In the heat of my finals season, the last thing I need is another high-stress activity. The time has come for another civil war on Twitter (yes, Twitter, I don’t care what Elon Musk has to say) between Cowboys and Eagles fans. I watched Prescott and the Cowboys blow a golden opportunity to steal a game in Philadelphia just a month ago. The loss even more questioned my team’s ability to win big games after falling to both the 49ers and Eagles.
Since that moment, Dak has played at an elite level, winning four straight games and scoring 33-plus points in each game. The Eagles have faced the most challenging part of the schedule over the last month and have an impressive 3-1 record over those last four games. The stage is now set: Sunday Night Football, Eagles at Cowboys, each team hoping to secure the division lead. The Cowboys need a win to stay in the NFC East race, and the Eagles are looking to guarantee an NFC East division title. And with that, I still have to worry about a final exam and project next Tuesday.
As my final exams are here, the NFL season is reaching its final stretch with more on the line than ever this season. At the beginning of the season, the AFC South was the most unproven division, featuring two teams starting new quarterbacks in week one. Fourteen weeks in, the division has three teams in the playoff picture.
The Jaguars sit atop the division, holding the fourth spot in the playoff picture. An AFC battle between the Jaguars and the Browns looks like a must-win game for the Jags to keep first place. Yet, with still four weeks, don’t count out C.J. Stroud and the Texans, who have been dicing up opponents in the last few games. And we can’t forget Minshew Mania in Indianapolis, putting together a solid year with a first-year head coach.
Regarding quarterback play, this week’s Michelin Star Player of the Week is Brock Purdy. The more I watch him play, the more confident he looks slinging the ball. In a massive NFC matchup against the Eagles, Purdy showed out dominantly, tossing four touchdowns in a 42-19 victory. The 49ers are humming, and Purdy is leading the charge under center.
The waiter has arrived; what’s first on the menu?
First Course | Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (7-5), 10:00 a.m PST, CBS
Fans of the Jaguars and Browns will probably learn who is playing quarterback for their team 30 minutes before the game. In a tough overtime loss last week, Trevor Lawerance left with a high ankle sprain, making his status “probably” a game-time decision. It’s funny to mention that the only other quarterback, C.J. Beatherd, was also limited in practice this week.
Lawrence playing with a banged-up ankle could be more detrimental than not playing. The Browns’ defensive team has single-handedly won games this season by beating down opposing offenses, led by defensive player of the year front-runner Myles Garret.
And well, for the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski has to choose between 38-year-old Joe Flacco and the raw rookie Dorian Robinson-Thompson. If you are one of the few who can still enjoy a defensive-only game, this one’s for you.
Fries - Dalvin Tomlinson, Browns’ Defensive End - Let’s give the big boys some love. Ever since Tomlinson arrived at this free agency, his impact has been instantly felt. A Browns rush defense ranking 25th last season is 12th this year, holding opponents to only 107 yards a game.
Dessert - DAWG POUND. If I have to trust a defense to win this game, it is going to the Browns.
Second Course | Buffalo Bills (6-6) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4), 1:25 p.m PST, CBS
There have been BIG games between these two teams, yet none might be more significant than this one in Arrowhead. The teams’ records are not as appealing as they’ve been for matchups in past games. However, the Chiefs are one game back from the number-one seed in the AFC, and the Bills sit outside looking into the Playoffs picture, one game back from the seventh spot.
Josh Allen has entered unfamiliar territory this season with the team’s struggles. For only the second time since his second year, Allen has a record of .500 or below at 6-6 (1-1 record in 2021). The turnovers and chemistry continue to be the problem. The arm strength has always been there, yet his tendency to give the ball away has only worsened. He can’t afford more mistakes, or the Bills will have to hope for more than winning their games to get them a bid into the playoffs.
Mahomes might have to start putting out tryouts with fans for the receiver position because the group they have right now is not good. I can’t believe a team like the Chiefs wouldn’t want to help their franchise guy. Kelce can only do so much with everything that defenses throw at him.
Mac and Cheese - James Cook, Bills’ Running Back - The Bills will have to look to their second-year running back to slow down the game’s pace. Cook is tenth in the NFL in rush yards, putting up 731 yards in 12 games.
Dessert - CHIEF KINGDOM. As much as my thoughts about the Chiefs receiver room are problematic, we are talking about Patrick Mahomes here. The gun-slinging matchup between two of the best will see Mahomes prevail for the fourth in this head-to-head. A victory puts the Chiefs in prime position for the number one seed.
Third Course | Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (9-3), 5:20 p.m PST, NBC
Waiting all day for Sunday Night is both the best and worst situation. Seeing my Cowboys on primetime this week and wearing their stylish all-white alternative uniforms is gold. Conversely, waiting all day for the Sunday Night game drives me crazy.
Everything is on the line, starting with the NFC East division title. If the Cowboys win this game, things will look much better — for both the title race and quelling the criticism that they can only beat bad teams. Yet the Eagles can pretty much seal the title with a win. In moments like these, it comes down to the quarterbacks under center.
Looking at the last seven games, Dak Prescott has dominated his opponents, while Hurts has played largely well but shown occasional struggles. Comparing the two, Prescott has a 21:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio on a 70.5% pass completion; Hurts has a 13:6 ratio on 66% completion. The legs of both quarterbacks have come in handy in crucial moments this season, yet the 49ers revealed a “blueprint” to containing Hurts in the run game. Put a spy and make him throw.
Garlic Bread - Ceedee Lamb, Cowboys’ Receiver - A Cowboys offense can never be complete without a star receiver wearing No. 88. Lamb has fully put himself in the top-five receiver conversation with his play this season.
Dessert - HOW BOUT THEM BOYS. Call me a homer, but Prescott and the offense are cooking, and it is exciting. The Cowboys have a new-found rhythm in the red zone, spelling trouble for an Eagles defensive unit that struggles in that part of the field.
Last week’s record: 2-1
Overall record: 13-13
Recipe of the week
Whenever there are intense rivalry games – Eagles versus Cowboys and Bills versus Chiefs - going on in the NFL, I always feel like eating some really good American food. Burgers and a side is all I need. For this gameday recipe, I give you the All-American Sliders.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, soft white
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon marjoram, optional
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 pound ground beef, 85 percent lean
- 10 to 12 slices of American cheese
For serving (optional):
- 10 to 12 slider buns
- Tomatoes, sliced, optional
- Lettuce, optional
- Pickles, optional
- Ketchup, optional
- Mustard, optional
Directions
- In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, milk, salt, pepper, marjoram, and ketchup; mix well with a spoon and let this mixture stand for 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, crumbling it with your fingers as you add it; mix gently but thoroughly with your hands until combined.
- Form the meat mixture into about 10 to 12 mini burgers. At this point, you can cover the burgers and chill them for up to 24 hours.
- When you are ready to eat, prepare and preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Grill the burgers on a small rack placed over the regular grill rack, over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once, until the burgers are 160 F.
- Top each mini burger with the American cheese slices and cover the grill for 30 to 40 seconds to let the cheese melt. You can also fry these burgers in a hot pan over medium-high heat, turning once, until done to 160 F.
- Assemble the burgers with the buns, tomatoes, lettuce leaves, ketchup, mustard, and pickles.