Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #12 - For Pats, Better to Win or Lose?
Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #12 - For Pats, Better to Win or Lose?
Should they play hard, or should they tank, and which would you feel more comfortable with?
Yes, we’ve reached that portion of the 2023 season for New England Patriots fans. They’re 2-8, coming off the bye after a loss in Germany to the Colts, heading into Sunday’s game at the Giants. Their quarterback quandary (who’s starting this week?), with Mac Jones at its head, is a complete mess. So, with Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Michael Penix, Jr. (Washington), Jayden Daniels (LSU), and more possibly available, should they stay in the top five of the NFL’s draft order, the simple question is at hand: are you rooting for them to win or lose?
The remaining schedule goes like this: at Giants, vs. Chargers, at Steelers (Thursday), vs. Chiefs (Monday), at Broncos (Christmas Eve), at Bills. On paper, there are only two winnable games there.
Even if New England does end up in the top five, currently, they sit with the third pick in April’s NFL Draft, and there’s no guarantee they would take a QB. Maybe they would go after wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr from Ohio State or an offensive lineman like Amarius Mims out of Georgia. Plus, wouldn’t it be just like the Patriots to trade out of the pick to get more draft capital?
With so many questions surrounding this organization these days, the reality of the situation is how fans really feel about the team. If the passion, that hard-felt caring of the team dwindles, what happens next? That could affect Robert Kraft’s bottom line and it could be THAT difference that causes a change in Foxboro.
NFL Week 12 Power Rankings
The biggest surprise from the Texans this week wasn’t that they held on to beat the Cards. It was the fact that rookie CJ Stroud threw three interceptions for the first time in his college or pro career. Still, they won the game to stay in the playoff mix.
The Cowboys continue to do what you expect them to do, beat bad teams. First the Giants, then the Panthers, and now the Commanders on Thanksgiving Day. They’ve won all their home games by 20+ points. But here’s the rub: they are 8-1 vs. teams .500 or below and 0-2 against teams above .500.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence delivered just what the Jaguars needed after a resounding 34-3 loss to the 49ers in week 11. Lawrence ran for two scores and threw another pair to wide receiver Calvin Ridley to trounce the Titans. The AFC South is there for the Jags to take.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski took a risk starting rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson against the Steelers, but it paid off. Cleveland walked away with a final-second 10-7 victory that keeps them right in the thick of the AFC playoff chase with Denver on the horizon this Sunday.
The sign of a good team is winning games you shouldn’t. That was Detroit’s comeback victory over Chicago in week 11 after being down 12 with four minutes to go and having quarterback Jarod Goff throw three interceptions. Then, they lost to Green Bay on Thanksgiving Day with Goff fumbling leading to a Packers touchdown. It’s certainly time for a turnaround in Motown or else that early optimism could be a one-and-done come playoff time.
Is it me or has the Miami offense dialed things down lately? Maybe they’re just saving it for the playoffs or maybe they’re just letting that defense show off a bit. Regardless, back-to-back wins over the Raiders and Jets have them sitting pretty atop the AFC East with a chance to tie the Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed if Kansas City loses in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Drop, drop, drop. The Chiefs continue to disappoint in the second halves of games and lead the league in drops (18). Kansas City was held scoreless once again in the second half against Philadelphia and is averaging under six points in the final 30 minutes of games through 11 weeks. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling's drop of a sure touchdown pass in the final two minutes didn’t help things Monday night.
Can the Ravens rebound from the loss of tight end Mark Andrews and his ankle injury that could leave him missing the rest of the season? The trio of WRs Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Nelson Agholor along with the tripod of runners in the backfield of Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Kenyon Mitchell, should be able to make up the deficit. Having a top-three-scoring defense doesn’t hurt either.
The Niners have rebounded nicely from their three-game losing streak by winning their last three games, including a resounding victory in Seattle on Thanksgiving Day night. An NFC Championship Game rematch awaits in week 13 before a rematch with the Seahawks in week 14.
For the majority of Monday night’s game in Kansas City, the Eagles appeared headed to their second loss, going nowhere on offense. Instead, Jalen Hurts took over and made two huge plays to set up touchdowns to rally Philly from 10 down and leave the Chiefs in defeat. Week in and week out, this team is clearly on a mission to get to Las Vegas and win a Super Bowl. Until that changes, and it could in week 13 against the 49ers, they will stay on top of our power rankings.
Five games to watch in week 12
Patriots at Giants (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Jaguars at Texans (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Browns at Broncos (Sunday 4:05 pm on FOX)
Chiefs at Raiders (Sunday 4:25 pm on CBS)
Bills at Eagles (Sunday 4:25 pm on CBS)
