Judgements XI

 By Clark Judge 

Patrick Mahomes
Credit: NBC/NFL Game Pass

Well, that does it.

The Kansas City Chiefs will win their division for the seventh straight season, and the league MVP race has been reduced to Patrick Mahomes and everyone else.

If there were doubts before Sunday night, there are none now. The only team that could’ve challenged the Chiefs in the AFC West were the L.A. Chargers, and they’re toast -- three games behind after Sunday’s 30-27 defeat.

But forget the Bolts. This night was all about Kansas City and why it’s the premier team in the AFC and maybe the NFL.

 It produced enough big plays on offense and defense to do more than complete a series sweep of the Chargers; it produced its 25^th consecutive victory in the months of November and December and sent a message to the rest of the AFC that the conference race still goes through K.C.

Which is where Mahomes comes in.

Without Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs’ passing game was supposed to be impaired this season. Except it’s not. Mahomes tops the league in touchdown passes and passing yards. Furthermore, two weeks after leading the Chiefs to a come-from-behind victory over Tennessee he led them to another come-from-behind victory over the Chargers, his 14^th straight road victory over a division opponent.

Down by four with under two minutes left, it took him only six plays to go 75 yards and drop the hammer on a Chargers with a third TD pass to tight end Travis Kelce. If that sounds familiar, it should. Kelce has victimized the Bolts for 21 catches, 357 yards and five TDs the past three games – all victories.

“Magic Mahomes does it again,” Kelce said after Sunday’s victory.

That should sound familiar, too. In his last five starts, Mahomes’ passing yardage looks like this: 338, 423, 446, 331 and 329.  Now that the Chiefs are on top of the AFC at 8-2, the AFC West is theirs and Mahomes is cranking out a litany of highlight-reel plays, the inevitable has occurred.

Mahomes is the frontrunner of what once was a crowded MVP field.

Once upon a time, he, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were the frontrunners for an award that hasn’t been won by a non-quarterback since 2012 (Adrian Peterson). Then Allen separated from the pack, only to yield in recent weeks to Mahomes and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts.

 But now Mahomes seems in command, partly because the Chiefs are accelerating and mostly because his play is, too. Granted, there’s time for others to close. But Mahomes and the Chiefs would have to take a couple of giant steps backward for that to happen.

And I don’t see it.

SUNDAY SCHOOL: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. Maybe they’re the same ol’ Jets after all. It’s not that they lost to New England. It’s that they lost to New England for the second time this season and the 14^th straight time since a 2015 victory. Of all the offensive shortcomings Sunday, this is the one that gets your attention: The Jets never had a second-half snap beyond their own 35. Instead, they had seven second-half punts. But that’s what happens when your quarterback is sacked four times, your offense produces 103 yards and nobody cracks the end zone.  There’s nothing wrong with the Jets’ defense. The questions surround underachieving quarterback Zach Wilson and a passing offense that Jets’ receiver Garrett Wilson called “sorry.” Bingo. “Hopefully,” Garrett said, “this is a wake-up call for some people in the facility.”

2. Dallas just joined the NFC’s upper tier. That was more than a defeat of powerful Minnesota. It was a beatdown … in Minnesota, no less … and it came via the Cowboys’ most complete performance of the season. Their running backs scored four times. Quarterback Dak Prescott missed on only three of 25 passes. Their attack was balanced, with 40 runs, 30 passes and zero sacks. Plus, their defense was so dominant that it kept Kirk Cousins from throwing a TD pass for the first time in 40 games and sacked him seven times. In short, one week after getting stunned by Green Bay, Dallas responded with a signature victory … and the rest of the NFC should take notice. Minnesota and Philadelphia comprised the NFC hierarchy until Sunday. Now they have company.

3. It doesn’t matter who does the play-calling in Denver. Nathaniel Hackett? Klint Kubiak? Doesn’t make a difference. Kubiak took over for his head coach on Sunday, and the Broncos responded with a TD on their first series. But after that? Nothing but field goals and a 22-16 overtime loss. It was the eighth time in 10 starts that the Broncos failed to score more than 16 points and the eighth time where Russell Wilson had no more than one TD pass. Talk about a Rocky Mountain low. Nathaniel Hackett, report to the principal’s office.

4. Bailouts no longer needed for Detroit. That’s three straight victories for the Lions, including two in a row on the road. Prior to last weekend they’d lost their last 13 there. Now they’ve conquered a Giants team that, prior to Sunday, was 7-2 and hadn’t allowed more than 23 points in all but one game (Seattle). At 4-6, the Lions have jumped to second in the NFC North and have one more victory than all of last season (3-13-1). Cue Al Michaels Do you believe in miracles?

5. Turn out the lights. The party’s over for the Rams.  They lose Cooper Kupp to a high ankle sprain. They may lose Matt Stafford to a possible concussion. They lose to New Orleans. It’s over, people. The Rams become the latest Super Bowl champion not to defend its title the following season. Worse, with two more losses they become the first Super Bowl winner since the 2003 Tampa Bay Bucs to follow with a losing season.

THIRD AND 20

1.       With the first pick of the 2023 draft, the Houston Texans select Bryce Young … quarterback … University of Alabama.

2.       Let’s get this straight: There is no quarterback controversy in Washington. The Commanders are 4-1 with Taylor Heinicke and 5-1 in Heinicke’s last six road games. They’re 2-4 with Carson Wentz. This isn’t rocket science, people. Nevertheless, after Washington’s latest win, coach Ron Rivera was asked why he decided on Heinicke as his starter. “Winning,” he answered. Imagine that. As Herm Edwards reminded us years ago,” you play the game to win.” Time to change the conversation, people.

3.       So Mahomes is the MVP leader. But I’d include Derrick Henry in the conversation, too. He’s responsible for 41.2 percent of the Titans’ offensive yardage and half of their offensive TDs (including one TD pass). All I know is that without Henry the Titans are little more than ordinary (6-5 without him in regular-season games), and isn’t that what defines an MVP?

4.       Mahomes vs. Justin Herbert looks more and more like this decade’s version of Peyton vs. TB12. The more you see, the more you can’t wait to see it again.

5.       Baltimore has held double-digit leads in all 10 games this season, but that’s not what I like most about the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and Justin Tucker aren’t, either. The schedule is: The Ravens don’t face an opponent with a winning record until the final game of the season (Cincinnati).

6.       One question I have about Marcus Jones’ game-winning punt return, and it has nothing to do with a block in the back. It’s about the punt itself. Namely, why wasn’t it kicked OUT OF BOUNDS? Someone? Anyone?

7.       If I were a Browns’ fan, I’d be questioning coach Kevin Stefanski, too. With two snaps to gain a yard in the third quarter, he doesn’t give the ball to Nick Chubb. Nope. Too easy. Instead, he calls for … two QB sneaks? Yep. We don’t make ‘em up. Result: No first down, another Browns’ loss and a seat that just got warmer for Stefanski.

8.       There’s more to the decline and fall of the Rams than a lackluster offense and injuries. There’s a defense that doesn’t force turnovers. Over the last eight games, the Rams have one.

9.       Now we find out about New England: The Pats play Minnesota and Buffalo the next 11 days. Bill Belichick often says football season begins after Thanksgiving. Well, then, take your mark.

10.   Justin Fields is an electric performer reminiscent of Michael Vick, and if he’s on your Fantasy Football team you know what I mean. But he’s still more of a running back than a quarterback. The guy makes too many inaccurate throws, and that last-minute interception was the latest example. I know, he was grabbing his left shoulder, suggesting a possible injury. But this just in: He doesn’t throw with his left arm.

11.   If the Jeff Saturday hire makes the Colts “a clown show,” as one anonymous Colts’ staff member reportedly called it, then what does that make the Raiders and Eagles? Las Vegas lost to Saturday’s Colts, and the Eagles had to rally to beat them Sunday. I’ll be honest: If it’s a “clown show,” it’s one I want to see.

12.   More proof that there are no dynasties without Tom Brady: Sunday’s CFL Grey Cup. Toronto rallied to overcome Winnipeg, 24-23, and deny the Blue Bombers a three-peat.

13.   Too bad Las Vegas doesn’t play Denver more than twice a year. The Raiders swept them again this season, won their last six vs. the Broncos and have only one victory over an opponent this season not named Denver. It’s Houston.

14.   As bad as the Raiders are, imagine where they’d be would be without Davante Adams. He has six 100-yard games, including three in a row, scored the game winner Sunday and has more than twice as many touchdowns (10) as the Raiders’ runner-up (Josh Jacobs, 4).

15.   Jalen Hurts scored the game-winning TD for Philadelphia, but he wasn’t the reason the Eagles beat Indianapolis. Defense was. The Eagles forced Indy to settle for field goals on two second-half possessions inside the Philly 20, including one in the last two minutes that reached the 5. It also held star running back Jonathan Taylor to 35 yards on 15 carries over the Colts’ last 10 series. Surprising? Not really. Philadelphia hasn’t allowed a second-half TD in its past four games.

16.   What happened to Saquon Barkley? A Comeback Player of the Year candidate, he had only 35 scrimmage yards (including 22 rushing on 15 carries) vs. Detroit. Combine that with Giants’ three turnovers and lackluster defense, and you know why Big Blue fizzled.

17.   Great note per Nick Wright of First Things First on FS1: The Broncos would be 9-1 if they scored 18 points in regulation in every game. Look it up. I did. He’s right.

18.   Uh, no, as someone suggested, Atlanta’s Cordarrelle Patterson is not making a Hall of Fame case with an NFL record nine kickoff returns for TDs. Since the Hall opened in 1963 only three specialists have been elected to Canton – two kickers and one punter.  Granted, Devin Hester should break that streak soon (he was a Top 10 finalists this year), but setting a special-teams record doesn’t qualify you for admission to the Hall without a ticket. Remember: Tom Dempsey set an NFL mark when he nailed a 63-yard field goal in 1970, a record that lasted 43 years. He’s not in Canton and has never been discussed.

19.   Micah Parsons will win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. But how about a push for New England’s Matthew Judon? He had 1-1/2 more sacks Sunday, putting him at a league-leading 13-1/2 for the year. Only one player in Patriots’ history has more in one season, and that’s Andre Tippett with 18-1/2 in 1984 and 16-1/2 in 1985. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

20.   The Bills will need more than snow plows and loyal fans to bail them out in the coming weeks. They’ll need a running game, too, and they just found one Sunday. With Devin Singletary and James Cook each rushing for 86 yards, Buffalo had 171 on the ground. That took the heat off an embattled Josh Allen, and, trust me, that’s critical to Buffalo’s chances for a Super Bowl run.

SUNDAY’S GOLD JACKET STATS

n  The New York Jets had 2 second-half yards, the fewest by any club in any half this season.

n  The Cowboys’ Brett Maher is the only kicker with four field goals of 60 or more yards, and he’s 4-for-4 from that distance. No other kicker has more than two.

n  Baltimore’s Justin Tucker has made his last 65 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime. The runner-up has 14.

n  The Vikings are a minus-2 in point differential, the worst for any 8-2 team in its first 10 games of the season.

n  The Raiders’ Derek Carr is 8-2 in overtime, the best winning percentage (.800) among quarterbacks in at least 10 career OT games.

n  Baltimore has at least one takeaway in 12 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

n  The Chiefs haven’t lost to the Chargers in SoCal since 2013.

SUNDAY’S GOLD JACKET QUOTES

n  “It was almost like a movie script. I think of all the football movies – “Rudy,” “Any Given Sunday” and “Remember the Titans -- this beats it.” – New England special teams captain Deatrich Wise on Marcus Jones’ game-winning punt return.

n  “It was dog s**t.” – Jets’ coach Robert Saleh on his team’s second-half offense.

n  “I’m emotional because I love Frank Reich. He’s one of the best damn football coaches I’ve ever been around. I was hoping he and I would be able to coach against each in this game.” -- Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni after beating Indianapolis.

n  “I’m not finished.” – Atlanta’s Cordarrelle Patterson on his kick-return record.

n  “I’ve covered the NFL in Houston for more than four decades. I’ve seen a lot bad offenses. This Texans’ offense just might be the worst of all.” – Hall-of-Fame writer John McClain on Twitter.