# NFL Week 16 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 19, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643 "2014-12-19T04:15:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/1 "2014-12-19T04:15:53Z")
What does it mean that Thursday Night Football is over and this week’s thread hasn’t been started yet. Aren’t you all excited about Jacksonville vs. Tennessee? A lot of playoff questions will be answered this week. What are you hoping to see? 1. Seattle win (of course) 2. Detroit win because I have a soft spot for them and want to see them be successful. 3. Philadelphia loss because that would clinch for the habitual non-playoff teams. Detroit and Dallas. 4. Saints lose because I want a 6-10 Atlanta in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/2 "2014-12-19T07:55:42Z")
FYR, [here again is **borschevsky** ’s link to the charts of playoff implications](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nfl-week-16-playoff-implications-when-things-start-to-shake-out/) over at 538\*.\*com. Curiously, they show Cleveland as having a 0.0% chance at the post-season but do not show them as eliminated. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/3 "2014-12-19T14:35:22Z")
I would like the Steelers, Bengals, and Texans to lose, but I’ll be happy with just the Texans losing this week. And the game last night had an interesting ending. I was surprised it was still on to be honest, but it was a decent end nonetheless. ---
**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 19, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/4 "2014-12-19T14:57:57Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > FYR, [here again is **borschevsky** ’s link to the charts of playoff implications](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nfl-week-16-playoff-implications-when-things-start-to-shake-out/) over at 538\*.\*com. Curiously, they show Cleveland as having a 0.0% chance at the post-season but do not show them as eliminated. That’s probably because they need all of the following, if my calculations are correct:[ol] [li]Cleveland beats\ both Carolina and Baltimore,[/li][li]Houston to beat Baltimore and then lose/tie to Jacksonville (!), [/li][li]Buffalo to lose to both Oakland (!) and New England (or tie one of them),[/li][li]Miami to lose/tie either to the Jets or Minnesota,[/li][li]Kansas City to lose to Pittsburgh,[/li][li]San Diego to lose to San Francisco, and[/li][li]KC and SD to tie (!!) week 17 in a winner-makes-the-playoffs game.[/li][/ol] But that’s better than my Titans’ chances, at any rate. ☹ Go Bucs! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/5 "2014-12-19T17:38:42Z")
I scored (free\*) tickets to the 49ers-Chargers game Saturday night. It might not be as good as it would be if the 49ers were still in it, and they’ll probably play guys from the practice squad or off the street, but who cares. I’m moving up to Washington in a couple weeks and this is my only shot at seeing a game in the new stadium before I leave town. I hear there was a draft order “battle” last night. Who cares what happened, what were the TV numbers like? \*: I’ll be cutting a bunch of paper snowflakes for them. Fair trade? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/6 "2014-12-19T21:36:07Z")
> [@Kimble](#): > > But that’s better than my Titans’ chances, at any rate. ☹ Go Bucs! What are your thoughts on Locker? Did you like that draft pick? Has your opinion changed at all? I’m a Wa fan and had/have my opinions about Locker and the NFL, but curious about what you think? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/7 "2014-12-19T22:25:54Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 1. Seattle win (of course) This could prove to be slightly problematic. In 1983, the Seahawks defeated the LA Raiders twice during the regular season but spit up quite badly against them in the AFC championship game. If they curb-stomp Arizona Sunday evening, meeting them in the playoffs would not bode well for Seattle, as it is very difficult to beat a team thrice in one season. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/8 "2014-12-20T02:30:18Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > If they curb-stomp Arizona Sunday evening, meeting them in the playoffs would not bode well for Seattle, as it is very difficult to beat a team thrice in one season. Is it really the same team with a different quarterback? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/9 "2014-12-20T02:34:14Z")
Yeah, it is the same team. But with a different quarterback. Well, and different players on half the other positions on offense. And defense. And special teams. But I think most of the coaching staff are the same. ---
**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 20, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/10 "2014-12-20T03:52:55Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > What are your thoughts on Locker? Did you like that draft pick? Has your opinion changed at all? > > I’m a Wa fan and had/have my opinions about Locker and the NFL, but curious about what you think? When Locker came out, I liked the pick. We needed a quarterback and I thought his legs could make up for his lack of accuracy – kinda like a Vince Young with his head screwed on straight. (Keep in mind that as a homer, I thought Young was pretty good.) Nowadays, he’s hurt too often (as Bill James says, health is a skill; Locker doesn’t seem to have it) and too inaccurate. With the current CBA, there’s no reason for the Titans not to move on. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/11 "2014-12-20T06:44:25Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > What are your thoughts on Locker? Did you like that draft pick? Has your opinion changed at all? > > I’m a Wa fan and had/have my opinions about Locker and the NFL, but curious about what you think? Husky QBs have done quite well in pro football – in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/12 "2014-12-20T07:20:36Z")
Saints at home against Atlanta should be an exciting game. NFL rivalries aren’t quite as intense as college rivalries, but these teams don’t like each other. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/13 "2014-12-20T08:09:59Z")
Looks like no one put up the list of games. Being a bastard, here they are, with _ **West Coast times** _: Saturday 1:30pm Philadelphia -7.5 @ Washington 5:25pm San Diego @ San Francisco -1 Sunday 10:00am PST Minnesota @ Miami -6.5 Green Bay -11 @ Tampa Bay Detroit -8.5 @ Chicago Atlanta @ New Orleans -6.5 New England -10.5 @ NY Jets Kansas City @ Pittsburgh -3 Cleveland @ Carolina -3.5 Baltimore -5 @ Houston 1:05pm NY Giants @ St. Louis -6.5 1:25pm Buffalo -7 @ Oakland Indianapolis @ Dallas -3.5 5:25pm Seattle -7.5 @ Arizona Monday Evening Denver -3 @ Cincinnati ---
**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 21, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/14 "2014-12-21T00:37:41Z")
Thank you Washington Professional Football Team. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/15 "2014-12-21T03:58:24Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Thank you Washington Professional Football Team. Do you mean the team formerly known as the Boston Redskins? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/16 "2014-12-21T04:06:34Z")
Have to admit seeing a QB run a ninety yard touchdown is impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/17 "2014-12-21T05:04:38Z")
Those of you who went to bed early have missed a San Diego comeback. They’ve tied up the game and are going into overtime. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/18 "2014-12-21T05:23:54Z")
Chargers! Never a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/19 "2014-12-21T06:53:05Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by **Mr Quatro** San Diego Chargers still have a chance for the playoffs just like last year when they had to not only win their last four (4) regular season games to be 8-8. … Actually the Chargers had to win their last four to be 9-7. And how about those Chargers! This is written minutes after a wild comeback against the 49ers. I’m a Charger fan and I have to say that these kind of games just make me so happy. They’re murder on my life expectancy but I’m happy. (This post moved from NFL Week 15 because sometimes I don’t count so good.) ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643/20 "2014-12-21T19:22:25Z")
> [@Kimble](#): > > When Locker came out, I liked the pick. We needed a quarterback and I thought his legs could make up for his lack of accuracy – kinda like a Vince Young with his head screwed on straight. (Keep in mind that as a homer, I thought Young was pretty good.) > > Nowadays, he’s hurt too often (as Bill James says, health is a skill; Locker doesn’t seem to have it) and too inaccurate. With the current CBA, there’s no reason for the Titans not to move on. ☹ He’s a great athlete but I worried about the accuracy thing and it seems to have played out that way. The injury thing is clearly a problem also. I remember the types of injuries he had in college and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around whether there was some pattern or just dumb luck, looks like it’s a pattern. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/707643.md?page=2)