My Week 16 NFL Notebook

posted 12/23/19

1. A few thousand fans made their way to South Beach on Sunday (probably because they got tickets at their office White Elephant holiday party) to see the 3-11 Dolphins host the 1-13 Bengals. Those who stayed and didn’t get a head start on their holiday shopping were treated to a Christmas miracle...of sorts. It’s a miracle that two teams this bad could produce a game this good.

The Bengals trailed 35-12 with 11:12 remaining in the game and rallied all the way back with 15 points in 29 seconds to force overtime...and then they lost 38-35 on a field goal in the waning seconds. Hey, that’s been the Bengals way all season. But still, a thrilling game is a thrilling game.

If there was any time for both teams to mail it in, this was it. There was nothing to be gained here except for draft positioning. But Miami’s Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 419 yards, four touchdowns, became the only quarterback in history to throw four touchdowns in a single game for five different teams. And Andy Dalton threw for 396 yards and four touchdown passes including 182 yards and three touchdowns in the final five minutes of regulation.

This game had everything. One of Fitzpatrick’s touchdown passes was to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. Cincy’s Randy Bullock converted the third successful onside kick of the season. Dalton threw and then ran for the tying touchdown and two point conversion as time expired.

As consolation, Cincinnati assured themselves of the No. 1 draft pick in April. If they lose in the final week, this season would be the worst in Bengals history since they went 2-14 in 2004. Miami will have the third, fourth or fifth pick. 

2. Miami toasted their undefeated 1972 team at halftime that coincided with Don Shula’s 90th birthday. Props to Coach Shula. one of the greatest coaches in history. But his ‘72 team isn’t even close to being the greatest single season team ever. I’ll take the 1984 49ers, or the 1989 49ers, or the 1985 Bears, or the 1978 Steelers anytime. 

3. No matter how the Cowboys season ends, with a division title or out of the playoffs, this has to be the final season for Jason Garrett. This has been the best roster of talent that Dallas has seen in twenty-five years. And it was been wasted to poor scheming and in-game adjustments. I know that Jerry Jones will pony up for a big name coaching hire, but his shadow will loom over everything. And that will continue to be the problem.

4. The Sunday night finale between San Francisco and Seattle will be for the NFC West title and likely for the top playoff seed. But the Seahawks will be without running backs Chris Carson and CJ Prosise and tackle Duane Brown.

5. Winning the division and the top seed is huge, but especially so for the Seahawks. Since 2007, they are 10-0 at home in the playoffs, but just 2-7 on the road.

6. The two weeks off, which includes a meaningless week 17, will be huge for the Baltimore Ravens especially since Mark Ingram went down with a calf injury.

7. Someone needs to teach Freddie Kitchens some math. He chose to go for two when the Browns were down by nine. So of course, they missed the attempt and ended up down by two possessions. Some people just aren’t meant to be NFL head coaches.

8. Jets have beaten Dallas, Oakland and Pittsburgh and lost to the Bengals and Dolphins this season.

9. In case you lost count, that’s eleven straight AFC East titles for New England.

10. But if Josh Allen can continue his progression, the Bills might be ready to dethrone the Patriots next season. That Buffalo defense is one of the league’s best.

11. What makes anyone in the NFL media think that things will be better once the Chargers play in the Rams new stadium next season? If anything, the acoustics will be more amplified for the Raider fans. Or Bronco fans. Or Chiefs fans...

11. The Play(s) of the Day: Nyheim Hines’ dazzling punt returns against Jacksonville that made him the first with two punt return touchdowns since 2004. 

12. This from Kyle Odegard, writer for the Arizona Cardinals: 

13. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you this season. Have a safe and prosperous New Year.