Week 14 M*A*S*H Report: Some Starting Quarterbacks Return to the Helm
Ravens vs Chiefs
If you like the Ravens in this one, it’s surely because you think its tough defense stands a chance against Kansas City’s vaunted pass attack. I recommend that you hold off on your Baltimore wagers. Starting safety Tony Jefferson will most likely not play. Plus, starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey is listed as ‚questionable' after being limited in Friday’s practice. Cornerback Tavon Young is also listed as questionable.’ For the Chiefs, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is listed as ‚doubtful.‘
Colts vs Texans
The good news for Indianapolis is that tight end Eric Ebron is back practicing in full. The bad news is that star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is not. He was still limited in Friday’s practice and he’s listed as ‚questionable.‘ Hilton and Ebron have 16 more receptions than any other Indianapolis pass-catcher and Hilton has more than twice as many yards and three three times as many touchdowns as Indy’s next wide receiver.
Panthers vs Browns
Cleveland’s pass defense could be in trouble. Its top cover corner Denzel Ward has been ruled ‚out‘ due to a concussion and fellow corner Phillip Gaines is listed as ‚questionable‘ after being limited in practice on Friday.
Saints vs Buccaneers
New Orleans easily has the advantage in terms of health. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been ruled ‚out‘ for Tampa Bay, although Tampa Bay is rather deep at the position. The Bucs do have some injured defensive backs, though, which is great news for Drew Brees. Starting safety Justin Evans is ‚out‘ and starting Carlton Davis, listed as ‚doubtful,‘ is likely to join him. Fellow starting corner Brent Grimes is listed as ‚questionable,‘ although he did practice fully on Friday.
Jets vs Bills
Quarterback Sam Darnold is back after missing four games due to injury. But he could be without Isaiah Crowell in the backfield and receiver Robby Anderson. Both were limited in practice on Friday and are listed as ‚questionable.‘
Patriots vs Dolphins
Both teams are down a starting cornerback. Stephon Gilmore is out for New England, Xavien Howard for Miami.
Rams vs Bears
Chicago gets quarterback Mitchell Trubisky back. He had missed two games due to injury. The Bears could miss an important piece in the secondary, though. Safety Eddie Jackson was a late add to this week’s injury report with shin problems and he did not practice on Friday as a result of them.
Broncos vs 49ers
Denver lost its leading receiver Emmanuel Sanders for the season. Sanders had easily more than double the amount of receptions than Denver’s next receiver and likewise led the crew in yards and touchdowns. Still, Denver’s health problems lie mostly on defense. Starting cornerback Chris Harris has been ruled ‚out‘ and starting linebacker Brandon Marshall looks like a game-time decision. Nickel cornerback Tramaine Brock is also ‚out.‘ For San Francisco, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will play after missing the past two weeks simply due to family issues. Goodwin leads San Francisco’s receivers in yards, although his stats look unimpressive due to his number of absences. His presence is especially important without fellow receiver Pierre Garcon able to play.
Bengals vs Chargers
Cincinnati’s defense is severely wounded. Starting linebacker Vontaze Burfict is listed as ‚out‘ due to a concussion, as are starting corner Dre Kirkpatrick and backup Tony McRae. Philip Rivers is having a career year for the Chargers in terms of passer rating and completion percentage and he’s already thrown for 3,400 yards and 28 touchdowns. He could exploit the Bengals’ issues in its already bottom-ranked secondary and the Chargers may depend on him to do so with running back Melvin Gordon injured.
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Lions vs Cardinals
Both teams will be shorthanded on offense. Starting running back Kerryon Johnson is out for Detroit, although LeGarrette Blount is fully capable of assuming his workload, which he has already done for the past two weeks. Blount should succeed against an Arizona run defense that allows 140 yards per game and ranks 17th in opposing YPC. Detroit could miss starting quarterback Matt Stafford, who has been limited in practice all week thanks to his back. Veteran Matt Cassell would replace him. On defense, top corner Darius Slay is listed as ‚questionable.‘
Arizona’s offensive line continues to be battered up with its starting left tackle and starting left guard hitting injury reserve this week. Arizona’s o-line will field its ninth combo in this game. Three rookies will start on the left side and a second year pro signed off the streets at right tackle. Detroit ranks fourth in sack percentage and should create some havoc in the desert.
Eagles vs Cowboys
Philly is at a big disadvantage here health-wise. It will miss two crucial defenders, starting corner Jalen Mills and starting linebacker Jordan Hicks. Philly’s other two starting linebackers have been playing through injury and will have their hands full with a Dallas offense that runs the ball with the sixth-highest frequency with superstar Ezekiel Elliot. Moreover, the Eagles’ top edge rusher MIchael Bennett and fellow starting corner Avonte Maddox are listed as ‚questionable.‘ For Dallas, Sean Lee continues to sit out with a hamstring injury and defensive tackle David Irving may still sit out. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is listed as ‚questionable‘ and could return after missing the last two games.
Steelers vs Raiders
Pittsburgh’s rush attack will be by committee because James Conner will not play due to injury. Conner is Pitt’s only running back who averages at least four YPC—he averages 4.5. For Oakland, starting defensive tackle Mo Hurst and starting left guard Kelechi Osemele are listed as ‚questionable‘ after missing practice on Friday.
Ravens vs Chiefs
If you like the Ravens in this one, it’s surely because you think its tough defense stands a chance against Kansas City’s vaunted pass attack. I recommend that you hold off on your Baltimore wagers. Starting safety Tony Jefferson will most likely not play. Plus, starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey is listed as ‚questionable' after being limited in Friday’s practice. Cornerback Tavon Young is also listed as questionable.’ For the Chiefs, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is listed as ‚doubtful.‘
Colts vs Texans
The good news for Indianapolis is that tight end Eric Ebron is back practicing in full. The bad news is that star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is not. He was still limited in Friday’s practice and he’s listed as ‚questionable.‘ Hilton and Ebron have 16 more receptions than any other Indianapolis pass-catcher and Hilton has more than twice as many yards and three three times as many touchdowns as Indy’s next wide receiver.
Panthers vs Browns
Cleveland’s pass defense could be in trouble. Its top cover corner Denzel Ward has been ruled ‚out‘ due to a concussion and fellow corner Phillip Gaines is listed as ‚questionable‘ after being limited in practice on Friday.
Saints vs Buccaneers
New Orleans easily has the advantage in terms of health. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been ruled ‚out‘ for Tampa Bay, although Tampa Bay is rather deep at the position. The Bucs do have some injured defensive backs, though, which is great news for Drew Brees. Starting safety Justin Evans is ‚out‘ and starting Carlton Davis, listed as ‚doubtful,‘ is likely to join him. Fellow starting corner Brent Grimes is listed as ‚questionable,‘ although he did practice fully on Friday.
Jets vs Bills
Quarterback Sam Darnold is back after missing four games due to injury. But he could be without Isaiah Crowell in the backfield and receiver Robby Anderson. Both were limited in practice on Friday and are listed as ‚questionable.‘
Patriots vs Dolphins
Both teams are down a starting cornerback. Stephon Gilmore is out for New England, Xavien Howard for Miami.
Rams vs Bears
Chicago gets quarterback Mitchell Trubisky back. He had missed two games due to injury. The Bears could miss an important piece in the secondary, though. Safety Eddie Jackson was a late add to this week’s injury report with shin problems and he did not practice on Friday as a result of them.
Broncos vs 49ers
Denver lost its leading receiver Emmanuel Sanders for the season. Sanders had easily more than double the amount of receptions than Denver’s next receiver and likewise led the crew in yards and touchdowns. Still, Denver’s health problems lie mostly on defense. Starting cornerback Chris Harris has been ruled ‚out‘ and starting linebacker Brandon Marshall looks like a game-time decision. Nickel cornerback Tramaine Brock is also ‚out.‘ For San Francisco, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will play after missing the past two weeks simply due to family issues. Goodwin leads San Francisco’s receivers in yards, although his stats look unimpressive due to his number of absences. His presence is especially important without fellow receiver Pierre Garcon able to play.
Bengals vs Chargers
Cincinnati’s defense is severely wounded. Starting linebacker Vontaze Burfict is listed as ‚out‘ due to a concussion, as are starting corner Dre Kirkpatrick and backup Tony McRae. Philip Rivers is having a career year for the Chargers in terms of passer rating and completion percentage and he’s already thrown for 3,400 yards and 28 touchdowns. He could exploit the Bengals’ issues in its already bottom-ranked secondary and the Chargers may depend on him to do so with running back Melvin Gordon injured.
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Lions vs Cardinals
Both teams will be shorthanded on offense. Starting running back Kerryon Johnson is out for Detroit, although LeGarrette Blount is fully capable of assuming his workload, which he has already done for the past two weeks. Blount should succeed against an Arizona run defense that allows 140 yards per game and ranks 17th in opposing YPC. Detroit could miss starting quarterback Matt Stafford, who has been limited in practice all week thanks to his back. Veteran Matt Cassell would replace him. On defense, top corner Darius Slay is listed as ‚questionable.‘
Arizona’s offensive line continues to be battered up with its starting left tackle and starting left guard hitting injury reserve this week. Arizona’s o-line will field its ninth combo in this game. Three rookies will start on the left side and a second year pro signed off the streets at right tackle. Detroit ranks fourth in sack percentage and should create some havoc in the desert.
Eagles vs Cowboys
Philly is at a big disadvantage here health-wise. It will miss two crucial defenders, starting corner Jalen Mills and starting linebacker Jordan Hicks. Philly’s other two starting linebackers have been playing through injury and will have their hands full with a Dallas offense that runs the ball with the sixth-highest frequency with superstar Ezekiel Elliot. Moreover, the Eagles’ top edge rusher MIchael Bennett and fellow starting corner Avonte Maddox are listed as ‚questionable.‘ For Dallas, Sean Lee continues to sit out with a hamstring injury and defensive tackle David Irving may still sit out. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is listed as ‚questionable‘ and could return after missing the last two games.
Steelers vs Raiders
Pittsburgh’s rush attack will be by committee because James Conner will not play due to injury. Conner is Pitt’s only running back who averages at least four YPC—he averages 4.5. For Oakland, starting defensive tackle Mo Hurst and starting left guard Kelechi Osemele are listed as ‚questionable‘ after missing practice on Friday.
