PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 14: Vikings Surging, Bears Stinking, and the CFP Bracket
Week 14 is officially in the books, and while some of the early slate felt like a chore, the afternoon delivered one of the best games of the year. The Bills and Rams went blow-for-blow in a shootout that felt like football porn, even if Sean McDermott decided to light his timeouts on fire at the most crucial moment. Between the Fastest 2 Minutes and a massive breaking news segment on Juan Soto, there was plenty for Big Cat and PFT to digest as the playoff picture finally starts to crystallize.
The Vikings and the Sam Darnold Renaissance
It is time to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop in Minnesota. The Vikings absolutely dismantled the Falcons, and Sam Darnold is playing some of the most efficient, confident football in the league right now. He was hitting Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson for touchdowns like they were playing against a high school JV defense. Big Cat is officially ready to stop treating them like a fluky story.
Big CatI'm ready to start putting more respect on the Steelers and Vikings' names
The Steelers and Vikings. I'm ready to start putting a lot more respect on their name... Vikings 42 Falcons 21. This was the Sam Darnold Show... Why aren't we talking about the Vikings like the Eagles and the Lions?
The conversation has shifted from whether Darnold can keep this up to whether the Vikings can actually afford to let him walk. With the way he's commanding Kevin O'Connell's offense, the future in Minnesota might look a lot more purple than people expected back in August.
Big CatThe Vikings should consider resigning Sam Darnold this offseason
Are we at the point where the Vikings should consider resigning Sam Darnold? Yes... You probably should. 'Cause JJ [McCarthy]'s probably good, but you don't know. But we know that Sam's good. Sam Darnold's also only 27 years old.
On the flip side, the Falcons look like they are checking out. Kirk Cousins has gone cold at the worst possible time, and the calls for the rookie are getting louder. Big Cat thinks it might be time to see what they have in their first-round investment.
Big CatIt might be Michael Penix time for the Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are, it just feels like it's all falling apart at the end here. And Michael Penix, it might be Penix time, it might be Penix time. So you drafted him. Why wouldn't you get him a little like... if your season's over, you might as well get Michael Penix in.
Surviving in Philly and Carolina's Hope
The Eagles survived a major scare against the Panthers, mostly because Xavier Legette forgot how to catch a game-winning touchdown. While Jalen Hurts and the passing game looked out of sync, causing AJ Brown to get a little chippy in the post-game, Saquon Barkley continues to be the entire engine of that team.
Big CatSaquon Barkley is going to reach 2,000 rushing yards this season
Saquon Barkley, he's now 94 yards a game. So four games left, 94 yards, a game away from 2,000. He also has the Eagles record in rushing yards in a season passing LeSean McCoy.
Max tried to defend the Eagles' habit of starting games like they've never seen a football before, arguing that he prefers a team that can close out.
MaxI would rather have a team that finishes fast than starts fast
If I had a choice between starting fast and finishing fast, I, I would choose finishing fast... I love finish fast... [The Eagles] getting out so good at finishing fast. It's actually one of my strengths.
But the real story might be that the Panthers aren't just a bye week anymore. Bryce Young played well, and Dave Canales has this team competing with the heavyweights of the NFC. PFT thinks the Panthers have reached a level where nobody can afford to overlook them.
PFT CommenterThe 2024 Panthers are good enough to play a one-score game against anyone in the league.
The Panthers might just be kind of okay. They can play a one-score game against anybody in the league. [They] can play a one-score game against anybody.
The NFC West and the Mahomes Magic
The Seahawks are suddenly the scariest team in the West. Their defense looks completely revitalized since the bye week, and Gino Smith remains perfect against the Cardinals.
Big CatI'm officially believing in the Seattle Seahawks after four wins in a row
I think I'm believing in the Seahawks. I mean, they're now on the top of the NFC West and the way they've been playing... Their defense looks completely different. They have weapons everywhere.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs just keep doing Chiefs things. They don't look particularly good, Mahomes has no time to throw, and yet they keep finding ways to win games on walk-off doinks. Hank is convinced that even if they aren't the best team on paper, the black magic is too strong to ignore.
HankThe Chiefs aren't a good team, but they will find a way to win the Super Bowl
I think they're gonna get to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, I still... they have black magic. They have curses, they have witches. Like they're not a good team... but they just win... They're gonna find a way to win somehow.
The College Football Playoff is Here
The bracket has been revealed, and the salt is flowing. Alabama fans are crying about their strength of schedule, but Big Cat isn't buying it after they dropped three conference games.
Big CatI feel no remorse for Alabama missing the College Football Playoff
Alabama got left out. I feel no remorse for Alabama... you lost all three of your games in the conference. Their three losses were Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Tennessee... you just have to win the games that you should win.
Looking at the actual matchups, Penn State fans should be doing backflips over their path to the semifinals. They managed to avoid the absolute buzzsaws early on, and James Franklin has a legitimate chance to silence the critics if they can just handle business as heavy favorites.
Big CatPenn State has a dream draw to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals
Penn State [is] getting a dream draw... they'd probably be heavy favorites over SMU. They'd probably be heavy favorites over Boise State. And so they could theoretically be heavy favorites in both their first two games and get to the semis.
While Oregon remains the clear favorite as the only undefeated team, Big Cat is keeping a close eye on the Sun Devils. They are coming in hot, and in a year where the NFL feels wide open, college football feels even more chaotic.
Big CatArizona State could go on a run in the College Football Playoff because they are so hot right now.
I think Arizona State's one of those teams that is so hot right now, and they were 11-1 with their starting quarterback. Why can't they go on a little run?
With no more bye weeks and a Monday Night double-header on the horizon, the home stretch is finally here.
Hopefully, the Bears can figure out how to gain more than four yards in a half before the season ends.
