Picks for the remaining Week 13 games are upcoming, but first, a few things real quick ...
Patriots coach/monotone quipster Bill Belichickprovided his take on the similarities between his quarterback and Green Bay's starting QB. While Bill's snarky response was no doubt intended to dismiss those who dare to ask him questions at a press conference, this "No. 12 vs. No. 12" matchup is intriguing for reasons beyond 2014 playoff seedings. As of this minute, I rank it as NFL history's second-greatest matchup of No. 12s, with a chance to be the greatest ever (especially if the Football Gods can finally deliver the Super Bowl showdown so many fans have craved). For now, Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII combatants Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach hold on to the top spot, with 1970s rivals Kenny Stabler and Bob Griese sliding in at No. 3, behind the Brady-Rodgers matchup.
Because you were wondering, the NFL's Best No. 12s of all time are:
1) Tom Brady
2) Terry Bradshaw
3) Aaron Rodgers (He'll be No. 1 by the time he retires.)
4) Roger Staubach
5) Jim Kelly
6) Joe Namath
7) Kenny Stabler
8) Bob Griese
P.S.: Andrew Luck will rank no worse than fifth by the time he hangs 'em up.
On the subject of great QB head-to-heads, we spent a few minutes this week looking back at the Joe Montana-Dan Marino showdown in Super Bowl XIX on the latest "Greatest Moments in NFL Hookup History". If you like football legends and/or promos for '80s romantic cop drama shows, the video to the right is a must-watch.
Around The NFL star Chris Wesseling calls Rob Gronkowskithe top candidate to win the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year Award. I call him the league's best Jenga Piece. Statistically, he's performing at a higher level than any pass-catching tight end in history. Here's one particular jaw dropper: The reigning "GOAT", Tony Gonzalez, scored 111 touchdowns in 270 games (41.1 percent). Antonio Gates, another of history's most prolific players at the position, has 96 touchdowns in 174 games (55.2 percent). Gronk? He's got 52 touchdowns in 61 games (85.2 percent). Yikes.
On the subject of Jenga pieces ...
Interesting thought, Justin. The Seattle D does indeed appear to be close to 2013 form ... and Marshawn Lynch looks more fearsome than a discontented rhinoceros. However, I still think the defending champs will join their rivals from San Francisco in street clothes for the postseason. That's because I have serious doubts they'll be able to win three of their remaining four (at Philly, vs. San Francisco, at Arizona, vs. St. Louis), which I reckon they'll have to do to get past Dallas (which has the head-to-head edge if the two teams both finish with 10 wins) and Detroit (which oughta win its next three -- against Tampa Bay,Minnesota and at Chicago -- to reach 11 wins). Of course, if the Falcons knock off the Cards in Atlanta on Sunday, all bets are off in the race between Arizona and Seattle until the two meet in Week 16 in Glendale.
Did you see and/or hear that Giants rookie Odell Beckhammade a good catch last Sunday night? Me and my pal Booyah, one of the fine chefs in the NFL Huddle commissary, headed outside to NFL Media's hunk of fake field to see how closely we could approximate it. Check out the video to the right to see the results.
Please allow that O.D. Booyah video to serve as inspiration as we begin a new (hopefully) weekly fan feature for the Dave Dameshek Football Program: The #ShekReplay. You and your pals video a recreation of your favorite play from the weekend's action, then post it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using that #ShekReplay hashtag. We'll use the best entries on the weekly DDFP (on NFL NOW and NFL.com).
In benching Robert Griffin III, Redskins coach Jay Gruden seems to have forcibly taken control of the football-shaped melodrama in our nation's capital. What if Colt McCoy stinks it up in Indy, though? McCoy winning that road game in Dallas with his Lone Star family and friends looking on was a sincerely nice moment for the one-time Browns flameout, but if McCoy plays to the level he's exhibited for most of his career, will Gruden still seem like a man-in-charge, or an out-of-his depth position coach fumbling for answers in a grievous situation that transcends the quarterback position?
If you think the NFC South is embarrassing now, just imagine what it could look like by Sunday night. The Falcons aren't expected to beat the Cards, the struggling Saints are on the road in Pittsburgh and the warm-weather Panthers (who've won one game since Week 3) will be in the freezing Twin Cities to face the Vikes. In other words, heading into December, the prospect that a 4-8 team will lead the division seems sadly realistic.
Alright, that leftover stuffing ain't gonna eat itself. Let's get to the Week 13 games:
WARNING: Do NOT continue reading if you don't want to know scores of the Week 13 games to come (2-1 this week; 12-2 last week; 117-60-1 on the season).
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 22
BALTIMORE RAVENS 20
Nick Novak: 5 FGs
Torrey Smith: 45-yd TD rec
CLEVELAND BROWNS 21
BUFFALO BILLS 27
Josh Gordon: 2 TDs
Bills defense: 7 sacks
TENNESSEE TITANS 17
HOUSTON TEXANS 23
Zach Mettenberger: 2 TDs
Andre Johnson: 8 rec, 120 yds, 2 TDs
WASHINGTON REDSKINS 19
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 34
Colt McCoy: 3 turnovers
Andrew Luck: 3 TDs (1 rush)
NEW YORK GIANTS 7
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 2
Odell Beckham: 10-yd TD rec
Blake Bortles: 3 INTs
CAROLINA PANTHERS 21
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 28
Kelvin Benjamin: 2 TDs
Anthony Barr: 2.5 sacks
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 28
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 30
Jimmy Graham: 10 rec, 110 yds, 2 TDs
Heath Miller: 6 rec, 80 yds, 2 TDs
OAKLAND RAIDERS 7
ST. LOUIS RAMS 14
Charles Woodson: 25-yd INT TD
Rams defense: 10 sacks
CINCINNATI BENGALS 20
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 10
Giovani Bernard: 105 yds/scrimmage, TD
Mike Evans: 45-yd TD rec
ARIZONA CARDINALS 21
ATLANTA FALCONS 20
Andre Ellington: 110 yds/scrimmage, 2 TDs
Matt Ryan: 2 INTs
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 24
GREEN BAY PACKERS 27
Rob Gronkowski: 2 TDs
Randall Cobb: 4 rec, 75 yds, TD
DENVER BRONCOS 31
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 21
Demaryius Thomas: 9 rec, 130 yds, 2 TDs
Travis Kelce: 30-yd TD rec
MIAMI DOLPHINS 17
NEW YORK JETS 13
Jarvis Landry: 35-yd TD rec
Geno Smith: 15-30, 210 yds, TD, INT
Football Turkey has his own thoughts on the Monday nighter, as you can see in the video to the right.
Enjoy the games! I hope your team wins (unless they're playing my team).
Follow Dave Dameshek on Twitter @Dameshek.
