By Kate Arhar // @ClvlndK8
Just so you know, I am NOT a fan of two-part episodes of tv shows. Or movies with a huge cliff-hanger that you have to wait years to see. (Thanks “Empire Strikes Back” for traumatizing my teen years!)
At the same time, who really likes the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas?” It’s soooooo long…. and repetative… and boring…
So this one time, I made an exception and broke my article into two parts.
Welcome to Part Two!
On the 6th Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… Six Mike Evans Receptions
Have we seen this story before? The Atlanta Falcons get off to a 17-0 lead at halftime only to let a Tom Brady team (this time the Buccaneers) back into the game to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory…. That was the story this week. And frankly, I blame the lack of targets to wide receiver Mike Evans. With only seven targets and six receptions, quarterback Matt Ryan just couldn’t get the ball to Evans enough in the home stretch to get the win.
#Falcons have blown a 24-7 lead to Tom Brady.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 20, 2020
On the 5th Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… Five Rodgers SACKS!
There hasn’t been much to celebrate this season in Duval County, but the Carolina Panthers managed to sack Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers five times in this week’s 16-24 loss. While there are no moral victories in football, at least the Panther D is getting into the backfield. Now if only their offense could do something good. At 4-10, they’ve got zero chance at the playoffs and, frankly, should be looking towards the 2021 draft.
On the 4th Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… Four Third Down Conversions
Tampa Bay managed just four 3rd down conversions in their come-from-behind 31-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. This is not good. They may feel good about their 9-5 record and their chances in the playoffs, but Tom Brady can’t be this “cold” for the entire first half and be forced to come up big late. And not converting on third down is going to cause they problems going forward.
On the 3rd Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… Three receiving touchdowns
The Saints QB Drew Brees looked a bit better as he continues to recover from those broken ribs. He hit three different receivers for touchdowns in the down-to-the-wire loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, 29-32. This game saw a bunch of weird things including a safety, some attempts at 2-point conversions and just one field goal. Running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray, along with wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, caught touchdown passes from Brees in the effort.
Heck of play for the Saints. Brees throws it up to Lil’Jordan Humphrey in the endzone for the 17 yd TD. PAT is good.
Chiefs 32#Saints 29
2:06 left
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) December 21, 2020
On the 2nd Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… Two more brutal weeks of Football
The Atlanta Falcons are 4-10. Their last two weeks of football have them facing the KC Chiefs and the TB Buccaneers… again. This is going to just be a brutal ending to a less than stellar season. I don’t know if Matt Ryan will be back next year. I don’t know who will be holding the reins as head coach. But what I do know is that they better figure out what’s going on in the offseason and get busy fixing this ship because it’s going to sink – and sink hard – if they have to keep facing the likes of Brady and Brees.
On the 1st Day of Christmas the NFC South gave to me… A playoff trip for QB Drew Brees
Will this be Drew Brees’s last season in the NFL? I personally don’t think he’s ready to hang up his cleats… but just in case, why not go out with a trip to the playoffs? The NFC South title is all but clinched… They face the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas day and then the Carolina Panthers in week 17… I’m going to guess they finish the season 12-4. Regardless, Brees will bring his veteran experience to these playoffs and I expect them to make a deep run. Just in case it’s his last.
Well, folks, that’s what I got for these 12 Days of Christmas from the NFC South. What did you get?
Talk NFC South Football with Kate on Twitter // @ClvlndK8
#SmartWomen #SmartFootball
The post The Twelve Days of Christmas – NFC South Style (Part 2) first appeared on https://www.ourturffb.com.
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