Week 13 featured three games on Thursday, which in the US was Thanksgiving. Bears-Lions, Giants-Cowboys, and Dolphins-Packers. There was also a game on Friday, Raiders-Chiefs. Saturday was College Football day, then on Sunday the NFL slate resumed. On that day there was a play that will live in NFL infamy for days to come. More on that in the Downright Ugly section.
Good: Aidan O’Connell. Even though the Raiders kicker couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn and the center and himself weren’t in sync on the Raiders final play of the game, he did pass for over 230 yards and two second half touchdowns against a great defense in Kansas City. He may be auditioning for next year’s backup job since it’s quite likely they will draft a top quarterback in 2025’s NFL Draft. Honorable Mentions: The Cowboys tamed the Giants and their defense looked decent, the Commanders getting back in the W column by crushing the Titans.
The Bad: The Miami Dolphins stink when the ambient temperature is under 40°F. They lost badly to the Green Bay Packers. I’m starting to wonder if I should say that in Green Bay they slaughtered the fish and packed them into TV dinners, then shipped them off to the supermarket for human purchase and consumption. All this is tongue-in-cheek, but my point is cold weather is no excuse in the NFL and teams who stink in cold conditions need to come up with a way to play better in them. Other Noteworthy Mentions: The Jets continue to find ways to lose, as do the Bears.
The Downright Ugly: A player at any level of organized football should be taught that hitting anyone in the head is the cardinal sin of being a football player. That’s exactly what a Houston Texans player did to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence and now he’s got a concussion. Lawrence was sliding and the Texans player hit him helmet to helmet. This kind of hit has zero place in our game. However, while I think the Texans player should be suspended for the rest of the season, I think he will ultimately get a two game ban after appeal.