EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 27: Braxton Berrios #10 of the New York Jets returns a punt in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The playoff picture became a little clearer after another interesting week.
It was a week where there was more than one playoff team from a year ago knocked out of the 2020 postseason. There were division titles clinched at New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Seattle. There was a record-tying performance by a running back at the Superdome. And the defending Super Bowl champions set a franchise record for regular-season wins.
32
Jacksonville Jaguars 1-14
Last week: L, 41-17 vs CHI
Last rank: 32nd
Make it 14 consecutive losses for a club that has now cemented the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Doug Marrone turned back to quarterback Mike Glennon and midway through the second quarter, the Jaguars had forged a 10-10 tie with the visiting Bears.
The veteran signal-caller threw for two scores but was also picked off twice. Jacksonville played without rookie running back James Robinson and was limited to 76 yards on the ground.
31
Detroit Lions 5-10
Last week: L, 47-7 vs TB
Last rank: 29th
Interim head coach Darrell Bevell and several member of the Lions’ staff would be unavailable for the Saturday clash with the Buccaneers (via John Bowden of The Hill). And when it was all said and done, Detroit was on the wrong end of a 40-point loss in which the team was outgained by over 400 yards (588-186).
Matthew Stafford started the game but was banged up coming in and didn’t last long. The team has allowed 482 points this year.
30
Houston Texans 4-11
Last week: L, 37-31 vs CIN
Last rank: 25th
It’s been a very long year for the dethroned AFC South champions, who dropped their fourth consecutive game on Sunday. The defense was gouged for 540 total yards and once again, the Texans failed to come up with a takeaway and have forced only eight turnovers in 15 contests.
David Johnson ran for 128 yards and one score and Deshaun Watson threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. But he also fumbled twice and lost one of those miscues.
29
New York Jets 2-13
Last week: W, 23-16 vs CLE
Last rank: 31st
Apparently Adam Gase’s club enjoyed last week’s upset of the Rams and built on that victory by holding off the Browns. A balanced attack that saw its 69 offensive players basically equally divided between runs (34) and passes (35) and the Jets were a very-respectable 7-of-18 on third-down conversions.
The defense shut down Cleveland’s ground game to the tune of 45 yards on 18 attempts. And the Jets’ pass rushed dumped Baker Mayfield four times.