Upon Further Review: Shame on Dallas, the Jets, Minnesota, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, San Diego, New Orleans, Green Bay, and the Eagles 

I wish the first 11 weeks were as easy to write about the results of the NFL games as Week 12 was. Why, do you ask? Very simple: There were two sets of turkeys, the ones that were carved up on the dinner table and the ones that were carved up on the football field.

In order, starting with the traditional annual holiday day games, Dallas, the Jets, Minnesota, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, San Diego, New Orleans, Green Bay, and Philadelphia did not give their fans any reason to celebrate the long weekend. In fact, they were probably responsible for more upset stomachs and throbbing (hangover) headaches after watching their teams lose in the fashion they did.

Dallas took a 3-0 lead against the Washington Redskins and then were burned by 28 second-quarter points as Robert Griffin 3rd threw touchdown passes of 68, 59 and 6 yards in the 38-31 win. The Cowboys did manage to make a game of it with a second-half run, but the lead was insurmountable. The Boys go on to host the Eagles Sunday night while the Skins host the Giants Monday night...The Jets laid the biggest turkey egg of the weekend when they hosted the hated New England Patriots. There are a lot of things you can do in a span of 52 seconds. Having 3 touchdowns scored against you should not be one of them. That's exactly what happened to Gang Green in their 49-19 loss. The Patriots scored 35 points in the second quarter putting the Jets asleep faster than the chemical digested from having too much turkey. Most embarrassing was Jets QB Mark Sanchez bouncing off the rear end (insert joke here) of right guard Brandon Moore causing Sanchez to fumble and recovered by Steve Gregory who returned it 32 yards for the touchdown. The Jets and their playoff hopes are as done as the turkey that was waiting for them after the game. They host Arizona while the Patriots travel to Miami. Their stomachs are hurting not from the amount of food they ate but because they are still laughing at the outcome of the game...Minnesota had a chance to tie Chicago for first place when they faced the Bears on Sunday. They got out to a 3-0 lead then saw the Bears score the next 25 points in their 28-10 win. Chicago's defense helped the cause by getting into the end zone twice. The Vikings go to Green Bay while the Bears play another home game against Seattle...Oakland is still asking themselves why they trekked halfway across the country to play the Bengals. Before they knew it, the Raiders were down 24-0 in losing 34-10. Cinci's QB Andy Dalton throws for three TDs and 210 yards while running back BenJarvis Green-Ellis ran for 129 yards and one TD. The Bengals play another west coast team, but this time they travel across the country when they face the Chargers who allowed a 4th and 29 conversions to the Ravens losing in overtime 16-13. Baltimore was on its own 37 with 1:37 left in the game when Rutgers star Ray Rice took the screen pass and scampered the 29 yards needed for the first down. Justin Tucker kicked the 38-yard field goal to send the game into overtime in which they won to push their record to 9-2. The Ravens host the Steelers who started third-string QB Charlie Batch but could not overcome 7 turnovers in their 20-14 loss to Cleveland. It was only the second time the Browns had beaten Pittsburgh in their last 18 games. Cleveland goes to the black hole to face the Raiders...The Titans were facing a Jacksonville team that had only one win coming into the game. The Jaguars left with their second win after QB Chad Henne threw two TDs in the 24-19 win. The Jags came into the game having lost their previous seven games. Tennessee goes home to face Houston while Jacksonville goes to Buffalo who are coming off a loss to the surprising Colts 20-13 as Indianapolis improved its record to 7-4. The Colts head to Detroit who is still trying to get over their 34-31 OT loss at the hands of the Texans. It appeared that Texans running back Justin Forsett was down but he continued to run and turned it into an 81-yard TD run. Before the play could be reviewed, Lions head coach threw the challenge flag which not only negated the review but penalized Detroit for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Texans would score a late touchdown and then kick a field goal in overtime to win the game and improve to 10-1. The Saints took a hit to their playoff chances when they fell at home to San Francisco 31-21. For his second straight start, backup QB Colin Kaepernick had a solid game throwing for one TD and running for another. Saints Drew Brees threw three TDs but also threw two INT's, which were returned for touchdowns. The 9ers visit St. Louis while the Saints play Atlanta Thursday night...The Eagles free fall continues in losing Monday night to Carolina 30-22 for their seventh straight loss. Carolina saw Cam Newton pass for 2 TDs (306 yards) and run for another 2 (54 yards) as they visit the Chiefs...Atlanta squeezed by Tampa 24-23 to become the second team with 10 wins...The Rams invade the Cardinals Janoris Jenkins picks off two passes and returns them for touchdowns in the 31-17 rout. The Cards are another team with a seven-game losing streak. Miami kicked a field goal as time expired in its 24-21 win over Seattle. Ex-Jets running back Leon Washington (seems like the ex-Jets are the only ones having a good year) ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. The eighth time he has done that tying an NFL record...Denver kept the Chiefs winless at home in its 17-9 win to improve to 8-3. Peyton Manning continued his campaign for MVP throwing 2 more TD passes and 285 yards. Denver hosts Tampa...Finally, talk about taking advantage of a bye week. The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants were coming off 2 straight losses (Pittsburgh and Cincinnati) when they came off their bye week to face the Green Bay Packers. Giants QB Eli Manning shook off the "weak arm" rumors by throwing three TDs for 249 yards in the whipping of the Packers. The defense had Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on the run all night as he was sacked 5 times before the night was over.

So Week #12 is in the books. I'm not sure who had the worst weekend, the turkeys that were cooked for hours in the oven or the teams that were cooked on the field.

Upon Further Review: Derrelle Revis out, but Jets offense and defense awful

East Rutherford, NJ - So this is what the New York Jets defense looked like with the best cornerback in football Darrelle Revis out with a torn ACL in his left knee. The San Francisco 49ers spent the week in Ohio rather than travel back home after getting beat by the Minnesota Vikings last week.

After losing 34-0 to the 49ers at MetLife Stadium, it's not only the defense the Jets have to worry about. It's the 11 players on offense that head coach Rex Ryan should be concerned with. Ryan was clearly steamed afterward using some language he had to apologize for. Parents may want to shield their kids from the following quote.

"I apologize for my language," he began his postgame press conference. "Because I was going to say we got our butt kicked. But really, we got our ass kicked. There's no two ways ins or outs about it."

He then dissected how the ass whipping took place.

"We go in and it should be 7-3 at halftime. It's 10-0 because of the mistakes we make. Then we come out, turn the ball over four times. Here's the recipe for getting our ass kicked: 2 for 13 on third down that 15%, four turnovers, a blocked punt when they rush one guy and give up 245 rushing. How's that for a recipe."

Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, and Atlanta Falcons Still Undefeated

Things won't get any easier for Gang Green as they host one of the three teams that remain undefeated in the Houston Texans. They stayed perfect by rolling over the Tennessee Titans 38-14...The other two teams that are without a loss, Arizona, and Atlanta, had to work hard to come away with victories.

The Cardinals needed overtime to beat the Miami Dolphins (24-21) as QB Kevin Kolb threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Miami wasted a great performance by their QB Ryan Tannehill as he threw for 421 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Brian Hartline entered the Dolphins record book by hauling in 12 catches for 253 yards...The Falcons needed to go 90 yards with a little over one minute left to eke out a 30-28 win over the Panthers. Matt (Matty Ice) Ryan finds Roddy White for a 59-yard pass completion and then watches Matt Bryant kick the game-winning 40-yard field goal. Ryan finished his day throwing for 369 yards as White caught eight passes for 169 yards...

Washington, Rams, Vikings, Patriots, Chargers, and Broncos Among the Winners

Redskins wonder QB RGIII passes for 323 yards in its 24-22 win over Tampa. Another nail-biter as Washington's Billy Cundiff nails a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left...Seattle was brought back to reality after its gift win Monday night against Green Bay as the Rams turned them back 19-13. Rams field goal kicker Greg Zuerlein was feeling his oats as he converted four field goals. The first, a 58-yarder that was followed up by a club record 60 yards. Expect him to be named special team player of the week...The disappointing Lions lose for the third time in four weeks after as the Vikings go on the road and come away with a 20-13 win. Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson continues to impress coming off knee surgery as he ran for 102 yards on 21 carries. Detroit's QB Matthew Stafford threw for 319 yards...For the second time this year, the Buffalo Bills gave up more than 45 points in a game. Sunday, they gave up 52 to the New England Patriots. The Bills did take a 14-7 halftime lead then saw their defense give up 45 points in the second half in the 52-28 loss. Patriots QB Tom Brady threw for 340 yards and two TDs...San Diego (37-20) and Denver (37-6) routed Kansas City and Oakland respectively. The Chargers jumped out to a 20-0 lead and Denver scored 21 third-quarter points running away with the victories...

Bengals and Ravens Tied for First in AFC North; Cleveland and New Orleans Still Winless

Don't look now but the Cincinnati Bengals are tied for first in the AFC North after its 27-10 road win over Jacksonville. The Bengals are tied with the Ravens who just got by the winless Cleveland Browns last Thursday 23-16. The Browns had a chance to send the game into overtime but Cleveland's QB Brandon Weeden pass in the end zone went out of bounds...They join the only other winless team, the New Orleans Saints who were edged by Green Bay 28-27. The Saints had a chance to take the lead but Garrett Hartley misses a 48-yard field goal with a little less than three minutes in the game...

New York Giants Lose a Heartbreaker to Philadelphia Eagles

The New York (Football) Giants fell to 2-2 and 0-2 in the division after losing Sunday night in Philadelphia 19-17 to improve their record to 3-1. Big Blue had a chance to win it after Lawrence Tynes missed his first attempt at 54 yards but Eagles head coach Andy Reid called a timeout. Tynes could not take advantage of the second opportunity as the kick came up short. Giants QB Eli Manning did throw for 309 yards and two touchdowns but the running game was non-existent. The Eagles did not turn the ball over for the first time this young season. The Giants host those lowly Browns Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Everything is not Big in Texas As Dallas Loses to Chicago Bears at Home

Finally, the Chicago Bears (3-1) went into Dallas (2-2) and picked off Tony Romo five times (tying a career high) coming away with a 34-18 win. Bears QB Jay Cutler completed 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and two TDs while wide receiver Brandon Marshall pulled in seven catches for 138 yards and one touchdown. Dallas now gets a much-needed bye week, as Romo and his offense, try to figure out how to straighten out their issues. When they return to the field, four of their five following games will be on the road.

What will be the aftermath following the Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor fight?

WHAT'S THE 411SPORTS: POPPIN – PART 1

• The Jimmy Butler saga continues. At last count, the Miami Heat and the L.A Clippers were vying for Jimmy Butler’s services. What’s complicating Butler’s trade is that Gorgui Dieng must be part of the deal.

Q. Will the Minnesota Timberwolves deal Jimmy Butler before the start of the NBA season?

• Kyrie Irving is the man! First, Jimmy Butler, now it’s Anthony Davis that says he wants to play with Kyrie Irving in Boston. According to league sources, Davis will probably end up with the Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers.

Q. Let’s dream a bit, can you imagine a Boston team with Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Anthony Davis? If not Boston, where would you rather see Anthony Davis?

• Billed as one of the most significant fights in UFC history. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor had their very anticipated showdown and Khabib won.

Q. What was not expected was the fight’s aftermath. Should the fight organizers have been more prepared for a potential melee?

WHAT'S THE 411SPORTS: QUICK BITES

• LeBron James was considering joining the Toronto Raptors before he finalized his move to the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, it seems both sides were interested in reaching an agreement.

• The family of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau has settled their wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL. Seau died from suicide at the age of 43; his death followed a long battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head.

• Drew Brees passes Peyton Manning as NFL's all-time passing leader: New Orleans Saint quarterback Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning's record of 71,940 career passing yards with a 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Tre’Quan Smith in the second quarter of a game against Washington. New Orleans defeated Washington 43-19, ouch!!!

WHAT'S THE 411SPORTS: POPPIN – PART 2

• Former Louisville men’s basketball head coach, Rick Pitino, has been promoting his new book, entitled Pitino: My Story. He says he never wants to coach basketball again.

Q. Do you believe Pitino?

• Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul has taken offense to the criticisms of fellow teammate, Carmelo Anthony, calling the criticism of Melo disrespectful.

Q. Do you think Chris Paul is right that the media may have gone too far with their assessment of Carmelo Anthony?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

What’s The 411’s Photo of the Week is a photo of Saquon Barkley making a touchdown during the New York Giants game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium.

NY SPORTS REPORT

• We have a preseason look at the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks.

• New York Yankees Update: The Yankees made it into the ALDS and will play the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 tonight.

• Discord has visited upon the NY Giants.

Q. Are the New York Giants on the brink of falling apart?

WHAT'S THE 411SPORTS OFF TOPIC:

Summer vacation is officially over, and Khloe Kardashian was headed back to Cleveland to be with baby True’s father, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson and decided to stay in Los Angeles.

Odell Beckham, Jr., a game changer, didn’t get enough looks in the Game 2 loss

KEISHA: So we're going to move from the hard courts of the NBA and we're going to go to the Gridiron of the NFL and we are going to talk about one of our favorite teams and one of our favorite players at least mine, and that's Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., told Kimberly A. Martin of Yahoo Sports that he feels like he can help out much more in the passing game to steer the Giants in the right direction.

Mike, do you think that Odell Beckham is being utilized enough or is it the team's 1 - 2 to start that is causing Beckham to search for answers?

MIKE: Well, the first game he was certainly utilized enough in the game against Jacksonville, no question about it against the toughest defense in the NFL, right now, that certainly he played a very good game and I thought that they gave him enough opportunities throughout that game. And then, of course, Game 2, I didn't think that they gave him, they looked at him enough in that loss where they lost that second game of the season. But, I felt like in Week 3, the offense was really clicking on all cylinders. And, I think a lot of that had to do with the offensive line. If the offensive line is playing well, there's no question that Eli Manning is going to get more and more opportunities to get Odell Beckham, Jr. the ball. The guy is a game changer. There's no question about that and they need him, you know, they certainly need him but Keisha what I'll finish with is it's going to be a tricky road for the next month of the Giants, you know, they face the New Orleans Saints and then they go and they have to play the Carolina Panthers they back that up on a short week against the Philadelphia Eagles and then play the Atlanta Falcons. Now, these are four teams that wound up making the playoffs last season, 3 out of the last four years, I think three of those four teams with the exception of New Orleans has won the NFC.

KEISHA: I think the Saints were out last year right there.

MIKE: Yeah, exactly. They lost to Minnesota (Vikings). I think in that crazy last-second miracle game. But I think for the Giants this is going to be a tough road ahead and it's going to be a tough test for Pat Shurmur and Odell Beckham, but I think that the biggest question mark they have is the offensive line at that offensive line, which really started to come around and that win against Houston if it's starting to play a lot better than Odell Beckham certainly will be happy.

KEISHA: Yeah, definitely. I agree with you. I think that his, Odell's frustrations or his sentiment was based on that Dallas (Cowboys) game Week 2 where he only had four receptions in 51 yards. And I think you know the Giants offense has struggled scoring for the past couple of seasons. I mean the last time they scored 30 points in the game was January 3rd, 2016.

That's a lot of football to happen and you can't score 30 points when you have an Odell Beckham Jr., when you have a Sterling Shepherd. At one point, they had Brandon Marshall, but he was gone within like the first couple of games of the season but when you have an Evan Engram when there's talent that you know, it's one of the best receiving corps in an NFL in if you can't score 30 points, there's an issue. The offensive line really rebounded and played well on the third game against the Houston Texans and there was a shift in the line where Ereck Flowers was sidelined. He was benched and that was a sigh of relief and probably jubilation for most of us who just really are shaking our heads as to why Ereck Flowers has been allowed to start this long. But, the offensive line is key. And you know, I think Odell was probably, maybe if you read between the lines he was talking to Eli because Eli has overthrown him or short-thrown him or haven't seen him wide open.

So it's going to be imperative for Eli to be able to notice and fairly quickly because even with the better play from the offensive line, he's not going to have tons of time to just sit and scan for like 30 seconds, 10 seconds or whatever. So, you know Eli's got to make sure that he sees the field see it quickly and get and delivers the ball to him. And with Odell, it doesn't have to be a pinpoint precise pass just throw it somewhere in his area, he's gonna get it with those big hands he's got. And, then also, you know, it's going to be up to the offensive coordinator Mike Shula to make sure that he is running an offense that's going to get Odell involved. I mean and it doesn't necessarily I don't think you have to force feed it to him. I think because you have Sterling Shepard and you have Evan Engram who presents enough of a threat that you can pass the ball, so you're not forced feeding and showing your hand all the time.

So, you know, if the game against the Houston Texans was any indication that how the season's going to go, Odell is going to be happy, Giants' fans are going to be happy. We're gonna win some games, maybe make a push for the playoffs and all will be right in New York City.