Review and Preview : Week 14

football, news, week 14

Review

Monday: Are you a normal girl who is also a football fan? We want YOU! Join our offseason feature.

Tuesday: We learned a new party trick: how to quickly tell which end zone belongs to which team.

Wednesday: Read only if wrapping your mind around a new definition of backward won’t give you a brain cramp.

Thursday: It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to get ready for the postseason! Part One: How the Postseason Works.

Preview

I’m just going to level with you all. For this late in the season…there isn’t a wealth of spectacular games to choose from this weekend. However, there are  few things to keep an eye on.

Normal Girl Game of the Week

Packers at Cowboys, 4:25pm EST on FOX

America’s worst defense matches up against America’s worst able-to-recover-from-losing-their-starting-quarterback in America’s Game of the Week on FOX. All the same, the Cowboys and the Packers playoff hopes are both (precariously) on the line. It’s like the 1960s all over again…but far, far worse.

Also on the Radar:

1. Houston at Indy is a good game disguised as a terrible game – a 2-11 Texans team up against the division leading 8-5 Colts. Those records don’t take into account that the Colts have been struggling like all get out over the past few weeks, and the Texans nearly stole a game from the Patriots a few weeks ago. So that should be a telling AFC South matchup.

2. Also watch-worthy: Jay Cutler’s return to the Bears against a not-as-bad-as-they-seem Browns team – another “bad” team that almost stole a game from the Patriots.

3. Speaking of the Patriots, this could be the week in which they actually lose the games they seem destined to lose, as has been the case for most of the past month. The Dolphins are still very much in the middle of the AFC scrum for the last wildcard spot and one would think that their play will probably reflect that motivation. However, one should also think that the Patriots are the Patriots…and will probably win by 50 just because everyone thinks that they won’t.

What To Know : After Week 14

Let’s keep things plain and simple for this week’s overview:

Biggest Winners: Five teams had huge wins considering playoff potential: the Redskins, Cowboys, Vikings, Seahawks, and Colts. And really…there were six teams…but it seems wrong to mention the Jets. They’re just so unwatchable at this point.

2012-12-10 Cardinals

This adequately sums up the Cardinals quarterback situation.

Biggest Losers: The Cardinals. Literally, since they lost 58-0…and no other team got shut out or lost by a 58 point deficit last week…because that’s just ridiculous. Remember when the Cardinals were 4-0 and on top of the world? What happened, AZ?! But as far as the playoff picture goes, the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, and Bears all had losses that could come back to haunt them in a few weeks.

Biggest Surprise: Has to be the Panthers stomping all over the Falcons. The final score was 30-20 Panthers, but it wasn’t actually that close. But a close second would be the before-our-very-eyes evolution of the Packers running game on Sunday night against the Lions. They ran all over the Lions in the second half for the win (and welcome back, Ryan Grant!!!)

Biggest Fail: Come on, Buffalo. You can at least catch the guy:

How about you guys? Any highlights or lowlights on the weekend?

What To Know : Week 14

Here we go, ladies! Week 14 has arrived:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Houston at New England on Monday night, an AFC battle. This could potentially be a preview of the AFC Championship game. Vegas is taking the Pats, and so are most other predictors, but I think it’ll be a close one.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RYAN GRANT!!! In reality, this is irrelevant to most of you, and, honestly, it could be irrelevant to the Packers, too. But former running back Ryan Grant, cut from the team prior to this season, is coming back to the Pack!!! The Packers signed him on Wednesday after losing yet another running back (James Starks) to injury and let me tell you…I can’t wait to see Grant get on the field ASAP. He’s slated to play on Sunday against the Lions and will surely be anxious to have a great comeback game at home.

We’re so glad you’re back, Ryan!!!

In other news: Big Ben is also scheduled to start for the Steelers after missing three weeks with the dangerous rib injury. He gets to come back against the ailing Chargers, which, honestly, is a gift-wrapped win for the taking. (Sorry, San Diego.)

STORYLINE TO KNOW: Speaking of San Diego, the yearly Norv-Turner-is-out rumors are circulating on cue again. And, once again, the owner is denying them. You can’t help but feel bad for Turner, who has been put through this circus so many times it’s not even considered breaking news anymore. It’s just normal. But I’d be surprised if the firing doesn’t pan out this time; all signs point to a Turner-less San Diego next season.

RECIPES TO MAKE:

bacon cornbread

cinnamon cream cheese coffee cake

cranberry salsa

peanut butter fudge

snickers brownie bites