By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Dwight Freeney is starting to creep into “ageless wonder” territory.

After spending the majority of his Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Indianapolis Colts, Freeney had a forgettable two-year stint with the San Diego Chargers in which he registered four sacks in 20 games. It seemed to be the end for the edge rusher with the signature, devastating spin move.

But then came a renaissance with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, and a season spent as a spot contributor for the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons in 2016. When 2017 rolled around, Freeney was without a team, but latched on with the Seattle Seahawks, where he recorded three sacks in four games before his surprise release. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Welcome to Numbers Wednesday, where we write posts on players who do and do not care about them.

We led off with DeMarco Murray not caring about his stats. Right around the same time that was published, Rams great Isaac Bruce was joining powerhouse morning show Good Morning Football to discuss a myriad of topics, including his Hall of Fame candidacy. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Age is nothing but a number.

That’s the theme we’re rolling with for the Week 12’s best players. Honors are due to a couple of graybeards — well, one of the two is clean shaven, but still — who made major contributions to their team’s successes over the holiday weekend.

(Speaking of Thanksgiving, did you — *DAD JOKE ALERT* — get your Phil on Thursday? I’ll be here all season.)

We begin with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, quarterback Philip Rivers. The 35-year-old signal-caller didn’t need an electric knife to carve up the Dallas Cowboys, completing 27 of 33 passes for 434 yards and three touchdowns to turn a close game into a blowout in a 28-6 win on Thanksgiving. In the spirit of the holiday, Rivers spread the wealth, connecting with receiver Keenan Allen 11 times for 172 yards and a score and tight end Hunter Henry five times for 76 yards and another touchdown. The win put the Chargers at 5-6 and squarely in the conversation for late-season risers into contention. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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DeMarco Murray hasn’t yet hit his dreaded 30th birthday, but his play has dropped off like many of those who have found themselves on the other side of the milestone.

A year after making his third Pro Bowl and leading the AFC in rushing, Murray can’t seem to get himself in gear. The veteran has 452 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 129 attempts for an average of 3.5 yards per carry, which is 0.1 yards per carry less than his nightmarish lone campaign in Philadelphia in 2015. One needs to only look at Sunday’s close win over the Indianapolis Colts to see Murray’s struggles firsthand. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Baltimore Ravens stayed in the AFC playoff hunt with a 23-16 victory over the Houston Texans on “Monday Night Football.” Here’s what we learned from the game:

1. Welcome to football purgatory. This is what happens when we get two middling teams in prime time. Houston, at 4-7 and falling quickly (last week’s win over Arizona aside) after the loss of wunderkind quarterback Deshaun Watson, hit Baltimore fairly desperate to avoid the seventh loss, which would be damning in this year’s NFC, but wouldn’t entirely sink the Texans‘ playoff hopes. They didn’t get what they came for.

Baltimore, meanwhile, was just as desperate (and despite the win, continues to be desperate) as Houston. Sitting at 6-5, the Ravens don’t have much of a chance to win their division, not with Pittsburgh at 9-2 and showing no signs of slowing. But with this muddled mess that is the American Football Conference in the year 2017, Baltimore just needs to pile up some wins, because that wild-card spot is wide open. They did that on Monday night, even if it wasn’t pretty and required enough Tom Savage mistakes to make coach Bill O’Brien tremble with actual frustration on the sideline. (He looked like cartoon steam might shoot out of his ears.) Right now, winning was all the Ravens needed to do. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Los Angeles Rams (8-3) bounced back from a Week 11 loss to earn a statement win over the red-hot New Orleans Saints (8-3), outlasting a comeback attempt to take home a 26-20 win at the L.A. Coliseum. Here’s what we learned:

1. After a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Sean McVay’s Rams came back with intensity usually reserved for a playoff game. From the opening kickoff returned by an amped Pharoh Cooper, the Rams played inspired football and appeared more than ready to get back to winning. Their first drive was efficient, covering 59 yards in seven plays and 4:07, with a touchdown pass on a hard slant to Sammy Watkins capping the possession. It almost looked too easy.

Things became more of a mixed bag as New Orleans adjusted, but Jared Goff was incredibly sharp in the first half, tossing two touchdown passes and helping Los Angeles build a 17-10 lead. Though he had his ups and downs, Goff’s line was eye-grabbing: 28 of 43, 354 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Todd Gurley quietly made an impact on the ground, and Cooper Kupp set a new single-game high with eight catches for 116 yards. And perhaps most importantly, the Rams got Watkins involved again, which can go a long, long way toward future successes for a team that doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Monday Night Football heads to the Pacific Northwest to finish Week 11 for an important NFC battle between the reigning conference champions and a contending team attempting to overcome adversity brought on by the injury bug. The Atlanta Falcons travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in a game that could go a long way toward determining this year’s postseason qualifiers.

Offensively, these two teams are nearly identical in total production, with Seattle owning a 0.4-yard advantage in average yards gained per game. How they get there, though, is different. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Packers lost Sunday’s game against the Ravens, and in the process, also lost two important defenders.

Clay Matthews Jr. exited early with a groin injury and did not return. Defensive tackle Kenny Clarksuffered an ankle injury late, a development that had his teammates heated after the game.

Clark’s ankle injury came in the earlier portion of the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run up the middle by Alex Collins. The carry caused a pile-up in the middle of the line of scrimmage, with the foundation laid on the back of Clark’s bent legs. Clark had been knocked to his knees by Ravens center Ryan Jensen, who drew the ire of Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Get out the bent-arm emojis — it’s flexing season.

As we move into the latter portion of the 2017 slate, game times are suddenly subject to change. Records and stakes matter!

The Week 12 schedule gets a little juicier in the late afternoon slot, with New Orleans’ matchup against the Los Angeles Rams moving to 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS. The move, however, means the Rams-Saints won’t be flexed to Sunday Night Football, as some had speculated it could have. In the same week, Tennessee at Indianapolis stays in the 1 p.m. slot but moves to FOX. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Drew Brees doesn’t want to play anywhere but New Orleans.

That’s fine and dandy, but there are a few details that make that less than guaranteed. Brees is in the final year of his contract. The quarterback is 38 years old. And while this might sound preposterous, the Saints are the least reliant upon him that they’ve ever been in his time in New Orleans. Continue reading →