Week 12 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

 Week 12 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

By Josh Olson 

 

Top Dogs 

 

Carolina Panthers- Sam Darnold just beat the third-ranked defence of the Denver Broncos, 23-10. However, he didn't put up godly numbers, he only completed eleven throws for 164 yards and a touchdown. He did enough for the win. D’Onta Foreman rushed twenty-four times for 113 yards. DJ Moore had four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. The defense of the Panthers caused two fumbles on the Denver Broncos. For one week, the Panthers held their own against a top-five defense and they go into their bye week on a winning note. Once they return after their bye, they travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in week 14.

 

New York Jets- The New York Jets took on the Chicago Bears in the battle of backup quarterbacks in week 12 and it was Mike White and the Jets who came out on top with a 31-10 victory! Mike White threw twenty-two completions for 315 yards and three touchdowns. They had a new running back, Zonovan Knight, who ran fourteen times for sixty-nine yards. White had great chemistry with wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who caught five catches for ninety-five yards and two touchdowns. The Jet's defence once again made life hard for the opponent's quarterback causing two sacks and a pick. The Jets are happy ringer is back in the win column and hope to keep the momentum going when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in week 13. 

 

San Francisco 49ers- Wow. The San Francisco 49ers didn't have their best offensive game when they played the New Orleans Saints in week 12 but they won 13-0. They shut out the Saints for the first time since 2001. Jimmy Garoppolo threw twenty-six completions for 222 yards and a touchdown. Also, he hasn't thrown an interception in the last four games! Elijah Mitchell led the way with seven rushes for thirty-five yards. Brandon Aiyuk caught five catches for sixty-five yards. The 49er's defense was on lockdown! They got one sack for a loss of seven yards and caused two fumbles.  The biggest accomplishment of this defense is that they haven't allowed a single point in 94:19 minutes, haven't given up a second-half single point in four games, and it's their second shutout in the season. They're a reason why this defense is the number one-ranked defense in the NFL. The 49ers will look to keep this streak going when they host the Miami Dolphins in week 13. 

 

Down & Out

 

Baltimore Ravens- This team just doesn't know how to close out games! The Baltimore Ravens should have steamrolled over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it was the Ravens that lost 28-27. This team is asking way too much from Lamar Jackson to win games. He can throw for 254 yards and a touchdown. He can rush for eighty-nine yards but when the defense can't do their part by stopping the Jaguar's offence. What else can he do? The Raven's defense gave up eighteen points in the fourth quarter. The Ravens want to move past this game and move on to their matchup against the Denver Broncos in week 13.

 

Denver Broncos- I thought the New York Jets had team turmoil last week, the Denver Broncos take the cake this week! The Denver Broncos took on and lost against the Carolina Panthers 23-10. When the Bronco's defense holds the other team's offence to twenty-three points with your top three defense in the league and all your offence can do is a field goal until garbage time in the fourth quarter you get a touchdown, of course, there will be fireworks! Mike Purcell, a defensive tackle of the Broncos, was shown yelling at star quarterback Russell Wilson. I would yell too if my defense was giving my offence plenty of opportunities to score points and you coming away with three and outs on multiple snaps. Let's just say that this season for the Denver Broncos is not going the way they plan and are hoping for the rest of the season to fly by fast. The Broncos travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in week 13. 

 

Seattle Seahawks- The Seattle Seahawks had no answer to stopping the Las Vegas Josh Jacobs... Oops, I mean the Las Vegas Raiders! The raiders beat the Seahawks in overtime 40-34. Geno Smith keeps putting up great numbers, completing twenty-seven of his throws for 328 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. But also got sacked twice. The offence put up points, but it was their defense that couldn't stop Josh Jacobs from rushing wild on them! He had thirty-three carries for 229 yards and two touchdowns.  The defense knew he was getting the ball and still didn't know how to stop him! The defense did pick off Derek Carr twice though. The Seattle Seahawks looks to rebound in week 13 when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams.