2021-2 NFL Pro Football (pls, no other sports!)
- Thread starter Lethe200
- Start date
Pam, who is Goat?
We had a great running back that refuse speak to his teammates, he would sit it the bleachers far away from his teams.
Tom LandY, dALLAS COACH TRIED TO WORK WITH dUANE tHOMAS, NO RESULT he tried to get him him to conform to the program=no success.
Duane Thomas was a great running back, no telling what he could have achieved -in three years he was gone.
He cane back a few years later, but he has lost those mysterious skillS that make great running back.
We had a great running back that refuse speak to his teammates, he would sit it the bleachers far away from his teams.
Tom LandY, dALLAS COACH TRIED TO WORK WITH dUANE tHOMAS, NO RESULT he tried to get him him to conform to the program=no success.
Duane Thomas was a great running back, no telling what he could have achieved -in three years he was gone.
He cane back a few years later, but he has lost those mysterious skillS that make great running back.
Tom Brady became the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) in NFL history after winning his sixth Super Bowl two years ago. ... But, as you might have heard, Brady has since won another Super Bowl.Feb 17, 2021
In American football Tom Brady has long been in the conversation as the GOAT. By sealing his seventh ring on Sunday at the age of 43 he not only took himself two wins ahead of the next player, but one ahead of the most successful teams in NFL history. The difference in skill sets between each position in American football makes it difficult to declare a single player a GOAT – for instance some may label wide receiver Jerry Rice as the greatest - but Tom Brady can undoubtedly be regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time.
1950's Joe Don Lonney was was a so-so running back for Texas University. He had difficulty getting along with others;
his first semester he received four 'F's and a 'D.'
Thus began his saga to junior colleges
He was a #1 draft choice for the N Y Giants, he had difficulty following instructions, unprovoked fights with teammates...
After several trades he wound up with the Detroit Lions...,
The coach, Harry Gilmer told Looney to take in a play for the offense: Looney replied, 'If you want a messenger boy, call Western Union.'
He drifted around the NFL for a year or two, then retired.
Despite all his crazed behavior, he was touted as the next Jim Brown.
However, the potential was stifled by crazed behavior.
There after he went to India to study yoga... bummed around India, back to America, died at age 47.
Moral: don't draft a player based on his potential.
his first semester he received four 'F's and a 'D.'
Thus began his saga to junior colleges
He was a #1 draft choice for the N Y Giants, he had difficulty following instructions, unprovoked fights with teammates...
After several trades he wound up with the Detroit Lions...,
The coach, Harry Gilmer told Looney to take in a play for the offense: Looney replied, 'If you want a messenger boy, call Western Union.'
He drifted around the NFL for a year or two, then retired.
Despite all his crazed behavior, he was touted as the next Jim Brown.
However, the potential was stifled by crazed behavior.
There after he went to India to study yoga... bummed around India, back to America, died at age 47.
Moral: don't draft a player based on his potential.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Interesting article that mostly focused on the Bengals, so here's the excerpt:
Excerpted from: 4 winners and 4 losers from Week 17 in the NFL
The Bengals have arrived, and they’re going to be legit for a long, long time.
SB Nation by James Dator Jan 3, 2022
I don’t know if the Bengals have the experience and maturity to make a deep run in the playoffs in 2022, but I don’t know if that really matters. Of course, an early exit would be disappointing — but we’re witnessing something far bigger brewing in Cincinnati that could shape the trajectory of the league for years to come. The win over the Chiefs on Sunday simply showed the potential and promise that’s being unearthed.
Sure, that sounds like hyperbole, but sometimes it’s important to take a step back and realized what this organization has achieved in a short period of time. In two years the Bengals have gone from 2-14 cellar dwellers desperate to find some footing, to 10-6 AFC North leaders with everything clicking.
There are so many pieces operating together that made this all happen, but it really it begins with Taylor having what so few young coaches lack: Patience. Taking over a 6-10 team in 2019, Taylor began his time in Cincinnati with the No. 11 pick. Out of a position where he could take the impact skill position player coaches crave, the Bengals made an impact. Instead of pushing for a trade, or trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, Taylor and Co. sat and took OT Jonah Williams with the extremely un-sexy first round pick that’s been critical to everything that’s happening now.
It’s important to go back to this pick because it really explains the ethos of the Bengals’ front office during this period. They haven’t sold out to push the rebuilding process. It’s been handled slowly, methodically, and without much pomp and circumstance. Naturally this is pushed forward when you have the No. 1 pick in the draft, as Cincinnati did in 2020 — but even so, it felt like Cincinnati believed in Joe Burrow more than lot of people. We can try to retcon this all we want, but there was an overwhelming feeling that Burrow was No. 1 by default, a Heisman winner by default, landing him back in his hometown ... by default.
We’ve seen this scenario before, and it normally nets you a good player, but not someone who can change a franchise. We can now say that Joe Burrow is a franchise quarterback, the face of the Bengals, and quickly becoming one of the best passers in the entire league. It was apparent last year before he was injured, now it’s completely cemented.
With one game left to play we have a full 16 game regular season slate to look at for 2021-22, similar to any other year. The result has been remarkable:
4,611 yards, 70.4% completion , 34 TDs, 14 INTs, a passer rating of 108.3
All this while averaging over 8.8 yards per attempt, and consider that maintaining a 7.0 is largely considered to the be the mark of a top-tier QB. Burrow isn’t just setting the tone for young QBs in the NFL, he’s destroying every expectation.
Of course, there’s so much more to a passing offense than just the dude throwing the ball — so enter Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins as his primary weapons. Two 1,000 yard wide receivers, aged 21 and 22 respectively. It’s a nucleus that should be able to stay together for a long time. Oh, and remember Jonah Williams, the offensive tackle Zac Taylor took his first year? Yeah, he’s one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL now.
I could keep gushing about how amazingly this team was constructed, but instead let’s focus on what they need to fix moving forward. Cincinnati’s secondary really needs work and a significant talent upgrade, and while the front seven is good at stopping the run overall, they’re poor at stopping teams from getting first downs on the ground, or preventing big runs.
The best part of all this if you’re a Bengals fan: These are such small gripes! In the grand scheme of things this isn’t much to fix, and Cincinnati has $58M in cap space next season, with their entire nucleus locked up and not many critical players set to hit free agency. This means that a playoff team with elite talent now sits in the seat where they can splash a little on talent without selling out their overall vision of a slow build around its tentpoles.
Based on how we’ve seen this team get built over the past few years they won’t rush this and do something dumb. It might not result in immediate playoff success, but no team in the NFL is better poised for the future than the Cincinnati Bengals.
Loser: Antonio Brown, and also the Buccaneers
There’s really two parts to all this. The obvious is that Antonio Brown is a loser in the absolute definition of the word. We don’t fully understand the reason why he walked off the field and quit on Sunday. It’s been speculated there was in-fighting over Brown’s snaps, and he felt the team was trying to stop him getting incentive bonuses. The truth will likely come out in time, but it’s the most recent in a long pattern of behavior that has seen the league’s most talented receiver destroy himself and hurt others at every turn.
The Buccaneers aren’t without blame for all this too. No part of their roster required signing Brown, yet they got so greedy with their talent hoarding they put team chemistry at risk. Their belief was that Bruce Arians and Tom Brady could create such an infallible aura nobody would step out of line. Trust Antonio Brown to break that.
It’s all a mess. The Buccaneers will be fine, because he’s just an average receiver at this point — but Brown’s career will probably be done. Showing his whole ass on national TV while heading out the door seems fitting. Good riddance.
Winner: Ja’Marr Chase, rookie phenom
We close this week back with the Bengals, where Ja’Marr Chase broke the single-game rookie receiving record, and broke Justin Jefferson’s season rookie receiving record.
What began feeling like an overwrought attempt to handcuff Chase to Joe Burrow has paid incredible dividends and formed one of the best partnerships in the NFL. It’s remarkable that it occurred, and we’re so lucky to get to see this moving forward.
Excerpted from: 4 winners and 4 losers from Week 17 in the NFL
The Bengals have arrived, and they’re going to be legit for a long, long time.
SB Nation by James Dator Jan 3, 2022
I don’t know if the Bengals have the experience and maturity to make a deep run in the playoffs in 2022, but I don’t know if that really matters. Of course, an early exit would be disappointing — but we’re witnessing something far bigger brewing in Cincinnati that could shape the trajectory of the league for years to come. The win over the Chiefs on Sunday simply showed the potential and promise that’s being unearthed.
Sure, that sounds like hyperbole, but sometimes it’s important to take a step back and realized what this organization has achieved in a short period of time. In two years the Bengals have gone from 2-14 cellar dwellers desperate to find some footing, to 10-6 AFC North leaders with everything clicking.
There are so many pieces operating together that made this all happen, but it really it begins with Taylor having what so few young coaches lack: Patience. Taking over a 6-10 team in 2019, Taylor began his time in Cincinnati with the No. 11 pick. Out of a position where he could take the impact skill position player coaches crave, the Bengals made an impact. Instead of pushing for a trade, or trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, Taylor and Co. sat and took OT Jonah Williams with the extremely un-sexy first round pick that’s been critical to everything that’s happening now.
It’s important to go back to this pick because it really explains the ethos of the Bengals’ front office during this period. They haven’t sold out to push the rebuilding process. It’s been handled slowly, methodically, and without much pomp and circumstance. Naturally this is pushed forward when you have the No. 1 pick in the draft, as Cincinnati did in 2020 — but even so, it felt like Cincinnati believed in Joe Burrow more than lot of people. We can try to retcon this all we want, but there was an overwhelming feeling that Burrow was No. 1 by default, a Heisman winner by default, landing him back in his hometown ... by default.
We’ve seen this scenario before, and it normally nets you a good player, but not someone who can change a franchise. We can now say that Joe Burrow is a franchise quarterback, the face of the Bengals, and quickly becoming one of the best passers in the entire league. It was apparent last year before he was injured, now it’s completely cemented.
With one game left to play we have a full 16 game regular season slate to look at for 2021-22, similar to any other year. The result has been remarkable:
4,611 yards, 70.4% completion , 34 TDs, 14 INTs, a passer rating of 108.3
All this while averaging over 8.8 yards per attempt, and consider that maintaining a 7.0 is largely considered to the be the mark of a top-tier QB. Burrow isn’t just setting the tone for young QBs in the NFL, he’s destroying every expectation.
Of course, there’s so much more to a passing offense than just the dude throwing the ball — so enter Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins as his primary weapons. Two 1,000 yard wide receivers, aged 21 and 22 respectively. It’s a nucleus that should be able to stay together for a long time. Oh, and remember Jonah Williams, the offensive tackle Zac Taylor took his first year? Yeah, he’s one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL now.
I could keep gushing about how amazingly this team was constructed, but instead let’s focus on what they need to fix moving forward. Cincinnati’s secondary really needs work and a significant talent upgrade, and while the front seven is good at stopping the run overall, they’re poor at stopping teams from getting first downs on the ground, or preventing big runs.
The best part of all this if you’re a Bengals fan: These are such small gripes! In the grand scheme of things this isn’t much to fix, and Cincinnati has $58M in cap space next season, with their entire nucleus locked up and not many critical players set to hit free agency. This means that a playoff team with elite talent now sits in the seat where they can splash a little on talent without selling out their overall vision of a slow build around its tentpoles.
Based on how we’ve seen this team get built over the past few years they won’t rush this and do something dumb. It might not result in immediate playoff success, but no team in the NFL is better poised for the future than the Cincinnati Bengals.
Loser: Antonio Brown, and also the Buccaneers
There’s really two parts to all this. The obvious is that Antonio Brown is a loser in the absolute definition of the word. We don’t fully understand the reason why he walked off the field and quit on Sunday. It’s been speculated there was in-fighting over Brown’s snaps, and he felt the team was trying to stop him getting incentive bonuses. The truth will likely come out in time, but it’s the most recent in a long pattern of behavior that has seen the league’s most talented receiver destroy himself and hurt others at every turn.
The Buccaneers aren’t without blame for all this too. No part of their roster required signing Brown, yet they got so greedy with their talent hoarding they put team chemistry at risk. Their belief was that Bruce Arians and Tom Brady could create such an infallible aura nobody would step out of line. Trust Antonio Brown to break that.
It’s all a mess. The Buccaneers will be fine, because he’s just an average receiver at this point — but Brown’s career will probably be done. Showing his whole ass on national TV while heading out the door seems fitting. Good riddance.
Winner: Ja’Marr Chase, rookie phenom
We close this week back with the Bengals, where Ja’Marr Chase broke the single-game rookie receiving record, and broke Justin Jefferson’s season rookie receiving record.
What began feeling like an overwrought attempt to handcuff Chase to Joe Burrow has paid incredible dividends and formed one of the best partnerships in the NFL. It’s remarkable that it occurred, and we’re so lucky to get to see this moving forward.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Jerry - well, sometimes teams manage to get it right - but you're correct, more often than not.....an organization keeps stumbling along, getting in its own way. Pursuant to your observation, this just appeared on SBNation:
The 5 teams with the brightest futures in the NFL
Look at these teams now, because they could be the future elite of the NFL.
SB Nation by James Dator Jan 5, 2022
The end of the NFL regular season is often a chance for reflection. It’s a chance to take stock, to look at what the organization is working with, and see what could possibly catapult a team from the cellar to a challenger, or from a middling team to a contender.
A couple of weeks back I took a look at the most hopeless teams in the league — organizations with deep problems that will need a lot of time and effort to fix. Today we’ll kick off the new year by flipping the coin and diving into teams who may not be elite right now, but greatness is building.
For the purposes of keeping this interesting, I’m not going to look at teams who are already great. You don’t need to hear that the Rams are going to be good for a while, or that the Chiefs have a bright future — that’s already baked in to their recent history.
No. 1: Cincinnati Bengals
Pros: Established offensive core, solid young coach, boatloads of cap space
Cons: Suspect secondary
There are almost no blemishes on the future of the Bengals. This is a team who has turned around so quickly they’re stunning the NFL establishment and making a mark. Cincinnati will make the playoffs this year, and the sky is the limit for the future.
The trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has the feeling of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. I’m not saying the former are as talented as the latter, it’s too soon, but they evoke the same feelings of a young nucleus who are firing on all cylinders and can keep growing together.
Yes, the Bengals’ defense needs work — especially in the secondary, but only three teams in the NFL have more cap space in 2022. With smart management and some good pick ups there’s no reason this team can’t become a class team in the AFC ... fast.
No. 2: Los Angeles Chargers
Pros: Excellent young QB, good receivers, huge cap space
Cons: Defense needs work, looming player turnover
History has a tendency to repeat itself in the NFL, and the Chargers find themselves in a very similar position to the early 2000s after trading for Philip Rivers.
There is no doubt Justin Herbert is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, but the next couple of years will be pivotal to maintaining his early success. Right now the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as their primary weapons, and they’re two excellent 1,000 yard receivers. However, at 29 and 27 years old respectively, the window will be closing where in 3-4 years the team will need to have a succession plan and find guys who can support Herbert moving forward.
There are some gaping defensive problems too which need to be corrected as well, but it’s more than possible with over $70M in cap space and some good drafting. There’s no doubt the future is extremely bright, if the front office can manage the next few years correctly.
No. 3: Miami Dolphins
Pros: Solid pass defense, excellent coach, elite pass rush, major cap space
Cons: QB question is still unanswered, needs more offensive weapons
This is another team who are far better than most expected, but haven’t really progressed in 2021 the way people hoped. Brian Flores is proving himself to be a hell of a coach who can really get a young team buying in, which is a really important quality to progressing in the future.
Still, there are some issues. Tua Tagovailoa has shown flashes, but really lacked consistency. Especially the kind of consistency you want to see out of a franchise QB. Jaylen Waddle has helped give him a weapon, but there’s no doubt he’s simply not making the most of the starting opportunity.
The Dolphins will be searching for a new QB soon unless something clicks. That’s a major red flag for their future.
No. 4: Indianapolis Colts
Pros: Elite young RB, solid QB find, good cap space
Cons: Needs defensive upgrades, another receiver, overall talent upgrade
The Colts are in great shape in a lot of ways, and have many questions in other areas. There’s no doubt Jonathan Taylor is the best young running back in the NFL, but that’s not exactly a game-changer in the modern NFL.
Pivoting to Carson Wentz was a risk that paid off big time, and for at least the next several years the Colts have their QB of the future. Now it’s just about getting him more weapons, which shouldn’t be too difficult with the great cap space the Colts have.
There’s potential to take another step forward, and that’s exciting — because not many people expected much out of the Colts in 2021.
No. 5: Detroit Lions
Pros: Exciting coach, motivated roster, young roster
Cons: This is a bad team right now
I’m rounding out this list with a team I have a lot of blind faith in. The Lions are one of the worst teams in the NFL by record, but they really swung above their weight class and challenged some teams they had no business hanging with.
This is all attributable to Dan Campbell, who has fast become one of the coolest coaches in the NFL. Campbell’s players LOVE him, and they’re putting it all on the field. With some time and upgrades I really believe this could be a special team — but they’re on the edge right now because there’s a lot of work to be done.
The 5 teams with the brightest futures in the NFL
Look at these teams now, because they could be the future elite of the NFL.
SB Nation by James Dator Jan 5, 2022
The end of the NFL regular season is often a chance for reflection. It’s a chance to take stock, to look at what the organization is working with, and see what could possibly catapult a team from the cellar to a challenger, or from a middling team to a contender.
A couple of weeks back I took a look at the most hopeless teams in the league — organizations with deep problems that will need a lot of time and effort to fix. Today we’ll kick off the new year by flipping the coin and diving into teams who may not be elite right now, but greatness is building.
For the purposes of keeping this interesting, I’m not going to look at teams who are already great. You don’t need to hear that the Rams are going to be good for a while, or that the Chiefs have a bright future — that’s already baked in to their recent history.
No. 1: Cincinnati Bengals
Pros: Established offensive core, solid young coach, boatloads of cap space
Cons: Suspect secondary
There are almost no blemishes on the future of the Bengals. This is a team who has turned around so quickly they’re stunning the NFL establishment and making a mark. Cincinnati will make the playoffs this year, and the sky is the limit for the future.
The trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has the feeling of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. I’m not saying the former are as talented as the latter, it’s too soon, but they evoke the same feelings of a young nucleus who are firing on all cylinders and can keep growing together.
Yes, the Bengals’ defense needs work — especially in the secondary, but only three teams in the NFL have more cap space in 2022. With smart management and some good pick ups there’s no reason this team can’t become a class team in the AFC ... fast.
No. 2: Los Angeles Chargers
Pros: Excellent young QB, good receivers, huge cap space
Cons: Defense needs work, looming player turnover
History has a tendency to repeat itself in the NFL, and the Chargers find themselves in a very similar position to the early 2000s after trading for Philip Rivers.
There is no doubt Justin Herbert is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, but the next couple of years will be pivotal to maintaining his early success. Right now the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as their primary weapons, and they’re two excellent 1,000 yard receivers. However, at 29 and 27 years old respectively, the window will be closing where in 3-4 years the team will need to have a succession plan and find guys who can support Herbert moving forward.
There are some gaping defensive problems too which need to be corrected as well, but it’s more than possible with over $70M in cap space and some good drafting. There’s no doubt the future is extremely bright, if the front office can manage the next few years correctly.
No. 3: Miami Dolphins
Pros: Solid pass defense, excellent coach, elite pass rush, major cap space
Cons: QB question is still unanswered, needs more offensive weapons
This is another team who are far better than most expected, but haven’t really progressed in 2021 the way people hoped. Brian Flores is proving himself to be a hell of a coach who can really get a young team buying in, which is a really important quality to progressing in the future.
Still, there are some issues. Tua Tagovailoa has shown flashes, but really lacked consistency. Especially the kind of consistency you want to see out of a franchise QB. Jaylen Waddle has helped give him a weapon, but there’s no doubt he’s simply not making the most of the starting opportunity.
The Dolphins will be searching for a new QB soon unless something clicks. That’s a major red flag for their future.
No. 4: Indianapolis Colts
Pros: Elite young RB, solid QB find, good cap space
Cons: Needs defensive upgrades, another receiver, overall talent upgrade
The Colts are in great shape in a lot of ways, and have many questions in other areas. There’s no doubt Jonathan Taylor is the best young running back in the NFL, but that’s not exactly a game-changer in the modern NFL.
Pivoting to Carson Wentz was a risk that paid off big time, and for at least the next several years the Colts have their QB of the future. Now it’s just about getting him more weapons, which shouldn’t be too difficult with the great cap space the Colts have.
There’s potential to take another step forward, and that’s exciting — because not many people expected much out of the Colts in 2021.
No. 5: Detroit Lions
Pros: Exciting coach, motivated roster, young roster
Cons: This is a bad team right now
I’m rounding out this list with a team I have a lot of blind faith in. The Lions are one of the worst teams in the NFL by record, but they really swung above their weight class and challenged some teams they had no business hanging with.
This is all attributable to Dan Campbell, who has fast become one of the coolest coaches in the NFL. Campbell’s players LOVE him, and they’re putting it all on the field. With some time and upgrades I really believe this could be a special team — but they’re on the edge right now because there’s a lot of work to be done.
Irwin
Well-known Member
- Location
- Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
We have football Saturday and Sunday this weekend for the final regular season games. And then the playoffs begin next weekend!
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
My apologies in advance for this week's "Lessons".....it's looonnnnnng! (meaning extra posts) With so many teams in the hunt for a wild card spot, there was extra detail about the games and the trajectory of the eligible teams. I also found a rather interesting stat which I'll post last.
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 1 of 5(!)
When LVegas upset Indianapolis on Sunday, it created a de facto Week 18 AFC play-in game between the Raiders and LA Chargers. Five AFC teams have clinched berths. The final two spots almost certainly will come from the trio of the Colts, Raiders and Chargers. All three are 9-7.
The Colts receive the benefit of playing at the abysmal Jacksonville Jaguars next week. Assuming the Colts win, the last playoff spot in the AFC will be won on the field Sunday night in LVegas.
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Bengals 34, Chiefs 31
Joe Burrow throwing deep to Ja’Marr Chase may be the NFL’s most dangerous connection. They tore up a KC defense that had been shutting down just about every team it had faced in the past two months. The comeback win, in which KC had led by as many as 14 points, showed Cincinnati cannot be under-estimated.
Coach Zac Taylor twice went for it on fourth and goal with the score tied in the final minute, and the Bengals (10-6) clinched the AFC North. Coming in the NFL leader in yds per attempt, Burrow passed for a total of 446 yds and four TDs. In the past two weeks, he has thrown for 971 yds. Against the Chiefs, Chase caught 11 of 12 pass attempts by Burrow, for three TDs and 266 receiving yds,
Burrow was beat up a ton as a rookie, with a major knee injury that ended his 2020 season. He has been sacked 47 times this season, behind a line built through free agency. But Burrow can quickly hit Chase for 30 or more yds, exquisitely placing deep shots where he knows his former college teammate can grab them, turning his less perfect throws into gains.
Of course, the scariest part is that Burrow is 25 years old and Chase is 21. Cincinnati’s selection of Burrow and Chase in consecutive drafts portends more double-digit win seasons to come.
Buccaneers 28, Jets 24
Tom Brady went 34 of 50 for 410 yds and three TD passes to beat the Jets Sunday. What was unexpected was that the Bucs weren't running up the score. Instead, they needed all those points plus more, to beat the lowly 4-12 Jets.
Not only were the Jets were ahead by 14-pts for a while, but rookie Zach Wilson finally looked like a confident QB, standing in the pocket and reading defenses. He was zipping accurate passes into tight windows and extending plays with his mobility. In what has otherwise been a difficult season, a performance like this can provide hope for long-suffering Jets fans. The receiving corps has been riddled with injuries, and for the second straight week WR Braxton Berrios stood up for the Jets. He had a pair of TDs and added a number of big first downs.
Antonio Brown, the receiver whom Brady lobbied the team to acquire in free agency in 2020, provided unexpected drama by storming off the field in Q3. Afterwards Coach Bruce Arians announced Brown would be released from the team. With WR Chris Godwin’s season-ending ACL tear and major injuries to Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul denting the Buccaneers’ vaunted pass rush, TBay’s postseason hopes now rests on Brady elevating the likes of Grayson and Tyler Johnson to augment his options beyond Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans.
Brady wound up saving the win with a nine-play, 93-yard TD drive in the game’s final minutes. On the scoring pass, he threw a 33-yard TD laser to Cyril Grayson: the pass was so forceful its momentum nearly carried Grayson the two steps into the end zone.
Last year at this point, TBay was healthy and peaking. Despite Sunday’s win, Brady and the Buccaneers have a much different road to get that title repeat. Last January they were the healthiest team in the league. This year, they have lost two of their best players at the same position. It’ll be tough, even for the irrepressible Brady.
Cardinals 25, Cowboys 22
Arizona stopped its three-game losing streak thanks to Isaiah Simmons, the second-year rookie LB and edge rusher who tracked Dak Prescott on a Q4 scramble and punched the ball loose for a Cardinals recovery, his fourth forced fumble of the season. Kyler Murray finished with 307 total yds, two TDs and - most importantly - no turnovers, and Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott was held to a 1.8 yds per carry average.
Kyler Murray loves AT&T Stadium. Murray improved to 9-0 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home field, counting the games he played there during his illustrious high school and college careers. Murray closed the Arizona Cardinals’ 25-22 victory with a series of scrambles and designed runs, bleeding the clock as Coach Kliff Kingsbury used creativity to ignite an unproductive running game.
Murray’s scampering gave the Cardinals a needed boost. It showed he is healthier now than he was late last season. It helped snap a three-game losing streak. And it may have provided a psychological edge - the Cardinals are likely to play the Cowboys again in the first round of the NFC playoffs in the 4-vs-5 game, back in the stadium where Murray has never lost.
The Cardinals exposed a crucial weak spot for Dallas. Murray picked on CB Anthony Brown all game long. He also completed a deep ball against Trevon Diggs, who despite his league-leading interception total has been vulnerable to long passes. In a battle of franchise QBs Murray outlasted Prescott, didn’t turn the ball over and made great plays under pressure.
One of the Cowboys’ biggest issues is kicker Greg Zuerlein. His inconsistency has been a problem all season. This is arguably the third game (Buccaneers, Raiders, Cardinals) this year that may have ended differently if not for a Zuerlein missed FG. He can’t be relied upon any longer, and his lack of consistency could lead the Cowboys to an early exit in the playoffs.
Dallas WR Cedrick Wilson was a rare bright spot, catching a TD and two-point conversion, while also completing a 31-yard pass to Tony Pollard. He will be needed in the playoffs, as WR Michael Gallup's bad luck with 2021 injuries continued. Coming back after missing multiple games due to a calf injury, Gallup made a spectacular TD catch – only to then suffer a season-ending knee injury, suspected to be a torn ACL.
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 1 of 5(!)
When LVegas upset Indianapolis on Sunday, it created a de facto Week 18 AFC play-in game between the Raiders and LA Chargers. Five AFC teams have clinched berths. The final two spots almost certainly will come from the trio of the Colts, Raiders and Chargers. All three are 9-7.
The Colts receive the benefit of playing at the abysmal Jacksonville Jaguars next week. Assuming the Colts win, the last playoff spot in the AFC will be won on the field Sunday night in LVegas.
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Bengals 34, Chiefs 31
Joe Burrow throwing deep to Ja’Marr Chase may be the NFL’s most dangerous connection. They tore up a KC defense that had been shutting down just about every team it had faced in the past two months. The comeback win, in which KC had led by as many as 14 points, showed Cincinnati cannot be under-estimated.
Coach Zac Taylor twice went for it on fourth and goal with the score tied in the final minute, and the Bengals (10-6) clinched the AFC North. Coming in the NFL leader in yds per attempt, Burrow passed for a total of 446 yds and four TDs. In the past two weeks, he has thrown for 971 yds. Against the Chiefs, Chase caught 11 of 12 pass attempts by Burrow, for three TDs and 266 receiving yds,
Burrow was beat up a ton as a rookie, with a major knee injury that ended his 2020 season. He has been sacked 47 times this season, behind a line built through free agency. But Burrow can quickly hit Chase for 30 or more yds, exquisitely placing deep shots where he knows his former college teammate can grab them, turning his less perfect throws into gains.
Of course, the scariest part is that Burrow is 25 years old and Chase is 21. Cincinnati’s selection of Burrow and Chase in consecutive drafts portends more double-digit win seasons to come.
Buccaneers 28, Jets 24
Tom Brady went 34 of 50 for 410 yds and three TD passes to beat the Jets Sunday. What was unexpected was that the Bucs weren't running up the score. Instead, they needed all those points plus more, to beat the lowly 4-12 Jets.
Not only were the Jets were ahead by 14-pts for a while, but rookie Zach Wilson finally looked like a confident QB, standing in the pocket and reading defenses. He was zipping accurate passes into tight windows and extending plays with his mobility. In what has otherwise been a difficult season, a performance like this can provide hope for long-suffering Jets fans. The receiving corps has been riddled with injuries, and for the second straight week WR Braxton Berrios stood up for the Jets. He had a pair of TDs and added a number of big first downs.
Antonio Brown, the receiver whom Brady lobbied the team to acquire in free agency in 2020, provided unexpected drama by storming off the field in Q3. Afterwards Coach Bruce Arians announced Brown would be released from the team. With WR Chris Godwin’s season-ending ACL tear and major injuries to Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul denting the Buccaneers’ vaunted pass rush, TBay’s postseason hopes now rests on Brady elevating the likes of Grayson and Tyler Johnson to augment his options beyond Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans.
Brady wound up saving the win with a nine-play, 93-yard TD drive in the game’s final minutes. On the scoring pass, he threw a 33-yard TD laser to Cyril Grayson: the pass was so forceful its momentum nearly carried Grayson the two steps into the end zone.
Last year at this point, TBay was healthy and peaking. Despite Sunday’s win, Brady and the Buccaneers have a much different road to get that title repeat. Last January they were the healthiest team in the league. This year, they have lost two of their best players at the same position. It’ll be tough, even for the irrepressible Brady.
Cardinals 25, Cowboys 22
Arizona stopped its three-game losing streak thanks to Isaiah Simmons, the second-year rookie LB and edge rusher who tracked Dak Prescott on a Q4 scramble and punched the ball loose for a Cardinals recovery, his fourth forced fumble of the season. Kyler Murray finished with 307 total yds, two TDs and - most importantly - no turnovers, and Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott was held to a 1.8 yds per carry average.
Kyler Murray loves AT&T Stadium. Murray improved to 9-0 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home field, counting the games he played there during his illustrious high school and college careers. Murray closed the Arizona Cardinals’ 25-22 victory with a series of scrambles and designed runs, bleeding the clock as Coach Kliff Kingsbury used creativity to ignite an unproductive running game.
Murray’s scampering gave the Cardinals a needed boost. It showed he is healthier now than he was late last season. It helped snap a three-game losing streak. And it may have provided a psychological edge - the Cardinals are likely to play the Cowboys again in the first round of the NFC playoffs in the 4-vs-5 game, back in the stadium where Murray has never lost.
The Cardinals exposed a crucial weak spot for Dallas. Murray picked on CB Anthony Brown all game long. He also completed a deep ball against Trevon Diggs, who despite his league-leading interception total has been vulnerable to long passes. In a battle of franchise QBs Murray outlasted Prescott, didn’t turn the ball over and made great plays under pressure.
One of the Cowboys’ biggest issues is kicker Greg Zuerlein. His inconsistency has been a problem all season. This is arguably the third game (Buccaneers, Raiders, Cardinals) this year that may have ended differently if not for a Zuerlein missed FG. He can’t be relied upon any longer, and his lack of consistency could lead the Cowboys to an early exit in the playoffs.
Dallas WR Cedrick Wilson was a rare bright spot, catching a TD and two-point conversion, while also completing a 31-yard pass to Tony Pollard. He will be needed in the playoffs, as WR Michael Gallup's bad luck with 2021 injuries continued. Coming back after missing multiple games due to a calf injury, Gallup made a spectacular TD catch – only to then suffer a season-ending knee injury, suspected to be a torn ACL.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 2 of 5
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Seahawks 51, Lions 29
Underachieving Seattle supplied the 12s with a few cheers in what may have been the final game there for both QB Russell Wilson and Coach Pete Carroll. Wilson threw for 236 yds and the Seahawks hounded Tim Boyle, the Lions’ backup QB, into three interceptions.
Where will Russell Wilson play next season? If this was Wilson’s Seattle swan song, he went out with style, throwing three of his four TD passes to DK Metcalf. If Wilson remains with the Seahawks, he and DK Metcalf must settle what appeared, prior to this game, to be a rocky point in their relationship. Metcalf is Seattle’s most formidable offensive weapon.
If Wilson does shake loose, one team to watch may be the Raiders. In the offseason, Wilson included LVegas on his four-team list of franchises to which he would accept a trade. The Raiders will have a new coach, who will have nothing invested in Derek Carr. It would be a surprise to see the Raiders look for an upgrade if Carr leads them to the playoffs, but it might benefit the Raiders to start fresh with a new QB after years of middling records.
Should the Seahawks make Wilson available for a raft of draft picks, the acquiring team should proceed with caution. Wilson has not been as dominant this year as he has been most of his career. He hasn’t rushed for more than 32 yds in a game all season, and the lack of a running threat has diminished his value. At 33, he may be reaching the edge of his peak.
49ers 23, Texans 7
Things got off to an ugly start against the 4-11 Texans, trailing 7-3 at the half. However, the Niners bounced back, scoring 23 unanswered points, and finished their ninth victory of the season. Rookie Trey Lance got his second start, having played so little as Garoppolo’s backup that the first quarter vs the Texans was only the 5th quarter he’s played as pro.
Not surprisingly Lance was tentative in the first half, but showed off his strong arm in the second half. He made a few bad decisions, but overall looked promising for 2022 and beyond, which will hopefully justify the Niners mortgaging their future by giving up three first round draft picks for the chance to select him over Mac Jones. He threw for 249 yds and two TDs to earn a win SF absolutely needed. His 45-yard scoring strike to Deebo Samuel midway through Q4 was a beaut and put the game out of reach.
The Niners OL had some difficulty adjusting to the different style of Lance vs Garoppolo. Jimmy G is one of the fastest-release QBs around, specializing in short- to mid-range passes inside the box. His average release time is a stunning 2.2 seconds. In contrast, Trey L. uses his legs to avoid the pass rush and likes to throw the long ball all over the field; his hold time is a long 3.7 seconds.
The LBs and DBs pressured the Texans’ OL until they broke. In the second half they made four sacks, with constant pressure by Nick Bosa. LBs Fred Warner and Marcell Harris recorded 25 tackles between them, with an interception by Harris. The suspect CBs did okay, and the special teams unit tightened up their play a bit, only looking sloppy half the game instead of all the way through.
The Niners finale is vs their arch-rival LA Rams. LAR will be shooting for a win that will give them the divisional championship over the Cardinals and cement the #2 seed. SF wants a win to avoid having to depend on the Falcons to get that final wild-card spot. If the 49ers lose, the Saints would snatch a wild card by beating Atlanta.
Saints 18, Panthers 10
With disastrous injuries to their starting QB and OL, plus a rash of positive coronavirus tests among players, it is no small miracle that New Orleans could still make the playoffs with a win next week against Atlanta and a 49ers loss. Credit the Saints defense, which gave Sam Darnold and Carolina an abysmal day. The Saints racked up seven sacks with Cameron Jordan (eight tackles, 3.5 sacks) leading the way. Jordan was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd time in 3 weeks for his inspired play in this game.
As lackluster as the Saints offense has been the last few weeks, the defense has been impressive. The defense has given up only 2 TDs in the last four weeks and may have saved their best performance for this game’s second half. Carolina had 5 drives in the second half that only netted 41 total yds.
Carolina also showed a tough run defense. RB Alvin Kamara busted loose for one 30-yard run but managed only two yds on his other 12 carries. Fellow Saints ballcarriers Adam Prentice, Tony Jones Jr., and Ty Montgomery combined for three rushes for a minus -4 yds.
Chargers 34, Broncos 13
After Broncos Coach Vic Fangio inexplicably settled for a FG attempt to take 3 points out of a 20-3 deficit in the Q4, the Chargers quickly ended the affair. Andre Roberts returned the ensuing kick 101 yds for a TD, and LAC will now face LVegas in Week 18 with a playoff berth on the line. The last time the two teams played, a Week 4 Chargers win, DE Joey Bosa questioned Raiders QB Derek Carr’s ability to face pressure.
The Broncos were officially eliminated from the playoffs and now have six-straight seasons not playing in the playoffs and five-straight losing records. Vic Fangio’s 29 losses across his first three seasons is the most by any head coach in franchise history. On top of those dubious achievements, this also the first Denver roster in 40 years without a single player on the Pro Bowl roster.
Eagles 20, Washington Football Team 16
After a 2-5 start, coach Sirianni pivoted Philadelphia to rely more on the run. Now 9-7, Philadelphia is on the verge of making the playoffs. CB Rodney McLeod supplied the game-sealing interception of Taylor Heinicke in the end zone.
Eagles Jalen Hurts didn’t post the most glamorous numbers: 17/26 (65.4%), 214 yds (8.2 average), 0 TD, 0 INT, 90.0 passer rating, along with 7 rushes, 44 yds. But he looked like a franchise QB Sunday afternoon, comfortable as a passer. Hurts kept the ball out of harm’s way and came up big in some crucial spots.
The Eagles (9-7) have a playoff berth clinched. On Saturday night when they host the Cowboys (11-5), they will emerge afterwards as either the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC.
The most important news to relate about the WFT is that on February 2nd they will finally announce a real name. At last!
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Seahawks 51, Lions 29
Underachieving Seattle supplied the 12s with a few cheers in what may have been the final game there for both QB Russell Wilson and Coach Pete Carroll. Wilson threw for 236 yds and the Seahawks hounded Tim Boyle, the Lions’ backup QB, into three interceptions.
Where will Russell Wilson play next season? If this was Wilson’s Seattle swan song, he went out with style, throwing three of his four TD passes to DK Metcalf. If Wilson remains with the Seahawks, he and DK Metcalf must settle what appeared, prior to this game, to be a rocky point in their relationship. Metcalf is Seattle’s most formidable offensive weapon.
If Wilson does shake loose, one team to watch may be the Raiders. In the offseason, Wilson included LVegas on his four-team list of franchises to which he would accept a trade. The Raiders will have a new coach, who will have nothing invested in Derek Carr. It would be a surprise to see the Raiders look for an upgrade if Carr leads them to the playoffs, but it might benefit the Raiders to start fresh with a new QB after years of middling records.
Should the Seahawks make Wilson available for a raft of draft picks, the acquiring team should proceed with caution. Wilson has not been as dominant this year as he has been most of his career. He hasn’t rushed for more than 32 yds in a game all season, and the lack of a running threat has diminished his value. At 33, he may be reaching the edge of his peak.
49ers 23, Texans 7
Things got off to an ugly start against the 4-11 Texans, trailing 7-3 at the half. However, the Niners bounced back, scoring 23 unanswered points, and finished their ninth victory of the season. Rookie Trey Lance got his second start, having played so little as Garoppolo’s backup that the first quarter vs the Texans was only the 5th quarter he’s played as pro.
Not surprisingly Lance was tentative in the first half, but showed off his strong arm in the second half. He made a few bad decisions, but overall looked promising for 2022 and beyond, which will hopefully justify the Niners mortgaging their future by giving up three first round draft picks for the chance to select him over Mac Jones. He threw for 249 yds and two TDs to earn a win SF absolutely needed. His 45-yard scoring strike to Deebo Samuel midway through Q4 was a beaut and put the game out of reach.
The Niners OL had some difficulty adjusting to the different style of Lance vs Garoppolo. Jimmy G is one of the fastest-release QBs around, specializing in short- to mid-range passes inside the box. His average release time is a stunning 2.2 seconds. In contrast, Trey L. uses his legs to avoid the pass rush and likes to throw the long ball all over the field; his hold time is a long 3.7 seconds.
The LBs and DBs pressured the Texans’ OL until they broke. In the second half they made four sacks, with constant pressure by Nick Bosa. LBs Fred Warner and Marcell Harris recorded 25 tackles between them, with an interception by Harris. The suspect CBs did okay, and the special teams unit tightened up their play a bit, only looking sloppy half the game instead of all the way through.
The Niners finale is vs their arch-rival LA Rams. LAR will be shooting for a win that will give them the divisional championship over the Cardinals and cement the #2 seed. SF wants a win to avoid having to depend on the Falcons to get that final wild-card spot. If the 49ers lose, the Saints would snatch a wild card by beating Atlanta.
Saints 18, Panthers 10
With disastrous injuries to their starting QB and OL, plus a rash of positive coronavirus tests among players, it is no small miracle that New Orleans could still make the playoffs with a win next week against Atlanta and a 49ers loss. Credit the Saints defense, which gave Sam Darnold and Carolina an abysmal day. The Saints racked up seven sacks with Cameron Jordan (eight tackles, 3.5 sacks) leading the way. Jordan was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd time in 3 weeks for his inspired play in this game.
As lackluster as the Saints offense has been the last few weeks, the defense has been impressive. The defense has given up only 2 TDs in the last four weeks and may have saved their best performance for this game’s second half. Carolina had 5 drives in the second half that only netted 41 total yds.
Carolina also showed a tough run defense. RB Alvin Kamara busted loose for one 30-yard run but managed only two yds on his other 12 carries. Fellow Saints ballcarriers Adam Prentice, Tony Jones Jr., and Ty Montgomery combined for three rushes for a minus -4 yds.
Chargers 34, Broncos 13
After Broncos Coach Vic Fangio inexplicably settled for a FG attempt to take 3 points out of a 20-3 deficit in the Q4, the Chargers quickly ended the affair. Andre Roberts returned the ensuing kick 101 yds for a TD, and LAC will now face LVegas in Week 18 with a playoff berth on the line. The last time the two teams played, a Week 4 Chargers win, DE Joey Bosa questioned Raiders QB Derek Carr’s ability to face pressure.
The Broncos were officially eliminated from the playoffs and now have six-straight seasons not playing in the playoffs and five-straight losing records. Vic Fangio’s 29 losses across his first three seasons is the most by any head coach in franchise history. On top of those dubious achievements, this also the first Denver roster in 40 years without a single player on the Pro Bowl roster.
Eagles 20, Washington Football Team 16
After a 2-5 start, coach Sirianni pivoted Philadelphia to rely more on the run. Now 9-7, Philadelphia is on the verge of making the playoffs. CB Rodney McLeod supplied the game-sealing interception of Taylor Heinicke in the end zone.
Eagles Jalen Hurts didn’t post the most glamorous numbers: 17/26 (65.4%), 214 yds (8.2 average), 0 TD, 0 INT, 90.0 passer rating, along with 7 rushes, 44 yds. But he looked like a franchise QB Sunday afternoon, comfortable as a passer. Hurts kept the ball out of harm’s way and came up big in some crucial spots.
The Eagles (9-7) have a playoff berth clinched. On Saturday night when they host the Cowboys (11-5), they will emerge afterwards as either the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC.
The most important news to relate about the WFT is that on February 2nd they will finally announce a real name. At last!
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 3 of 5
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Rams 20, Ravens 19
LAR (12-4) is sitting in the #2 spot in NFC conference standings. The team is preparing for the playoffs for the fourth time in five years under HC Sean McVay. The mid-season acquisitions of Sony Michel, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Von Miller are paying dividends. Not many NFC teams can boast the same amount of star power.
This win showed why the Rams traded for Odell Beckham Jr. On fourth-and-5 from the Ravens’ 12-yard line, with 1:08 left, Beckham hauled in a tough 5-yard reception. Matthew Stafford, who was intercepted twice on Sunday, went back to him for a 7-yard TD pass on the next play.
When the Rams traded for Stafford, many believed he would prove one of the NFL’s elite QBs and that all the losing he did with the Detroit Lions reflected not him but the franchise around him. But overall Stafford looks like the same QB, just with better infrastructure around him.
The Rams will be in the postseason, which means Stafford will have an opportunity to win a playoff game for the first time in his 13-year career. But this squeaker over the depleted Baltimore Ravens did little to suppress lingering concerns about Stafford’s ability to win in the postseason.
In addition to the two interceptions, he also lost a fumble deep in Ravens territory on the opening drive of the second half. Stafford has always made throws other QBs can only dream of. But with the Rams he has also shown the same mistakes and failure to make simple plays as before. Stafford is among the league leaders with 15 interceptions. He’ll have to avoid mistakes for the Rams to advance in the NFC, but so far that’s not the kind of QB he has shown to be.
Baltimore had a few bright spots in a tough year. Second-year Tyler Huntley continued to stake his claim as one of the best backup QBs in the league. Despite being under consistent duress for most of the afternoon, Huntley managed to make plays with his arm and legs, finishing 20-of-32 for 197 yds passing and adding another 54 yds rushing on six carries. He got the ball out quick and was decisive in his decision-making for the majority of the game. He did make some mistakes: one turnover and some instances where he should’ve tucked the ball and ran.
Eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller gave high praise to Ravens opponent Patrick Mekari this past Sunday, calling him “one of the best right tackles in the NFL”. Mekari has played three positions on the OL in addition to two positions in the Ravens’ D over the past three years. This UDFA has played 702 total snaps this season and has earned an overall PFF grade of 67, a pass-blocking grade of 73.2 and a run-blocking grade of 58.3. He’s allowed just four sacks, one QB hit, and 23 total pressures.
Both veteran punter Sam Koch and five-time Pro Bowler kicker Justin Tucker were perfect throughout the game.
Bills 29, Falcons 15
Josh Allen’s three interceptions gave the Bills a scare but the re-emergence of RB Devin Singletary helped Buffalo to the win. Last season, the Bills showed zero desire to run the ball in January, even calling 20 consecutive pass plays to open up the divisional playoff game against Baltimore. With so many opposing defenses focused on stopping Allen, Singletary could provide much-needed balance. He shredded the Falcons for 110 yds and two TDs on 23 carries,.
Despite the loss, Falcons didn’t have a terrible game. But their one great weakness remains the dreadful performance of the OL. It didn’t help when Matt Ryan had his TD overturned by a completely botched call by the referees.
Atlanta’s defense intercepted Josh Allen 3 times, limiting him to 120 passing yds. CB A.J. Terrell limited Stefon Diggs to just 52 yds receiving. LB Foye Oluokun had another excellent performance, and is currently the NFL’s leading tackler with 179 stops.
The Falcons also have 21 yr-old TE Kyle Pitts, whose 2 receptions went for 69 total yds and also had a 61-yarder that was all due to his insane athleticism. His hamstring injury took him out of the game after the first half, but he reminded us why he was so deserving of a top-5 pick. He has now broken the Falcons record for rookie receiving yds (toppling Julio Jones) and is now only the 2nd TE to break 1,000 yds in his rookie year (behind the great Bears HoF'er Mike Ditka).
Patriots 50, Jaguars 10
The rookie QB Mac Jones got back on track by going 22 of 30 for 227 yds with three TDs and no interceptions. Of course, in NE it all starts with the run. Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, who combined for 142 yds, helped create opportunities for Jones to throw successfully.
The Patriots have clinched a playoff spot, and end at Miami. The Dolphins have a weak offense, a good pass defense, and a poor rushing defense. They look to be the perfect stepping stone for NE to enter the playoffs – at least on paper.
Meanwhile, the most exciting thing to happen in Jacksonville is that “Fed Up Jaguars Fans Plan A Clown Invasion of the Team’s Home Finale”. Yes, you read that SB Nation headline correctly. The long-suffering Jag fans lost it when owner Shad Khan announced his support of GM Trent Baalke. Baalke wasn’t a popular hire to begin with – Niner fans who remember the disastrous exit of successful coach Jim Harbaugh who was replaced with hapless Jim Tomsula and inadequate Chip Kelly, can entirely sympathize. Now Baalke has become a symbol of the Urban Meyer/overall mismanagement of the team.
First, the team’s horrible on-field play inspired Jag fans all over Twitter to change their avatars to a clown emoji, complete with Khan’s signature mustache. Now fans are going a step further, planning to get Khan’s attention and voice their displeasure Sunday by wearing clown costumes and holding a “clown party.” It’s unclear whether that will be enough to inspire change, but at least it’s some catharsis for fans who have put up with so much this season.
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Rams 20, Ravens 19
LAR (12-4) is sitting in the #2 spot in NFC conference standings. The team is preparing for the playoffs for the fourth time in five years under HC Sean McVay. The mid-season acquisitions of Sony Michel, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Von Miller are paying dividends. Not many NFC teams can boast the same amount of star power.
This win showed why the Rams traded for Odell Beckham Jr. On fourth-and-5 from the Ravens’ 12-yard line, with 1:08 left, Beckham hauled in a tough 5-yard reception. Matthew Stafford, who was intercepted twice on Sunday, went back to him for a 7-yard TD pass on the next play.
When the Rams traded for Stafford, many believed he would prove one of the NFL’s elite QBs and that all the losing he did with the Detroit Lions reflected not him but the franchise around him. But overall Stafford looks like the same QB, just with better infrastructure around him.
The Rams will be in the postseason, which means Stafford will have an opportunity to win a playoff game for the first time in his 13-year career. But this squeaker over the depleted Baltimore Ravens did little to suppress lingering concerns about Stafford’s ability to win in the postseason.
In addition to the two interceptions, he also lost a fumble deep in Ravens territory on the opening drive of the second half. Stafford has always made throws other QBs can only dream of. But with the Rams he has also shown the same mistakes and failure to make simple plays as before. Stafford is among the league leaders with 15 interceptions. He’ll have to avoid mistakes for the Rams to advance in the NFC, but so far that’s not the kind of QB he has shown to be.
Baltimore had a few bright spots in a tough year. Second-year Tyler Huntley continued to stake his claim as one of the best backup QBs in the league. Despite being under consistent duress for most of the afternoon, Huntley managed to make plays with his arm and legs, finishing 20-of-32 for 197 yds passing and adding another 54 yds rushing on six carries. He got the ball out quick and was decisive in his decision-making for the majority of the game. He did make some mistakes: one turnover and some instances where he should’ve tucked the ball and ran.
Eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller gave high praise to Ravens opponent Patrick Mekari this past Sunday, calling him “one of the best right tackles in the NFL”. Mekari has played three positions on the OL in addition to two positions in the Ravens’ D over the past three years. This UDFA has played 702 total snaps this season and has earned an overall PFF grade of 67, a pass-blocking grade of 73.2 and a run-blocking grade of 58.3. He’s allowed just four sacks, one QB hit, and 23 total pressures.
Both veteran punter Sam Koch and five-time Pro Bowler kicker Justin Tucker were perfect throughout the game.
Bills 29, Falcons 15
Josh Allen’s three interceptions gave the Bills a scare but the re-emergence of RB Devin Singletary helped Buffalo to the win. Last season, the Bills showed zero desire to run the ball in January, even calling 20 consecutive pass plays to open up the divisional playoff game against Baltimore. With so many opposing defenses focused on stopping Allen, Singletary could provide much-needed balance. He shredded the Falcons for 110 yds and two TDs on 23 carries,.
Despite the loss, Falcons didn’t have a terrible game. But their one great weakness remains the dreadful performance of the OL. It didn’t help when Matt Ryan had his TD overturned by a completely botched call by the referees.
Atlanta’s defense intercepted Josh Allen 3 times, limiting him to 120 passing yds. CB A.J. Terrell limited Stefon Diggs to just 52 yds receiving. LB Foye Oluokun had another excellent performance, and is currently the NFL’s leading tackler with 179 stops.
The Falcons also have 21 yr-old TE Kyle Pitts, whose 2 receptions went for 69 total yds and also had a 61-yarder that was all due to his insane athleticism. His hamstring injury took him out of the game after the first half, but he reminded us why he was so deserving of a top-5 pick. He has now broken the Falcons record for rookie receiving yds (toppling Julio Jones) and is now only the 2nd TE to break 1,000 yds in his rookie year (behind the great Bears HoF'er Mike Ditka).
Patriots 50, Jaguars 10
The rookie QB Mac Jones got back on track by going 22 of 30 for 227 yds with three TDs and no interceptions. Of course, in NE it all starts with the run. Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson, who combined for 142 yds, helped create opportunities for Jones to throw successfully.
The Patriots have clinched a playoff spot, and end at Miami. The Dolphins have a weak offense, a good pass defense, and a poor rushing defense. They look to be the perfect stepping stone for NE to enter the playoffs – at least on paper.
Meanwhile, the most exciting thing to happen in Jacksonville is that “Fed Up Jaguars Fans Plan A Clown Invasion of the Team’s Home Finale”. Yes, you read that SB Nation headline correctly. The long-suffering Jag fans lost it when owner Shad Khan announced his support of GM Trent Baalke. Baalke wasn’t a popular hire to begin with – Niner fans who remember the disastrous exit of successful coach Jim Harbaugh who was replaced with hapless Jim Tomsula and inadequate Chip Kelly, can entirely sympathize. Now Baalke has become a symbol of the Urban Meyer/overall mismanagement of the team.
First, the team’s horrible on-field play inspired Jag fans all over Twitter to change their avatars to a clown emoji, complete with Khan’s signature mustache. Now fans are going a step further, planning to get Khan’s attention and voice their displeasure Sunday by wearing clown costumes and holding a “clown party.” It’s unclear whether that will be enough to inspire change, but at least it’s some catharsis for fans who have put up with so much this season.
Lawrence00
Senior Member
Vegas says it is time for Green Bay again.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 4 of 5
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Raiders 23, Colts 20
The Raiders have been turned upside down since mid-year, losing coach Jon Gruden to an email scandal and WR Henry Ruggs III after a fatal crash in which he was charged with four felonies. It’s remarkable that they’re on a three-game winning streak and in control of their playoff fate in Week 18. It's just as remarkable they won this game, with Derek Carr suffering two interceptions and a fumble.
The Raiders outlasted the Colts behind their front seven, which has turned into one of the best in football, led by All-Pro Maxx Crosby. WR Zay Jones had his best game of the season with 8 catches for 120 yds and some clutch plays. Stud WR Hunter Renfrow had seven catches for 76 yds including a TD and the 24-yard reception on third-and-10 with 54 seconds left to set up a game-winning FG. He went over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time. With star TE Darren Waller possibly playing next week, the Raiders’ passing game looks to be in good shape at the right time.
The Colts didn’t commit any turnovers. The Raiders also lost the turnover battle against Cleveland and Denver, yet still won. It is something that hasn’t happened in the NFL in almost 60 years. The Raiders, who have led the NFL in turnovers since Week 9, are living dangerously - and while it’s not killing them, it’s no way to live. They must secure the ball better next week.
With a win vs the Chargers, the Raiders (9-7) can make the playoffs for just the second time in 19 seasons. LVegas also can get in with one loss by Pittsburgh and a Colts loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
That said, it isn’t likely the Colts will lose to the Jags....but considering how wild the 2021 season has been, who knows what might happen on Sunday?
Titans 34, Dolphins 3
So much for the Dolphins’ valiant playoff run. Their seven-game win streak came to a screeching halt as Mike Vrabel’s team relentlessly leaned on the run for 198 yds on 40 attempts, even without Derrick Henry. The Titans are one win away from locking up the #1 seed in the AFC for the playoffs.
Tennessee plays the Houston Texans in Week 18, and it looks like Derrick Henry is finally healed up. He may get into the game to shake off some rust, but the Titans will want to save him for the playoffs.
Bears 29, Giants 3
The Chicago Bears pummeled the Giants behind Andy Dalton. QB Mike Glennon lost a fumble on the first snap, and the Giants gained just 151 yds. They fell to 4-12 and have not come within 11 points of an opponent during their five-game losing streak. After yet another uninspiring effort, in which Mike Glennon completed four passes with two interceptions and was sacked four times, it’s clear this team’s problems run deeper than any one player, coach or general manager.
Last week ESPN reported that NY Giants owner John Mara plans to retain Joe Judge as the team’s coach despite another dismal season. On Sunday, the Giants produced the kind of performance that could make an owner rethink that commitment. Judge’s most desperate moment came afterward. During his news conference, he went on an 11-minute rant in defense of his performance, insisting the Giants’ culture has improved behind the scenes. “I know we’re a whole lot closer to where we’re going than we are further away,” Judge said. He claimed, in defiance of reason, that he hears multiple times per week from former Giants who wish they still played for him.
It must be noted that in the NFL, the culture of a team is irrelevant when it is 10-22 over two years, as the Giants are under Judge.
The Giants are particularly interesting to compare with Chicago because the franchises are so similar: big markets that garner a lot of attention with a proud and deep history, along with single-family ownership. But other than the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning era, the Giants are about the same as the Bears, with slightly more consistency.
These last six years, however, have been brutal to the Giants. Bears fans now have the hope that goes along with a young QB (Justin Fields) and the belief that a new head coach will spark the franchise, but the Giants are seemingly retaining their delusional head coach and running it with a back-up QB that has yet to figure anything out.
Who the Bears will pick as their new HC has led to rampant speculation. The current gossip puts Jim Harbaugh (late of the 49ers, more recently Coach of the Year for the University of Michigan Wolverines, in the running; and also (surprisingly) Pete Carroll of the Seahawks.
Packers 37, Vikings 10
The GBay Packers - 13-3 for the third straight season - throttled the Minnesota Vikings to clinch the top seed, claiming the NFC first-round bye. The bye will provide Rodgers with some badly needed time to heal.
The Vikings’ loss secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles, who have gone 7-2 since starting 2-5 in Coach Nick Sirianni’s first season. The team has had 29 players placed on the COVID-19 reserve list over the past nine weeks. QB Kirk Cousins and LB Nick Vigil, who had to sit out the loss at GBay on COVID-19 reserve, also could return this week.
It is likely Minnesota’s owners will make a coaching change in the off-season. Despite Mike Zimmer’s respected DC background, the Vikings have become worse, not better, during Zimmer’s eight years as HC. They gave up 27 or more points in ten games this season, creating a high bar for the offense to clear to win games.
Monday Night Football
Steelers 26, Browns 14
Pittsburgh powered past Cleveland in Ben Roethlisberger's likely final home game. Pittsburgh fans held up numerous signs thanking Big Ben for his contributions to Steelers history. For the past 18 years, Roethlisberger has taken Pittsburgh to five AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowls, won two Lombardi Trophies, and built a career full of memorable moments.
T.J. Watt led the Steelers' dominant defensive effort with four sacks, while Najee Harris' 188 rushing yds and a TD spearheaded Pittsburgh's offensive attack. Watt is now a sack from tying Michael Strahan's NFL record, while Harris broke Franco Harris' 49-year-old franchise rookie rushing record.
The Browns were listless, especially on offensive. The OL was utterly embarrassed by the Steelers, allowing a total of nine sacks on a battered Baker Mayfield. The Browns’ embattled QB completed just 16 of 38 passes for 185 yds, one week after throwing four interceptions during a two-point loss at GBay.
Analysts, including the Manning brothers, were puzzled by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s apparent determination to rely heavily on his QB, rather than making more use of Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb. “Any time Chubb is not next to Baker, nothing good is happening,” Peyton Manning remarked on “ManningCast”.
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
Raiders 23, Colts 20
The Raiders have been turned upside down since mid-year, losing coach Jon Gruden to an email scandal and WR Henry Ruggs III after a fatal crash in which he was charged with four felonies. It’s remarkable that they’re on a three-game winning streak and in control of their playoff fate in Week 18. It's just as remarkable they won this game, with Derek Carr suffering two interceptions and a fumble.
The Raiders outlasted the Colts behind their front seven, which has turned into one of the best in football, led by All-Pro Maxx Crosby. WR Zay Jones had his best game of the season with 8 catches for 120 yds and some clutch plays. Stud WR Hunter Renfrow had seven catches for 76 yds including a TD and the 24-yard reception on third-and-10 with 54 seconds left to set up a game-winning FG. He went over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time. With star TE Darren Waller possibly playing next week, the Raiders’ passing game looks to be in good shape at the right time.
The Colts didn’t commit any turnovers. The Raiders also lost the turnover battle against Cleveland and Denver, yet still won. It is something that hasn’t happened in the NFL in almost 60 years. The Raiders, who have led the NFL in turnovers since Week 9, are living dangerously - and while it’s not killing them, it’s no way to live. They must secure the ball better next week.
With a win vs the Chargers, the Raiders (9-7) can make the playoffs for just the second time in 19 seasons. LVegas also can get in with one loss by Pittsburgh and a Colts loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
That said, it isn’t likely the Colts will lose to the Jags....but considering how wild the 2021 season has been, who knows what might happen on Sunday?
Titans 34, Dolphins 3
So much for the Dolphins’ valiant playoff run. Their seven-game win streak came to a screeching halt as Mike Vrabel’s team relentlessly leaned on the run for 198 yds on 40 attempts, even without Derrick Henry. The Titans are one win away from locking up the #1 seed in the AFC for the playoffs.
Tennessee plays the Houston Texans in Week 18, and it looks like Derrick Henry is finally healed up. He may get into the game to shake off some rust, but the Titans will want to save him for the playoffs.
Bears 29, Giants 3
The Chicago Bears pummeled the Giants behind Andy Dalton. QB Mike Glennon lost a fumble on the first snap, and the Giants gained just 151 yds. They fell to 4-12 and have not come within 11 points of an opponent during their five-game losing streak. After yet another uninspiring effort, in which Mike Glennon completed four passes with two interceptions and was sacked four times, it’s clear this team’s problems run deeper than any one player, coach or general manager.
Last week ESPN reported that NY Giants owner John Mara plans to retain Joe Judge as the team’s coach despite another dismal season. On Sunday, the Giants produced the kind of performance that could make an owner rethink that commitment. Judge’s most desperate moment came afterward. During his news conference, he went on an 11-minute rant in defense of his performance, insisting the Giants’ culture has improved behind the scenes. “I know we’re a whole lot closer to where we’re going than we are further away,” Judge said. He claimed, in defiance of reason, that he hears multiple times per week from former Giants who wish they still played for him.
It must be noted that in the NFL, the culture of a team is irrelevant when it is 10-22 over two years, as the Giants are under Judge.
The Giants are particularly interesting to compare with Chicago because the franchises are so similar: big markets that garner a lot of attention with a proud and deep history, along with single-family ownership. But other than the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning era, the Giants are about the same as the Bears, with slightly more consistency.
These last six years, however, have been brutal to the Giants. Bears fans now have the hope that goes along with a young QB (Justin Fields) and the belief that a new head coach will spark the franchise, but the Giants are seemingly retaining their delusional head coach and running it with a back-up QB that has yet to figure anything out.
Who the Bears will pick as their new HC has led to rampant speculation. The current gossip puts Jim Harbaugh (late of the 49ers, more recently Coach of the Year for the University of Michigan Wolverines, in the running; and also (surprisingly) Pete Carroll of the Seahawks.
Packers 37, Vikings 10
The GBay Packers - 13-3 for the third straight season - throttled the Minnesota Vikings to clinch the top seed, claiming the NFC first-round bye. The bye will provide Rodgers with some badly needed time to heal.
The Vikings’ loss secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles, who have gone 7-2 since starting 2-5 in Coach Nick Sirianni’s first season. The team has had 29 players placed on the COVID-19 reserve list over the past nine weeks. QB Kirk Cousins and LB Nick Vigil, who had to sit out the loss at GBay on COVID-19 reserve, also could return this week.
It is likely Minnesota’s owners will make a coaching change in the off-season. Despite Mike Zimmer’s respected DC background, the Vikings have become worse, not better, during Zimmer’s eight years as HC. They gave up 27 or more points in ten games this season, creating a high bar for the offense to clear to win games.
Monday Night Football
Steelers 26, Browns 14
Pittsburgh powered past Cleveland in Ben Roethlisberger's likely final home game. Pittsburgh fans held up numerous signs thanking Big Ben for his contributions to Steelers history. For the past 18 years, Roethlisberger has taken Pittsburgh to five AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowls, won two Lombardi Trophies, and built a career full of memorable moments.
T.J. Watt led the Steelers' dominant defensive effort with four sacks, while Najee Harris' 188 rushing yds and a TD spearheaded Pittsburgh's offensive attack. Watt is now a sack from tying Michael Strahan's NFL record, while Harris broke Franco Harris' 49-year-old franchise rookie rushing record.
The Browns were listless, especially on offensive. The OL was utterly embarrassed by the Steelers, allowing a total of nine sacks on a battered Baker Mayfield. The Browns’ embattled QB completed just 16 of 38 passes for 185 yds, one week after throwing four interceptions during a two-point loss at GBay.
Analysts, including the Manning brothers, were puzzled by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s apparent determination to rely heavily on his QB, rather than making more use of Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb. “Any time Chubb is not next to Baker, nothing good is happening,” Peyton Manning remarked on “ManningCast”.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
What We Learned From Week 17 in the NFL – Pt 5 of 5
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
One can’t expect the Raiders to go very deep into the playoffs, even if they make the cut. They’ve been wildly erratic in a wildly erratic year for the NFL. But one stat really stands out:
The 9-7 Raiders have not been point differential heroes in 2021. Of the 15 teams with winning records, the Raiders are the only team that has a negative point differential and it’s not even close. They are -68 in point differential for the season.
The reason? Well, the simple answer is when the Raiders win, it’s usually in close games ... and when they lose, the games aren’t usually close. The Raiders have won the last three games by a total of nine points. They are 6-2 in one-score games and 3-5 in other games.
– Tweet from Josh Dubow @JoshDubowAP
Point differential of 15 teams w/ winning records per Sunday night:
Bills +177
Patriots +168
Cowboys +147
Bucs +134
KC +112
Colts +101
Cardinals +91
Rams +91
Bengals +89
Eagles +84
Titans +62
Packers +59
49ers +59
Chargers +18
#Raiders -68
NYT, WashPost, SB Nation, CBS Sports, local media Jan 06, 2022
One can’t expect the Raiders to go very deep into the playoffs, even if they make the cut. They’ve been wildly erratic in a wildly erratic year for the NFL. But one stat really stands out:
The 9-7 Raiders have not been point differential heroes in 2021. Of the 15 teams with winning records, the Raiders are the only team that has a negative point differential and it’s not even close. They are -68 in point differential for the season.
The reason? Well, the simple answer is when the Raiders win, it’s usually in close games ... and when they lose, the games aren’t usually close. The Raiders have won the last three games by a total of nine points. They are 6-2 in one-score games and 3-5 in other games.
– Tweet from Josh Dubow @JoshDubowAP
Point differential of 15 teams w/ winning records per Sunday night:
Bills +177
Patriots +168
Cowboys +147
Bucs +134
KC +112
Colts +101
Cardinals +91
Rams +91
Bengals +89
Eagles +84
Titans +62
Packers +59
49ers +59
Chargers +18
#Raiders -68
I hope the Bengals live up to their forecast, but the chiefs are not gong to relinquish their predominance as the best team in the AFC without a dog fight.
The Chargers, will i like Herbert; perhaps too much, at the expense of ignoring other facets of the team like the defense.
You can score 30 points, but with a limited defense, the other teams can score 35 points-fix the defense.
The Colts will dual with the Titans, which could their downfall
Dolphins, I lack any enthusiasm for Dolphins escaping the doldrums.
Having lived in Detroit for eight years, i remained convinced that the front office and drafting of this team is criminal.
The NFC EAst will rise again, Eagles and Giants, the Orphan s will languish
SF will tinker with offense and defense until they get it right, but with no QB they will be observers to playoffs.
Addendum Jan 7-21 explain how KC and Broncos followed by the Cowboys vs Eagles got to be the only two games on Saturday, assuring a large national audience-how did they swing that?
The Chargers, will i like Herbert; perhaps too much, at the expense of ignoring other facets of the team like the defense.
You can score 30 points, but with a limited defense, the other teams can score 35 points-fix the defense.
The Colts will dual with the Titans, which could their downfall
Dolphins, I lack any enthusiasm for Dolphins escaping the doldrums.
Having lived in Detroit for eight years, i remained convinced that the front office and drafting of this team is criminal.
The NFC EAst will rise again, Eagles and Giants, the Orphan s will languish
SF will tinker with offense and defense until they get it right, but with no QB they will be observers to playoffs.
Addendum Jan 7-21 explain how KC and Broncos followed by the Cowboys vs Eagles got to be the only two games on Saturday, assuring a large national audience-how did they swing that?
Last edited:
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
NFL Week 18 Predictions: Pt 1 of 2
NYT, London Guardian U.S., SB Nation Jan 7, 2021
All times are Eastern.
Five teams - the Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers and Raiders - are mathematically alive for two remaining AFC playoff spots, while the 49ers and the Saints are competing for the NFC’s final berth. But with only divisional games on the schedule, other teams can play spoiler to their rivals, adding some drama to the start-or-rest-them debate on top-seeded teams.
The Eagles could spoil the Cowboys’ dreams of earning a #2 seed by winning Saturday night The 49ers’ road to the playoffs goes right through the Rams. There will be a desperate attempt to slip into the postseason for the Steelers and the Ravens, before the Raiders’ and Chargers’ winner-take-all matchup.
Saturday’s Games
KC at Denver Broncos, 4:30p, CBS
Pick: KC
KC (11-5) lost the AFC’s top seed by losing to the Bengals in Week 17, and now has only a 22% chance of reclaiming it. Its shot depends on beating the Broncos (7-9) and the Texans upsetting the Titans (an unlikely prospect: see below). KC can do its part, having already blown out Denver earlier in the season, especially with the Broncos’ QB position uncertain.
Drew Lock injured his shoulder in last week’s loss to the Chargers, but is scheduled to start.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15p, Fox
Pick: Cowboys
This should be a game where both teams can sit most, if not all, of their starters. Both are in the playoffs, and most likely stuck in their current seeds (fourth for Dallas, seventh for Philadelphia.) It is a meaningless game – almost. Dallas has more to gain from a win, as there’s a remote chance the Rams and the Bucs games could move them up one or two notches.
The Eagles (9-7) could make this game close, depending on who comes off the COVID list and how many starters they want to rest for the playoffs. It’s a good guess Jalen Hurts won’t play, so Gardner Minshew will step in at QB, a plus for Dallas. Philly clinched an NFC wild-card spot by winning six of its last eight games, with its run-first offense that now has the team leading the league in rushing yds per game (160.8).
The Cowboys offense (11-5) has been inconsistent, a big problem since Michael Gallup, the team’s third receiving option, tore his ACL. RB Tony Pollard (foot) is out for this game. Dallas is the better team, but the playoffs are the big consideration here. The Cowboys will likely have to face Arizona again, and AZ looks to be much healthier than when they beat Dallas last Sunday. That playoff game will absolutely be all hands on deck, and so is a huge reason to keep as many of those players in bubble wrap this Saturday as possible.
This is also the age of COVID, which has reared its ugly head for the Cowboys. Defensive rookie sensation Micah Parsons has entered the protocol, followed by Tyron Smith and Anthony Brown. Under the new rules, Parsons will miss the game in Philadelphia but should be clear for the playoffs. Safeties Jayron Kearse (hamstring) and Donovan Wilson (illness) are out, leaving the Cowboys undermanned if they want to win this game.
Sunday’s Games
LA Chargers at LVegas Raiders, 8:20p, NBC
Pick: Chargers
This game was flexed to Sunday Night Football, being the only true elimination face-off this week. The playoff scenario here is as simple as it gets: whoever wins, gets in.
The Raiders (9-7) snuck into this position via a three-game win streak during which they eked out one-score victories and Derek Carr completed 74% of his passes. Of course, those wins came against the coronavirus-depleted Browns, the painfully average Broncos, and the Colts led by a rusty Carson Wentz.
On the LVR injury report, star tight end Darren Waller, starting tailback Josh Jacobs and run-stuffing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins are all on day-to-day status. They were listed as questionable to play. The Raiders need all of them if they want to go to the playoffs, especially the super-speedy Jacobs. Derek Carr needs one of his good games (meaning: no interceptions) to win this one, as his arm is as good as Herbert’s – especially if his fav target Darren Waller plays.
The Chargers (9-7) should get in, if they can avoid one of their historic late-game collapses. Justin Herbert should feast on LVegas’s defense as he did in their Week 4 meeting, when he threw for 222 yds and three TDs. LVegas has allowed over 240 passing yds five times and tends to crumble in key moments. In addition, the Raiders secondary is battered with injuries this week.
Biggest question for LAC fans: Can Justin Herbert crack 5,000 yards? With an additional game in 2021, Herbert has the chance to set the Chargers’ all-time passing record for a season. That mark is currently held by Dan Fouts who thew for 4,802 yards during the 1986 season when the Chargers finished 10-6. With 4,631 yards, Herbert needs just 172 to put himself atop the record books.
SF 49ers at LA Rams, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Rams
Doubtful LA will rest its starters for this game. Cooper Kupp needs just 12 catches for 136 yds to break the single-season receiving records in both categories, plus the Rams (12-4) need a victory to win the NFC West and have a shot at the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The team also hasn’t beaten the 49ers (9-7) since 2018 - five consecutive games – so this is also a grudge match.
Key player here is LAR’s DT Aaron Donald. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has a good chance of winning the award once again. But great playcalling by the Niners has blunted his impact in those five losses.
SF has had the upper hand for reasons that persist. Its run game and quick throws negate Aaron Donald and the Rams’ potent pass rush, and Coach Kyle Shanahan has shown that he can consistently out-scheme Sean McVay. It’s likely to be Trey Lance starting again in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (finger), so the running game must remain effective to take the pressure off Lance.
SF negative: Rookie Lance is a scrambler, but doesn’t throw accurately on the run yet. Also, he likes to hold onto the ball, and LAR will eat him alive if he does that consistently. Last week he worked well with Brandon Aiyuk but hardly threw at all to the indispensable TE George Kittle. To beat the Rams, he will need to spread the ball out better and faster. Garoppolo throws a pass almost twice as quickly as Lance, and in this game, the rookie would do well to mimic him.
If the 49ers lose to the Rams, they can still sneak in. SF clinches the sixth seed with a loss if New Orleans and Philadelphia lose.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 1p, CBS
Pick: Ravens
The Ravens (8-8), losers of five straight, are somehow still alive in part because of the ineffectiveness of the rest of the AFC North. Baltimore can make the postseason by beating the division-rival Steelers (8-7-1) and getting help in the form of losses from the Colts, Chargers and Dolphins. But Lamar Jackson (ankle) has been officially ruled out, so their chances have dropped dramatically.
Pittsburgh has been playing tough, despite only a marginally better wild card chance. Key player for them: TJ Watt. With one more sack, Watt will tie Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5, and needs 1.5 to break it outright. And although Watt is playing in an extended 17-game season he has only made 14 appearances so far (Strahan achieved his record in 16 games).
Pittsburgh’s defense has played well enough in two of the last three games - forcing six turnovers and 13 sacks against the Titans and Browns - that the Steelers could win this game outright. In the case of the latter, if coupled with a Colts loss (unlikely), Ben Roethlisberger’s final season could be extended into the playoffs.
NYT, London Guardian U.S., SB Nation Jan 7, 2021
All times are Eastern.
Five teams - the Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers and Raiders - are mathematically alive for two remaining AFC playoff spots, while the 49ers and the Saints are competing for the NFC’s final berth. But with only divisional games on the schedule, other teams can play spoiler to their rivals, adding some drama to the start-or-rest-them debate on top-seeded teams.
The Eagles could spoil the Cowboys’ dreams of earning a #2 seed by winning Saturday night The 49ers’ road to the playoffs goes right through the Rams. There will be a desperate attempt to slip into the postseason for the Steelers and the Ravens, before the Raiders’ and Chargers’ winner-take-all matchup.
Saturday’s Games
KC at Denver Broncos, 4:30p, CBS
Pick: KC
KC (11-5) lost the AFC’s top seed by losing to the Bengals in Week 17, and now has only a 22% chance of reclaiming it. Its shot depends on beating the Broncos (7-9) and the Texans upsetting the Titans (an unlikely prospect: see below). KC can do its part, having already blown out Denver earlier in the season, especially with the Broncos’ QB position uncertain.
Drew Lock injured his shoulder in last week’s loss to the Chargers, but is scheduled to start.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15p, Fox
Pick: Cowboys
This should be a game where both teams can sit most, if not all, of their starters. Both are in the playoffs, and most likely stuck in their current seeds (fourth for Dallas, seventh for Philadelphia.) It is a meaningless game – almost. Dallas has more to gain from a win, as there’s a remote chance the Rams and the Bucs games could move them up one or two notches.
The Eagles (9-7) could make this game close, depending on who comes off the COVID list and how many starters they want to rest for the playoffs. It’s a good guess Jalen Hurts won’t play, so Gardner Minshew will step in at QB, a plus for Dallas. Philly clinched an NFC wild-card spot by winning six of its last eight games, with its run-first offense that now has the team leading the league in rushing yds per game (160.8).
The Cowboys offense (11-5) has been inconsistent, a big problem since Michael Gallup, the team’s third receiving option, tore his ACL. RB Tony Pollard (foot) is out for this game. Dallas is the better team, but the playoffs are the big consideration here. The Cowboys will likely have to face Arizona again, and AZ looks to be much healthier than when they beat Dallas last Sunday. That playoff game will absolutely be all hands on deck, and so is a huge reason to keep as many of those players in bubble wrap this Saturday as possible.
This is also the age of COVID, which has reared its ugly head for the Cowboys. Defensive rookie sensation Micah Parsons has entered the protocol, followed by Tyron Smith and Anthony Brown. Under the new rules, Parsons will miss the game in Philadelphia but should be clear for the playoffs. Safeties Jayron Kearse (hamstring) and Donovan Wilson (illness) are out, leaving the Cowboys undermanned if they want to win this game.
Sunday’s Games
LA Chargers at LVegas Raiders, 8:20p, NBC
Pick: Chargers
This game was flexed to Sunday Night Football, being the only true elimination face-off this week. The playoff scenario here is as simple as it gets: whoever wins, gets in.
The Raiders (9-7) snuck into this position via a three-game win streak during which they eked out one-score victories and Derek Carr completed 74% of his passes. Of course, those wins came against the coronavirus-depleted Browns, the painfully average Broncos, and the Colts led by a rusty Carson Wentz.
On the LVR injury report, star tight end Darren Waller, starting tailback Josh Jacobs and run-stuffing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins are all on day-to-day status. They were listed as questionable to play. The Raiders need all of them if they want to go to the playoffs, especially the super-speedy Jacobs. Derek Carr needs one of his good games (meaning: no interceptions) to win this one, as his arm is as good as Herbert’s – especially if his fav target Darren Waller plays.
The Chargers (9-7) should get in, if they can avoid one of their historic late-game collapses. Justin Herbert should feast on LVegas’s defense as he did in their Week 4 meeting, when he threw for 222 yds and three TDs. LVegas has allowed over 240 passing yds five times and tends to crumble in key moments. In addition, the Raiders secondary is battered with injuries this week.
Biggest question for LAC fans: Can Justin Herbert crack 5,000 yards? With an additional game in 2021, Herbert has the chance to set the Chargers’ all-time passing record for a season. That mark is currently held by Dan Fouts who thew for 4,802 yards during the 1986 season when the Chargers finished 10-6. With 4,631 yards, Herbert needs just 172 to put himself atop the record books.
SF 49ers at LA Rams, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Rams
Doubtful LA will rest its starters for this game. Cooper Kupp needs just 12 catches for 136 yds to break the single-season receiving records in both categories, plus the Rams (12-4) need a victory to win the NFC West and have a shot at the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The team also hasn’t beaten the 49ers (9-7) since 2018 - five consecutive games – so this is also a grudge match.
Key player here is LAR’s DT Aaron Donald. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has a good chance of winning the award once again. But great playcalling by the Niners has blunted his impact in those five losses.
SF has had the upper hand for reasons that persist. Its run game and quick throws negate Aaron Donald and the Rams’ potent pass rush, and Coach Kyle Shanahan has shown that he can consistently out-scheme Sean McVay. It’s likely to be Trey Lance starting again in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (finger), so the running game must remain effective to take the pressure off Lance.
SF negative: Rookie Lance is a scrambler, but doesn’t throw accurately on the run yet. Also, he likes to hold onto the ball, and LAR will eat him alive if he does that consistently. Last week he worked well with Brandon Aiyuk but hardly threw at all to the indispensable TE George Kittle. To beat the Rams, he will need to spread the ball out better and faster. Garoppolo throws a pass almost twice as quickly as Lance, and in this game, the rookie would do well to mimic him.
If the 49ers lose to the Rams, they can still sneak in. SF clinches the sixth seed with a loss if New Orleans and Philadelphia lose.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 1p, CBS
Pick: Ravens
The Ravens (8-8), losers of five straight, are somehow still alive in part because of the ineffectiveness of the rest of the AFC North. Baltimore can make the postseason by beating the division-rival Steelers (8-7-1) and getting help in the form of losses from the Colts, Chargers and Dolphins. But Lamar Jackson (ankle) has been officially ruled out, so their chances have dropped dramatically.
Pittsburgh has been playing tough, despite only a marginally better wild card chance. Key player for them: TJ Watt. With one more sack, Watt will tie Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5, and needs 1.5 to break it outright. And although Watt is playing in an extended 17-game season he has only made 14 appearances so far (Strahan achieved his record in 16 games).
Pittsburgh’s defense has played well enough in two of the last three games - forcing six turnovers and 13 sacks against the Titans and Browns - that the Steelers could win this game outright. In the case of the latter, if coupled with a Colts loss (unlikely), Ben Roethlisberger’s final season could be extended into the playoffs.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
NFL Week 18 Predictions: Pt 2 of 2
NYT, London Guardian U.S., SB Nation Jan 7, 2021
All times are Eastern.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Saints
New Orleans must hope that they get something out of their unsettled QB position. Can Taysom Hill really be their guy? The Saints (8-8) can clinch a postseason spot if they beat the Falcons (7-9) and the 49ers lose, both reasonable outcomes. But given New Orleans’s unpredictability and the enmity between the two rivals, Atlanta would love to play spoiler. Falcons A.J. Terrell has emerged as one of the league’s best CBs, and rookie TE Kyle Pitts was named to the Pro Bowl. Pitts was limited in Thursday practice, but has said he badly wants to play vs the Saints.
Key player: Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Here’s an interesting Atlanta-centric subplot: it could be Ryan’s final game as the Falcons’ quarterback. If so, it would be nice to end things with a win at his home stadium. Atlanta beat the Saints in Week 9 and has the players to keep the score close at home.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1p, CBS
Pick: Colts
This is the linchpin game for the rest of the AFC The Jaguars (2-14) are one game away from receiving a merciful ending to a disastrous season. Let’s be real: winning this game would be the Jaguars’ Super Bowl if they managed it. Sure, the organization would rather have the first pick in this year’s draft but no NFL team wants to go to that well two years in a row. It would be a sign of a franchise-wise failure to capitalize on landing Trevor Lawrence with the top overall pick last year.
The Colts (9-7) need to win not only for their playoff berth, but also because a loss would create mathematical chaos for other wild-card hopefuls. Carson Wentz looked wobbly in his fast-track return from the Covid-19 list last week, throwing for only 148 yds and completing less than 50% of his passes in a loss to the Raiders. Jacksonville’s defense, which allowed the Patriots to throw for 290 yds and three scores last week, should allow him to rebound easily. Having Jonathan Taylor, the league’s rushing leader, in the backfield to help run out the clock helps, too.
On the negative side, Indianapolis will be missing CB Xavier Rhodes and veteran Safety Andrew Sendejo. DT DeForest Buckner is questionable.
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 1p, Fox
Pick: Vikings
Both the Bears (6-10) and the Vikings (7-9) have been eliminated and both teams are expected to look for new head coaches. Kirk Cousins, who contracted the coronavirus last week, is expected to play, and his return should lift Minnesota after its dismal showing against GBay last week. Though the Bears have won their last two games, it’s tough to imagine them covering on the road.
Washington Footballers at Giants, 1p, Fox
Pick: Footballers
Washington (6-10) showed life in the middle of the season, winning four straight games, but a loss to the Cowboys in Week 14 and a coronavirus outbreak that caused a game to be rescheduled killed the momentum. The Giants (4-12), though, have played horridly all year, and the profanity-laced rant by Coach Joe Judge after their drumming in Chicago last week epitomized the organization’s frustration. Expect Washington to win easily and then enter the off-season focused on fixing its roster, name, mascot and, hopefully, its stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1p, CBS
Pick: Titans
The team officially designated Derrick Henry for return this week from surgery to repair a foot injury that has kept him out since the end of October. Tennessee’s offense has regrouped now that receiver A.J. Brown is healthy, and D’Onta Foreman, who rushed for 132 yds last week, is also capable of providing starting-caliber production.
The Texans (4-12) shockingly upset the Chargers last week, but it’s unlikely that Houston can pull off a win against the Titans (11-5), who will want to bury this one early with the AFC’s No. 1 seed - and a bye week - on the line.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 1p, CBS
Pick: Bengals
Joe Burrow told reporters Wednesday that he will not play Sunday to rest ahead of the playoffs, and it’s unclear whether many other Bengals (10-6) starters will, too. Baker Mayfield will be out for a shoulder surgery while the Browns (7-9) continue their limp toward the exits.
The spread acknowledges the potential lineup holes, but Cleveland has been clobbered in its last two games and it’s hard to bet on a team that’s already so checked out. In a battle of the backups Cincinnati should win.
GBay Packers at Detroit Lions, 1p, Fox
Pick: Packers
The Packers (13-3), having already secured the NFC’s top seed and a first-round playoff bye, will rest their starters, resulting in the low spread against the otherwise outmatched Lions (2-13-1). Coach Matt LaFleur said GBay will approach the season finale “like any other game,” regardless of the risk for injuries in a meaningless game. Approach that statement with skepticism but bet the Packers with your eyes closed.
Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Bills
The Jets (4-12) narrowly lost to TBay, the defending Super Bowl champions, last week and have shown that they have building blocks to develop the franchise. None of that matters to the Bills (10-6), who must win to clinch the AFC East and secure a home playoff game. They are capable of blowing out the Jets, but Josh Allen must protect the ball better (he threw two interceptions in the first half against Atlanta last week). If he does, Buffalo fans should have their folding tables ready.
NE Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Patriots
Miami was eliminated from playoff contention last week with a blunt end to its seven-game win streak, and could go out with a whimper against the Patriots (10-6). Since 2016, though, the late-season matchups between these two have been trap games: the Dolphins are 4-7 against the Patriots over that period, but all four of those wins came in the second meeting.
Mac Jones has matured into an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate for NE, Damien Harris has improved his ball security over the season and the defense now allows the third-fewest yds per game (311.6). NE is building steam ahead of the playoffs and a win here clinches the division (should the Bills also lose). It should sidestep the trap.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Cardinals
The Cardinals (11-5) can rebound to reclaim the NFC West by defeating the Seahawks (6-10), if the Rams also lose to the 49ers. Seattle should be energized, as this might be Russell Wilson and Coach Pete Carroll’s last game together. But Arizona has more to play for.
Carolina Panthers at TBay Buccaneers, 4:25p Fox
Pick: Buccaneers
With Antonio Brown cut from the roster after his dramatic exit from last week’s game, his absence will drastically affect TBay’s offense, which was already short-handed without receiver Chris Godwin (ACL tear) and RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring).
Still, the Panthers (5-11) have not scored more than 20 points in any of their last three games, no matter if Cam Newton or Sam Darnold was starting. Tom Brady and the rest of the Buccaneers should suffice for the win. Whether or not Brady can depend on second-string receivers in the playoffs remains to be seen, however.
NYT, London Guardian U.S., SB Nation Jan 7, 2021
All times are Eastern.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Saints
New Orleans must hope that they get something out of their unsettled QB position. Can Taysom Hill really be their guy? The Saints (8-8) can clinch a postseason spot if they beat the Falcons (7-9) and the 49ers lose, both reasonable outcomes. But given New Orleans’s unpredictability and the enmity between the two rivals, Atlanta would love to play spoiler. Falcons A.J. Terrell has emerged as one of the league’s best CBs, and rookie TE Kyle Pitts was named to the Pro Bowl. Pitts was limited in Thursday practice, but has said he badly wants to play vs the Saints.
Key player: Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Here’s an interesting Atlanta-centric subplot: it could be Ryan’s final game as the Falcons’ quarterback. If so, it would be nice to end things with a win at his home stadium. Atlanta beat the Saints in Week 9 and has the players to keep the score close at home.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1p, CBS
Pick: Colts
This is the linchpin game for the rest of the AFC The Jaguars (2-14) are one game away from receiving a merciful ending to a disastrous season. Let’s be real: winning this game would be the Jaguars’ Super Bowl if they managed it. Sure, the organization would rather have the first pick in this year’s draft but no NFL team wants to go to that well two years in a row. It would be a sign of a franchise-wise failure to capitalize on landing Trevor Lawrence with the top overall pick last year.
The Colts (9-7) need to win not only for their playoff berth, but also because a loss would create mathematical chaos for other wild-card hopefuls. Carson Wentz looked wobbly in his fast-track return from the Covid-19 list last week, throwing for only 148 yds and completing less than 50% of his passes in a loss to the Raiders. Jacksonville’s defense, which allowed the Patriots to throw for 290 yds and three scores last week, should allow him to rebound easily. Having Jonathan Taylor, the league’s rushing leader, in the backfield to help run out the clock helps, too.
On the negative side, Indianapolis will be missing CB Xavier Rhodes and veteran Safety Andrew Sendejo. DT DeForest Buckner is questionable.
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 1p, Fox
Pick: Vikings
Both the Bears (6-10) and the Vikings (7-9) have been eliminated and both teams are expected to look for new head coaches. Kirk Cousins, who contracted the coronavirus last week, is expected to play, and his return should lift Minnesota after its dismal showing against GBay last week. Though the Bears have won their last two games, it’s tough to imagine them covering on the road.
Washington Footballers at Giants, 1p, Fox
Pick: Footballers
Washington (6-10) showed life in the middle of the season, winning four straight games, but a loss to the Cowboys in Week 14 and a coronavirus outbreak that caused a game to be rescheduled killed the momentum. The Giants (4-12), though, have played horridly all year, and the profanity-laced rant by Coach Joe Judge after their drumming in Chicago last week epitomized the organization’s frustration. Expect Washington to win easily and then enter the off-season focused on fixing its roster, name, mascot and, hopefully, its stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1p, CBS
Pick: Titans
The team officially designated Derrick Henry for return this week from surgery to repair a foot injury that has kept him out since the end of October. Tennessee’s offense has regrouped now that receiver A.J. Brown is healthy, and D’Onta Foreman, who rushed for 132 yds last week, is also capable of providing starting-caliber production.
The Texans (4-12) shockingly upset the Chargers last week, but it’s unlikely that Houston can pull off a win against the Titans (11-5), who will want to bury this one early with the AFC’s No. 1 seed - and a bye week - on the line.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 1p, CBS
Pick: Bengals
Joe Burrow told reporters Wednesday that he will not play Sunday to rest ahead of the playoffs, and it’s unclear whether many other Bengals (10-6) starters will, too. Baker Mayfield will be out for a shoulder surgery while the Browns (7-9) continue their limp toward the exits.
The spread acknowledges the potential lineup holes, but Cleveland has been clobbered in its last two games and it’s hard to bet on a team that’s already so checked out. In a battle of the backups Cincinnati should win.
GBay Packers at Detroit Lions, 1p, Fox
Pick: Packers
The Packers (13-3), having already secured the NFC’s top seed and a first-round playoff bye, will rest their starters, resulting in the low spread against the otherwise outmatched Lions (2-13-1). Coach Matt LaFleur said GBay will approach the season finale “like any other game,” regardless of the risk for injuries in a meaningless game. Approach that statement with skepticism but bet the Packers with your eyes closed.
Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Bills
The Jets (4-12) narrowly lost to TBay, the defending Super Bowl champions, last week and have shown that they have building blocks to develop the franchise. None of that matters to the Bills (10-6), who must win to clinch the AFC East and secure a home playoff game. They are capable of blowing out the Jets, but Josh Allen must protect the ball better (he threw two interceptions in the first half against Atlanta last week). If he does, Buffalo fans should have their folding tables ready.
NE Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Patriots
Miami was eliminated from playoff contention last week with a blunt end to its seven-game win streak, and could go out with a whimper against the Patriots (10-6). Since 2016, though, the late-season matchups between these two have been trap games: the Dolphins are 4-7 against the Patriots over that period, but all four of those wins came in the second meeting.
Mac Jones has matured into an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate for NE, Damien Harris has improved his ball security over the season and the defense now allows the third-fewest yds per game (311.6). NE is building steam ahead of the playoffs and a win here clinches the division (should the Bills also lose). It should sidestep the trap.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25p, Fox
Pick: Cardinals
The Cardinals (11-5) can rebound to reclaim the NFC West by defeating the Seahawks (6-10), if the Rams also lose to the 49ers. Seattle should be energized, as this might be Russell Wilson and Coach Pete Carroll’s last game together. But Arizona has more to play for.
Carolina Panthers at TBay Buccaneers, 4:25p Fox
Pick: Buccaneers
With Antonio Brown cut from the roster after his dramatic exit from last week’s game, his absence will drastically affect TBay’s offense, which was already short-handed without receiver Chris Godwin (ACL tear) and RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring).
Still, the Panthers (5-11) have not scored more than 20 points in any of their last three games, no matter if Cam Newton or Sam Darnold was starting. Tom Brady and the rest of the Buccaneers should suffice for the win. Whether or not Brady can depend on second-string receivers in the playoffs remains to be seen, however.
Irwin
Well-known Member
- Location
- Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Let's see what games are available (to me)...
Saturday
2:30 - Broncos vs. KC
6:15 - Dallas vs Philly
Sunday
11:00 - Pittsburgh vs Baltimore
11:00 - Green Bay vs Detroit
2:25 - New England vs Miami
2:25 - San Francisco vs LA Rams
6:20 - LA Chargers vs. Raiders
A couple of those games might be interesting.
Saturday
2:30 - Broncos vs. KC
6:15 - Dallas vs Philly
Sunday
11:00 - Pittsburgh vs Baltimore
11:00 - Green Bay vs Detroit
2:25 - New England vs Miami
2:25 - San Francisco vs LA Rams
6:20 - LA Chargers vs. Raiders
A couple of those games might be interesting.
Want to see Rams and 49's-if Rams start their regular defensive line, 49's with no QB are gone from any chance of playoffs.
Will take a look-see at Steelers and Ravens to watch how defensive football should be played
Dallas with 34 yards rushing against Cardinals-RB Pallord is out for this game, Zeke Elliott is a shadow of his former playing ability.
They have a good OF line, but...
Dallas lacks a dependable field goal kicker.
Dallas will probably win first playoff game, then it is highly questionable.
I see a lack of coaching of offense.
Will take a look-see at Steelers and Ravens to watch how defensive football should be played
Dallas with 34 yards rushing against Cardinals-RB Pallord is out for this game, Zeke Elliott is a shadow of his former playing ability.
They have a good OF line, but...
Dallas lacks a dependable field goal kicker.
Dallas will probably win first playoff game, then it is highly questionable.
I see a lack of coaching of offense.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
The final week of the NFL’s 17-game season could see several players enter the record books
Washington Post 07Jan2022
The NFL’s unprecedented 17-game regular season is giving players an extended opportunity to rewrite the record books — and Cooper Kupp has a bit of an issue with that. “What those guys did in 16 games, it wouldn’t seem right for those [records] to be broken in 17 games,” the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver said this week. “It wouldn’t hold the same weight to me as it does for guys that have done that in a 16-game season.”
Reporters asked Kupp for his thoughts on the matter because he has a chance Sunday to put up bigger numbers than a pair of “those guys” — in his case, Calvin Johnson and Michael Thomas. While with the Detroit Lions in 2012, Johnson set the NFL’s single-season receiving mark with 1,964 yards, and the New Orleans Saints’ Thomas raised the single-season receptions bar with 149 in 2019.
Kupp enters the Rams’ Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers with 138 catches for 1,829 yards in 16 games. He can use the extra game to top Thomas with 12 catches, and to move past Johnson if he goes over 135 receiving yards. Given that Kupp has six games this season with at least nine catches for 122 yards, and that Los Angeles is playing for a division title, he figures to have a great shot at both marks.
Kupp isn’t the only NFL player who can supplant a 16-game record with a new league standard. Among those set to play Sunday with some history at stake are Tom Brady, T.J. Watt and Ja’Marr Chase.
Of that group, Chase arguably has the best opportunity, because the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is within 44 yards of the record for rookie receiving yards, set at 1,473 by the Houston Oilers’ Bill Groman in 1960. Drafted fifth overall last year, Chase has had some ups and downs this season, but he has caught fire in the past two weeks with games of 125 and a franchise-record 266 yards. Just one catch (so to speak): With the Bengals having already clinched their division, Coach Zac Taylor said this week that Chase will “potentially” be rested Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Another player with a great shot at a rookie record, but who also might not be able to make the most of his Week 18 chance, is Kyle Pitts. The Atlanta Falcons tight end, drafted fourth in April, needs just 59 receiving yards to one-up the mark of 1,076 set at his position by the Chicago Bears’ Mike Ditka in 1961. However, Pitts missed some practice time this week with a hamstring injury.
Assuming Jaylen Waddle is healthy, he should be a shoo-in to break the rookie record for receptions, set at 101 by the Arizona Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin in 2003. Waddle, drafted sixth by the Miami Dolphins, enters Sunday with 99 receptions over 15 games played, having sat out a Week 15 contest while in the coronavirus protocols. Thus it should please Kupp to know that if Waddle bests Boldin, he will have done so in the time-honored span of games.
Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star pass rusher, has missed two games this season with assorted injuries, so he would need even fewer than 16 to possibly break the NFL’s single-season sack record Sunday. After racking up four sacks last week in a win over the Browns, Watt is suddenly just one behind the total of 22.5 notched in 2001 by the New York Giants’ Michael Strahan. Watt could easily stay hot against the Baltimore Ravens, who face Pittsburgh and have allowed a league-high 54 sacks this season.
For its part, Baltimore could well make a point of feeding passes to tight end Mark Andrews, in part because that’s been its M.O. all season. In fact, Andrews’s 1,276 receiving yards are already a Ravens record for any position, and his 99 catches are just four away from the franchise mark. More importantly for this exercise, Andrews is 141 yards away from breaking the NFL record for tight ends set by the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce in 2020. Andrews has had games with 147 and 136 yards this season, so it’s hardly out of the question, especially if it turns out to be a priority for Ravens Coach John Harbaugh, who has shown in the past that he is willing to be aggressive about making history.
Those who want to see Brady set multiple records Sunday will probably need the Carolina Panthers to put up a surprisingly strong fight, much as the New York Jets did last week in forcing Brady to throw 50 times to secure a comeback win. That put Brady at 682 pass attempts this season, within 45 of the league mark set by the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford in 2012. With his 410 passing yards against the Jets, Brady got to 4,990, giving him an outside shot of topping old pal Peyton Manning’s record of 5,477, set with the Denver Broncos in 2013.
It has to be considered unlikely that Brady gets there in either category — particularly without the pass-catching services of Antonio Brown — but it shouldn’t be too much trouble for him to reach the record for most completions. That’s held at 471, set by the Saints’ Drew Brees in 2016, and Brady goes into Sunday with 456.
Finally, we have a number that not only should be out of reach, but no player would want his team to get there. However, the Jets are 57 points away from allowing the most in a single NFL season (the Baltimore Colts earned that dubious honor by giving up 533 points in 1981, per Statmuse), and given that we’re talking about the Jets, no amount of embarrassment should be considered unthinkable. Plus, they will be on the road against a high-scoring Buffalo Bills squad gunning for a division crown.
Just last year, Josh Allen and Co. dropped 56 points in their regular season finale on another visiting AFC East rival, the Miami Dolphins, providing all the more reason a nightmare scenario for this week’s foe can’t be ruled out. In any event, fans of the 4-12 Jets have already been given plenty of cause to shake their fists at the NFL for extending this season.
Washington Post 07Jan2022
The NFL’s unprecedented 17-game regular season is giving players an extended opportunity to rewrite the record books — and Cooper Kupp has a bit of an issue with that. “What those guys did in 16 games, it wouldn’t seem right for those [records] to be broken in 17 games,” the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver said this week. “It wouldn’t hold the same weight to me as it does for guys that have done that in a 16-game season.”
Reporters asked Kupp for his thoughts on the matter because he has a chance Sunday to put up bigger numbers than a pair of “those guys” — in his case, Calvin Johnson and Michael Thomas. While with the Detroit Lions in 2012, Johnson set the NFL’s single-season receiving mark with 1,964 yards, and the New Orleans Saints’ Thomas raised the single-season receptions bar with 149 in 2019.
Kupp enters the Rams’ Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers with 138 catches for 1,829 yards in 16 games. He can use the extra game to top Thomas with 12 catches, and to move past Johnson if he goes over 135 receiving yards. Given that Kupp has six games this season with at least nine catches for 122 yards, and that Los Angeles is playing for a division title, he figures to have a great shot at both marks.
Kupp isn’t the only NFL player who can supplant a 16-game record with a new league standard. Among those set to play Sunday with some history at stake are Tom Brady, T.J. Watt and Ja’Marr Chase.
Of that group, Chase arguably has the best opportunity, because the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is within 44 yards of the record for rookie receiving yards, set at 1,473 by the Houston Oilers’ Bill Groman in 1960. Drafted fifth overall last year, Chase has had some ups and downs this season, but he has caught fire in the past two weeks with games of 125 and a franchise-record 266 yards. Just one catch (so to speak): With the Bengals having already clinched their division, Coach Zac Taylor said this week that Chase will “potentially” be rested Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Another player with a great shot at a rookie record, but who also might not be able to make the most of his Week 18 chance, is Kyle Pitts. The Atlanta Falcons tight end, drafted fourth in April, needs just 59 receiving yards to one-up the mark of 1,076 set at his position by the Chicago Bears’ Mike Ditka in 1961. However, Pitts missed some practice time this week with a hamstring injury.
Assuming Jaylen Waddle is healthy, he should be a shoo-in to break the rookie record for receptions, set at 101 by the Arizona Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin in 2003. Waddle, drafted sixth by the Miami Dolphins, enters Sunday with 99 receptions over 15 games played, having sat out a Week 15 contest while in the coronavirus protocols. Thus it should please Kupp to know that if Waddle bests Boldin, he will have done so in the time-honored span of games.
Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star pass rusher, has missed two games this season with assorted injuries, so he would need even fewer than 16 to possibly break the NFL’s single-season sack record Sunday. After racking up four sacks last week in a win over the Browns, Watt is suddenly just one behind the total of 22.5 notched in 2001 by the New York Giants’ Michael Strahan. Watt could easily stay hot against the Baltimore Ravens, who face Pittsburgh and have allowed a league-high 54 sacks this season.
For its part, Baltimore could well make a point of feeding passes to tight end Mark Andrews, in part because that’s been its M.O. all season. In fact, Andrews’s 1,276 receiving yards are already a Ravens record for any position, and his 99 catches are just four away from the franchise mark. More importantly for this exercise, Andrews is 141 yards away from breaking the NFL record for tight ends set by the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce in 2020. Andrews has had games with 147 and 136 yards this season, so it’s hardly out of the question, especially if it turns out to be a priority for Ravens Coach John Harbaugh, who has shown in the past that he is willing to be aggressive about making history.
Those who want to see Brady set multiple records Sunday will probably need the Carolina Panthers to put up a surprisingly strong fight, much as the New York Jets did last week in forcing Brady to throw 50 times to secure a comeback win. That put Brady at 682 pass attempts this season, within 45 of the league mark set by the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford in 2012. With his 410 passing yards against the Jets, Brady got to 4,990, giving him an outside shot of topping old pal Peyton Manning’s record of 5,477, set with the Denver Broncos in 2013.
It has to be considered unlikely that Brady gets there in either category — particularly without the pass-catching services of Antonio Brown — but it shouldn’t be too much trouble for him to reach the record for most completions. That’s held at 471, set by the Saints’ Drew Brees in 2016, and Brady goes into Sunday with 456.
Finally, we have a number that not only should be out of reach, but no player would want his team to get there. However, the Jets are 57 points away from allowing the most in a single NFL season (the Baltimore Colts earned that dubious honor by giving up 533 points in 1981, per Statmuse), and given that we’re talking about the Jets, no amount of embarrassment should be considered unthinkable. Plus, they will be on the road against a high-scoring Buffalo Bills squad gunning for a division crown.
Just last year, Josh Allen and Co. dropped 56 points in their regular season finale on another visiting AFC East rival, the Miami Dolphins, providing all the more reason a nightmare scenario for this week’s foe can’t be ruled out. In any event, fans of the 4-12 Jets have already been given plenty of cause to shake their fists at the NFL for extending this season.
Lethe200
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
Ranking the NFL’s potential coaching openings, from Raiders to Texans
Washington Post January 4, 2022
There were seven head-coaching changes in the NFL last offseason, and not all of the newcomers have found instant success. Brandon Staley has the Los Angeles Chargers on the verge of the playoffs, and Nick Sirianni is already in with the Philadelphia Eagles. But the remaining five will be shut out of the postseason, with four of them having won four games or fewer. (And one of those, Jacksonville’s Urban Meyer, didn’t even last the full season.)
We don’t yet know how many coaching changes we’ll get this year, but I could see the total being five or six. Let’s take a look at how each of the potential openings stacks up:
Las Vegas Raiders: At 9-7, they enter the final week with a chance to make the postseason. If they beat the Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” they’re in. That is a testament to this team’s resilience; it has been able to overcome the midseason resignation of Jon Gruden and other challenges.
It also is a testament to the team’s talent level, most notably in its pass rush and at quarterback, where Derek Carr has had a strong season. The presence of a reliable quarterback is a major asset for the next coach; the Raiders could continue to build around Carr or trade him for a package of draft picks and/or players.
It’s unclear whether General Manager Mike Mayock will be back, and the roster has room to improve after some questionable draft choices in recent years. But the Raiders remain a popular team with plenty of fans. That, plus the fact that they have the best QB situation of any team on this list, is enough to earn the Raiders the top spot.
Minnesota Vikings: It’s not a guarantee that Mike Zimmer will be fired, but after Sunday night’s loss to Green Bay eliminated the Vikings from the postseason, there is a good chance. He has been good over eight seasons, but the Vikings have missed the playoffs in the past two years, and the defense — his specialty — has been a disappointment.
There is a lot about this job that would be attractive to a coaching candidate. The Vikings have good, stable ownership. They have a dedicated fan base and strong home-field advantage. There is plenty of talent, including wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook.
Whether Kirk Cousins is viewed as a positive might depend on the candidate. He brings more stability than many teams have at quarterback, but his contract is expensive and his long-term future with the team is uncertain. Regardless, Minnesota should be one of the more enticing jobs if Zimmer is let go.
Denver Broncos: Vic Fangio is unlikely to last another season, and there should be plenty of interest among candidates to replace him. GM George Paton has done a good job of building the roster, which includes 2021 draft picks Patrick Surtain II at cornerback and Javonte Williams at running back. The secondary is one of the best in football, and the receiving corps is young and talented.
The biggest issue is at quarterback, with Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock both struggling, but the Broncos can address that in the offseason. They have lots of salary cap room and draft choices if they want to sign or trade for a veteran. Or they could select a QB in the draft.
This is a good team in a great football city. It shouldn’t have any trouble fielding a strong pool of candidates.
Jacksonville Jaguars: They would be higher on this list if it weren’t for their poor talent level; they are in line to pick first in the draft for the second straight year.
The presence of 2021’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, is a plus, even though he has had a rough rookie year. He has the talent to make a leap in his second season, similar to how Joe Burrow did for Cincinnati. The Jaguars also have a ton of cap room, which could allow them to address needs such as the defense and the offensive line in free agency.
They have supportive ownership and more resources than many teams in the league. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they went with an offensive-minded coach to develop Lawrence, which is why former Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coordinator Byron Leftwich are possible candidates.
Chicago Bears: This isn’t a bad job by any means, but there are a few barriers to winning right away. The roster is an issue, with help needed along the offensive line, at wide receiver and on defense. They have plenty of salary cap room, but they’re without their first-round pick this year after last year’s trade up to draft quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields showed flashes during his rookie season, even as the Bears struggled, and his presence makes the job more desirable. Candidates who believe in his ability to become a high-level starter should be interested, and for that reason it seems likely that the team would want to find a strong offensive coach to aid in his development.
Houston Texans: At this point, it appears likely that the Texans will retain David Culley beyond his first season. But if this job does come open, it will be the least desirable.
The Deshaun Watson situation still doesn’t have a resolution, handcuffing the team on how to move forward at quarterback. The roster lacks talent. There has been turmoil in the organization over the past year, including at the ownership level. This team would be better off sticking with Culley for at least one more season, given how much else remains unresolved.
Washington Post January 4, 2022
There were seven head-coaching changes in the NFL last offseason, and not all of the newcomers have found instant success. Brandon Staley has the Los Angeles Chargers on the verge of the playoffs, and Nick Sirianni is already in with the Philadelphia Eagles. But the remaining five will be shut out of the postseason, with four of them having won four games or fewer. (And one of those, Jacksonville’s Urban Meyer, didn’t even last the full season.)
We don’t yet know how many coaching changes we’ll get this year, but I could see the total being five or six. Let’s take a look at how each of the potential openings stacks up:
Las Vegas Raiders: At 9-7, they enter the final week with a chance to make the postseason. If they beat the Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” they’re in. That is a testament to this team’s resilience; it has been able to overcome the midseason resignation of Jon Gruden and other challenges.
It also is a testament to the team’s talent level, most notably in its pass rush and at quarterback, where Derek Carr has had a strong season. The presence of a reliable quarterback is a major asset for the next coach; the Raiders could continue to build around Carr or trade him for a package of draft picks and/or players.
It’s unclear whether General Manager Mike Mayock will be back, and the roster has room to improve after some questionable draft choices in recent years. But the Raiders remain a popular team with plenty of fans. That, plus the fact that they have the best QB situation of any team on this list, is enough to earn the Raiders the top spot.
Minnesota Vikings: It’s not a guarantee that Mike Zimmer will be fired, but after Sunday night’s loss to Green Bay eliminated the Vikings from the postseason, there is a good chance. He has been good over eight seasons, but the Vikings have missed the playoffs in the past two years, and the defense — his specialty — has been a disappointment.
There is a lot about this job that would be attractive to a coaching candidate. The Vikings have good, stable ownership. They have a dedicated fan base and strong home-field advantage. There is plenty of talent, including wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook.
Whether Kirk Cousins is viewed as a positive might depend on the candidate. He brings more stability than many teams have at quarterback, but his contract is expensive and his long-term future with the team is uncertain. Regardless, Minnesota should be one of the more enticing jobs if Zimmer is let go.
Denver Broncos: Vic Fangio is unlikely to last another season, and there should be plenty of interest among candidates to replace him. GM George Paton has done a good job of building the roster, which includes 2021 draft picks Patrick Surtain II at cornerback and Javonte Williams at running back. The secondary is one of the best in football, and the receiving corps is young and talented.
The biggest issue is at quarterback, with Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock both struggling, but the Broncos can address that in the offseason. They have lots of salary cap room and draft choices if they want to sign or trade for a veteran. Or they could select a QB in the draft.
This is a good team in a great football city. It shouldn’t have any trouble fielding a strong pool of candidates.
Jacksonville Jaguars: They would be higher on this list if it weren’t for their poor talent level; they are in line to pick first in the draft for the second straight year.
The presence of 2021’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, is a plus, even though he has had a rough rookie year. He has the talent to make a leap in his second season, similar to how Joe Burrow did for Cincinnati. The Jaguars also have a ton of cap room, which could allow them to address needs such as the defense and the offensive line in free agency.
They have supportive ownership and more resources than many teams in the league. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they went with an offensive-minded coach to develop Lawrence, which is why former Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coordinator Byron Leftwich are possible candidates.
Chicago Bears: This isn’t a bad job by any means, but there are a few barriers to winning right away. The roster is an issue, with help needed along the offensive line, at wide receiver and on defense. They have plenty of salary cap room, but they’re without their first-round pick this year after last year’s trade up to draft quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields showed flashes during his rookie season, even as the Bears struggled, and his presence makes the job more desirable. Candidates who believe in his ability to become a high-level starter should be interested, and for that reason it seems likely that the team would want to find a strong offensive coach to aid in his development.
Houston Texans: At this point, it appears likely that the Texans will retain David Culley beyond his first season. But if this job does come open, it will be the least desirable.
The Deshaun Watson situation still doesn’t have a resolution, handcuffing the team on how to move forward at quarterback. The roster lacks talent. There has been turmoil in the organization over the past year, including at the ownership level. This team would be better off sticking with Culley for at least one more season, given how much else remains unresolved.
Of course, an extra game gives the players an opportunity to set new records.
When Roger Maris hit 61 home runs there was debate on an asterisk...
It will be the same in the NFL, they will be a squabble for a time then fade into acceptance.
Go Bengals, Go Cowboys...
It will be interesting to watch MaHomes (KC QB) he just might win the game by himself.
Halftime Denver and KC-Mahomes and receivers out of sync, offensive line not doing well.
Perhaps KC decided to take the day off, Denver putting forth a lot of effort
When Roger Maris hit 61 home runs there was debate on an asterisk...
It will be the same in the NFL, they will be a squabble for a time then fade into acceptance.
Go Bengals, Go Cowboys...
It will be interesting to watch MaHomes (KC QB) he just might win the game by himself.
Halftime Denver and KC-Mahomes and receivers out of sync, offensive line not doing well.
Perhaps KC decided to take the day off, Denver putting forth a lot of effort
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Defense won the game.