The 2024 NFL season is turning out to be one of the greats. After last season, which I felt was disappointing, 2024 has made up for it with some great games. Even Thursday Night Football has been good with great divisional contests. Sure, Kansas City and Buffalo still rule the AFC and Detroit is having a dream season. But Pittsburgh has had quite a resurgence after two middling seasons.
Russell Wilson is doing the job (and to be fair, so has Justin Fields). #3 really proved himself on Sunday with a monster performance, throwing for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the 4-7 record, Cincinnati put up a good fight with Joe Burrow and his receivers JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Steelers’ defense came up clutch when it mattered though. Pittsburgh could have easily put up 50 yesterday. I’m making a trip to Primanti’s this week to try the Dangeruss sandwich. Maybe when I do my Christmas shopping somewhere in Pittsburgh.
In Baltimore, it was supposed to be a battle between the two top running backs in the league, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. While Saquon put up decent numbers, it was the Philadelphia defense that got the gameball. The early hole the Eagles was quickly erased with touchdowns from Dallas Goedert and Jalen Hurts. The supposed greatest of all time when it comes to kickers really struggled. Now a lot of question marks surround the Baltimore kicking game and Justin Tucker. Two missed field goals were the difference in this game and now Pittsburgh has a cushy lead in the division. We in Pittsburgh all know Chris Boswell is the best kicker in the game. Lamar Jackson may have had the numbers, but Philly had the last laugh yesterday.
Detroit may have the best record in the NFC (11-1 along with Kansas City), but I like Philadelphia better. If these two meet in the conference championship, whether Detroit or Philly, it will be a close game. Philadelphia has won eight straight contests and shows no signs of slowing down as a cross-state matchup looms in two weeks with Pittsburgh.
Last week, the snow really fell during the Steelers vs. Browns contest. But it made for a memorable game that Pittsburgh almost came from behind to win. Buffalo played in similar conditions last night against the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
Lake effect snow pummeled the Great Lakes over the holiday weekend from Ashtabula to Erie to Buffalo. Some places in upstate New York have around five feet of snow. Would the NFL postpone this game due to the elements? The answer was no. The Bills took advantage of the snow and were game, while the banged up 49ers weren’t so lucky.
The early losses to Baltimore and Houston were nothing to worry about for Buffalo. The Bills are in a better place than year and have really silenced the critics who said they would finish third behind the Jets and Dolphins (LOL). The AFC looks better too, though I’m biased because of Pittsburgh’s improved record and depth at QB.
Buffalo clinched its fifth consecutive AFC East title Sunday. This is a feat they didn’t even accomplish in the Jim Kelly/Marv Levy era which is the best era of Bills football in my opinion.
Finally, the NFC North is a beast, with Minnesota and Green Bay both having great seasons despite being in second and third place, respectively. I think the Packers and Vikings could be hard to face early on in the playoffs. The NFC West is anybody’s division but the 49ers’ window is closing fast. The NFC South may end up going to Tampa again (9-8/10-7) if Atlanta continues to falter.
Stylish 🍒 