The Diary of NFL Insider Dianna Russini
Subscribe
Cover photo

Sunday Sauce: Week 13

Every team is in the hunt? No, really.

Dianna Russini

Dec 6, 2021
1

Good morning my friends.

Start your day with this video please: Proud Pop

Ok, that's happy me, this is annoyed me.

Kick the field goal Baltimore. Kick it, John Harbaugh. Hours later and I am sitting here in the Kansas City airport baffled by the Ravens’ decision to go for 2 points and the win. We’ll get back to that, but on a Sunday that felt like the college football playoff selections overshadowed some of the normal weekend NFL hype, there were some incredible moments. If there was one thing I could type to make you start your day a little baffled: Not only did the Detroit Lions get their first win of the season, they actually are mathematically alive to make the playoffs. They’ve won one game! ONE!

Let’s get to it.

Note: I really enjoy the meatball pictures that many people send along but this isn’t a cooking blog … yet. However, I was thinking of sending meatballs to my meatball of the week. Not sure that would go over well. Imagine explaining that. Meatballs show up at a locker, Player X says, “What’s this?” Reads note that simply says, “Congrats, Meatball!”

It’s been a long day folks. I'm getting weird.

Extra Note: It was 65 degrees in Kansas City on Sunday. I didn't wear a jacket most of the day. Football in nice weather beats the cold, any day of the week. Unless we get snow.

Here we go:

Garlic bread: A little something that tastes so good.

They did it. Congratulations to Detroit for finally getting a victory. This poor city hadn’t seen a Lions’ victory since … December 6, 2020. One day shy of a full year. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns and finally got his first win without his former coach, the Rams’ Sean McVay.

And the Lions are headed to the post season! OK, maybe not, but they technically could be. Unreal.

Pasta: We cook ours al dente (Al dente literally translates to “to the tooth.”). So, let’s take this literally.

If you've watched Pittsburgh this season, it's clear that 39 year old Ben Roethlisberger is nearing the end of a run which eventually ends in Canton, Ohio. Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers played with no passion or effort in their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati’s players even said so after the game. Coach Mike Tomlin had them practicing in pads this past week (in December, thats a nightmare for players) and then Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was going to retire at the end of the season. I really had no idea what to expect from their game Sunday against the divisional opponent Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore controlled most of the game and really had the chance to pull ahead in the AFC North race with a win. The Ravens’ defense gave Big Ben all the time in the world in the pocket and he was able to throw two touchdowns with no picks. Then Baltimore handed the game to the Steelers, scoring a touchdown with the clock winding down and deciding to go for the win instead of tying the game. The Ravens failed to convert and lost. Per ESPN, when asked why he went for 2, instead of the PAT to force overtime, Harbaugh said: "[We're] trying to win the game right there. We were pretty much out of corners at that point in time. It was an opportunity to try to win the game right there."

I’ve never heard that one before, but the Steelers catch a break … and are in the hunt.

The Sauce: The most important part of the meal. All the ingredients have to come together at the right time. Some people like it spicy, some people like it sweet, but either way the sauce is the star of the show.

So now it’s twelve straight wins against the Denver Broncos for the Kansas City Chiefs. You probably heard it all day, the last time the Broncos beat the Chiefs, Payton Manning was Denver’s quarterback. I spoke to John Elway, the Broncos’ president of football operations, before the game, and I can tell you he was tired of hearing that fact. Who wouldn’t be? For the last few weeks, we have been dissecting the Chiefs’ offense and defense and asking whether Kansas City was back. It seemed the defense was the most improved, but we haven’t spent enough time talking about the Chiefs’ special teams. Sunday night, they were special. Smart, aggressive, and determined play gave the Chiefs life all game long. Kansas City is back.

I spoke to Patrick Mahomes after the game and he says with this defense playing at a high level, anything is possible. He knows the offense needs to play better and it starts with him.

Mahomes and I chat about the game

Why do I get the feeling we are going to be seeing them in the Super Bowl?

What a meatball! Most of us really like meatballs and they are essential on our Sundays, but if you are called a “meatball” by one of my uncles, you probably did something really stupid, so this could be a play, a team, or a coach.

How have they not been the meatball before Sunday? The Minnesota Vikings were stunned by the Lions as time expired in Detroit. Poor wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Nobody is going to talk about his outstanding performance because his team stunk. Self-inflicted wounds were to blame, but the embarrassment might hurt even more for the Vikings. Meatballs for everyone.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section or Subscribe!

Subscribe to The Diary of NFL Insider Dianna Russini
By subscribing, you agree to share your email address with Dianna Russini to receive their original content, including promotions. Unsubscribe at any time. Meta will also use your information subject to the Bulletin Terms and Policies
1

More from The Diary of NFL Insider Dianna Russini
See all

Cheers to Howie!

Eagles fans should be toasting Eagles GM Howie Roseman as we kick off summer
Today
1
1

Don't Eliminate the Pro Bowl!

Co-host of the #1 most downloaded sports podcast in the world wants to fix the Pro Bowl
May 25

QB Malik Willis and the 2022 rookie class, their NFL dreams begin

The Titans allowed the media to watch rookie camp/practice, and I had a chance to interview third-round QB Malik Willis one on one
May 17
2
Comments
Log in with Facebook to comment

1 Comment

  • Jamar Lawson
    Great coverage senora russini. I jus think mahomes and the wide receivers need to come up with timing routes cos defenses are taking away the middle of field and tyreek hill excuse my spelling,is the only deep threat.
    • 24w
Share quoteSelect how you’d like to share below
Share on Facebook
Share to Twitter
Send in Whatsapp
Share on Linkedin
Privacy  ·  Terms  ·  Cookies
© Meta 2022
Discover fresh voices. Tune into new conversations. Browse all publications