Five things we learned from Sunday

The National Football League races are heating up after a wild Week 12. With five weeks remaining, the divisions are tightening while a few teams are struggling at the wrong moment. Let’s take a look at five things we learned from Sunday’s results, and how it impacts the races going forward.

1. Mike Smith is holding the Falcons back

Look, nobody thinks the Atlanta Falcons are a top team. In reality, the Falcons have some nice pieces at the offensive skill positions but the defense is awful and the offensive line a sieve. Still, this team should be better than 4-7 and a half-game back of the NFC South lead.

Smith’s time-management is a mess, and his major flaw showed up against the Browns on Sunday. Smith could have allowed the clock to run down further before Matt Bryant kicked the go-ahead 52-yard field goal for Atlanta with only 44 seconds left. Instead, he was frantically calling a timeout, putting Cleveland in position to get one last shot against the Falcons’ swiss-cheese defense. Of course, Billy Cundiff won the game with no time remaining.

Smith has made curious decisions in regards to field position and clock management for years. It’s time he pays the piper and gets the pink slip at season’s end.

2. The Dolphins are very good, but need more polish

The Miami Dolphins played their hearts out in a 39-36 loss to the Denver Broncos at Mile High. Ryan Tannehill was excellent sans an interception, and the play-calling was superb. While the defense gave up a litany of big plays and touchdowns, that is to be expected against Peyton Manning and the boys.

Miami showed it can hang on the road with one of the best teams in football, even when the Broncos desperately needed a win. What the Dolphins didn’t show was the ability to finish, something that takes time to learn. The coverage breakdowns at the end of the first half doomed the Dolphins, a problem that is born from losing focus.

3. The New England Patriots are rolling

When the Patriots are playing their best football, it is tough to see them losing. Tom Brady is firing on all cylinders right now, torching the Detroit Lions for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns in New England’s 34-9 laugher. Rob Gronkowski is back to his old form and the defense is solid once again, leading most to believe the Patriots are the top team in the AFC.

New England will not be beat unless a team can get a pass rush early and often. Brady is simply too smart with time, and Bill Belichick will out-scheme your head coach. The Patriots are not a lock to be in the Super Bowl, but smart money is on them.

4. The Cardinals will struggle with Drew Stanton

The Arizona Cardinals are a good team and they will make the playoffs, perhaps even win the NFC West. However, they have a knuckle sandwich waiting for them in the postseason when a good defense lines up across the way. Drew Stanton is a fine backup quarterback, but Arizona’s 19-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks shows why the Cardinals are in trouble.

After falling behind 9-0 in the second quarter, the game felt over for Arizona. Stanton only threw for 149 yards on 14-of-26 passing with an interception. When Stanton can’t throw, teams will stack the box and stifle the rushing attack. On Sunday, the Cardinals rushed for 64 yards on 20 carries. Stanton must play better for Arizona to beat, or even score on, good teams.

5. The 49ers are in deep trouble

People tend to look at the San Francisco 49ers and see a three-game winning streak. Look deeper, and you will see a team that needed five interceptions to beat the lousy New York Giants 16-10 and a comedy of errors from Robert Griffin III to beat the Washington Redskins 17-13 at home.

San Francisco is currently eighth in the NFC playoff picture, sitting behind the Seahawks and Lions due to tiebreakers at 7-4. With a win on Thanksgiving against Seattle, the 49ers can vault themselves into better position. Still, does that feel likely with the way San Francisco’s offense is playing? It could be a long winter by the Bay.

About Matt Verderame

Matt Verderame, 26, is a New Yorker who went to school at the frozen tundra of SUNY Oswego. After graduating, Verderame has worked for Gannett and SB Nation among other ventures.

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