Shailene Woodley Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Shailene Woodley-whose latest project "Ferrari" is in theaters now.

Shailene Woodley's Filmography Ranked:

13.Allegiant (C)

12.Adrift (C+)

11.The Mauritanian (B-)

10.To Catch a Killer (B-)

9.Dumb Money (B)

8.The Fallout (B)

7.Snowden (B)

6.Insurgent (B)

5.White Bird in a Blizzard (B)

4.The Fault in Our Stars (B)

3.Divergent (B)

2.The Spectacular Now (A)

1.The Descendants (A)

Top Dog: The Descendants (2011)

Prior to The Holdovers, The Descendants was my favorite movie from Alexander Payne. It's the rare human drama about loss, grief, etc. that understands that moments of side-splitting situational comedy occur while navigating such a heavy situation, the performances from George Clooney and Woodley as an estranged father and daughter that are having a hard time keeping their family together during a trying time in their lives are stunning career highlights that should've earned them a truckload of gold statues and it captures the singular beauty of Hawaii better than almost any other movie I've seen.  

Bottom Feeder: Allegiant (2016)

Disjointed and pretty light on compelling drama, Allegiant is a fairly underwhelming conclusion to the Divergent franchise that has become kind of an unintentionally hilarious movie since they never made the final installment on account of how poorly it performed at the box office. 

Most Underrated: The Spectacular Now (2013)

This coming-of-age gem that came out in the very early days of A24's distribution operation (6 months in to be exact) is a sweet yet melancholic romantic drama about the blossoming of an unlikely relationship between a popular boy (Miles Teller) and loner girl (Shailene Woodley) during their senior year of high school. Every character and the decisions they make feels completely real, Teller and Woodley are an exceptionally well-matched pair that pour every ounce of their heart into their performances and the supporting cast full of familiar faces (Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Kaitlyn Dever) are almost as terrific as the leads.     

Most Overrated: None 

I considered selecting The Fault in Our Stars for a minute, but the acting and its ability to make tearjerking YA melodrama about as earnest as it can possibly is far too strong for me to dub that movie overrated. At the end of the day, Woodley's filmography has too many unsung indies and mainstream titles with lukewarm-to-mildly positive reception in it for her to have anything that really fits the criteria here. 

2023 NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

 ()=Previous Ranking

1.(2) Baltimore Ravens (12-3) Week 17 opponent: Miami Dolphins

2.(1) San Francisco 49ers (11-4) Week 17 opponent: Washington Commanders

3.(3) Miami Dolphins (11-4) Week 17 opponent: Baltimore Ravens

4.(5) Buffalo Bills (9-6) Week 17 opponent: New England Patriots

5.(7) Detroit Lions (11-4) Week 17 opponent: Dallas Cowboys

6.(4) Dallas Cowboys (10-5) Week 17 opponent: Detroit Lions

7.(8) Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) Week 17 opponent: Arizona Cardinals

8.(9) Cleveland Browns (9-6) Week 17 opponent: New York Jets

9.(6) Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) Week 17 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

10.(13) Los Angeles Rams (8-7) Week 17 opponent: New York Giants

11.(16) Seattle Seahawks (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

12.(17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) Week 17 opponent: New Orleans Saints

13.(11) Houston Texans (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Tennessee Titans

14.(10) Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs

15.(12) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Carolina Panthers

16.(14) Indianapolis Colts (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Las Vegas Raiders

17.(21) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) Week 17 opponent: Seattle Seahawks

18.(15) Denver Broncos (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers

19.(18) Minnesota Vikings (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Green Bay Packers

20.(20) Green Bay Packers (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Minnesota Vikings

21.(22) Atlanta Falcons (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Chicago Bears

22.(23) Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Indianapolis Colts

23.(19) New Orleans Saints (7-8) Week 17 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers  

24.(24) Chicago Bears (6-9) Week 17 opponent: Atlanta Falcons

25.(27) New York Jets (6-9) Week 17 opponent: Cleveland Browns

26.(25) New York Giants (5-10) Week 17 opponent: Los Angeles Rams

27.(26) Tennessee Titans (4-11) Week 17 opponent: Houston Texans

28.(30) New England Patriots (4-11) Week 17 opponent: Buffalo Bills

29.(28) Washington Commanders (4-11) Week 17 opponent: San Francisco 49ers

30.(31) Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) Week 17 opponent: Denver Broncos

31.(29) Arizona Cardinals (3-12) Week 17 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles

32.(32) Carolina Panthers (2-13) Week 17 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2023 Edition

Quarterback

MVP: Josh Allen (Bills) 

A pair of rushing TD's on only 5 carries made up for a pretty pedestrian passing line (237 YDS/1 TD/1 INT) against an awful Chargers defense and powered Allen to this honor. He'll have revenge on his mind this Sunday against a Patriots defense that kind of embarrassed him in their prior meeting this season. 

Honorable Mentions: Justin Fields (Bears), Jalen Hurts (Eagles), Jordan Love (Packers)

LVP: Brock Purdy (49ers)

For the 2nd straight week, an MVP campaign died in primetime as Purdy had the worst game of his young career-chucking 4 INT's and throwing for 255 scoreless YDS against the Ravens before backup Sam Darnold took over for the final 8 minutes of the game. Purdy will close out the 2023 fantasy football season against the Commanders league-worst pass defense. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Goff (Lions), Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), Gardner Minshew (Colts)

Running Back

MVP: Breece Hall (Jets)

What a day for the Breece Hall stockholders that stuck with him through his largely underwhelming sophomore season. The Trevor Siemian-led Jets offense relied almost exclusively Hall on to lead them to a narrow victory over the Commanders as he handled a massive workload (20 carries, 12 receptions) and turned into 191 scrimmage YDS and a pair of rushing TD's. After this huge explosion, Hall should come crashing back to earth in whiplash-inducing fashion when he goes up against the Browns elite defense in Week 17.  

Honorable Mentions: Christian McCaffery (49ers), Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions), Derrick Henry (Titans)

LVP: Travis Etienne (Jaguars)

A strong Bucs rush defense and huge early deficit rendered Etienne effectively useless in a deflating blowout loss for the reeling Jaguars as he finished the game with just 9 touches (6 carries, 3 receptions) for 31 YDS. Regardless of whether it's Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Beathard playing QB this week for the Jags, Etienne should be much more involved versus a Panthers D that is much stronger against the pass than they are against the run. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Tony Pollard (Cowboys), James Cook (Bills), De'Von Achane (Dolphins)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Amari Cooper (Browns)

Cooper's run of strong play with Joe Flacco under center reached its eye-popping apex in Week 16 as he not only had the best game of his career, but the best receiving performance in Browns history with his 11 REC/265 YD/2 TD eruption versus an overmatched Texans secondary. He also managed to elevate his fantasy day even further by converting a 2-PT CNV. He'll probably end up going for about 200+ less YDS against a tough Jets secondary on Thursday night.  

Honorable Mentions: George Pickens (Steelers), Puka Nacua (Rams), Mike Evans (Buccaneers)

LVP: Davante Adams (Raiders)

Aidan O'Connell failed to complete a pass after the 1st quarter and Jakobi Meyers ended up with over 2/3 of the receiving YDS, so unsurprisingly it was a really quiet day at the office for Adams as he managed just 1 catch for 4 YDS on 6 targets. Adams' fantasy managers will cross their fingers for a nice conclusion to his understandably erratic 2023 campaign when he takes on the Colts on Sunday.  

Dishonorable Mentions: D.J. Moore (Bears), DeAndre Hopkins (Titans), Stefon Diggs (Bills)

Tight End 

MVP: George Kittle (49ers)

Kittle was one of the few 49ers that had a good showing against the Ravens last night as he picked up 7 receptions for 126 YDS in their humbling blowout loss at home. If Kittle is equally involved in the passing game this week against the Commanders, he could be in-line for an even more monstrous performance.

Honorable Mentions: David Njoku (Browns), Cole Kmet (Bears), Chigoziem Okonkwo (Titans)

LVP: Dalton Kincaid (Bills)

While Kincaid didn't put up back-to-back goose eggs, his 1 reception/7 YD performance versus the Chargers horrendous pass D still qualifies as a massive letdown for the people that were expecting him to right the ship in a big way following his dud against the Cowboys in Week 15. Kincaid will be a really shaky starting option against the Patriots this week. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Sam LaPorta (Lions), Darren Waller (Giants), Pat Friermuth (Steelers)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Ravens

Anybody that was brave enough to play the Ravens D/ST versus the 49ers got massively rewarded. While the 17 points allowed prevented it from being one of the best fantasy outings of the year by any team, putting up 5 INT's and 4 sacks against an offense that had looked basically unstoppable over the previous 6 games is an incredible accomplishment that deserves to be widely celebrated. The Ravens will hope to make it back-to-back strong showings against elite offenses when they take on the Dolphins in Week 17. 

Honorable Mentions: Steelers, Jets, Browns

LVP: Packers

The Fire Joe Barry crew just might get what they want in the near future after the Packers embattled DC allowed Bryce Young-who is in the midst of one of the worst rookie seasons we've seen from a top QB prospect in recent memory-to put up 30 points and register his 1st 300-YD passing performance on his group. They also mustered just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways as the Packers just barely hung onto win against the (now) 2-13 Panthers. Despite heading into a matchup with noted gunslinger Nick Mullens-who has chucked 6 picks in his 2 starts this season, the Packers will be an easy drop this week.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Cowboys, Saints, Bengals

Randall Park Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Randall Park-whose latest project "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is in theaters today.

Randall Park's Filmography Ranked:

22.The House (C)

21.Sex Tape (C)

20.Snatched (C)

19.The Meddler (C)

18.Totally Killer (C)

17.They Came Together (C)

16.Larry Crowne (C)

15.Shortcomings (C+)

14.Strays (B-)

13.Dinner for Schmucks (B-)

12.The Lego Ninjago Movie (B-)

11.Office Christmas Party (B)

10.Ant-Man and the Wasp (B)

9.The Five-Year Engagement (B)

8.The Interview (B)

7.The Hollars (B)

6.Always Be My Maybe (B)

5.Aquaman (B+)

4.Trainwreck (A-)

3.The Night Before (A)

2.The Disaster Artist (A)

1.Long Shot (A)

Top Dog: Long Shot (2019)

In terms of recent romantic comedies at least, Long Shot stands alone at the top of the mountain. Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron are a perfectly-matched odd couple with endless chemistry (both romantic and comedic), the supporting cast (O'Shea Jackson Jr., June Diane Raphael, Ravi Patel, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Serkis, Alexander Skarsgard) routinely steal scenes with their terrific line delivery/comedic timing and it manages to be delightfully warm and sentimental without ever feeling forced or unbearably corny. 

Bottom Feeder: The House (2017)

The House is the kind of colossal waste of talent and funny premise (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler play a married couple who open up an illegal casino to help pay their daughter's college tuition) that is difficult to comprehend. There's just so much easy potential for laughs to mine here with its setup and the movie constantly fails to conjure up the absurdist or black comedy magic it would've needed to be a laugh riot. Easily one of the biggest R-rated comedy misfires of the 2010's.        

Most Underrated: The Night Before (2015)

The Night Before may've never found a place in most people's Christmas movie rotations, but I love it all the same. The seamlessness in which its blend raunchy laughs with genuine heart is incredible, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie share a terrific, believable rapport as three lifelong friends who reunite every Christmas Eve and Michael Shannon's bit part as "Mr. Green" is one of the weirdest, wildest and finest performances he's ever turned in.

Most Overrated: They Came Together (2014)

David Wain returning to the world of whacky satire 13 years after hitting a towering grand slam in the genre with Wet Hot American Summer should've delighted me to no end, but it just didn't. As admirably silly as this send-up of romantic comedies is, I just didn't find myself laughing a whole lot as its crackpot bits played out. Perhaps a second viewing will get me on board with this cult favorite. 

2023 NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

 ()=Previous Ranking

1.(1) San Francisco 49ers (11-3) Week 16 opponent: Baltimore Ravens

2.(3) Baltimore Ravens (11-3) Week 16 opponent: San Francisco 49ers

3.(4) Miami Dolphins (10-4) Week 16 opponent: Dallas Cowboys

4.(2) Dallas Cowboys (10-4) Week 16 opponent: Miami Dolphins

5.(6) Buffalo Bills (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers

6.(7) Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) Week 16 opponent: Las Vegas Raiders

7.(8) Detroit Lions (10-4) Week 16 opponent: Minnesota Vikings

8.(5) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) Week 16 opponent: New York Giants

9.(10) Cleveland Browns (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Houston Texans

10.(12) Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

11.(13) Houston Texans (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Cleveland Browns

12.(11) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

13.(15) Los Angeles Rams (7-7) Week 16 opponent: New Orleans Saints

14.(16) Indianapolis Colts (8-6) Week 16 opponent: Atlanta Falcons

15.(9) Denver Broncos (7-7) Week 16 opponent: New England Patriots

16.(18) Seattle Seahawks (7-7) Week 16 opponent: Tennessee Titans

17.(20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) Week 16 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

18.(17) Minnesota Vikings (7-7) Week 16 opponent: Detroit Lions

19.(22) New Orleans Saints (7-7) Week 16 opponent: Los Angeles Rams

20.(14) Green Bay Packers (6-8) Week 16 opponent: Carolina Panthers

21.(19) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) Week 16 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

22.(21) Atlanta Falcons (6-8) Week 16 opponent: Indianapolis Colts

23.(28) Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) Week 16 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs 

24.(23) Chicago Bears (5-9) Week 16 opponent: Arizona Cardinals

25.(24) New York Giants (5-9) Week 16 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles

26.(25) Tennessee Titans (4-10) Week 16 opponent: Seattle Seahawks

27.(26) New York Jets (5-9) Week 16 opponent: Washington Commanders

28.(29) Washington Commanders (4-10) Week 16 opponent: New York Jets

29.(30) Arizona Cardinals (3-11) Week 16 opponent: Chicago Bears

30.(31) New England Patriots (3-11) Week 16 opponent: Denver Broncos

31.(27) Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) Week 16 opponent: Buffalo Bills

32.(32) Carolina Panthers (2-12) Week 16 opponent: Green Bay Packers

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2023 Edition

Quarterback:

MVP: Jared Goff (Lions)

Goff made up for being basically unplayable over the past month with an unexpected Week 15 explosion (278 YDS, 5 TD's) versus a Broncos defense that had been playing pretty well of late prior to this horrific dud. His fantasy owners will hope for another prosperous turn of the Wheel of Goff Outcomes in this week's contest against an aggressive Vikings defense that is more than capable of getting sacks and forcing a QB to make some costly errors. 

Honorable Mentions: Brock Purdy (49ers), Jalen Hurts (Eagles), Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)

LVP: Dak Prescott (Cowboys)

And just like that, Prescott's MVP campaign and the championship hopes of a fair number of fantasy players died under the gray, rainy skies of Orchard Park, New York. The relentless aggression of the Bills defense knocked him completely out of rhythm and it led to another one of his signature soul-crushing flops (134 YDS/0 TD's/INT, 27 Rushing YDS) that people like to cite when questioning his ability to perform on the biggest stages of the sport. Prescott will remain away from the friendly confines of AT&T Stadium in Week 16 and is no lock to perform against a Dolphins defense that just put together a dominant performance versus the Jets.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Justin Fields (Bears), Sam Howell (Commanders), Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)

Running Back

MVP: Christian McCaffery (49ers)

Somebody on the 49ers made their case for both the real and fantasy MVP this past Sunday and it wasn't Brock Purdy. CMC carved up the Cardinals talent-lite defense with flare and efficiency, needing only 23 touches (18 carries, 5 receptions) to put up 187 YDS and 3 TD's. McCaffery will get what could prove to be his toughest test of the year on Christmas Day against the Ravens top-ranked defense.    

Honorable Mentions: James Cook (Bills), Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions), Ty Chandler (Vikings)

LVP: Bijan Robinson (Falcons)

Arthur Smith continues to be a major thorn in the side of the Falcons skill position players and Robinson was the top victim of his egregious personnel mismanagement this week. After a rough start in which he gained 14 YDS on just 8 touches, Smith sat Robinson down for the rest of the day after he lost a fumble in the 3rd quarter in what ended up being a heinous loss for the Falcons to the lowly Panthers. Per usual, any outcome will be possible for the rookie back when the Falcons take on the Colts and their pretty horrific run D this week. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Derrick Henry (Titans), Breece Hall (Jets), Saquon Barkley (Giants)

Wide Receiver 

MVP: Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)

Without Tyreek Hill in the lineup for the 1st time this season, Waddle rose to the occasion and provided the Dolphins with the big play spark (8 REC/142 YDS/TD) they needed to outlast the Jets tough defense. If Hill can't go again, Waddle will be a top 5 WR1 option versus a Cowboys secondary that has had some poor showings against top pass-catchers including DK Metcalf, George Kittle and Keenan Allen this season. 

Honorable Mentions: Jordan Addison (Vikings), Terry McLaurin (Commanders), Cooper Kupp (Rams)

LVP: Zay Flowers (Ravens)

Flowers came crashing back down to Earth in painfully notable fashion after back-to-back strong outings with a very quiet 1 REC/7 YD performance against a banged-up Jaguars secondary in a weird game where the Ravens passing offense almost exclusively operated through Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman. The 49ers offer a less-than-ideal get right spot for the promising rookie wideout in Week 16.

Dishonorable Mentions: Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Garrett Wilson (Jets), Drake London (Falcons)

Tight End

MVP: Sam LaPorta (Lions)

The expected LaPorta bounceback performance after another rough outing against the Bears was even better than anticipated as the rookie TE propped up a merely respectable REC/YD line (5/56) with 3 trips to the endzone in the Lions dominant win over the Broncos. LaPorta will square off against the Vikings very beatable pass D this Sunday.

Honorable Mentions: David Njoku (Browns), Isaiah Likely (Ravens), Trey McBride (Cardinals)

LVP: Dalton Kincaid (Bills)

After dropping a pair of passes in the 1st quarter against the Cowboys, Kincaid didn't even get another target as the Bills rode James Cook and the legs of Josh Allen to a dominant win that kept them firmly in the thick of the wild card race. Kincaid should get plenty more work when the Bills take on the DOA Chargers on Saturday night.

Dishonorable Mentions: Pat Friermuth (Steelers), Logan Thomas (Commanders), Evan Engram (Jaguars)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Dolphins

If the Dolphins played the Jets every week, they'd be the 2023 D/ST MVP's. This latest (and sadly for them, final) dismantling of the Jets offense resulted in 6 sacks, 2 picks, 2 fumble recoveries and 0 points allowed. If the Cowboys look like they did in Buffalo last week when they take the field late Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, the 'Fins could be in line for another monster performance.

Honorable Mentions: Raiders, Saints, Browns

LVP: Cowboys

There's been plenty of talk above about how shitty the Cowboys offense was against the Bills and while they were definitely the weakest unit to take the field, the defense also did their share of sucking. Dan Quinn's group surrendered 31 points, mustered just 1 sack and forced 0 takeaways as the Bills absolutely manhandled them in the run game for 4 straight quarters. A date with the Dolphins in Week 16 could turn similarly ugly if they come out of the gates playing uninspired football again. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Broncos, Jets, Eagles

Top 10 Live Performances of 2023

Concerts Attended in 2023:

2/22: Norma Jean/Fire from the Gods/Greyhaven, The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA

5/28: Boston Calling Day 3 (Paramore/King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard/Queens of the Stone Age/Maren Morris/Genesis Owusu/070 Shake), Harvard Athletic Complex, Allston, MA

6/7: Drain/Drug Church/Magnitude/Buried Dreams/Gel/Combust, The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA

8/20: Gojira/Mastodon/Lorna Shore, MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, MA

9/20: Death Grips, MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, MA

10/5: Yves Tumor/Crack Cloud/Izzy Sparks/Thoom, Roadrunner, Brighton, MA

11/15: Protest the Hero/Moon Tooth/The Callous Daoboys, The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA

11/17: Botch/Converge/Cave In, Roadrunner, Brighton, MA

11/28: Baroness/Dropdead/Imperial Triumphant, Royale, Boston, MA

Honorable Mentions: Queens of the Stone Age, Greyhaven, Lorna Shore, Moon Tooth, Drug Church

10.Botch:

Rising from an unmarked grave somewhere in the greater Tacoma area, metal/math core pioneers Botch mounted one of the more unlikely reunion tours in recent memory this year and it was far from just a quick cash grab for its almost AARP-eligible members. While they might get more winded from performing now than they did 20+ years ago when they last toured, they still play with the same level of ferocity and tenacity that made them the godfathers of one of the most distinctly chaotic corners of the entire extreme metal pyramid. It was an honor to see a band that has influenced so many of my favorite acts perform and may they hang it up again soon before they risk losing their signature fire.    

9.Genesis Owusu:

As dynamic as his music is on record, the full scope of Genesis Owusu's sound doesn't really come into focus until you see him live. He has this natural charisma, enthusiasm and freeness as a performer that makes his constant experimentation feel so effortless that you'd think it was spontaneous if there wasn't recorded proof that it's not. Hopefully his unique blend of funk, punk, R&B, soul and hip hop will catch on with the masses at some point and launch him to the superstar status he deserves.    

8.Norma Jean:

It took me a mighty long time to grow to appreciate Norma Jean and even longer to finally see them headline a show. The wait was well worth it. With a 90-minute, career-spanning rager of a set, Cory Brendan and co. demonstrated why they've been able to remain one of the most consistent bands on the planet for the past 25 years despite a plethora of lineup changes and paradigm shifts within the -core scene. They pour everything they have onto the stage every night, blend heaviness with melody as well as anyone and perhaps most importantly, have so many face-melting riffs and punchy breakdowns in their songs that it's almost silly. Seeing them in a 575-capacity club was just the cherry on top of this magical evening of metal excellence.    

7.Converge:

No disrespect to Botch or Cave In, but Converge stole the show at this gathering of metal titans that rose to prominence in the late 90's/early 00's. They basically ripped through their own headlining set by playing for 70 minutes as the direct support act and per usual, managed to eviscerate the room with their raw emotion, technical prowess and Kurt Ballou's colossal guitar tone.

6.Gojira:

It had been nine whole years since I'd last seen Gojira and that long hiatus from seeing them paired with my relative indifference towards their recent output led me to completely forget just how much of a force they are live. The mammoth collection of riffs, blast beats and gruff vocals they churned out over their 80 minutes on stage was incredible to behold and left me feeling like a complete bozo for expecting them to be unable to match the greatness of the bands they shared the stage with.  

5.Baroness:

I haven't really enjoyed a Baroness record that's been released since I graduated high school 13 and a half years ago, but they impressed so much when I saw them open for Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage in September 2022 that I decided I needed to see them headline next time they came to Boston. That next time ended up being a few weeks ago and to put it mildly, they delivered. Even songs that I don't particularly enjoy like "Cocanium" and "Anodyne" sounded absolutely immense courtesy of John Baizley's soaring vocals and the hypnotic harmonies and melodies laid down by guitarist Gina Gleason, bassist Nick Jost and drummer Sebastian Thomson. Now that I've seen them twice, I can say with total confidence that I feel that they are an elite live act that I'll happily see whenever I get the chance.      

4.Protest the Hero:

A nearly-decade long drought for me seeing Protest the Hero live came to a close last month in triumphant fashion as the band sounded incredible and vocalist Rody Walker delivered plenty of hilarious banter between songs. Fingers crossed it won't take me another 10 years to see them again.

3.The Callous Daoboys:

Coming out and stealing the show with a 30-minute opening set is a difficult thing to do, but boy oh boy did The Callous Daoboys manage to pull it off. Their ability to combine pure eccentricity, frenetic energy and top-notch musicianship into a uniquely thrilling package that made their 30 minutes on stage feel like 5 simply because it was so much fucking fun to watch. Getting the chance to see them in a venue with no barrier-which allowed for plenty of stage-diving, crowd surfing and other similar devil music show shenanigans-made this inaugural experience of seeing them live that much sweeter.    

2.Death Grips:

Following the infamous no-show tour they mounted in 2012/13, I thought there was a 0% chance that I'd ever see Death Grips live. 10+ years later, the seemingly impossible actually happened and it was a surreal, incredible experience. There were no openers. Their set started almost 3 hours after the doors opened. The stage was lit like a fucking haunted house. They played about 80% of my favorite material from their catalog. Nearly every song that was driven by synthesizers was expertly reworked with live guitars. Zach Hill smashed the hell out of the drums. MC Ride's rage-fueled rapping/singing was crisp and he never acknowledged the crowd outside of occasionally holding the mic out for people to sing along. And after about 75 nearly uninterrupted minutes of performing, they quietly walked off the stage without saying shit. In other words, it was the perfect Death Grips live experience.  

1.King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: 

Many of my favorite concert experiences involve performances that are so transcendent that they made me feel like I was having a full-blown out-of-body experience while watching it. King Gizzard is not only joining this esteemed list, they're going straight to the tippy top-tier. The endearing bizzaro psychedelic magic of their music hits such a critical level in a live setting that it felt like I was floating in some kind of parallel universe where there's LSD in the water, every song is an exhilarating 32-minute magnum opus and nobody's spirit is trapped with the limiting confines of their own mind or body. It was mind-blowing in the purest sense of the word and quite frankly, it might've been too good of a performance since their studio stuff doesn't hit quite the same now that I've experienced them in their finest form on a stage.     

Programming Update

2023 is down to its final days, which around these parts means its time for me to really focus on the year-end list creation process. As a result, they'll be less activity on here from now through the 2nd week of January when the lists are posted. What you can expect to see here over the next few weeks are the typical weekly columns, my picks for the 10 best live performances of the year and perhaps a review or two if time permits. Have a happy holiday season and thank you for reading my stuff all year long.

Chris Maitland      

2023 NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

 ()=Previous Ranking

1.(1) San Francisco 49ers (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Arizona Cardinals

2.(4) Dallas Cowboys (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Buffalo Bills 

3.(5) Baltimore Ravens (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars 

4.(2) Miami Dolphins (9-4) Week 15 opponent: New York Jets

5.(3) Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) Week 15 opponent: Seattle Seahawks 

6.(14) Buffalo Bills (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Dallas Cowboys 

7.(6) Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) Week 15 opponent: New England Patriots

8.(7) Detroit Lions (9-4) Week 15 opponent: Denver Broncos

9.(11) Denver Broncos (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Detroit Lions

10.(19) Cleveland Browns (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Chicago Bears

11.(9) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) Week 15 opponent: Baltimore Ravens

12.(17) Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Minnesota Vikings

13.(8) Houston Texans (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Tennessee Titans 

14.(10) Green Bay Packers (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

15.(13) Los Angeles Rams (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Washington Commanders

16.(12) Indianapolis Colts (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

17.(16) Minnesota Vikings (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

18.(15) Seattle Seahawks (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles

19.(18) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) Week 15 opponent: Indianapolis Colts

20.(24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Green Bay Packers

21.(20) Atlanta Falcons (6-7) Week 15 opponent: Carolina Panthers

22.(22) New Orleans Saints (6-7) Week 15 opponent: New York Giants

23.(25) Chicago Bears (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Cleveland Browns

24.(27) New York Giants (5-8) Week 15 opponent: New Orleans Saints

25.(29) Tennessee Titans (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Houston Texans

26.(30) New York Jets (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Miami Dolphins

27.(21) Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Las Vegas Raiders

28.(23) Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) Week 15 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers

29.(26) Washington Commanders (4-9) Week 15 opponent: Los Angeles Rams

30.(28) Arizona Cardinals (3-10) Week 15 opponent: San Francisco 49ers

31.(31) New England Patriots (3-10) Week 15 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs 

32.(32) Carolina Panthers (1-12) Week 15 opponent: Atlanta Falcons

Week 14 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2023 Edition

Quarterback

MVP: Lamar Jackson (Ravens)

While the raw numbers make Jackson's performance against the Rams look far more dominant than it actually was, context doesn't matter in fantasy football and his owners had to be thrilled that he delivered one of his best lines of the year (316 YDS/3 TD's/INT/11 CAR/70 YDS/1 2-PT CNV) in this huge late season spot. Jackson has another tantalizing matchup in Week 15 against a Jaguars secondary that has surrendered 295+ passing YDS in 4 of their last 5 games.  

Honorable Mentions: Justin Fields (Bears), Matthew Stafford (Rams), Brock Purdy (49ers)

LVP: Jalen Hurts (Eagles)

It was an ugly all-around performance for the Eagles on Sunday night against the Cowboys and Hurts wasn't immune from their collective failure, tossing a pedestrian 197 YDS and rushing for only 30 while also losing a key redzone fumble early in the game and failing to score a TD for the 1st time all season. The good news for Hurts and co. is that they're playing a Seahawks team this week that has gotten absolutely lit up by the Cowboys and 49ers offense over the past 3 weeks.

Dishonorable Mentions: Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), Jared Goff (Lions), Jordan Love (Packers)

Running Back

MVP: Ezekiel Elliott (Patriots) 

Injuries to Rhamondre Stevenson, Demario Douglas and DeVante Parker forced Elliott to handle the brunt of the Patriots offensive load versus the Steelers last Thursday night and he delivered big time. Zeke put together the kind of dual-threat explosion that we haven't seen a whole lot of from him of late, compiling 29 touches (22 carries, 7 receptions), 140 scrimmage YDS and a TD grab as the Pats pulled off an upset victory that no one in their fanbase expected (or quite frankly, wanted given their desire to tank for draft position during this lost season). Elliott appears set to remain the Patriots top offensive option for this week's contest with the Chiefs, so keep firing him up in your lineups.  

Honorable Mentions: Breece Hall (Jets), James Cook (Bills), Raheem Mostert (Dolphins)

LVP: D'Andre Swift (Eagles) 

Negative gamescript clipped Swift's wings before he got a chance to fly on Sunday against the Cowboys, which led to a very underwhelming 11 carry/39 YD-performance that likely flipped a lot of outcomes in this week where most starting RB's put up at least solid numbers. Swift will look to return to his reliable RB2 status versus the Seahawks awful run D in Week 15.

Dishonorable Mentions: Najee Harris (Steelers), Jaylen Warren (Steelers), Gus Edwards (Ravens)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Deebo Samuel (49ers) 

CMC, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle all had their moments to shine in the 49ers decisive Week 14 victory over the Seahawks, but Samuel ultimately emerged as the top star-hauling in 7 passes for 149 YDS and a score and topping the day off with a 1-YD rushing score. Samuel will look to extend his streak of multi-TD games to 3 against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. 

Honorable Mentions: D.J. Moore (Bears), Drake London (Falcons), DeAndre Hopkins (Titans)

LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)

Water found its level this week as Evans didn't find a way to have another monster day amidst Baker Mayfield's struggles, catching just 1-of-6 targets for 8 YDS in a game versus the Falcons that the Bucs were somehow able to win. Evans is in a potentially rough spot in Week 15 as the Bucs have to travel to the frozen hell of Green Bay to take on a Packers squad that has defended the pass pretty well this season, so he might be worth considering benching this week if you have a better WR/RB option to start in his place. 

Dishonorable Mentions:  Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions), Stefon Diggs (Bills), Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals)

Tight End

MVP: Evan Engram (Jaguars)

Engram was the visibly-hobbled Trevor Lawrence's favorite target by a mile against the Browns this past week as he caught an absurd 11-of-12 targets for 95 YDS and 2 TD's. As long as Lawrence's ankle remains a problem , Engram should be an elite fantasy TE that challenges for this very title every single week. 

Honorable Mentions: David Njoku (Browns), Isaiah Likely (Ravens), George Kittle (49ers)

LVP: Sam LaPorta (Lions)

For 2023 at least, the Bears have proven to be the LaPorta killers. The budding star rookie TE managed just 2 catches for 23 YDS and a 4-YD rush against Matt Eberflus' group in a demoralizing blowout road loss for the 9-4 Lions. LaPorta will likely return to his reliable self this week against a Broncos defense that has continued to get torched by TE's even as they've gotten much better on the whole over the past 7 or 8 games.

Dishonorable Mentions: Dalton Kincaid (Bills), Dallas Goedert (Eagles), Pat Friermuth (Steelers)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Saints

Naturally, the Saints D's return to fantasy relevancy after a month-or-so hiatus was made possible by the 1-win Panthers and their painfully inept offense. Carolina surrendered 4 sacks and lost 2 fumbles (1 of which was returned for a TD) as they got smacked around yet again in a 28-6 loss. The Saints D/ST will be an appealing but undeniably risky play when they host the Giants in Week 15. 

Honorable Mentions: Browns, Jets, Dolphins

LVP: Steelers

Part of the fun of playing the Steelers defense is never knowing when they're going to shit the bed. A Thursday Night Contest against the Bailey Zappe-led Patriots seemed like one of the least likely spots for it to occur, so of course it did. They picked up a couple of sacks and an INT late to salvage their line a bit, but the damage was already done as they allowed 21 points to a group that had scored just 13 combined in their previous 3 games and only cleared 17 twice all season coming into this meeting. They'll get a chance to restore honor to their name on Saturday against the trick-or-treat Colts offense that is coming off a horrid outing against the Bengals.

Dishonorable Mentions: Packers, Texans, Lions

Jeffrey Wright Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly column where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Jeffrey Wright-whose latest project "American Fiction" releases in NYC/LA theaters Thursday and begins its nationwide expansion on December 21st.

Jeffrey Wright's Filmography Ranked:

19.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (D+)

18.Broken City (C-)

17.Asteroid City (C-)

16.Lady in the Water (C+)

15.Casino Royale (C+)

14.Rustin (B-)

13.Quantum of Solace (B-)

12.The French Dispatch (B-)

11.Cadillac Records (B)

10.Shaft (B)

9.The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (B)

8.The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (B)

7.Hold the Dark (B)

6.The Ides of March (B)

5.No Time to Die (B+)

4.Source Code (A)

3.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (A)

2.Game Night (A)

1.The Batman (A+)

Top Dog: The Batman (2022)

Melancholic, full of vivid world-building and brilliantly written, directed, shot and acted, The Batman is a stone cold masterpiece that raises the bar for all future superhero adaptations. The next installment-which is set to begin shooting early next year-can not arrive soon enough.   

Bottom Feeder: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

They really don't make a whole lot of manipulative tearjerker Oscar bait trash like this anymore!!! As much as this movie made me cringe with the way it uses 9/11 to serve its completely absurd fictional story, it ultimately worked as the film was nominated for Best Picture, so kudos to the makers of this film for pulling off a successful hustle. 

Most Underrated: Source Code (2011)

Are there more "complex" and "thought-provoking" original sci-fi films out there than Source Code? Sure, but there aren't many that can match it in the entertainment value department as Duncan Jones packs a whole lot of suspense, twists and fun into its relentlessly propulsive 93-minute runtime. Bonus points go to Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga and Wright for turning in excellent performances in a movie that really didn't need great acting to succeed.   

Most Overrated: Casino Royale (2006) 

Daniel Craig is right up there with Sean Connery as my pick for the best James Bond and there are multiple entries that he led that I believe are elite entries in this franchise. However, I also think his first go-round as Bond is wildly overrated. Nearly everything in Casino Royale from the torture scene to Mads Mikkelsen's performance as the villain were overhyped to oblivion and the whole idea of the climax of a Bond movie being a fucking card game continues to bother me after all these years.  

Shea Whigham Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Shea Whigham-whose latest project "Eileen" is in theaters now.

Shea Whigham's Filmography Ranked:

29.Joker (D-)

28.Cop Car (D-)

27.Beirut (D+)

26.Man of the House (C-)

25.Pride and Glory (C)

24.Lords of Dogtown (C)

23.First Man (B-)

22.Star Trek Beyond (B-)

21.Vampires vs. the Bronx (B)

20.The Gray Man (B)

19.Savages (B)

18.Fast and Furious (B)

17.The Lincoln Lawyer (B)

16.F9 (B+)

15.Sicario: Day of the Soldado (B+)

14.Small Engine Repair (B+)

13.Wheelman (B+)

12.Non-Stop (B+)

11.Fast and Furious 6 (B+)

10.Bad Times at the El Royale (B+)

9.Vice (B+)

8.Kong: Skull Island (B+)

7.Take Shelter (B+)

6.The Wolf of Wall Street (B+)

5.Mission-Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (B+)

4.Machete (A-)

3.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (A-)

2.American Hustle (A)

1.Silver Linings Playbook (A)

Top Dog: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

The film that earned Jennifer Lawrence an Oscar, finally got people to take Bradley Cooper seriously as an actor and allowed Robert De Niro to turn in his first great performance in over a decade remains a special project. Through its strong characterization and open-hearted writing, it's able to gracefully blend some pretty heavy drama and light romantic comedy to become a uniquely warm crowdpleaser.    

Bottom Feeder: Joker (2019)

Todd Phillips proved he has no business being in the world of dramatic filmmaking with this pathetic character study that is so desperate to be provocative, shocking and profound that it quickly becomes completely fucking insufferable to sit through.   

Most Underrated: Wheelman (2017)

This offering from the undiscovered abyss of Netflix's original film library is a terrific little contained thriller about an unnamed getaway driver (Frank Grillo) who is forced to figure out who set him up to die after a botched bank robbery. Grillo is in top form as the grizzled veteran driver who finally gets burned after decades on the job and at just 82 minutes, writer/director Jeremy Rush is able to keep the tension high throughout by keeping the action moving at a rapid clip and knowing exactly when to wrap things up.

Most Overrated: Joker (2019)

This isn't just my pick for the most overrated movie that Whigham has appeared in, I believe Joker is at the bare minimum the single most overrated movie to be released from 2019-present day. The embrace of this film by the general public is one thing as it's an "edgy" R-rated movie about the origins of the most iconic villain in the Batman universe, but the love it got from awards shows and the Venice Film Festival-where it won the prestigious Golden Lion- in a cinematic year that was as stacked as 2019 was will continue to deeply baffle me for as long as my brain remains functional. 

Best Movies I Forgot Whigham Was In: Machete (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Non-Stop (2014), Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Vice (2018)

Whigham is one of the busiest character actors working in Hollywood today. The downside to him being in so many things is that his roles tend to be very small and I'll be completely honest, I didn't really know who he was until Perry Mason hit HBO's airwaves in the summer of 2020. As a result, there are a bunch of movies that I completely forgot he was in until I was putting together this very piece, so I figured it was only fitting that I acknowledged my favorites from that group. I'm sure I won't forget he was in them whenever I get around to re-watching them.  

2023 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

 ()=Previous Ranking

1.(2) San Francisco 49ers (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Seattle Seahawks 

2.(4) Miami Dolphins (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Tennessee Titans 

3.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Dallas Cowboys 

4.(6) Dallas Cowboys (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles

5.(5) Baltimore Ravens (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Rams

6.(3) Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Buffalo Bills

7.(7) Detroit Lions (9-3) Week 14 opponent: Chicago Bears

8.(10) Houston Texans (7-5) Week 14 opponent: New York Jets

9.(8) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Cleveland Browns

10.(17) Green Bay Packers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New York Giants

11.(9) Denver Broncos (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers

12.(15) Indianapolis Colts (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

13.(18) Los Angeles Rams (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Baltimore Ravens

14.(14) Buffalo Bills (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs

15.(13) Seattle Seahawks (6-6) Week 14 opponent: San Francisco 49ers

16.(16) Minnesota Vikings (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Las Vegas Raiders

17.(22) Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Indianapolis Colts

18.(12) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) Week 14 opponent: New England Patriots 

19.(11) Cleveland Browns (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

20.(19) Atlanta Falcons (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

21.(21) Los Angeles Chargers (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Denver Broncos

22.(20) New Orleans Saints (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Carolina Panthers

23.(23) Las Vegas Raiders (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Minnesota Vikings

24.(24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Atlanta Falcons

25.(25) Chicago Bears (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Detroit Lions

26.(26) Washington Commanders (4-9) Week 14 opponent: Bye

27.(27) New York Giants (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Green Bay Packers

28.(31) Arizona Cardinals (3-10) Week 14 opponent: Bye

29.(28) Tennessee Titans (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Miami Dolphins

30.(29) New York Jets (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Houston Texans

31.(30) New England Patriots (2-10) Week 14 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

32.(32) Carolina Panthers (1-11) Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints

Week 13 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2023 Edition

Quarterback

MVP: Brock Purdy (49ers) 

It's been up-and-down for anybody that's committed to Purdy as their QB1, but the people that stuck with him through his horrendous October were majorly rewarded on Sunday as he overcame a quiet 1st quarter to absolutely shred the Eagles secondary (314 YDS, 4 TD's) in a stunning blowout road win for the 49ers. Purdy will face the Seahawks for the 2nd time in 3 weeks in Week 14.

Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Geno Smith (Seahawks), Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars)

LVP: Justin Herbert (Chargers)

Rainy conditions and another string of heinous drops by his receivers prevented Herbert from doing much of anything on Sunday against the Patriots as he finished the game with 212 passing YDS, 0 TD's 0 turnovers and -5 rushing YDS on 4 carries. Herbert will hope to regroup and return to the endzone in this week's divisional showdown against the Broncos.

Dishonorable Mentions: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Kyler Murray (Cardinals), Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)

Running Back

MVP: Joe Mixon (Bengals)

Jake Browning's remarkable performance against the Jaguars last night might've stolen all the real-life headlines, but in the fantasy realm it was all about Mixon. The Bengals back got a whole lot of work in this OT thriller and made the most out of it, turning his 25 touches (19 carries, 6 receptions) into 117 scrimmage YDS and 2 rushing TD's. Mixon-whose quietly been a steady RB1 since the Bengals came off their bye in Week 8-has a huge plus matchup against the Colts soft run defense in Week 14.  

Honorable Mentions: Alvin Kamara (Saints), Derrick Henry (Titans), De'Von Achane (Dolphins)

LVP: Austin Ekeler (Chargers)

Ekeler predictably got stuffed by the Patriots quietly excellent run D (18 YDS on 14 carries), but his lack of involvement in the passing game (2 REC/9 YDS) is just puzzling considering how much the Pats have struggled to contain pass-catching RB's at times this year and it led to a crippling dud of a performance in all formats. A date with a Broncos D that has been horrible at containing RB's for most of the season couldn't be arriving at a better time for Ekeler-whose turned in 3 straight underwhelming showings. 

Dishonorable Mentions: D'Andre Swift (Eagles), Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions), Jaylen Warren (Steelers) 

Wide Receiver 

MVP: DK Metcalf (Seahawks)

DaRon Bland has to be thrilled that he probably won't seeing Metcalf again this season. The Seahawks star receiver flat-out embarrassed the Cowboys 2nd year CB as he turned in one of the best games of his career (6 REC/134 YDS/3 TD's). Next up for Metcalf is a chance at redeeming himself against the 49ers tough secondary after he managed just 3 catches for 32 YDS against them in Week 12.   

Honorable Mentions: Deebo Samuel (49ers), Tyreek Hill (Dolphins), Nico Collins (Texans)

LVP: Terry McLaurin (Commanders)

For only the 2nd time in his pro career, McLaurin was held without a catch. Shockingly, the Commanders WR1 managed only 3 targets on a day where Sam Howell threw for only 127 YDS against a feisty Dolphins defense that fully committed to disrupting their aerial attack. McLaurin gets the chance to regroup this week as the Commanders finally get their bye and will face the Rams in Week 15. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Drake London (Falcons), Calvin Ridley (Jaguars), Tee Higgins (Bengals)

Tight End

MVP: Sam LaPorta (Lions)

LaPorta put together the best performance of his young career so far by exploding for 140 YDS and a TD on 9 receptions against the Saints on Sunday afternoon. The rookie will continue his quest towards the record books for his position this week against a Bears team that held him in check (3 REC/18 YDS in their earlier meeting this season. 

Honorable Mentions: Trey McBride (Cardinals), Evan Engram (Jaguars), Jake Ferguson (Cowboys)

LVP: Cade Otton (Buccaneers)

Otton's hot streak (by 2023 TE standards at least) of 2 straight games with 4 REC's and 45+ YDS came to a brutal end as he didn't receive a single target against the Panthers. To be fair to Otton, receivers not named Mike Evans accounted for 7 REC's and 40 YDS as Baker Mayfield only completed 14 passes against the 4th ranked pass D in the league. Otton should be more involved in Week 14 when they square off against the Falcons.

Dishonorable Mentions: David Njoku (Browns), Logan Thomas (Commanders), Pat Friermuth (Steelers)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Chargers

No, this isn't a misprint or a bit. Brandon Staley's Chargers-who are ranked near the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive metric of consequence-put together a brilliant performance on Sunday as they picked up 5 sacks and a fumble recovery in a 6-0 victory over the Patriots. Despite the Broncos' offense's struggles with turnovers and sacks allowed, giving the Chargers D/ST an encore performance in your starting lineup in Week 14 would be an ill-advised move that could yield disastrous results. 

Honorable Mentions: Falcons, Dolphins, Jets

LVP: Cowboys 

Man oh man did the Cowboys vaunted D get more than bargained for when they faced an allegedly struggling Seahawks offense last Thursday night. Outside of a lone sack and INT late in the game, Dan Quinn's group got lit up as the 'Hawks hung 35 points on them and probably would've won the game if their own defense could've come up with just 1 stop in the 4th quarter. The 'Boys have another rough task ahead of them this week as they square off against an explosive Eagles offense that had success against them back in Week 9. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Browns, Eagles, Steelers 

Movie Review: Silent Night

Any lingering excitement I had about John Woo's return to English-language cinema after a 20-year hiatus died by the halfway mark of Silent Night. The Hong Kong action titan basically came back to the US to make an inferior, (nearly) dialogue-free riff on the not-exactly-great 2018 Pierre Morel/Jennifer Garner feature Peppermint. That's like if Tom Brady came out of retirement this spring to play in the XFL, only to go 5-7 and fail to make the playoffs.

Expecting Woo to return to the scene with the next Hard Boiled, The Killer or even Face/Off would've been extremely unfair. Expecting something that demonstrates anything above the base level of  competency for a theatrical action movie however would be totally reasonable and Silent Night simply does not do that. 

Over the past five years or so, you'd be hard-pressed to find something in this genre that is more comfortable with just coasting along than Silent Night. It absolutely looks the part of an R-rated shoot'em up extravaganza as bullets fly, cars crash and bodies explode on screen. All of these things just happen to be delivered with so little panache or urgency that they land with zero weight whatsoever. Some signs of life show up at the 11th hour in the form of a solid final action setpiece that is primarily driven by an extended winding stairwell shootout, but it's far too little, far too late to save this film from avoiding its aggressively mediocre fate. 

What's most disheartening about Silent Night is that all the roads responsible for its failure lead back to Woo. Joel Kinnaman gives a committed lead performance as a revenge-seeking father left mute by a bullet wound that's out to avenge the death of his son a year after he was murdered by a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting, the sound mixing does a great job of accentuating the sounds of its environment to compensate for the lack of speaking without overdoing it to the point where it becomes distractingly loud or chaotic and while undeniably generic, Robert Archer Lynn's script has the bones for a solid meat-and-potatoes action flick if it were made with style and urgency. But alas their efforts to deliver a commendable genre effort are stomped out by a legend who has either lost his directorial  instincts or whose heart simply isn't in it anymore now that he's hit his late 70's. How Woo's next project-an English-language remake of his aforementioned 1989 classic The Killer starring Omar Sy and Nathalie Emmanuel-turns out will reveal more about where he truly is at this stage of his career, but Silent Night makes a pretty convincing argument that he should've remained retired.           

Grade: C