Week 16 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

 Week 16 Top Dogs & Down and Out Teams

By Josh Olson 

Top Dogs

Houston Texans - They did it! They ended their nine-game losing streak and even played spoiler against the Tennessee Titans winning 19-14. No one on offence had an eye-popping game with David Mills completing seventeen of his throws for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Royce Freeman had sixteen carries for thirty-two yards. Phillip Dorsett had three catches for forty-five yards. The defence made life a living hell for Malik Willis, who was starting his first career game in the absence of Ryan Tannehill who is out for the rest of the season. Houston’s defence had four sacks, eight tackles for losses, five pass deflections, and five QB hits. They also picked off Willis twice and caused two fumbles, which they only recovered. Houston Texas looks to keep the winning streak going when they play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 17.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars - Don’t look now but the Jaguars are on a three-game winning streak and look to be heading to the playoffs! They beat the New York jets 19-3 on Thursday NightFootball. Trevor Lawrence completed twenty of his passes for 229 yards. Travis Etienne jr. rushed twenty-two times for a total of eighty-three yards. Evan Engram caught seven passes for 113 yards. The Jaguar's defence had three sacks, eight tackles for loss, eight pass deflections, seven QB hits and an interception. The Jacksonville Jaguars will be playing their division rival when they go to Houston to play the Texans in week 17. 

 

Los Angeles Rams- Well as much of a disappointing season as this has been, their week 16 victory was a huge banger! They gave their fans the best gift on Christmas day, a 51-14 victory against the Denver Broncos. Baker Mayfield threw twenty-four completions for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Akers had twenty-three carries for 118 and three touchdowns. Tyler Higbeehad nine catches for ninety-four yards and two touchdowns. The Ram's defence had six sacks, six tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and twelve QB hits. They also had four interceptions with Cobie Durant having two and returning one for a touchdown. This was a high for the sad Rams this season and maybe they can keep this going when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in week 17. 

 

Down and Out

 

Tennessee Titans- They are buying real estate on this list, losers of five games with the last one coming at the hands of the Houston Texans 19-14. Malik Willis made his first career start and was awful! He threw fourteen completions of ninety-nine yards and two picks. Robert Woods got most of the ninety-nine yards when he had four catches for thirty yards. Derek Henry once again was a beast for them in rushing twenty-three times for 126 and a touchdown. He also fumbled the ball once. The defence gave up 285 total yards on the day but just couldn't stay on the sideline long enough to catch their breath. The Titans look to bounce back and end their skid when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night football in week 17.

 

Miami Dolphins- December has not been nice to the Dolphins as they are losers of four games in a row with the Green Bay Packers beating them 26-20. Tua Tagovailoa had a decent game when he threw for 310 yards and a touchdown, but the three interceptions cost them big time in their defeat. And not to beat a guy when he's already down but Tuas season is in jeopardy with him getting a concussion in this game and being in concussion protocol, this being his second concussion this season. His running game did not help him out with Raheem Mostert having eight carries for only forty-five yards. He also fumbled the ball, costing his team. Jaylen Waddle has a monster game with five catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. The defence gave up a total of 317 yards through the air and the ground. Aaron Rogers was slicing through their defence with his throws. The Dolphins hope to have Tua back next week and to put Thai losing skid in December behind them when they take on the New England Patriots in week 17 on New Year's Day.

 

New York Jets- Zach Wilson's New York Jets career is over and his last game with them will go down as a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-3. Wilson threw nine completions for ninety-two yards and an interception. The backup quarterback, Chris Strveler, led the team in rushing yards in fifty-four with nine carries. Michael Carter, the starting running back led the team in receiving yards with five catches and forty-four yards. Yes, you read that right... The backup quarterback was the top rusher, and the starting running back was the top receiver. That formula not going to win games. The Jet's defence had one sack and one fumble recovery. The Jets look to rebound with Mike White returning to starting quarterback and will take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 17.