By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
They said it in week 15 of the NFL. The Lions are in big trouble, Philip Rivers still has a little left in the tank and Patrick Mahomes is lost for the season.
Dan Campbell on his team’s playoff chances
“We have to get better and move on,” Campbell said after Sunday’s loss. “Can’t sulk about it. Can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We make the corrections and move on.
“The core of this group, man, they are the right guys and they’ve been through this. I believe in the guys on this team, the character of the players on this team, our captains and the core of it.”
Why is Philip Rivers coming out of retirement?
“I’d not given any thought of actually playing again until about 48 hours ago, to be honest with you, but this wasn’t just any place or any coach,” Rivers said Wednesday. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, shoot, I’ll see what happens in the league and see if I can get ready.’”
Josh Allen Takes over
Joe Buscaglia- The Athletic
“With the Bills in need of a superhero effort with an offense that has been perplexing at best all season, reigning NFL MVP Allen took over the game in the second half … Allen put together clutch moments at clutch times and then the game-clinching 17-yard run on third-and-15 to officially put the Bengals away. In his first-ever win over a Burrow-led Bengals team, Allen accounted for 329 total yards and those four touchdowns. And with it, the Bills remain in shouting distance of the AFC East-leading New England Patriots, who are two games ahead with four to play.”
Mike Vrabel talks on the second half collapse
“I mean, we weren’t able to get any stops. When we had an opportunity to make a play, we weren’t able to make it. Penalties. And that’s how this game goes. A few small plays make the difference. We were very prepared for this team to — we were going to need 60 minutes to beat this team. This is a good football team. We had a lot of good football in there. And we had a lot of plays that, a few plays we’d like to have back that we’ll have to learn from.”
Bears Head Coach raves on the Chi Town defense
“I can’t say enough good things about our defense,” said coach Ben Johnson. “This was really an outstanding performance. I know we gave up a couple explosives that we’d like to have back, but outside of one or two plays, they really did a phenomenal job shutting down the run game, making it second-and-long, third-and-long, and getting off the field. When you combine that with the takeaways, which were enormous for us, they really carried the day for us.”
Jared Goff on the Rams aftermath
Quarterback Jared Goff echoed that sentiment after throwing three touchdown passes in the first half vs. the Rams and finishing with 338 passing yards and a 111.6 passer rating Sunday.
“We have a resilient group, man,” Goff said after the game. “We’ve bounced back after things like this and got a home game in front of our fans and expect them to bring it for us and find a way to win that one and go on to the next. It would be nothing better if it ends in the playoffs on a three-game win streak and that’s got to be the goal.”
NBC Sports Commentators
“Their star players were always the best in the league…They were not that this year, and sometimes it is that simple.” – Devin McCourty on the Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention
“In the big moments, the Bills came up big on offense and on defense. To come back from 21 at [the Patriots’] place, pretty amazing.” – Jason Garrett on the Bills’ victory over New England
“I’ve never seen Trevor Lawrence play the way he’s played the past few weeks. He’s surgical in the pocket right now.” – Chris Simms
Roy J. Akers covers the NFL for www.skyviewsports.net
