The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 12 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

​It was truly wonderful to settle in and enjoy some football games that weren’t mired in embarrassing moments and great debates, but that doesn’t mean the weekend was without controversy. For once again, there are questions about officiating hanging over some of the games and once more, we have to worry about the quality of the primetime matchups since two of the three were blowouts. Yet while those stories are big enough in their own right, there are still plenty more tales from the field to discuss today. So, let’s dive right in and recap what we learned from Week 12 in the NFL.
 
The New Orleans Saints are a tough team through and through.
Make no mistake about it, the Panthers/Saints game was an instant classic thanks to the incredible Moxy that Carolina displayed in this matchup. For Kyle Allen responded well to his embarrassing outing against the Falcons with a determined performance for the ages. But try as he might to will his team to a win, trying to one up and outwit Drew Brees and his boys is quite the monumental task. Because this team has seen it all and done it all, and they’re fearless when they take the field and watch carefully for the right opportunity to drop into their laps and that’s precisely what they did in this game and it paid off in spades. Because they got the win and they’re still in the hunt for a cushy playoff spot and really the lesson here, is to never count the Saints out because they’re as tough as they come and they’ll give as good as they get.
 
The Denver Broncos need to turn to rookie Drew Lock at quarterback.
There is no positive way to spin Brandon Allen’s performance against Buffalo on Sunday. He simply could not read the defense, nor could he throw the ball properly and well, that kind of terrible performance lets a fan base and a coaching staff know, that this is simply not the guy to lead your offense. So, with Denver’s season crumbling and really little to play for in 2019, it’s high time the Broncos activate Drew Lock from Injured Reserve and let him take a few on the field lessons. Because the team really does need to see what they have in this kid so they can figure out who to draft in 2020 and now seems as good a time as any to let him start and take his lumps and who knows… the kid might catch on quick and give Broncos Country a little hope for tomorrow.
 
The Dallas Cowboys blew a golden opportunity.
There have been a lot of question marks surrounding the Cowboys this year because no one can tell if this team is any good or not, and they had a golden opportunity to silence the doubters and the haters by coming into Foxboro and smacking the New England Patriots around. But instead, ‘Dem Boyz’ did what they do best and folded under pressure, and well, the end result was downright embarrassing to say the least. But what makes this truly painful for football fans in general, is that the Cowboys could have beat the Pats no problem at all. For Brady looked awful in this game and the defense did do a solid job of slowing him down. But instead, they went the safe route and didn’t execute and they proved to the football world that they are not a very good team at all and hopefully some big changes come to this squad in the offseason because it’s clear they need a fresh start in a lot of places.
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The San Francisco 49ers are the team to beat in the NFC.
Speaking of teams that needed to make a statement, the Niners definitely silenced their doubters on Sunday night. Because for a couple of weeks now, people have been curious as to whether or not other teams have figured San Francisco out, since they’ve endured a defeat and seen teams score upon that vaunted defense. But rather than let that talk persist, they came out and stunned the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium, with a decisive blowout win. Which means at this point, it’s obvious now that they are genuinely the team to beat in the NFC, because they continue to find ways to pull out a victory and win big in games that matter, which means the road to Super Bowl LIV will likely have to go through the city by the bay. Unless of course, the Seahawks find a way to stun them once again…
 
Can anybody slow down the Ravens RPO offense?
Usually this time of year, teams have plenty of film to watch on their opponent and can start to figure out how to beat teams and players that seem unstoppable. But apparently Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens offense are going to be the exception to that rule this year. Because no one can figure out the RPO offense this team brings to the table every single week and the simple things they’re doing are leaving teams in awe and for proof, look no further than Monday Night Football. Because the Rams D, one led by a defensive mastermind in Wade Philips, collapsed under the attack that Lamar Jackson sent their way and at this point, I simply don’t know how you stop it. For the best defenses in this league have been shredded by it and really, the first team to figure it out will be the heroes of the day, but at this point in the season, I’m not sure anyone can pull off that particular feat. 

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