2021 NFL Week Sixteen: Biggest Storylines and Takeaways
2021 NFL week sixteen is in the books and we have some clarity when it comes to the playoff picture. The Chiefs and Dolphins continue to roll, the Bills earn a huge win and the Cardinals are falling apart. With only two weeks left playoff seeding is starting to take its form and teams have started clinching playoff births. Check other storylines from week sixteen right here!
2021 NFL Week Sixteen- Bills Take Stronghold On AFC East
After losing to the Patriots in Buffalo and coming up short against the Bucs, Josh Allen and the Bills responded to the adversity and got a huge win in a rematch against the Patriots. In a season of highs and lows, Josh Allen was the best player on the field and looked like the $150M quarterback the Bills signed this offseason. Bills offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll had an incredible offensive game plan and Sean McDermott’s defense limited the Pats’ offense. Even without Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs and Isaiah McKenzie stepped up and had huge games. With a win over the Patriots, the Bills are two wins away from winning the AFC East and hosting a playoff game.
As for the Patriots, Mac Jones and the offense have sputtered with Jones having back-to-back poor showings. A bigger story, however, is the defensive effort from New England. A rookie QB is going to have their struggles but this Patriots defense which had been one of the best two weeks ago has been gashed in back-to-back weeks. The Colts and Jonathan Taylor shredded the Pats rush defense while Josh Allen and the Bills scored on seven of their eight possessions. They have come back to Earth after their seven-game win streak and now control their own destiny. Win out and they will be a wildcard team, but a huge divisional matchup still looms in week 18 against the red-hot Miami Dolphins.
2021 NFL Week Sixteen- Texans Upset The Chargers
After an impressive showing on Thursday night football last week against the Chiefs, the Chargers laid an absolute egg against the Houston Texans. Davis Mills thoroughly outplayed Justin Herbert as the Texans thumped the Chargers 41-29. As for the Chargers, this is just a horrible loss for a team fighting for a wild card spot. With the Dolphins winning this week, the Chargers find themselves on the outside looking in. Maybe if Brandon Staley was more focused on defensive schemes than sucking up to the media the Chargers would be a lock playoff team. All I heard this offseason was how smart of a defensive mind Brandon Staley was, well I have watched almost every Chargers game, and their defense has been terrible. This weekend they made Davis Mills and Rex Burkhead look like Deshaun Watson and Arian Foster.
I do think there is a little glimmer of hope for the Houston Texans. When the Deshaun Watson situation unfolded it looked bleak for the Texans and many people like myself thought they would struggle to win games. They sit at 4-11 but like the Lions have shown some fight under first-year coach David Culley. Davis Mills has started ten games and after a rocky start has played some really good football. Everyone likes to give Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson the excuse of being on a shitty team, meanwhile, Davis Mills has looked good over the past couple of weeks with a bottom-five roster in the league. Houston might not have to use their first-round pick on a QB.
2021 NFL Week Sixteen- Cardinals Falling Apart
I have piled on Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals the past couple of weeks and I am going to continue to do so until this team proves me wrong. This is now two years in a row where the Cards have started off hot only to have the wheels fall off the bus in December. We now have two years of data that shows us that Kliff Kingsbury’s team fall apart late in the season which is why he landed on the hot seat entering the 2021 season. They have now lost three straight after losing to the red-hot Indianapolis Colts. With the Rams winning in Minnesota, the Cardinals are no longer in control of the NFC West. If and when this team makes the playoffs, I am going to put my life savings on the team they are facing because frankly, I have no trust in this team and this coaching staff.
As for the Colts, I like seeing Carson Wentz play well. He was discarded in Philly, rightfully so, but he has turned his career around and is playing some good football. If Wentz and this Colts passing attack can consistently show up combined with Jonathan Taylor and this offensive line, I want no part of this team in the playoffs. They went into Arizona missing two of their best players in Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard and came out victorious.
2021 NFL Week Sixteen- Chiefs Continue To Roll
The Kansas City Chiefs have won their sixth AFC West title in a row and have full control over the number one seed. Patrick Mahomes is back to playing at an elite level and the defense has turned a corner and become one of the league’s best. After a shaky start to the season, the Chiefs are the clear favorite to come out of the AFC and will most likely be in their third straight Super Bowl. There really is not that much else to say, when you have one of the best quarterback/coach duos in the league you always have a chance to win and to win big. They play the Bengals this weekend which has a chance to be a shoot out but this team should cruise to home-field advantage and once again the AFC will go through Arrowhead.
As for the Steelers, this team is just sad. They have a number of injuries, an inexperienced offensive line, and a dinosaur playing quarterback. I love Big Ben but this has become pretty hard to watch in the last couple of weeks. I would have to imagine that their game against Cleveland will be Ben’s last game at Heinz Field. Offense and Big Ben aside, the Steelers defense does not look like the once dominating unit we have become accustomed to. TJ Watt is an elite pass rusher but cannot stay on the field, their secondary has holes all around it and they just lack a certain physicality. Mahomes and the Chiefs got whatever they wanted on Sunday and scored seemingly every time they had the ball.
2021 NFL Week Sixteen- Dolphins Turn Season Around
After starting 1-7 the Dolphins have rattled off seven straight wins and have a hold on the final wild-card spot. In a year that looked like it was going to end in disaster, Bryan Flores and company have completely turned around their season. Last night they dismantled Ian Book and Saints winning by a score of 20-3. Tua Tagovailoa deserves some respect, he may not be the flashiest athlete or have the biggest arm but he is accurate and he is one tough motherfucker. I have watched him all season get absolutely wrecked behind a poor offensive line and he gets up right away every time. Say what you want about his arm talent and size, I don’t think you can question his toughness. The Dolphins control their own destiny when it comes to a playoff appearance. With two games left, they must beat the Titans and then the Patriots in a huge divisional matchup. Even if the Fins don’t make the playoffs, Flores and this squad deserve a ton of credit for finishing the way they did.
One thing on the Saints, if this team gets a competent quarterback which I believe they have in Jameis Winston this team would be a lock to make the playoffs. They have too many elite players on defense and Sean Payton is too good of an offensive coach. If Jameis can play mistake-free football and make a couple of plays here and there this team could play with anyone.
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Check out week fifteen here, come back for week seventeen!
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