NFL: Week 12 knee-jerk reactions
November, 27, 2012
11/27/12
1:30
PM ET
By ESPN.com staff | ESPN.com
You’ve heard the chatter by the sports pundits and on the talk shows. Heck, you might even have heard it here. So, are the knee-jerk reactions about your team based in reality? Our NFL bloggers weigh in.
NFC Knee-jerk Reactions | AFC Knee-jerk Reactions
WEEK 12
| Team | Knee-jerk reaction | Reality or not? |
|---|---|---|
| AFC EAST by James Walker | ||
 | I can't remember the last time Chan Gailey made a good coaching decision. My mind is made up: Get Gailey outta here! | Lately, Gailey has certainly been more of the problem than the solution in Buffalo. If things don't turn around quickly, Gailey probably won't be back next year. |
 | Forget what I said about Chad Henne last week, Walker. I'm glad we drafted Ryan Tannehill. He's pretty cool. | Dolphins fans have to come to their senses about Tannehill. He's a rookie who will go through growing pains. The key is learning from those mistakes. |
 | I just bought my airplane ticket to New Orleans for Super Bowl weekend. I fully expect the Patriots to be there. | I hope this isn't a nonrefundable ticket. The Patriots look Super in November. But it's all about who stays healthy and gets hot in January. It's too early to crown anyone. |
 | Fire Rex Ryan! Fire Mike Tannenbaum! Fire Fireman Ed! FIRE EVERYBODY! | Sure, the Jets were an on-field circus in their 30-point loss to the Patriots on Thanksgiving. But there are still five games left for Rex Ryan & Co. to prove they deserve one more year. Let's see what happens. |
| AFC WEST by Bill Williamson | ||
 | The Broncos' flat performance against the Chiefs is a sign that this team is ready to take a dip. | Nope, it's the NFL. Every week is different, and it is difficult for any team to play at a dominant level on a weekly basis. This isn't college football. You aren't dinged for unimpressive wins. |
 | There is no such thing as the Arrowhead Stadium home-field advantage anymore. The Chiefs are 0-6 at home for the first time since 1976. | Yes, but don't blame it on Arrowhead Stadium. It's not the stadium's fault, and it's not the fan base's fault. It's this team's fault. Give the stadium and the fans a good product, and Arrowhead will again be a house of horrors for visiting teams. |
 | It's time to think about using Terrelle Pryor in Oakland. The season is lost. Let's see what the kid can do. | It's difficult to argue. But the Raiders' 3-8 record is not Carson Palmer's fault. He's not the problem. |
 | The Chargers' defensive collapse on the Ravens' fourth-and-29 conversion Sunday was the biggest gaffe in the NFL this season. | It's hard to argue against that. All anyone wants to talk about is how the Chargers allowed a first down in that circumstance. That play will never be forgotten. |
| AFC NORTH by Jamison Hensley | ||
 | The Ravens came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Ray Rice converted on fourth-and-29. This is shaping up to be a special season. | The win in San Diego could be the Ravens' signature victory. Everything is falling into place for the Ravens, from the AFC North title to the second seed in the AFC. The challenge is to keep up that momentum heading into the postseason. |
 | The Bengals are playing like the best team in the division right now. They're not just beating teams. They're beating them up. Who Dey! | What's really impressive about the Bengals' three-game win streak is the margin of victory. They're beating teams by an average of 21 points. Cincinnati has the chance to deliver another rout at reeling San Diego. |
 | The Browns are starting to turn things around. The win over the Steelers was huge for the confidence of this young team. This is a great sign for the 2013 season. | Cleveland is 3-3 after starting a disastrous 0-5. It won't be enough to save Pat Shurmur's job, but the Browns definitely are building momentum that can carry over into next season. |
 | The Steelers are falling apart. They turned the ball over eight times to the Browns. How can you expect Pittsburgh to hold on to the final playoff spot in the AFC when it can't hold on to the ball? | The loss at Cleveland doesn't leave the Steelers much room for error in December. They probably have to win four of their next five games to secure a playoff spot. But this team will get a boost when Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu return. |
| AFC SOUTH by Paul Kuharsky | ||
 | This team is pretty bad for a 10-1 team. The defense has been getting away with murder. We're not worried about Tennessee, but that trip to New England for "Monday Night Football" is going to be ugly. | Houston's ability to find ways to win even with one side of the ball struggling has been remarkable. The defense has hit a lull, but it's going to bounce back. |
 | Never mind these people talking about how we've not beaten anyone and can't do damage in the playoffs. Our team has tremendous purpose and will continue to surprise. | There is nothing wrong with beating lesser teams when they are on your schedule. If the Colts keep going like that, it'll be a season to be proud of. |
 | In Chad Henne we trust. If they had turned to this guy earlier, maybe we would be in better shape. It sure was fun to watch the Jags win. | It's completely understandable why the team hung with Blaine Gabbert for as long as it did. And Henne's first relief appearance in Oakland gave us no hint he would be such an upgrade. |
 | Hooray, they fired Chris Palmer. Couldn't they have done away with Jerry Gray, too? Losing at Jacksonville makes me question how much longer I can root for this team. | It's a reasonable move, and Dowell Loggains has a chance to be a good coordinator. But expecting further change in season is silly. |
AFC EAST SCOREBOARD
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
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