# NFL 2020: Week 16 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 23, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743 "2020-12-23T15:13:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/21 "2020-12-27T22:08:03Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I would also note that Miami was perfectly willing to let the Raiders score a TD to preserve the time on the clock. A TD at around 1:30 is different than a TD with 1:05 left. ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/22 "2020-12-27T22:09:22Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > So Baker lost the ball, but Hunt snatched it out of the air before it ever touched the ground as it was heading backwards. Why is it a fumble rather than a lateral? Are they judging the intentionality of it? Yep. [Rule 3-22-1](http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/6_Rule3_Definitions.pdf): “A Pass is the movement of the ball caused by the runner who throws, shoves (shovel pass), or pushes (push pass) the ball (3-28-1).” Mayfield didn’t cause the motion; furthermore, he didn’t throw it, he didn’t shove it, and he didn’t push it. Therefore, it’s a fumble by [rule 8-7-1](https://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/11_Rule8_ForwardPass_BackPass_Fumble.pdf): “A fumble is any act, other than a pass or kick, which results in a loss of player possession.” ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/23 "2020-12-27T22:15:58Z")
I guess I really haven’t been paying attention to the COVID protocols, but weren’t there cases where they pushed back the games a few days to give time to get those positive tests? I think NE vs KC was one. Seems like they could’ve pushed back the game to Monday or Tuesday instead of telling the Browns on Saturday night that they were out 5 WRs, 2 OL, and some other guys. They were apparently doing walk-throughs with practice squad players who hadn’t caught a pass in 2 years in the frozen parking lot of their hotel this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/24 "2020-12-27T22:57:57Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I guess I really haven’t been paying attention to the COVID protocols Given how many games have been affected by that (and your current, repeated complaint about special treatment), you might want to change that. The basic rule is if contagion is limited to a single group of a team, the game gets played. If it’s spread across the entire team (a la Baltimore, Tennessee, New England), the game gets postponed. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/25 "2020-12-27T22:58:24Z")
I’m sure that they haven’t been consistent all year. Early in the year they had more wiggle room with bye weeks. It’s possible that at this point they just want to get all of the games in. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/26 "2020-12-27T23:05:14Z")
On the halftime show I’m pretty sure Terry Bradshaw just said “Fletcher Cock”. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/27 "2020-12-27T23:38:52Z")
Haskins benched with a playoff berth on the line. His study of the spread offense obviously didn’t pay off last weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/28 "2020-12-28T00:00:48Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > A TD at around 1:30 is different than a TD with 1:05 left. The Raiders basically had a choice: Force the Fins to move 75 yards in 60 seconds, or force the Fins to move 35-40 yards in 19 seconds. They chose the latter, and failed. The Raiders certainly could have wasted more time on 3rd down than just taking a knee. Carr could have run around for 5-6 seconds before giving himself up. Then they could have left the ball in play on the kickoff, which could have burned another 5 seconds. That would have left Miami with time for essentially just one play to get into FG range. Anytime the Raiders lose is fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/29 "2020-12-28T00:29:08Z")
Weird things about this season: The Steelers nearly became the first team in history to win their first 11, then lose 4 straight. The Jets lose their first 13, then win 2 in a row. The Jags win their first game of the season, then lose 14 straight. It would be cool if the Jags beat the Colts in week 17. Then their season would be bookend wins against the Colts with 14 losses in between. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/30 "2020-12-28T00:38:10Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Big game for the Seahawks. If they beat the Lambs then they are the NFC West champs. If not, then the bleaters have the tie-break going into the last week. Seattle are the NFC West Champions, and while it’s highly unlikely, there’s an outside chance they might be the 1st seed. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/31 "2020-12-28T09:00:35Z")
NFC East is now guaranteed to have a losing team be division champion; no team can finish better than 7-9. And if Dallas and Washington both lose next Sunday, the division champion will be a 6-10 team - the Giants. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/32 "2020-12-28T13:42:53Z")
Haskins just gotta go. Just not an NFL quarterback. What’s crazy is that with a healthy Alex Smith, I think WFT is probably a 10-6 team. Not great by any stretch but highly competitive and disciplined. It’s just terrible that Riverboat Ron inherited such dysfunction. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/33 "2020-12-28T14:01:17Z")
At some point, the Chiefs are going to play to just below the level of their opponent, instead of just above it, and that will be sad for everyone in KC. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/34 "2020-12-28T15:27:24Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It’s just terrible that Riverboat Ron inherited such dysfunction. You know the dysfunction with that team starts with Snyder. ☹ > **[Daniel Snyder's $1.6 million settlement requires a full NFL investigation](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/daniel-snyders-1-6-million-settlement-requires-a-full-nfl-investigation)** > > It took three years for it to happen, but a second NFL owner finally has been linked to a confidential settlement of alleged misconduct that, if it occurred, could trigger significant consequences for the owner. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/35 "2020-12-28T16:09:13Z")
It’s confirmed that Haskins is benched for the last game of the season. Heinicke will play if Alex Smith isn’t ready. First round draft pick benched with a playoff berth on the line. I assume it’ll be difficult for Haskins to ‘build his brand’ on the bench. Amazing that Haskins has had two years to learn under Alex Smith and decided Johnny Manziel was a better role model. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/36 "2020-12-28T17:48:20Z")
They just released Haskins, wow. It’s not like they’re going far in the playoffs if they make it, but still. Alex Smith and two practice squad guys unless there’s someone else out there to sign this late. And, I’m not going to read the Twitter comments because I’m sure there’s idiots saying to sign Kaepernick > ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/37 "2020-12-28T23:01:08Z")
I think that Washington did both WFT and potentially Haskins a favor. Haskins is young and still has the potential to learn from his mistakes. A problem that outstanding athletes like Haskins face is that they can go from high school to college thinking that nobody will fire them because they’re too good, too talented to let go. I don’t envision Haskins ever being a great QB but he could learn from his mistakes, right his career, and perhaps be a quality backup for years a la Washington’s previous problem child RG III. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/38 "2020-12-28T23:10:25Z")
But RGIII was good at one point. A total pain in the ass, yes, but winning games. And, most of RGIII’s shit was being a diva. Haskins screwed up twice by breaking rules about Covid on top of his diva attitude. Not to mention the selfie crap and forgetting to finish a game. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/39 "2020-12-29T14:36:20Z")
I’ve generally been of the opinion that teams dont tank for draft picks. The Jacksonville Jaguars proved me wrong this week. Starting Mike Glennon (who dutifully threw 2 interceptions), their crappy play, and the almost immediate hyping of Lawrence in a Jagss uniform, clearly indicate they were a team trying to lose. Fuck the Jags. Fuck their coaches and ownership, and fuck their fans. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743/40 "2020-12-29T15:41:33Z")
About 8-10 years ago I played flag football against Mike Glennon’s brother, Sean Glennon, in a local adult recreational league. He smoked us. Just utter domination. Apparently he made it to a few NFL training camps as QB, but never onto a regular season roster. And still he was more than good enough to utterly dominate us weekend warriors, including some solid athletes among us, one season removed from us winning the championship. NFL QB’ing is hard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-16/928743.md?page=3)