Golden Football Rankings

Did You Notice? NFL Week 12

Scoring Down
If you think you're seeing more low-scoring games this year, the statistics back you up. Winning teams are averaging just 27.7ppg, which is the second lowest since 2013 (only 2022 was lower at 26.2). But an even bigger change is in the loser's point total. Losing teams are averaging just 15.7 ppg, which is down from 17.1 in 2022, which in turn was down from 18.2 in 2021, which was down from 20.0 in 2020.
Defense Sparks Broncos
Saints fans know that Sean Payton is one of the best offensive minds in NFL history. But his rebuilding project with the Broncos this year has succeeded because of the defense. True, he has gotten more out of QB Russell Wilson after he struggled in his first year with Denver last season. But the Broncos' D was the laughing stock of the league when they surrendered 70 points and 726y to the Dolphins September 24. Then the next week Justin Fields and the Bears torched them for nearly 500y of offense. But since then, Denver's embattled defensive coordinator Vance Joseph (who once was the Broncos' head coach) turned the tide. In the last six games, the Broncos have not given up more than 22 points and held the Chiefs to just 19 in Week 6 and then only nine in the rematch two weeks later. The result is a five-game winning streak. (P.S. Vance Joseph played quarterback at Archbishop Shaw in Marrero before playing at Colorado from 1992-95.)
Ravens Defense
Another AFC team known for its offense, the Baltimore Ravens, showed they could win a low-scoring game when they beat the Chargers and their 8th-ranked scoring offense 20-10. After kicking a field goal on their opening drive, the Chargers had seven straight empty possessions. DE Jadeveon Clowney has been a key contributor to the Ravens' D in his first season with the club.
Cowboys Not Dead
The 49ers blew away the Cowboys 42-10 October 8. Since then Dallas has won five of six, with the only loss coming at the hands of the high-flying Eagles 28-23 in Week 9. The Cowboys won't win the division but have a good shot at earning a wild-card berth in the NFC playoffs.

Hold the Divorce Papers
Just before the kickoff of the Giants-Patriots game, Fox's Jay Glazer reported that Giants coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale were in a "bad place" and added that he didn't see the duo continuing their relationship after the season, if it lasted that long. Then the game began, and the Giants won 10-7 with Daboll awarding the game ball to Martindale in the locker room. In his postgame remarks, Daboll credited Martindale for doing a "fabulous job."

Intriguing Numbers - NFL Week 12
12	NFL head coaches fired before they completed one year on the job in the last 12 years after Carolina jettisoned Frank Reich
4	Head coaches for the Panthers in the last six years
3-14	Tennessee Titans' record in their last 17 games, putting Coach Mike Vrabel's job in jeopardy
5	Winning streaks by the Broncos and Eagles, tops in the league
10	Rushing touchdowns by Eagles QB Jalen Hurts in each of the last three seasons, which is something that no other quarterback has done even twice in a row
0-6	Buffalo QB Josh Allen's record in overtime games after the 37-34 loss to the Eagles
58	Games the Steelers had gone without topping 400y of offense before Sunday, their first game after firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
0	Teams in the NFC South with a winning record (or even a .500 record)
0-5	Saints' success rate in converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns against Atlanta
8-9	Record of the 2022 Buccaneers, who won the NFL South last year

Did You Notice? NCAA Week 13

Few Rematches in Conference Playoffs
Amazingly, of the ten conference playoff games this week, only three are rematches from the regular season.
CUSA: New Mexico State @ Liberty
--Liberty won 33-17 in Week 3
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington in Las Vegas
--Washington won 36-33 in Seattle Week 6.
Big 12: Oklahoma State vs Texas @ Arlington TX
Mid-America: Miami (OH) vs Toledo @ Detroit
--Toledo won 21-17 at Miami in Week 8.
Mountain West: Boise State @ UNLV
SEC: Georgia vs Alabama @ Atlanta
American: SMU @ Tulane
Sun Belt: Appalachian State @ Troy
Big Ten: Michigan vs Iowa @ Indianapolis
ACC: Louisville vs Florida State @ Charlotte
Washington's Wee Wins
What a contrast between Washington's first four wins of the season and the remaining eight.
They defeated their three non-conference foes by a combined 104 points: Boise State (by 37 points), Tulsa (33), Michigan State (34). Then the Huskies trounced their first Pac-12 opponent, California, by 23. Since then, they've won their remaining eight conference games by a combined 49 points for an average of just 6.2ppg.
Washington edged the Ducks 36-33 at home in Week 6. They will have to play better to win at a neutral site Friday night.
This title game will be the most closely watched one since it has implications not only for the CFP but also for the Heisman Trophy, as the winning quarterback, either Michael Penix of Washington or Bo Nix of Oregon, may clinch the award with a victory. All Jayden Daniels can do is hope that neither has a strong game.
N. C. State Resurgence
Going into its open date October 21, North Carolina State was 4-3 following a 24-3 loss to Duke in a game Coach Dave Doeren called the most embarrassing of his 11 years at N. C. State. Doeren held what he called a "really transparent, come to Jesus" meeting with coaches and staff. The Wolfpack responded by winning their remaining five games to finish 9-3, including a 39-20 upset of rival North Carolina last Saturday. A bowl victory would give them the second 10-win season in school history.
Undefeated Teams
ACC: Florida State (12-0)
Big 10: Michigan (12-0)
Pac-12: Washington (12-0)
SEC: Georgia (12-0)
Conference USA: Liberty (12-0)

Intriguing Numbers - Week 13
367	Yards passing by Oregon QB Bo Nix against Washington
78.6	Nix's completion percentage for the season
5	Years that Nix has played college football, three at Auburn and two at Oregon
11	Iowa games in which the opponent has not scored more than 14 points; Michigan State lost to the Hawkeyes 26-16 in Week 5.
23	Points scored by Georgia Tech in their 8-point loss to Georgia, the most scored on the Bulldogs this season
10	Victories by Missouri this season - the most since they went 11-3 in 2014
23-3	Tulane's record the last two seasons, the most productive pair since they went 19-2 in 1930-31 under Hall of Fame Coach Bernie Bierman