Thanksgiving NFL 2021 winners and losers

By Luis Hernandez (@ LuisHernz7)

There has been one more day of the now traditional Thanksgiving games on Thursday Thanksgiving NFL 2021. By now you surely know that the Lions could not achieve their first victory of the year in a divisional game against the Bears, which the Cowboys lost in a comedy of errors and penalties against the Raiders later, and in the evening the simple, but not convincing victory of the Bills over the decimated Saints.

Beyond the results, here we bring you a list of the individual winners and losers of this special day. Who raised or lowered their bonuses after their performances? Find out below:

Winners after Thanksgiving NFL 2021

WR Darnell Mooney – Bears

It seems that the awakening of the Bears star WR has been confirmed and no, it is not Allen Robinson, last week Mooney had been synonymous with spectacle by getting more than 100 yards and in this game he was no exception, thanks to 5 receptions and a 123-yard production the Bears’ No. 11 is seen as the main threat in the passing game without Robinson. With three straight games of +100 YDS or 1 TD Darnell Mooney seems to be here to stay.

QB Derek Carr – Raiders

This season there is a maxim with the Raiders QB: if he throws for more than 300 yards he does not lose, and yesterday (373 YDS) was no exception; especially considering that it was a complicated duel when he faced one of the best defenders in the league and the revelation of the season. Well, not even with that Carr lowered his arms and led his team to its sixth victory of the season

WR Hunter Renfrow – Raiders

After the unfortunate situation of Henry Ruggs, the injury of Darren Waller and Bryan Edwards not exploding as planned, Hunter Renfrow is confirmed as the main and most dangerous weapon that Derek Carr and these Raiders have by passing game. The 9 targets and 134 yards produced by the Clemson graduate are a reality in these Raiders who, if they want to continue winning games and generating yards, they have to rely on him.

RB Tony Pollard – Cowboys

Tony Pollard stole the show yesterday afternoon, not only because he was Ezekiel Elliott’s best friend when he needed him most because of his injuries, but because Pollard is truly a Zeke 2.0: They had practically the same numbers, and as for the TD Pollard should have been the absolute owner, not only because of his spectacular kick return that ended in the diagonals but because Elliott’s TD was derived from a play where Pollard left the ball in yard 1.

DC Leslie Frazier – Bills

The defense of the Bills is a reality, not for nothing they are the best in terms of yards allowed and the second best in points allowed, and yesterday was no exception: only 6 points allowed, 190 yards allowed 2 sacks and 1 INT that spoke of the magnificent work that the DC has implemented in this team. If Buffalo on the offense is to be feared, and one of the candidates for the AFC, with this defense they can go very far in January

Losers after Thanksgiving NFL 2021

RB D’Andre Swift – Lions

Swift is already a star, not just in Detroit, but in the entire NFL; That is why it hurts so much that he was injured in this game. He is the anchor of the team and together with TJ Hockenson probably the only redeemable thing in the franchise for now, we must wait to know how bad the shoulder injury is, but losing your best man and with a team without victories will never be good. . We’ll see how long one of the Lions faces will be out

LB Roquan Smith – Bears

Another injury on the same play where Swift is injured, as this was the tackler. The Bears ‘defense leader and one of the league’s leading tacklers will be a tough casualty, considering the Bears’ offense has been limited throughout the season.

TE Darren Waller – Raiders

Another game, another injury. After knee discomfort, despite continuing in the game he was very limited and considering that he is Derek Carr’s best friend in the black and silver offense, it is not good news. Today he will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, but all fans lose to see someone with Waller’s talent playing on a limited basis.

DC Dan Quinn – Cowboys

Having your defense given 506 total yards is never going to be a good sign. While Micah Parsons is becoming the revelation of the season on a defensive level and Trevon Diggs is quite a sight, that won’t do any good if they keep allowing so many points and yards. The defensive coordinator must make adjustments, especially considering that, with so many injuries on offense, the defense will have to help keep games close and with few points.

CB Anthony Brown and CJ Goodwin – Cowboys

Brown had not committed as many penalties all season as yesterday, and the sum of yards and opportunities awarded to the opponent suffered directly on the scoreboard. Likewise, with the winning FG, a play where they had managed to push kicker Daniel Carlson back, Goodwin’s anxiety twice in a row brought the Raiders 10 yards into the ideal distance to score the field goal. These mistakes in January can be the difference between moving on or staying on track

The Saints passing game

It is a reality: the “aerial circus” that characterized New Orleans for many years came to an end and not only because of the lack of a constant QB but because, of the remaining receivers the team has, none has been able to lead this team. How much does someone like Michael Thomas take, and while he is the alpha target of this team, the rest of the receivers have wasted the opportunity to take on that role

For you, who were the winners and losers of this day of Thanksgiving NFL 2021? We read you in the comments under this article and on our social networks.