{"id":299950,"date":"2023-11-20T14:24:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T14:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=299950"},"modified":"2023-11-20T14:24:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T14:24:42","slug":"the-first-read-one-thing-each-nfl-team-has-to-be-thankful-for-entering-week-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/nfl\/the-first-read-one-thing-each-nfl-team-has-to-be-thankful-for-entering-week-12\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Read: One thing each NFL team has to be thankful for entering Week 12"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>In this special Thanksgiving edition of The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha identifies one thing each team should be thankful for entering Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season. <strong>Check back after Monday Night Football for analysis on the Chiefs and Eagles.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/ARI\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>They will have options.<\/strong> It\u2019s surprising that the Cardinals aren\u2019t the worst team in football because they seemed more than willing to embrace that role before the season began. Then a strange thing happened: They competed. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Quarterback Kyler Murray returned to the field after sustaining a torn ACL last December, and they won again in his Week 10 season debut. It\u2019s hard to know how Arizona is going to handle Murray and his massive contract moving forward, but know this much: This team is trending toward a top-three pick in next year\u2019s draft. The Cards will be able to do something with that.<\/p>\n<h2>          <span>            Related Links          <\/span>        <\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>              Separation season: Which teams helped\/hurt their playoff chances Sunday?            <\/li>\n<li>              2023 NFL season, Week 11: What We Learned from Sunday&#x27;s games            <\/li>\n<li>              NFL stats and records, Week 11: Bills&#x27; Josh Allen sets TD mark through six seasons; 49ers&#x27; Brock Purdy has perfect day            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/ATL\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>They have young talent in the building.<\/strong> One of the most perplexing questions in the league involves the Falcons\u2019 inability to mine more production out of their gifted skill players. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a Pro Bowler as a rookie and he\u2019s not even a major threat in the offense. Wide receiver Drake London caught 72 passes in his 2022 rookie season and his impact hasn\u2019t been the same this year, either. Then there\u2019s rookie running back Bijan Robinson, Atlanta\u2019s first-round pick this season. He looks special when he touches the ball, but he shares time with Tyler Allgeier. We\u2019re still waiting for head coach Arthur Smith to figure out how to get the most out of this bunch. What <em>isn\u2019t <\/em>in question is whether these Falcons have immense potential.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/BAL\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Depth. <\/strong>The Ravens have dealt with their share of injuries this season. Running back J.K. Dobbins went down with a torn Achilles in Week 1, and yet Baltimore still has the best rushing attack in the NFL. The absence of safety Marcus Williams for several games earlier this year opened the door for <span>\ufeff<span>\ufeff<span>\ufeff<span><span><\/span>Geno Stone<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> to become the league&#8217;s co-leader in interceptions with six. Now, tight end <span>\ufeff<span>\ufeff<span>\ufeff<span><span><\/span>Mark Andrews<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a fractured fibula and torn ankle ligaments. It\u2019s a huge blow to this roster. History also says Baltimore will find a way to survive it.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/BUF\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Their familiarity with adversity.<\/strong> It\u2019s been pretty crazy in Buffalo lately, with quarterback Josh Allen turning the ball over again, wide receiver Stefon Diggs having to comment on tweets about the team made by his younger brother and head coach Sean McDermott suddenly firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey (even though the Bills had a top-10 offense). This also isn\u2019t <em>that<\/em> crazy if you\u2019ve followed the Bills in recent years. In 2021, they lost three of four games and were sitting at 7-6 before finishing the regular season on a four-game winning streak. Last year, they dealt with countless injuries (including the loss of edge rusher Von Miller and safety Micah Hyde, as well as the harrowing near-death experience with safety Damar Hamlin) and still managed a seven-game win streak. We\u2019re not saying the Bills don\u2019t look rough right now. It\u2019s just that they\u2019re more than capable of righting the ship again.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/CAR\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s only Year 1.<\/strong> C.J. Stroud ruined things for Bryce Young in Carolina. Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and Stroud has done little of that in Houston.&nbsp;On the other hand, Young &#8212; the player selected No. 1 overall, right before Stroud in this year\u2019s draft &#8212; has been trying to figure things out for a 1-9 Panthers team. Carolina\u2019s coaching staff has done quite a bit in its attempts to ease that burden, from changing play-callers (head coach Frank Reich is back to doing that again after initially giving that responsibility to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown a few weeks ago) to giving Young a wristband with plays on it to wear in games. Does it feel like a mess from the outside? Sure. Have we seen young quarterbacks go through this and eventually prosper? You bet.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/CHI\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The 2024 draft. <\/strong>As painful as this season has been in Chicago, the Bears understand life could change in a hurry come April. There\u2019s a strong chance that they\u2019ll be holding two of the top five picks in next year\u2019s draft. They have Carolina\u2019s selection &#8212; thanks to the trade that landed them DJ Moore &#8212; which is currently on track to be first overall. Chicago also will have its own pick, and this team has the look of a squad that could bottom out over the next two months.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/CIN\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The team\u2019s personnel moves.<\/strong> Yeah, it sucks that quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the season with a torn ligament in his right wrist. That doesn\u2019t mean this is the last time we\u2019ll be talking about the Bengals as Super Bowl contenders. This team has been killing it in the offseason for most of the last four years. Their drafts have produced superstars like Burrow and wide receiver Ja\u2019Marr Chase, as well as other young talents with promising futures (like defensive backs Daxton Hill, DJ Turner II and Cam Taylor-Britt). They\u2019ve also hit big in free agency on pieces such as edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and defensive lineman D.J. Reader. The Bengals have one of the league\u2019s youngest rosters, by the way. They\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/CLE\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The hiring of Jim Schwartz.<\/strong> If the Browns have any chance of overcoming the season-ending shoulder injury of quarterback Deshaun Watson, then it will come on the shoulders of a defense that has turned dominant under the tutelage of Schwartz this season. Yes, we get it. Stud edge rusher Myles Garrett was already in the building when Schwartz arrived, along with sticky cornerbacks like Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward. Now here\u2019s a question: How did that unit perform in previous years? Schwartz unleashed everything that defense could be, and Garrett is the top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year as a result.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/DAL\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dak Prescott.<\/strong> The Cowboys quarterback picked the ideal time to produce the best ball of his career. He\u2019s turned himself into an MVP candidate over the past month by providing big plays with his arm, timely scrambling and the confidence that he can carry this team when necessary. The big question coming into this season was whether Prescott could avoid the turnovers that killed this team a season ago. He now has 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions over his last five games (he has 19 and six on the season in those categories). Just as importantly, Prescott has leaned on CeeDee Lamb and taken the wide receiver&#8217;s game to another level. Prescott receives a lot of hate when things aren\u2019t going right in Dallas. He deserves plenty of love these days.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/DEN\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The resurrection of Russell Wilson.<\/strong> It was hard to believe Wilson would go from being a future Hall of Famer to a complete disaster in one season without any chance of rebounding. But look at him now. He&#8217;s thrown more touchdown passes in 10 games (19) than he did in his entire first year in Denver (16). Not unrelated, the Broncos already have matched last year&#8217;s win total. Even when Denver was stumbling around at the start of this season, its lack of success had more to do with a defense that couldn\u2019t stop anybody. Wilson was playing much better during that early stretch. He\u2019s improved even more as the season has gone on.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/DET\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell.<\/strong> The Lions are barreling towards their first division title in three decades and their first playoff appearance since 2016. That is happening because their general manager and head coach created a vision three years ago when they arrived in the Motor City. Holmes and Campbell wanted a physical, blue-collar team filled with gritty players who wanted to win and didn\u2019t care about the team\u2019s lackluster history. Fast forward to this season and that\u2019s exactly what the Lions are putting on the field every week.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/GB\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Jordan Love showed some progress.<\/strong> It\u2019s been a wild ride with Love this season. He started the year with encouraging play, then regressed into a quarterback who made some poor decisions and committed too many turnovers. Then came Sunday, when Green Bay\u2019s 23-20 win over the Chargers wound up being his best game of the season. Love produced strong numbers (27 of 40 for 322 yards and two touchdowns). More importantly, he led the Packers on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter that culminated in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs. There\u2019s been a lot of speculation about Love\u2019s future in Green Bay after this season. This was evidence that he can improve quickly.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/HOU\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>C.J. Stroud.<\/strong> This is as big of a no-brainer as you\u2019ll find in this list. Who knows where the Texans would be if Carolina had selected Stroud first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft instead of Bryce Young? That\u2019s not to shade Young\u2019s future, but Stroud already is in the midst of the best rookie season we\u2019ve ever witnessed from an NFL quarterback. He doesn\u2019t have a reliable running game &#8212; although Devin Singletary has come on of late. He\u2019s throwing to receivers most people wouldn\u2019t recognize. And there\u2019s no real star power on the team. Don\u2019t buy into the notion that a rookie on a team that isn\u2019t winning its division can\u2019t be an MVP candidate. Stroud is the epitome of what valuable means.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/IND\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Shane Steichen.<\/strong> The Colts\u2019 head coach has proven to be fairly resourceful in his first season on the job. His best offensive player, running back Jonathan Taylor, was caught up in a public squabble with ownership over a new contract, one Taylor eventually received. His rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson, impressed at the start of the year before a shoulder injury ended his season. The Indianapolis defense also has struggled, as it ranked 25th in the league in points allowed heading into Week 11. Throughout all that, the Colts are still sitting at 5-5 as they rest up during their bye. Steichen could\u2019ve lost this team long ago. It says plenty that they\u2019re still competing for a playoff spot.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/JAX\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Travis Etienne.<\/strong> The Jaguars offense hasn\u2019t exploded in the way many anticipated, but it\u2019s not Etienne\u2019s fault. He\u2019s been dynamic as both a runner and receiver, so much so that he should be thinking about a spot in this year\u2019s Pro Bowl. Etienne is getting anywhere from 20-30 touches each week and is on pace for 1,618 total yards from scrimmage. It now seems comical that Urban Meyer flirted with the idea of utilizing Etienne as a wide receiver when the Jaguars drafted him in the 2021 NFL Draft. This dude is going to be a monster the longer he plays.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/LV\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The firing of Josh McDaniels.<\/strong> It\u2019s confounding to think McDaniels didn\u2019t learn much about being a head coach from his first time on the job, when he flopped with the Denver Broncos. He brough the same poor communication skills and dictatorial approach to the Raiders and, somehow, it just didn\u2019t lead to his players buying into his vision. Give owner Mark Davis credit for seeing where this was heading and hitting the eject button before this season was too far gone. Interim coach Antonio Pierce clearly has the faith of this team. He also has a great chance at leading them to the postseason with the way the AFC playoff picture looks right now.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/LAC\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The hiring of Kellen Moore.<\/strong> The Chargers are back to their frustrating ways this season, but Moore has been far from the problem. Head coach Brandon Staley hired him to improve the offense &#8212; more specifically to elevate the performance of star quarterback Justin Herbert &#8212; and that\u2019s been of the positives in Los Angeles thus far. Herbert has taken more shots downfield and he\u2019s become more efficient in the process. The Chargers have plenty of issues on defense, as they proved once again in Sunday\u2019s loss to Green Bay. Moore\u2019s work with Herbert is one of the few things keeping them alive.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/LA\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Seattle Seahawks.<\/strong> The Rams won both games against Seattle this season, and you can argue that those victories have been their biggest. The first was a season-opening blowout that introduced the world to Puka Nacua. The second came on Sunday, when the Rams secured a 17-16 victory when the Seahawks couldn\u2019t connect on a last-second field goal. Los Angeles could easily be trending in the wrong direction. Instead, its now sitting at 4-6 with some newfound optimism about getting back into the wild-card playoff race.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/MIA\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Jalen Ramsey\u2019s return to the field. <\/strong>Nobody knew what to expect when Ramsey underwent knee surgery at the end of July. He\u2019s been pretty amazing ever since that point. First, Ramsey recovered faster than anticipated, as early reports had him returning in early December. Then he started balling like crazy after getting back on the field. Ramsey had an interception in his first game back. He helped the Dolphins hold the Chiefs offense to just 14 offensive points in his second game. And in his third game &#8212; Sunday\u2019s win over the Raiders &#8212; he hauled in two more interceptions, the second of which sealed the victory. Miami traded for Ramsey back in March in the hopes of landing an impact player. Mission accomplished.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/MIN\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kevin O\u2019Connell.<\/strong> The easy answer here would be quarterback Josh Dobbs, who\u2019s been nothing short of sensational since showing up in a midseason trade and starting three games. The fact is O\u2019Connell has kept this team together through a litany of challenges. The Vikings started the season 1-4, thanks in part to a slew of turnovers. They lost Justin Jefferson in Week 5 to a hamstring injury he has yet to return from. They lost Kirk Cousins in Week 8 to a torn Achilles. They\u2019ve battled injuries to other key starters and had to rely on a quarterback who was starting for the Arizona Cardinals just three weeks ago. They\u2019ve gotten through all that and returned to playoff contention because O\u2019Connell is a strong candidate for Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/NE\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>No football last week.<\/strong> The Patriots had a bye in Week 11, and that had to be a welcome relief for the franchise and its fans. New England, 2-8, sits at the bottom of the AFC. They\u2019ve suffered some of the worst defeats in Bill Belichick&#8217;s career this fall and have shown little signs of improvement as the season has gone on. The roughest part about all of this: They still have seven games to go. Perhaps the week away and a matchup with the 3-8 Giants are exactly what they need.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/NO\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The NFC South. <\/strong>The Saints have been one of the more confounding teams all year. Their offense has been up and down. At 5-5, they\u2019ve been in a pattern of winning a couple games and then losing a couple. If they played in a different division, they\u2019d be lucky to be in the wild-card conversation. Since they play in the NFC South, they\u2019re in a great spot to be a division champion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/NYG\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Daniel Jones contract.<\/strong> If the Giants can take anything away from what has been a horrendous season, it\u2019s that it\u2019s time to think about other options at quarterback.&nbsp;They gave Jones a four-year, $160 million extension in March, but the penalty of walking away from him isn\u2019t substantial after the 2024 season. That means it\u2019s time to take advantage of what is trending toward a top-five pick in next year\u2019s draft. There will be plenty of quality prospects to choose from, and Jones could be a bridge if the team wants to give that player a year to develop. It sucks that Jones tore his ACL and had to play behind a lousy offensive line. But it also would be a huge mistake for the Giants to not find a way to benefit from all that frustration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/NYJ\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>That defense. <\/strong>It\u2019s one thing to be optimistic about winning enough games to create the remote possibility of <span>\ufeff<span><span><\/span>Aaron Rodgers<\/span>\ufeff<\/span> playing again after sustaining a torn Achilles in the season opener. It\u2019s another to be in a position to <em>still<\/em> make that happen. The Jets can thank that nasty defense for doing its part when it comes to keeping hope alive. That unit has been elite all season, and especially disruptive against some of the best quarterbacks in the league. Just imagine where this team would be if Rodgers had been healthy all year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/PIT\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>T.J. Watt.<\/strong>&nbsp;We\u2019ve been praising head coach Mike Tomlin all season for the job he\u2019s done in Pittsburgh with an underwhelming offense. It\u2019s time now to heap some love on the one player Tomlin can count on every week to deliver the game-changing plays that give the Steelers a chance at winning: Watt. There aren\u2019t many edge rushers who are as consistently disruptive. Watt already has 11.5 sacks, putting him on pace for 19.5. He\u2019s forced two fumbles, recovered three others, intercepted a pass and scored the game-winning touchdown on a fumble return in a Week 2 win over the Browns. It\u2019s hard to know if the Steelers can reach the playoffs without a productive offense (as we saw in Pittsburgh\u2019s 13-10 loss to Cleveland on Sunday). What we do know is Watt will do his part.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/SF\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Improved health.<\/strong> The 49ers went from riding a five-game winning streak to suffering through a three-game losing streak, and there were plenty of questions that came with that stark change in fortune. The reality is that the reasons behind those issues were easier to explain than some wanted to believe. The most glaring factor was an offense that was plagued by injuries to star offensive players (wide receiver Deebo Samuel, left tackle Trent Williams and running back Christian McCaffrey). With those pieces gone, quarterback Brock Purdy pressed more, turnovers became a bigger issue and the defense didn\u2019t help by producing some bad outings. Things look a lot better in the Bay Area these days, primarily because the team is more whole again after winning two straight.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/SEA\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Boye Mafe\u2019s development.<\/strong> The Seahawks have been trying to bolster their defensive line over the last couple years, so Mafe is growing up at just the right time. He\u2019s easily the most improved player on this team, as he\u2019s leading Seattle in sacks (seven), quarterback hits (11) and fumble recoveries (two). The Seahawks anticipated that Mafe would need some time to grow into a consistent player when he arrived as a second-round pick last year. He\u2019s already more than doubled his sack total from his rookie season and is looking more like a dangerous presence with each passing week.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/TB\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tristan Wirfs.<\/strong> The Buccaneers moved Wirfs from right tackle to left tackle this season. He\u2019s played like he\u2019s belonged there his entire career. Heading into Sunday\u2019s loss to San Francisco, Wirfs hadn\u2019t allowed a sack all season. He\u2019s also proven once again why he should be a cornerstone for this team moving forward. A first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Wirfs is in the midst of his fourth season, and he should be in line for a huge contract extension. The Bucs have struggled to find consistency as a team this season. Wirfs should make them feel better about their future.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/TEN\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Self-realization.<\/strong> The Titans are about to go through a rebuild, and they\u2019re leaning into it in the right way. Rookie Will Levis already has been named the starter for the rest of the season as the team prepares to move on from Ryan Tannehill. The team also sent safety Kevin Byard, a longtime defensive leader, to Philadelphia near the trade deadline. There\u2019s certain to be more speculation about an eventual departure for star running back Derrick Henry as we move into the offseason. The Titans still have one of the league\u2019s best head coaches in Mike Vrabel and some nice pieces on defenses &#8212; like defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons &#8212; but this is a team that needs to retool its core. The good thing is they can see it.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.www.nfl.com\/t_thumb_squared\/f_auto\/league\/api\/clubs\/logos\/WAS\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sam Howell.<\/strong> It\u2019s been a long time since the Commanders could be this deep into a season and feeling good about the future of their quarterback position. Howell has gone from being an intriguing talent to legitimately being a player who could be on his way to a nice career. He\u2019s produced solid numbers despite playing behind suspect pass protection, throwing for 3,038 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Just as importantly, he\u2019s shown some moxie and a cavalier approach to the game that could serve this franchise well. The Commanders have put a lot of duds under center over the past few years. This guy has a great chance to avoid that fate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/news\/the-first-read-one-thing-each-nfl-team-has-to-be-thankful-for-entering-week-12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this special Thanksgiving edition of The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha identifies one thing each team should be thankful for <span class=\"more-text\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":299949,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The First Read: One thing each NFL team has to be thankful for entering Week 12 - Sportstons<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/nfl\/the-first-read-one-thing-each-nfl-team-has-to-be-thankful-for-entering-week-12\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The First Read: One thing each NFL team has to be thankful for entering Week 12 - 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