that game. Both teams are 7-3 and both teams are well aware of the fact, that a loss here...could effectively end their shot at the postseason. That means this matchup will have a special air about it, and both squads will have to be on their best behavior. No silly penalties, no turnovers...because this is a game that will come down to perfection and the team that can execute every single play and keep the ball safe, is the one that walks away with the win. This is flat out going to be one intense matchup and it will be quite the treat to see these two long time foes duking it out on the field, in classic fashion. 

Week 12 in the NFL is always an incredibly special time during the regular season, simply due to the fact that it kicks off during Thanksgiving weekend. This is when football truly becomes a family event because as we wait for our Turkey and fixings, we settle in around the television to watch our favorite sport and discuss anything and everything football, because there are incredible stories waiting to be told this weekend and here are the ones we will be keeping an eye on.

​Can the Dallas Cowboys win ten games straight?
The Cowboys are hands down the most impressive team in the league this season, since they always find a way to win and thus far, no one has been able to neutralize their powerhouse run game or aerial attack, which means all of us are wondering...can they beat the Redskins and enjoy their tenth straight win in a row? The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Now I fully understand that Washington demonstrated to all of us on Sunday Night that they are completely capable of scoring at will, but they were also facing off against a Green Bay team that is awful on defense and while the Cowboys may not boast the finest D in the league, they can certainly do enough to stop the Redskins run game and keep Kirk Cousins honest in the passing game, and when you put together a decent defense and let Prescott and Elliott do their thing...the end result is nothing short of another win for Dallas.

The Chiefs/Broncos game is a huge deal when it comes to the Playoffs.
Only a handful of teams are going to make it into the playoffs and every squad around the league knows that they have to give it their all if they want a shot at a championship and right now, the race to make it in when it comes to the AFC is heating up, which means the Sunday Night, AFC West matchup between Kansas City and Denver is a game with some powerful implications for the postseason. It's an incredibly close race in this conference and one loss could change the course of a season for an entire team which means we should be in for one hell of a game, one with a playoff atmosphere for that matter because the victor of this one keeps their playoff hopes alive and the loser...well, it means their season may lead to a bittersweet end where they enjoy a winning record...and nothing more beyond that to show for it.

What comes next for the Chicago Bears?
It's been an awful year for the Monsters of the Midway. They've been devastated by injuries to the point where their third string quarterback is in the starting lineup. There is essentially no hope of reaching the playoffs...and there are five games left in the season, so what the heck do the Chicago Bears do now? Well, with nothing to play for or aspire to for that matter, the time has simply come for a few things to happen. First and foremost, they need to bench every big name starter they have and let them rest and heal for next year. Give the young guys a chance to see what they're made of, and it's high time for John Fox to coach like his life depended on it. Take some risks, throw out some wild plays, do anything and everything to have some fun because there's a good chance that sobering changes are coming to the Bears in the offseason...at every level...

Will Jared Goff's second start be better than his first?
While Jared Goff didn't do anything to help his team lose in his first career start, he sure didn't do much to help them win either. But now that he has that all important first start under his belt and now that he's played against a live defense, by virtue this young man should show some significant improvement in his second game. But...there is one other caveat that will help him succeed greatly and that's Head Coach Jeff Fisher. His ultra conservative game planning is predictable and he can no longer afford to show defenses what they've already seen on film. He needs to turn the kid loose and let him ball and if he can trust his QB for a change and up open the playbook, there's a good chance the Rams can start building some momentum.

Will the Texans rebound from their devastating loss against the Raiders?
Yes, I've seen all the talk about how the officials may have stolen the Monday Night game away from the Texans, and I haven't given it much thought simply because of the fact that Houston had sixty minutes to out score the Raiders and they were unable to accomplish such a feat; and any way you slice it it was an embarrassing and devastating loss on what was essentially an international stage which leads one to wonder...can the Texans rebound at home? Honestly. I don't know. They have a wonderful record when they play at NRG Stadium, but they are going up against a scrappy and hungry Chargers team that has a habit of surprising teams with a decent record. If anything this is a game that will come down to who wants it more. So don't be shocked if Houston finds themselves on the receiving end of an unmerciful beat down if the Chargers come out on the field hungry and ready to play.

Now that the dust has settled on another week in the NFL, every single team that took this field this weekend has a better understanding of what exactly they are made of. Because so many games in Week 11 were close and thrilling as well and it is those kind of games that teach players what can of pressure they can handle and what kind of wonders they can accomplish and that's important because the end of the season draws near and every team has to be ready to give it their all for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and here is what we learned from a hard fought weekend of football.

The Carolina Panthers have not learned a single lesson about humility this season.
The Panthers are a team that fail for one reason and one reason alone...they can't handle losing. If they're behind, or down, the whole team sulks and things simply unravel. If you don't believe me...watch Super Bowl 50 over again and any of their losses this season. Now that matters because in the NFL, losing is a chance to reflect, losing is an opportunity to take inventory because it instills humility into a team and helps them understand how important it is to execute and it helps them value every win. Except when it comes to Carolina. Because, this is a team that celebrated every touchdown and their win over the Saints in exuberant fashion and it's just a shame. This is a team that could be outright incredible, if they believed in putting in the work to try and become the best team in the NFL. Instead, it's a squad full of showboats and their arrogance will come back to haunt them time and time again.

Tampa Bay pulled off quite the upset against the Chiefs.
The AFC West is an incredibly good division in football, with three of its four teams over .500 simply because of the fact that this is a division filled to the brim with quality franchises. Which means that the win that Tampa Bay pulled off in Arrowhead this Sunday is a huge deal. Because Kansas City has shown time and time again that they are a tough, hard nosed football team that fight you tooth and nail for every yard and every point, and while they stuck with that style of play on Sunday, they didn't make enough big offensive plays when they needed to and that as they say is that. But for Tampa Bay, they need to be proud of this victory. To beat a tough opponent like this helps build a foundation to get this team back to eventual glory and don't be surprised if they put together a win streak based upon this victory. 

The Dallas Cowboys continue to impress.
This go round the Cowboys didn't find themselves in the middle of a shoot out, they just went up against one of top defenses in the league and handed them a punishing loss. Dak Prescott was once again laser sharp with his throws to the tune of three touchdowns and to top it all off...he became the first Cowboys QB in franchise history to lead the team to a nine game win streak. This kid is truly a gem and what's scary is that this is only his first year in the league, meaning that he has time to grow and improve his game. So if anything Sunday's game was a glimpse into the future, one where the Cowboys win and win big on a regular basis, but in the here and the now, this team continues to be unstoppable and it won't be long before we start talking about this team as a serious contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI.

Jay Cutler now faces an uncertain future.
Another game, another embarrassing finish for Bears QB Jay Cutler. Despite the team being able to hang with the New York Giants for a better part of the day, once again Cutler tossed an interception at the worst possible time and that matters because that ugly play most likely signals the end of the Cutler era in Chicago. Because as of press time, the Bears are preparing to place Jay on Injured Reserve with a torn labrum, shutting him down for the rest of the season and they will undoubtedly be releasing him when the offseason arrives in order to make room for a new franchise QB, which means Jay now faces quite the uncertain future in the NFL. He has now proven that he cannot play at a high level, meaning his chances to land a large contract and come in as the guaranteed starter are likely slim to none. More than likely Jay will be asked to play backup for backup money, and it should be interesting to see what comes next for this once promising quarterback.

The Los Angeles Rams have finally exposed their real roadblock to success...the coaching staff.
In the NFL, when a quarterback goes number one overall in the NFL Draft, that often means they are essentially pro ready and can start on a moment's notice and usually when they are selected that high, they often lead their new team from day one. But Jared Goff was asked to sit and learn for a better part of the year so he could be coached up and 100% ready to lead this team and well his big day to do just that finally arrived and all the wait and all the hype resulted in...a mediocre performance at best. He didn't throw any interceptions and he did find the end zone, but for spending that much time on the bench to learn, the end result on the field was pretty lackluster and that means one thing ladies and gentlemen, the coaches aren't doing that great of a job coaching. It's their job to have their guys ready to roll when game time comes around and well...it's clear now that the offensive woes this team is suffering from comes from poor coaching and poor play calling and it's up to Jeff Fisher to fix it...and if he chooses not to do so, well then the team can enjoy another 7-9 season.

If Thursday Night Football was any kind of indicator as to what to expect this weekend in the NFL, we are in for quite the treat. The Panthers were a shining example of a team that took full advantage of every opportunity to secure a win because with the playoffs on the line, every down, every yard, every moment counts.

That means we can likely expect other teams to follow the Panthers lead, and give it their all when they take the field because truly, with only six games left, it's all or nothing and those are the kinds of games we will be keeping an eye on today and tomorrow; the ones featuring teams and players that need to stay sharp and leave everything on the field, or else they risk watching the playoffs instead of participating in them.

While Baltimore may not be considered a strong team right now, they are still in the hunt for a playoff spot and what better way to motivate a team and fire them up down the stretch...than by defeating the top team in the NFL? Expect the Ravens to throw everything they have at the Cowboys on both offense and defense in an effort to stop Dallas, but is this something that they can actually pull off? Absolutely, provided they can shut down the run game and make the Cowboys offense one dimensional, but let's be honest...their chances of that are slim. Ezekiel Elliott is simply a force of nature when he takes the field, and while it's likely that Baltimore loses this game, I think we can expect them to keep things interesting and give it their all for sixty minutes. 

On paper, this game looks pretty boring, since it features a pair of mediocre teams taking the field. But when you dig a little deeper, there's a lot here to be excited about. At one end of the spectrum, you have the Miami Dolphins, a team riding a four game win streak and their spirits are high coming off of an epic win against the San Diego Chargers and you know they're looking to add another victory to their season. But they must face off against the Los Angeles Rams, who are not only solid on defense but they are finally unveiling the future of the franchise for all the world to see by giving Rookie QB Jared Goff his first career start. Sure the game could be ugly for Goff, but without much tape to study on the young man, he could surprise the Dolphins enough, to allow for the run game to take over. Either way, there's a fair chance this one could turn out to be quite exciting and it should be worth keeping an eye on today. 

What makes this game so absolutely fascinating, is the fact that above all else, it features two quarterbacks at a crossroads on a pair of teams desperately in need of leadership. For Green Bay, they need Aaron Rodgers to settle down and lead this team as he has done so many times in the past. With the coaching being sub par this year, someone has to step up and that's why they pay Aaron the big bucks, but to date...his play has been just as rocky as the play calling. As for Washington, while Kirk Cousins hasn't done anything to leave the franchise regretting his twenty million dollar contract, he hasn't exactly shown the team he's worth every penny of that salary as well. He's been merely mediocre all season long and the Redskins need him to play at an elite level. To top it all off, both of these teams have a chance of making the playoffs, which means there's extra incentive for these two men to unleash their inner leader and will their teams to victory.

This is a game that signals the NFL's return to Mexico after an eleven year hiatus and it also features a pair of teams with winning records taking the field, which means on paper we should be in store for a good game, but when all is said and done...the quality of this game will come down to the performance of one man, Texans QB Brock Osweiler. He has been quite the disappointment thus far and well...if he can finally put everything together for this team then he will give the Raiders a run for their money and we are in for quite the treat. But if Osweiler folds, or begins to panic over the constant pressure he is going to be under...this one is going to get outright ugly. It's up to him to finally show the Texans and the football world that his giant contract is justified and if he fails to do so again, Houston's chances at the playoffs become a shaky venture at best and Osweiler's future in the league becomes uncertain...

Six games. That's all remains in the NFL regular season, which means it is crunch time for so many teams. Already, we've seen one team make a major decision with their roster to see if a shake up can give them the spark they so desperately need because every franchise out there knows what's at stake; there are only a handful of games and a handful of chances left to lock up a spot in the playoffs which means from here on out the games and the stories that come with them are about to get all the more interesting and here are the ones we will be keeping an eye on this weekend.

What can we expect from Jared Goff's first career start?
At long last, the number one overall pick from this year's draft is finally getting his first start and while it would be easy to declare him the savior of the ailing Los Angeles offense, that would be a prudent move since we have no clue as to what to expect from the kid. In reality, his first start will likely be a shaky venture. He will have to deal with the nerves of being under center on national television and he will be faced with the pressure of not screwing everything up. But if the kid settles in and finds a rhythm, we might be in for quite a show since Goff has a far superior arm to Keenum and well...at this point if he happens to throw even one touchdown, he's already a massive upgrade over #17. Either way, it should be fun to see what he brings to the field and hopefully he is the answer on offense the Rams have been searching for.

Philadelphia at Seattle may be the game of the week.
Sometimes the best football games come from matchups where both teams play soft on defense and hard on offense, because that usually means we're privy to an epic shootout and Philadelphia and Seattle are two teams that meet that criteria...and they also happen to play at CenturyLink Field this weekend; and considering the fact that both of them were able to score at will last week, to the point where they took their respective games down to the wire...I'm calling it now...this will most likely be the game to watch this week. Expect it to be raining touchdowns in Seattle this weekend and as to who will win this game, well, considering how much potential there is for scoring...my guess is it will all come down to turnovers and the team that secures the ball, is the one that walks away from this shootout with their heads held high.

How badly will the Raiders beat the Texans this weekend?
When it comes to playing on the road, the Houston Texans are simply awful. Their record outside of NRG Stadium is 1-3 and the only reason they have one W in the mix is because they played against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's quite a problem because this weekend, they head to Mexico to face one of the finest teams in the AFC in the Raiders and truthfully, it's not a matter as to whether or not the Raiders will win this game, because they will, it's more about how big of a beatdown they are going to hand the Texans. This is one of the toughest defenses free agent bust Brock Osweiler has faced all season and considering how Oakland likes to feast on quarterbacks...this is going to be one ugly, ugly game for Houston. 

Can the Packers right the ship this weekend?
It's been a disaster of a season for the Green Bay Packers at every level of the game. They consistently collapse on offense, they're terrible on defense and it's clear that the team is shell shocked from going from one of the NFL's elite teams...to a mediocre one. But regardless of the issues at hand, it's clear there's a desire to do better, which begs the question, can the team finally get on track this weekend against the Redskins? The answer is yes, but they're going to have to try new things. This is no longer a team that can drop long bombs and stuff the run. They're going to have to learn to settle for inches at a time, and that means dinking and dunking on offense and finding ways to slow the damage on defense in order to find consistency. If they can do that, there's a fair chance they can snag a win in Washington, and if not...well then it's chaos as usual.

Can the Dolphins continue their win streak?
A few weeks ago, every football fan outside of the city of Miami, straight up forgot about the Dolphins. They embarrassed themselves on Thursday Night Football, they looked rough on every side of the ball, then something magical happened. One win became two and here we are now, with the team enjoying a four game win streak and they're still basking in the glory over their hard fought win over the Chargers. So, can this team keep it going? Absolutely. After all, they're going up against the Los Angeles Rams and a pure rookie in Jared Goff and this seasoned and now cohesive defense will be looking to pressure Goff and shut Todd Gurley down to set up an offensive fiesta for Ryan Tannehill and the gang. This will be one to watch simply because if Miami can step up to the strong Los Angeles defense..and win, then they are putting together something special and could make a solid run at the playoffs.

If there is one word to properly sum up this past weekend of football...it's pride, because you saw it in the eyes of so many players and in their play on the field over the past few days. Sure a few teams stunk it up here and there, but for the most part, teams wanted to make their fans, their cities and one another proud and it made for some wonderful moments and it taught us plenty about our favorite teams and here is what we learned from Week 10 in the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns may go 0-16.
Of all the teams that took the field this weekend, the Browns were the only squad that truly seemed defeated right out of the gate and of course the Ravens outright dismantled them when all is said and done and for the first time since 2008, it's a real possibility that Cleveland may be the second team in NFL history to go 0-16 in a season. They can't pass the ball. They can't run the ball. The defense can't tackle or stop anyone and well...at this point, I'm not sure where on the schedule they can outright win a game. So yes, this could turn out to be the worst year in franchise history for the Browns. My only hope is that somewhere along the way they do put it together and beat a team or two, but in the here and the now, they're the worst team in football and I don't see them getting any better.

The Denver Broncos still need to be extremely concerned about their offense.
As the old saying goes, winning cures everything, unless you're the Denver Broncos. Sure they won in New Orleans in stunning, albeit questionable fashion, and while a win is a win, there's still a lot to be concerned about when it comes to the defending Super Bowl Champions and their offense...specifically, Trevor Siemian. He had one hell of an up and down day and exhibited some concerning behavior during the game, in that he kind of folded once the turnovers started to flow. But to his credit, he did buckle down, and help guide the offense to 23 points, but the Broncos have to be wondering if he is the right answer at quarterback and if the buckling continues they may need to make a change and turn to Paxton Lynch.

The Dallas Cowboys simply refuse to lose.
There are several things that separate great teams from good ones. Great teams find ways to win, they never think past the next play or the next game and above all, they're a truly unified team and that...is what continues to make the Cowboys so successful. They will not settle for anything less than a win and watching this team duke it out with the Steelers was pure football magic. It's rare to see a shoot out where neither team is phased by the score and it was equally as rare to see a team in sync like this. The offensive line was fluid all day long, they willed holes for Elliott to run through and of course, Dak Prescott looked like a seasoned vet out there. They're truly coming together as a team at last and they will be going far in the playoffs for certain.

The Green Bay Packers need to do some soul searching.
There was a time, last year in fact, that the Green Bay Packers were a powerhouse team. Nothing could rattle them on offense and defense and well, that was then and this is now. It would seem that the Packers at some point made the same mistake as the Panthers did and bought into their own hype. They truly thought they were invincible on the field and that allowed for their intensity to fade away and the end result is a 4-5 record after an embarrassing blow out loss to the Tennessee Titans. It means that the Packers need to do a little soul searching before their next game. They need to refocus, find some heart and get back to fundamentals because right now, they're a good football team, playing like garbage and if they don't dig deep and figure out how to right the ship soon, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

The Case Keenum era...has come to an end. 
Originally this little blurb was going to be about how the Los Angeles Rams need to say enough with Case Keenum and send him to the bench and well...turns out writing anything more on that was unnecessary because as of press time, the Rams have announced that Keenum will be relieved of his quarterbacking duties and the reins of the offense will be handed over to first overall pick Jared Goff come next Sunday and well...let's be honest, it was long overdue. Once again the offense failed to find the end zone against the Jets and well...the Rams need a spark on that side of the ball, and with a Wild Card spot on the line, it's good that Jeff Fisher finally made the tough call to give the rookie a chance and see if he can lead this team to a fantastic finish. Either way, that's it for Case Keenum in L.A. barring an injury and he'll likely be gone after this year as well...and sadly I don't think we'll see him start again in the league full time, simply because he had his chance to prove himself...and squandered it away.

At this point in the NFL season, one would expect the Playoff Picture to start coming together in clear and concise fashion. We should know who will win their respective division and have a fair understanding of how the Wild Card round is going to shape up, but when it comes to this year, where anything can happen, that's simply not the case.

Sure a couple of teams here and there are clearly heading into the post season no problem, but for so many other teams, their future come January is murky and they are continuing to fight week in and week out to win and discover their identity and there are several games this weekend that feature teams in the midst of such a quagmire and those are the games that we will be keeping an eye on since they look to be absolutely fascinating.

While one might think that this is a game that features two teams trying to find their identity, there's only one squad here doing some soul searching, and that's the Denver Broncos. I say that because this is a team that more or less is trying to replicate the formula for success they enjoyed last year on their way to a Super Bowl Championship and well...they're having mixed results following said formula. The defense is porous with the run from time to time and the offense has actually managed to become more stagnant with Trevor Siemian in the mix. Denver is desperate to get the offense going so look for Coach Kubiak to mix up the play calling to try and get a spark going and look for the defense to play with a little more swagger and fury than the norm since they're at their best when they play with a chip on their shoulder.

Now this game, is one that features two teams searching for an identity. On one hand you have the Tennessee Titans who are working hard to establish themselves as an offensive powerhouse with Marcus Mariota at the helm and actually, they're having some luck with it this year since their record is in a much better place than it was last year and they'll be looking to continue to build the young quarterback's confidence by going after a Green Bay Packers squad that is a shell of their former selves. This once vaunted unit on both offense and defense appears confused when they take the field these days and for Green Bay, they're just looking for consistency in this game and hopefully a win and if they can find a way to play solid defense and get the offense clicking, they'll pull that off, no problem.

This is another fascinating game revolving around identity for one team, and desperation for another. For the Redskins are a team that continue to flirt with greatness and considering how differently teams that have managed to tie this year are playing after said tie, one has to wonder exactly how Washington will be when they take to the field this week. Will they seem gun shy, or will they unleash the fury upon the Minnesota Vikings, a team that is in decline and damn near panic mode as they watch their season continue to unravel on the field. There's no confidence from the Vikings anymore, or points or stops on defense for that matter, so there will be an extra intensity from them come tomorrow as they try to get back to their winning ways and into the playoffs.

For these two teams, the name of the game is quarterbacking because both squads have been unable thus far to get any production out of the most important position in football. The Jets have been all over the place when it comes to the starting lineup for their QB, since Ryan Fitzpatrick has been in and out of the position due to injury and performance and Geno Smith tore his ACL in his first outing back, so the Jets are simply hoping to see someone play the position and play it well this Sunday. As for the Rams, they're still waiting for Case Keenum to become the leader at the position they hope he will be and well...it's hard to say if this is the game where he finally puts it all together since hey, he's had all season for that. Either way, expect both teams to air it out plenty in this contest as the Jets look toward the future and as the Rams, give Keenum another shot to slow the clock that is ticking on the Jared Goff era...

Week 10 is an important one in the NFL, because this is when the discussion really begins as to what teams we will see face off in the Playoffs. For some squads, their spot in the tournament is a given, but for so many other teams, there is still a fighting chance for a shot at the title, and the ones that truly want it, will do anything for that opportunity. It means this weekend's games might be a little fiercer than we are used to seeing and the storylines all the more interesting and here are the top stories we will be keeping an eye on this weekend.

Do the Broncos bench Trevor Siemian if the offense stalls this weekend?
A few weeks ago, the Denver Broncos were 4-0 and enjoying every minute of it. But fortunes change quickly in the NFL and they are now 6-3, in third place in the ultra competitive AFC West and facing a tough road back to the playoffs and one of their biggest issues this season continues to be their offense. The run game is hit or miss, and while QB Trevor Siemian has played decent football at the position this year, the offense simply isn't energized or scoring the kinds of points it needs to. I've expressed my opinion that it comes from a lack of leadership on Siemian's part, and as we learned last year, Coach Gary Kubiak isn't afraid to make changes at the position based upon the tempo of the offense. So is this it? Is this the week Kubiak pulls #13 and puts in the rookie? Hard to say for sure since Gary is trying to build up the young man's confidence, but with the playoffs slipping away and the offense not getting any better, there is a chance that Siemian may sit if he struggles again.

Where do the Vikings go from here?
The Minnesota Vikings are in a free fall at this point. They've lost an offensive coordinator, are dealing with a stagnant offense and porous defense and their three game losing streak is certainly building doubt in the minds of every player on the team. So how on earth do the Vikings right the ship? Well it starts with Head Coach Mike Zimmer. While it's clear he's a player's coach and believes in building up his team through positive reinforcement, the mistakes these guys are making when it comes to such fundamental things as tackling cannot be tolerated. He's going to have to hold his players accountable and expect more out of them, and as silly as that may sound, that it may come down to a scolding...what else is left? They've proven they can play, they're simply not mentally tough at this point and if they can't get their minds refocused on fundamentals...they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

If the Jaguars lose this weekend, will owner Shad Khan FINALLY fire Gus Bradley?
I've been hard on Head Coach Gus Bradley for some time now, and with good reason...he's a terrible football coach and while I get that continuity is important...this team just isn't getting any better and that's on Gus. But, despite a 2-6 record and another loss last week to Kansas City, this man still has a job and I'm unsure as to why. So, the question is, what will it take for Shad to finally pull the trigger and send Gus packing? My hope is that a loss to the Texans might finally prompt that to happen since Houston seems woefully unprepared to play when they're on the road and Brock Osweiler is an awful quarterback. Because if Gus cannot take advantage of those weaknesses, something several teams have been able to exploit, it should prove unequivocally that Bradley cannot coach in this league and he should be relieved of his duties immediately. But sadly...I think it will be business as usual, they'll lose and lose big and Gus will show up to work come Monday morning, without a care in the world.

Can the Seahawks end the Tom Brady revenge tour?
Tom Brady has been outright unstoppable since his reinstatement into the league and everyone is starting to wonder if there is a team out there right now that can actually find a way to stop him and well...there is a chance that Seattle might answer the call. For starters, they're coming off a huge win this past weekend against the Bills and let's be honest, they're hungry to prove to the league that they are still an elite team, so what better way to do that, than by beating the Patriots. It won't be easy, but the formula for beating Tom Brady has always been the same. If they can generate solid pressure, get to him and disrupt the timing in his game, they have a shot and if not...well, then Tom Brady will knock off another team and not think twice about it. 

What happens now at Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys?
After spending most of the season healing from a back injury suffered in the preseason, Tony Romo is back to practicing for the Dallas Cowboys and is essentially cleared to play. But will he is the question on all of our minds. After all, in this league you're not supposed to lose your job to injury, but the Dallas Cowboys are in a unique situation. Dak Prescott is a phenomenal rookie quarterback and a big reason the team is 7-1 right now and at this point, it's up to the coaches to decide who will start at this all important position. My hope is that the Cowboys will continue with Prescott at the helm simply because of the fact there's no need to disrupt the incredible chemistry that #4 has built with the first team offense. But, you never know when it comes to Dallas and their fickle coaching staff, but if they want to do the right thing and keep on winning...they let Prescott continue to play and let Romo heal for a change.