What We Learned in N.F.L. Week 12

Here is what i learned, the Tom Brady era in New England is definitely coming to an end, though the Bill Belichick era definitely has some legs yet. With every game Tom Brady is showing his age, he is an absolute statue in the pocket, moving , if at all, at a glacier pace. He has one go to play left, which he uses every time, time after time when he needs a big first down, a pass, right over the middle to Edelman. Brady is lucky he never had to play against a Belichick defense, because they would surely take that play away, in any number of ways, but for what ever reason the rest of the NFL doesn't seem to have a clue, that the pass over the middle is Brady's spot on the field, his zone. It reminds me of how Bill Russel use to defend Wilt Chamberlin, by running down the court and beating Chamberlin to his favorite post up spot, which messed with Chamberlins head. If one d-coordinator, just one, would post a defender there, it would throw off Bradys game, but they continue to play man-to man with Edelman, the defender gets picked ( a penalty for any other team) and Brady hits Edelman with a pass in his spot over the middle. The Patriots are winning on defense now, and its a great defense. Brady has become a statue and a big pass rush is the key to beating him...and taking away his spot.

The Patriots showed that they are vulnerable against a team with a defense as good as theirs. That could be Baltimore in the AFC or if Brady gets them that far San Francisco in a Super Bowel match up. The Pat’s offense doesn’t have an effort problem, they just don’t have the players to overcome the teams with great defenses.

Is that a "real", as in full size, football Vita Vea is holding in the photo? Can it be?

buh bye Cowboys coach You had 10 years to learn what to do.....

What I learned from this article is just about nothing. If the writer regards himself as someone offering some real analysis he will gave to raise the level of this article. Strictly elementary Watson.

Go Hawks!

Never mind their record. The Patriot era may finally be coming to an end. The Ravens dominated them. And they barely beat the Cowboys. That famous, fearsome hurry-up offense is suddenly toothless. Or is it? Pundits have written off the Patriots several times before, in error. Can they reinvent themselves again? It's fun to watch. Meanwhile, JimmyG and SF look terrific. That deep ball to Kittle was a marvel.

Good wrap, Ben! Not like the olden days for the 49ers when your St. Louis Rams were dominant! ~ Glenn

William Perry was gigantic versus his peers back in the 1980s. Today, he’d be just another interior lineman. Players have gotten amazingly bigger and faster. Dangerous stuff.

So comforting to know that violent actions on the part of a Cleveland Browns player seem to place no weight on the conscience of one of its owners and some of its fans.

How many times has Tom Brady been written about as being out-of-gas, too old and finished. A million times? Maybe? Yet, he is 10/I and doubtlessly on his way to another division title. Some good team will face Tom in Foxboro in the deep cold and will sweat brain-bullets and gray-matter goulash in preparation. Vegas thinks New England will defend in the Super Bowl again and most everyone else as well. So, Tom Brady is the only person that will get headlines after Thanksgiving and the naysayers will eat peanut shells from the stadium floor as sportscaster dirt.

and no mention of the jets sam darnold dismantling of the oakland raiders? i think we hear enough of the pats! enough already!

What this week in the NFL taught me was going with Deshaun was the right move and will be for some years to come!

Shame on Dee Haslam for wearing that knit cap.

A good week for Niners fans, not just because of our dominating win over the Pack but because of Frank Gore's achievement. We all fondly remember him as a great football player and great human, a total class act. He worked hard, did not complain, and was a drama-free, consistent presence. He would've had a lot more accolades if he hadn't been saddled with some truly terrible offensive coordinators. I distinctly remember during the Jimmy Raye years that the play-calling was so predictable, you could call it at home from the couch. Run down the middle on all three downs, clearly telegraphed, and the run would get stuffed of course. Yet Gore didn't complain and just kept going and going. All of us Niners fans will always love Gore for his dedication.

I watched Gore -who has always had one of the quickest cuts, feet- excel in SF for many years. The fact that he's remained mostly healthy and in the lineup has certainly helped his numbers, but...he's just a special runner. In NorCal, we're happy for him.

Go Pats! But I think the run might finally be over for Brady. Looks like Baltimore and San Fran in the chip. Perhaps a preview of the Superbowl next week. Seahawks look solid too, but Pats can't do it with just defense. Other teams have talent on both sides this year.

Love the Pack but.... this year the 49ers, Seahawks and Ravens are the teams dialed in to something special on both sides of the ball. The Ravens made the Patriots look old and slow. The 49ers showed the Pack is a year away from the top level. Of all of them, I think the Seahawks are in a special zone.

San Francisco didn't merely "crush" Green Bay, they compressed them into pulp which is one of the byproducts Green Bay is known for. Perhaps last week's bye did more harm than good for the Pack. Any time a fumble which quickly results in the opposing team getting a TD all within the first two minutes of the game is never a good sign. Last night's defeat was so striking in contrast to the glowing article Ben Shpigel wrote about Aaron Rogers on Thursday. If the Packers couldn't make a dent, much less get past the 49ers last night, then their chances of beating New England in the Super Bowl are even more grim.