Before I get into this week's recap, I'm going to talk about something much more important. Yesterday was Veteran's Day, and the NFL commemorated the day with special appearances by members of the Armed Forces at every game this weekend. While it's the right thing to do to pay respect to those who defend our freedom around the world, why do we only take a couple days out of the year to pay such respects? Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veteran's Day are really the only three days when we are mostly conscious of saying "Thank you" to veterans we come across on the streets or on Facebook, when in reality we should be thanking them every day throughout the year. God knows I've been guilty of not openly expressing gratitude when I see military personnel in fatigues or dress uniform out and about, and I've made a point in the last few weeks to change that attitude. It's amazing how a simple handshake and expression of thanks is appreciated by a man or woman in uniform, and it's what those of us who enjoy this country's freedom should do every single day.
1. Maybe the Colts were the ones who got hosed in trading for Trent Richardson after all. Most football talking heads thought the Browns were crazy to trade away a young running back with a promising future so early in his career. Sure, they got a first-round pick in 2014 in exchange, but the general consensus was that the front office had decided to tank the season and stock pile picks in future drafts to rebuild the team how they had wanted. Trading Richardson seemed like a mistake, since most thought he could be the type of player the team could build around. However, in the seven games he's played since joining the Colts, he's rushed 88 times for a total of 250 yards with two touchdowns. That's not even close to the kind of production the Colts had wanted from him. Their offensive line isn't very good, but Richardson looks like he isn't the kind of franchise running back he was expected to be either.
2. No soup for us! The Jaguars and Bucs both won this weekend! The Jaguars won in especially dramatic fashion, going on the road against a divisional opponent and winning soundly. Congratulations, guys - you won't go 0-16 this season. Now the question becomes which team will wind up with the first overall pick in next year's draft. Every year around this time, guys on sports talk radio bring up the subject about whether a team should tank the rest of the season in order to secure as high a draft pick as possible. They talk to ex-coaches about their thoughts on the subject, and the answer is always the same: A coach will only care about winning a football game on Sunday. Worrying about getting a high draft pick is never something that they are interested in.
That philosophy makes sense, too. If a team has the kind of season the Bucs or Jaguars are having this season, more often than not the GM and/or head coach could be fired by season's end. The Jaguars' regime is not even a year old, so they knew going into the season they were rebuilding for the future. Greg Schiano has been on the coaching hot seat all year long, however, and it's almost certain he'll be fired by Black Monday after the regular season ends. Why would he care about tanking a season if he won't be around to draft a player of his choice in April?
3. The Lions are for real. I clearly picked the wrong team who had finished in last place in 2012 to bounce back and win its division this season. I thought it would be the Eagles, and while they aren't quite as dead as I thought they were a couple weeks ago, the Lions are starting to pull away with the NFC North. Jim Schwartz has managed to save his job amid speculation of a lack of discipline among his players, and the Lions have sole possession of their division lead for the first time since Week 5 of the 2005 season. Reggie Bush gave them the running game they needed for their offense so badly, keeping opposing defenses on their toes between him and Calvin Johnson.
4. Will the Bills ever actually turn the corner? For about the past five years, the Bills have been seen as a trendy pick to make the playoffs. I thought they would get a Wild Card spot a couple years ago, but for some reason they just can't quite put a winning product on the field. They have a franchise quarterback in E.J. Manuel, they have a quality receiving corps led by Stevie Johnson, and Mario Williams anchors their defense. C.J. Spiller has somehow managed to underachieve at running back, but he can't be the single reason why the team can't put themselves together all the way. I can't put my finger on why the team struggles so much, but they always seem only a step or two away from winning. It's a mystery.
5. The NFC Wild Card race is going to be the best race to watch down the stretch of the season. Better buckle your seat belts, because this is going to be fun. Right now, the Panthers and 49ers lead the Wild Card standings with records of 6-3 (and the Panthers would be the #5 seed since they beat the 49ers this weekend). Right behind them at 5-4 are the Cardinals, Bears, and Packers, and the Eagles and Cowboys are both 5-5. Obviously there could be plenty of changes in these standings over the course of the next several weeks (especially since there are quite a few head-to-head match ups between some of those teams), but the AFC playoff hunt may not be half as exciting.
6. With all the talk of Joe Flacco's contract, nobody is paying attention to Ray Rice not earning his money. This is a classic example of quarterbacks getting too much credit and too much blame. Flacco got a huge contract deal in March in large part to leading the Ravens to winning the Super Bowl, and he's gotten plenty of flack for not playing up to his expectations this season. What many people aren't noticing is how Ray Rice is doing an even worse job at playing to his expected level. Sure, the offensive line play has been completely terrible, but Rice doesn't show any of the speed or tackle-breaking ability he had in previous years. He's also due to make $8.75 million next season, which leads me to wonder whether he'll be a salary cap casualty come March. The Ravens have Bernard Pierce, and even though he's struggled as well this season, he isn't making nearly as much as Rice is. Of course, if Rice does wind up being cut, it will all somehow be Flacco's fault in the end.
7. Oh, so this is the Tavon Austin we've heard so much about. Back during the preseason, Rams coach Jeff Fisher hinted that he hadn't tipped his hand on how the Rams had intended on using their top draft pick in April during the regular season. If Sunday's game is any indication, the only question is why wait until November to really show what Austin can do? The kid has incredible dynamic speed, so unless he simply needed till now to learn how college football was different from the NFL, I don't see why the Rams chose to wait so long to use him properly. And if they continue to use him like they did on Sunday, they have an amazing weapon to use long term.
8. The Goat of the Week Award goes to the Tennessee Titans. Sorry to pour some salt on an open wound here, but considering the aforementioned game against the winless Jaguars, there's nowhere else to point but the Titans. They found themselves down 20-7 at one point - at home, no less - and had to fight to even make the game somewhat close by the 4th quarter. Then, down 22-20 with about 2:33 to play in the game, the Jaguars' Will Blackmon just flat out took the ball from Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's hand, and ran it back for a touchdown to essentially seal the victory. A couple Titans players were quoted after the game as being embarrassed and disgusted over losing to the Jaguars, and they darn well should be.
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