# NFL 2020: Week 17 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 31, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360 "2020-12-31T16:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/22 "2021-01-03T21:18:02Z")
So there is now no scenario in which the Browns do NOT face Pittsburgh in the wild card game, right? ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/23 "2021-01-03T21:20:39Z")
And the Giants beat the Cowboys and at 5-10, can win the division with a WFT loss to the Eagles. What a division! ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/24 "2021-01-03T21:22:12Z")
Scuzee, 6-10 ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/25 "2021-01-03T21:22:30Z")
Unfortunately, the Eagles are in full tank mode, resting almost all their star players. The division is basically on a silver platter to WFT now. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/26 "2021-01-03T21:26:17Z")
I think if the Jags beat the Colts, the Browns play someone else, at least I heard that earlier. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/27 "2021-01-03T21:33:46Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I want to like Brian Flores as a head coach, but his decisions about their QB position are perplexing. In a need to win to make playoffs scenario, he start Tua, who throws sub 60% completions and 3 interceptions. Fitz is out, with COVID. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/28 "2021-01-03T21:38:56Z")
And the reason the Eagles can’t catch up in the division is that stupid tie they settled for way back in week 3. Had they won that, then winning tonight would give a 4-way tie in the division. I think the tiebreakers would still go to the Giants, but still. Also someone asked upthread about the new 7-team format - I’m pretty sure that’s permanent. If I’m remembering right, it was a change made before any of the COVID stuff started happening. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/29 "2021-01-03T22:02:35Z")
I would be shocked if WFT isn’t one and done in the playoffs. I can’t see them beating Tampa Bay. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/30 "2021-01-03T22:19:36Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > If I’m remembering right, it was a change made before any of the COVID stuff started happening. The owners approved it on a vote on March 31 of last year. So Covid was already happening. > **[NFL owners vote to approve expanded playoffs](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28977365/nfl-owners-vote-approve-expanded-14-team-playoff-format)** > > NFL team owners voted Tuesday to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for the 2020 season. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/31 "2021-01-03T22:33:26Z")
But that wasn’t why. They negotiated it as part of the new CBA. And the Bears defense is getting embarrassed as expected. Can we fire Pagano at halftime? ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/32 "2021-01-03T22:41:15Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > They negotiated it as part of the new CBA. Yes, you are correct. The CBA was approved on 3/15, so all the negotiations happened pre-Covid. My bad. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/33 "2021-01-03T22:50:39Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > > [@Hamlet](#): > > > > I want to like Brian Flores as a head coach, but his decisions about their QB position are perplexing. In a need to win to make playoffs scenario, he start Tua, who throws sub 60% completions and 3 interceptions. > > Fitz is out, with COVID. That makes sense. I think I should google before I shoot off my mouth. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/34 "2021-01-03T22:55:02Z")
Packers have a 8 point lead at halftime. A bad turnover and patient, small chunk offensive plan has kept the Bears in the game. I’d prefer a much more aggressive defense to force Trubisky to beat them, but the Packers offense is feasting on the linebackers in coverage, so they really don’t need to. Bring on the second half. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/35 "2021-01-03T23:01:29Z")
WFT is already on a 15 year drought of no playoff wins, too. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/36 "2021-01-03T23:10:17Z")
MVS drops an easy TD pass. _sigh_ ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/37 "2021-01-03T23:21:55Z")
I expect I’m not the only one who had to Google who MVS was. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/38 "2021-01-03T23:44:21Z")
I think they announced Tua as the starter even before Fitz was ruled out, so you’re not really off base. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/39 "2021-01-03T23:48:56Z")
If Tenn can’t beat Houston, they don’t deserve to get in. If Indy can’t beat Jax, they really don’t deserve to get in. Clutch games on the last day of the season is all about coaching. I can accept firing a coach for losing those kinds of games and layup wins against inferior teams ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/40 "2021-01-04T00:06:44Z")
I really don’t understand what Trubisky thinks he sees when he makes some of his throws. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360/41 "2021-01-04T00:08:19Z")
He’s made up his mind before the snap. He’s not looking at anything. That throw had the brilliance of both being a bad pass and a bad read. That idiotic 4th & 1 play call tells you everything you need to know about this coaching staff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-17/929360.md?page=3)