As the 2021 NFL season rolls merrily along into December, matchups turn interdivisional, contenders separate from pretenders, and (cliché alert) THE GAMES JUST MATTER MORE. 

Cliché or not, they actually do! Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield have you covered as we prepare for a jam-packed Week 13 with their weekly podcast, which is also jam-packed with tape notes and advanced metrics. First, we get into Mark's recent mock draft (which will be of interest to Lions, Jets, Giants, and Eagles fans, especially), and then, the matchups. 

Among the topics discussed: 
How can the Bills overcome their recent limitations on both sides of the ball to take on a Patriots team that seems to have everything covered at this point? Perhaps most importantly, how can the Bills do it without Tre'Davious White?
Why are the Saints so passive on defense of late, and why they'd better turn that tendency around against the Cowboys on Thursday night;
Why Matt Ryan has taken a serious backslide in the last three weeks, and where the openings are (and are not) to turn that around against the Buccaneers;
Why in the battle between Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow, one running back will probably decide the Chargers-Bengals game;
Why Miami's defense is more multi-dimensional than you may think (and why Miami's offense is almost entirely one dimension at this point);
Why Frank Reich was indeed right to avoid running the ball against the Buccaneers; and why he'll reverse course against the Texans;
Does the Washington Football Team have its quarterback of the (near) future?
Why it's time for Sean McVay to open up his playbook past the pages marked "Empty Formation," and one Jaguars stat you will not believe;
Why the Steelers are in all kinds of trouble leading into their game with the Ravens; and
Why Patrick Mahomes could have a rough go against the Broncos' match-heavy defense, even as the Chiefs' defense has taken a major step forward.
 

As the 2021 NFL season rolls merrily along into December, matchups turn interdivisional, contenders separate from pretenders, and (clich&eacute; alert) THE GAMES JUST MATTER MORE.&nbsp;
Clich&eacute; or not, they actually do! Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield have you covered as we prepare for a jam-packed Week 13 with their weekly podcast, which is also jam-packed with tape notes and advanced metrics. First, we get into <a href="https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/aidan-hutchinson-kayvon-thibodeaux-matt-corral/">Mark's recent mock draft</a> (which will be of interest to Lions, Jets, Giants, and Eagles fans, especially), and then, the matchups.&nbsp;
Among the topics discussed:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>How can the Bills overcome their recent limitations on both sides of the ball to take on a Patriots team that seems to have everything covered at this point? Perhaps most importantly, how can the Bills do it without Tre'Davious White?</li>
<li>Why are the Saints so passive on defense of late, and why they'd better turn that tendency around against the Cowboys on Thursday night;</li>
<li>Why Matt Ryan has taken a serious backslide in the last three weeks, and where the openings are (and are not) to turn that around against the Buccaneers;</li>
<li>Why in the battle between Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow, one running back will probably decide the Chargers-Bengals game;</li>
<li>Why Miami's defense is more multi-dimensional than you may think (and why Miami's offense is almost entirely one dimension at this point);</li>
<li>Why Frank Reich was indeed right to avoid running the ball against the Buccaneers; and why he'll reverse course against the Texans;</li>
<li>Does the Washington Football Team have its quarterback of the (near) future?</li>
<li>Why it's time for Sean McVay to open up his playbook past the pages marked "Empty Formation," and one Jaguars stat you will not believe;</li>
<li>Why the Steelers are in all kinds of trouble leading into their game with the Ravens; and</li>
<li>Why Patrick Mahomes could have a rough go against the Broncos' match-heavy defense, even as the Chiefs' defense has taken a major step forward.</li>
<li>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

A podcast with Doug Farrar of USA Today's Sports Media Group that covers sports, politics, journalism and music in interesting intersections.

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