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Welcome to the Friday version of the Decide Six e-newsletter!
It took 15 weeks, however it lastly occurred: Somebody has clinched a division title! I used to be beginning to suppose that not one of the divisions have been going to get clinched and that the NFL was going to have to choose names out of a hat to see who makes the playoffs, however fortunately, it does not appear like that must occur.
The 49ers are the workforce that clinched, they usually did it with a 21-13 win over the Seahawks final night time. We’ll be breaking down that recreation in immediately’s e-newsletter, plus supplying you with some upsets and going over why the Jets have determined to show again to Zach Wilson.
Oh, and do not forget: There are Saturday video games this weekend. There might be three video games tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. ET and all three might be airing on NFL Community. Here is a fast take a look at the schedule:
The Payments recreation needs to be further fascinating as a result of the climate forecast in Buffalo is asking for a excessive of 31 levels and 9 inches of snow. Since 2017, the Dolphins are 0-7 in games where the kickoff temperature is under 40 degrees.
In unrelated information, your job this weekend is to get as many individuals you realize to enroll in the e-newsletter. To get your folks to enroll, all you have to do is click here and then share this link with them. Signing somebody up makes an excellent vacation present and that is primarily as a result of it is free. Everybody loves free.
1. At this time’s present: 49ers appear like a Tremendous Bowl contender, even with a rookie QB
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The 49ers grew to become the primary NFL team to clinch a division title with a 21-13 win over the Seahawks on Thursday night time that wasn’t almost as shut because the rating made it sound. The 49ers dominated almost this complete recreation on their technique to choosing up the win.
Ryan Wilson, Will Brinson and I obtained collectively after the sport to file a 40-minute podcast concerning the 49ers’ win and what ramifications it may need on the playoffs. Listed here are a number of key factors from the sport that we went over:
- 49ers protection wrecked the Seahawks. One large cause why the 49ers can win with a rookie QB beneath heart is as a result of their protection is destroying everybody in San Francisco’s path. The Seahawks offense may’t get something going resulting from the truth that Geno Smith was going through a lot stress all night time. Smith ended up getting sacked 3 times and hit a number of different instances. The 49ers additionally shut down Seattle’s run recreation, holding the Seahawks to simply 70 yards. The protection additionally got here up with one of many largest performs of the sport simply earlier than halftime when Dre Greenlaw compelled a Travis Homer fumble that was recovered by Charvarius Ward, who returned the ball to Seattle’s six-yard line (you’ll be able to see the play here). The 49ers would rating two performs later with a landing that basically iced the sport. The 49ers have now held their opponents to 17 factors or much less in seven straight video games, which is the workforce’s longest streak since 1984, a yr that ended with a Super Bowl win for San Francisco.
- Brock Purdy continues to shine. The 49ers offense hasn’t missed a beat since shedding Jimmy Garoppolo, and that is all because of Brock Purdy, who seemed sharp for the third straight week. Purdy began the sport by finishing his first 11 passes for 98 yards and a landing. General, Purdy threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and obtained some severe offensive assist from Christian McCaffrey (138 whole yards, one landing) and George Kittle, who had arguably his greatest recreation of the season with 4 catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. (A type of scores got here on a 54-yard pass that you can see here.) Purdy has been nearly perfect for the 49ers up to now, and if he continues to play at such a excessive stage, he may do one thing no rookie QB has ever accomplished in NFL historical past as a starter: Make it to the Tremendous Bowl.
- Slumping Seahawks may miss the postseason. Heading into Week 10, the Seahawks have been sitting at 6-3 and seemed like a lock for the postseason. Now, they’ve misplaced 4 of their previous 5 video games, and there is a very actual probability they will miss the playoffs. One cause for the Seahawks struggles is that Geno Smith has come crashing again to earth. Smith struggled in opposition to the 49ers stress on an evening the place Seattle merely could not get something occurring offense. The Seahawks punted on 5 of their seven first-half possessions, and issues did not get significantly better after that.
- 49ers clinch NFC West. For the second time in 4 years, the 49ers (10-4) are NFC West champions. The division title means the 49ers will get to host no less than one playoff recreation in January. With yet one more win this season — or a Tampa Bay loss Sunday — the 49ers would clinch no less than the No. 3 seed within the NFC. The 49ers seemingly will not catch the Eagles for the No. 1 seed, however there is a very actual probability they might catch the Vikings at two. Minnesota (10-3) is only a half-game forward of the 49ers, and if the Vikings lose to the Colts on Sunday, San Francisco would soar as much as the 2 spot. This marks the fourth time since 2011 that the 49ers have received the NFC West, and every of the earlier three seasons, they’ve made it to no less than the NFC title recreation.
If you wish to hear our whole recap of the sport, be sure to click here. You can also watch today’s episode on YouTube by clicking here.
2. At this time’s present Half II: Finest bets for Week 15
The very best half about Friday — moreover the truth that it is Friday — is that you just get two episodes of the podcast in your feed. After recording the Thursday night time postgame podcast with Wilson and myself, Brinson kicked us to the curb in order that he may file his weekly picks present with Pete Prisco and R.J. White.
These three guys spent almost 60 minutes going over their greatest bets for each single recreation being performed in Week 15, and we will cowl three of these bets from every man beneath.
Pete Prisco (2-1 final week in picks lined right here, 25-16-1 on the season)
R.J. White (1-2 final week in picks lined right here, 24-16-2 on the season)
- Ravens (+3) to cowl in opposition to the Browns
- Steelers (+3) to cowl in opposition to the Panthers
- Titans at Chargers OVER 47.5 factors
Will Brinson (1-2 final week in picks lined right here, 19-22-1 on the season)
To listen to what the remainder of the most effective bets are for Week 15 — and there are fairly a number of — you can check out the episode on YouTube by clicking here.
3. Week 15 picks: Ravens, Raiders and Steelers headline large week of upsets
USATSI
That is the ultimate e-newsletter of the week, which suggests we might be cramming as many picks as humanly attainable into this house.
With that in thoughts, we have got 4 extra Week 15 picks coming your manner, and people might be coming from NFL senior author Pete Prisco, together with Jordan Dajani, Tyler Sullivan and myself.
Here is how issues are going to work: I will offer you one decide from every man after which direct you to the remainder of their picks. That manner, when you like their decide, you can learn the remainder of them, but when they decide in opposition to your favourite workforce, you’ll be able to ignore the remainder of their picks and transfer on.
- Pete Prisco — Ravens (+3) 23-22 over Browns. From Prisco: “The Browns are accomplished, so this can be a pleasure recreation. Deshaun Watson hasn’t been that good, which is a priority. The Ravens are enjoying consecutive highway video games, which is hard. They’ll win it behind their protection, however it’s shut.” For the rest of Prisco’s Week 15 picks, be sure to click here.
- Tyler Sullivan — Raiders (+1) 24-21 over Patriots. From Sullivan: “It is tempting to choose the Patriots, however let’s not neglect that Josh McDaniels has intimate data of Mac Jones and New England’s offense. The Raiders are definitely able to making self-destructive errors that might be their undoing, however New England’s offense is simply too misplaced to belief.” For the rest of Sullivan’s Week 15 picks, be sure to click here.
- Jordan Dajani — Commanders (-4.5) 28-23 over Giants. From Dajani: “Washington is without doubt one of the hottest groups within the NFL proper now and may have had a bye week to organize for this recreation. The Commanders are 6-1-1 over their previous eight video games after beginning 1-4. They’re permitting 16 factors per recreation throughout that eight-game span, which ranks second within the NFL. It is a large recreation, and Taylor Heinicke craves these large moments. As for Daniel Jones, he is 0-9 in prime time.” For the rest of Dajani’s Week 15 best bets, be sure to click here.
- John Breech — Steelers (+3) 22-19 over Panthers. The NFC South is a complete trainwreck this yr, so I’ve determined I am simply going to completely embrace that this week. I’ve obtained the Panthers, Falcons and Buccaneers all shedding in Week 15, and if that occurs, it means Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta will all be inside one recreation of the first-place Bucs heading into Week 16. For the rest of my Week 15 picks, be sure to click here.
4. Jets turning to Wilson at QB: The Zach assault is again
After spending the previous three weeks on the bench, Zach Wilson might be getting one other probability to function the Jets beginning quarterback this weekend when New York performs host to the Lions.
Here is the whole lot it is advisable know concerning the scenario:
- Mike White is sidelined resulting from damage. Though Wilson is getting his job again, it is not as a result of he is been outplaying Mike White in follow. White, who took a number of brutal hits in Week 14 in opposition to the Payments, is coping with a rib damage proper now and docs have not cleared him to play, which opened the door for Wilson to return to the beginning QB spot.
- Wilson was benched following a Week 11 loss to the Patriots. Wilson went 5-2 because the Jets’ beginning QB, however their file wasn’t essentially due to him. Throughout his seven-game stint, Wilson accomplished barely 55% of his passes and solely averaged 182.7 passing yards per recreation. Wilson was lastly benched after a 10-3 loss to the Patriots in Week 11 the place he accomplished simply 9 of twenty-two passes for 77 yards.
- Wilson had simply been promoted this week. After shedding his job in Week 11, the Jets did not even make him the backup QB to White. As an alternative, that job went to Joe Flacco whereas Wilson was listed as inactive for the previous three video games. Earlier this week, Jets coach Robert Saleh promoted Wilson to the No. 2 QB and that promotion set the stage for him to be named starter immediately.
For extra on Wilson’s return to the starting job, be sure to click here.
5. Playoff eventualities: 4 groups can clinch a playoff berth in Week 15
USATSI
The 49ers grew to become the primary workforce within the NFL to clinch a division title this yr, however they may not be the one workforce to tug that off in Week 15. There are a complete of 4 groups that may clinch a playoff berth this weekend, together with two that may clinch a division title.
Listed here are the 4 groups that may clinch a playoff berth and/or division title in Week 15 and what they should do to clinch:
COWBOYS
- Can clinch playoff berth with: Cowboys win over Jaguars OR Commanders loss OR Lions loss/tie to Jets.
VIKINGS
- Can clinch division title with: Vikings win over Colts PLUS Lions loss to Jets.
BILLS
- Can clinch playoff berth with: Payments win over Dolphins.
- Can clinch division title with: Chiefs win over Texans OR Chargers loss to Titans
Apart from these 4 groups, the Eagles and 49ers have already clinched a playoff berth, which suggests six of the NFL’s 14 playoff spots might be taken by the tip of Week 15. Bear in mind, this simply represents the simplest clinching/elimination situation for every of those groups. For a take a look at each attainable playoff-clinching situation, be sure to click here.
6. Speedy-fire roundup: NFL shuts down rulebook loophole Raiders had been utilizing
It has been a busy 24 hours within the NFL, and because it’s almost inconceivable to maintain monitor of the whole lot that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you.
- Raiders particular kickoff banned by NFL. For the previous two weeks, the Raiders had been utilizing a holder on kickoffs as a way to acquire a bonus — the holder would maintain the ball on the surface fringe of the tee to provide the ball extra top — however the NFL has put the kibosh on that. For extra particulars on this distinctive story, be sure to click here.
- Tom Brady irked by accusation that he alters offensive recreation plan with out consulting coaches. After the Buccaneers misplaced to the 49ers on Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a narrative that included an fascinating nugget: that Brady has a behavior of creating tweaks to the offensive recreation plan with out working it by anybody on the teaching workers. Brady was requested concerning the accusation Thursday and did not take too kindly to the query. You can check out his comments here.
- Steelers receiver desires Mason Rudolph to start out. After watching Mitchell Trubisky throw three interceptions in Week 14, Diontae Johnson did not cover his emotions about who needs to be the Steelers’ starter Sunday in opposition to Carolina. If Kenny Pickett (concussion) is not cleared to play, Johnson would prefer that the team rolls out Mason Rudolph as its starting QB.
- NFL will focus on making roughing the passer reviewable. After being hit with a number of controversial roughing the passer penalties this yr, the NFL is making an attempt to determine a technique to repair the issue. One possibility that the league will focus on within the offseason is the opportunity of making the penalty reviewable. You may check out full details on the story by clicking here.
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