# NFL Week 16 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 21, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008 "2017-12-21T19:56:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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 21, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/1 "2017-12-21T19:56:26Z")
Saturday IND @ BAL MIN @ GB Sunday early LAR @ TEN BUF @ NE CLE @ CHI ATL @ NO DET @ CIN TB @ CAR MIA @ KC DEN @ WAS LAC @ NYJ Sunday late JAX @ SF SEA @ DAL NYG @ ARI MNF PIT @ HOU OAK @ PHI ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/2 "2017-12-21T23:25:18Z")
I can’t believe they didn’t flex the New Orleans Atlanta game. So much rides on that game. ---
**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 21, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/3 "2017-12-21T23:36:13Z")
There’s no Sunday Night game, I guess because they anticipate low Christmas Eve ratings, and I don’t think it’s in the contracts to flex games to Monday. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/4 "2017-12-22T01:22:11Z")
Go Houston! ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/5 "2017-12-22T02:13:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > There’s no Sunday Night game, I guess because they anticipate low Christmas Eve ratings, and I don’t think it’s in the contracts to flex games to Monday. Ah, for some reason I was thinking of Sunday late as Sunday night’s games. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/6 "2017-12-22T03:51:04Z")
I thought that the Chargers were effectively eliminated after losing to KC, but they have paths to the playoffs that seem reasonable. For example: Chargers beat Jets and Raiders Ravens beat Colts and Bengals Titans lose to Rams and Jaguars Bills lose to Patriots So that’s 7 different games, but at least it’s favourites winning. ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/7 "2017-12-24T17:52:34Z")
I have a strange feeling and while I can’t rule it out I don’t think it’s because they’ve changed my meds but I _think_ the Browns will win one today. The team is in the top half of the league in rush yards per attempt but dead last in rush attempts per game. The weather in Chicago today makes me think (hope) it will be impossible for Hue to prematurely abandon the ground game. Anyway, go Browns. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/8 "2017-12-24T19:34:09Z")
Goddamn Pats with that call. At least Buffalo got the tying field goal to end out the first half. I was convinced it was going back at first with the first replay angle, but the other two angles, to me at least, look like the left foot was definitely dragging when possession was established. I have no idea how they found enough to overturn the field call of touchdown there. Grrrrrr… ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/9 "2017-12-24T19:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell;20683973I have no idea how they found enough to overturn the field call of touchdown there. Grrrrrr…[/QUOTE] It was pretty obvious. They scored on the Patriots in the last 2 minutes of a half, which is a violation. No lost yardage, but loss of down. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/10 "2017-12-24T19:46:05Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > It was pretty obvious. They scored on the Patriots in the last 2 minutes of a half, which is a violation. No lost yardage, but loss of down. Yeah, this one seemed even worse to me than the last one. From the first angle they showed (the inside angle), it seemed like, yeah, it’s possible the toe wasn’t touching the ground when he established possession, but you couldn’t really tell if the toe was on the grass or just above it. But when they showed the two other angles (on the outside), it seemed clear to me that when the ball was in his hands and against his body and possession was established, he toe was dragging on the grass, as evidenced by the black trail it was leaving. It wasn’t even at the end of the toe drag when control was established. It was towards the first 1/3 or maybe 1/2 of the drag. There certainly wasn’t anything I saw that incontrovertibly overturned the ruling on the field. If anything, I thought it _confirmed_ the ruling on the field. ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/11 "2017-12-24T19:58:30Z")
OK, it’s looking like it was just the meds, though in the words of the late great John Astin “But I’m feeling _much better_ now.” You know, except about football. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/12 "2017-12-24T20:01:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Goddamn Pats with that call. At least Buffalo got the tying field goal to end out the first half. I was convinced it was going back at first with the first replay angle, but the other two angles, to me at least, look like the left foot was definitely dragging when possession was established. I have no idea how they found enough to overturn the field call of touchdown there. Grrrrrr… The ref was standing right there and pointed at the toe mark in the grass. Both feet were down and that was after he held the ball to his chest. Why New England always gets the benefit of these reviews is beyond me. I thought the TD call back during the Steelers game was bad, but this is worse. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/13 "2017-12-24T20:52:45Z")
What makes it extra infuriating is the NE doesn’t really need the help most of the time. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/14 "2017-12-24T21:10:29Z")
Ladies and Gentleman, your 2017 AFC North Champs, the Chicago Bears. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/15 "2017-12-24T21:17:02Z")
Is Kirk Cousins worth $23.9 million/year… or even more, should the Skins choose to sign him as a free agent? Is he one of the premier QBs in the league? I’m not really seeing it. He played OK again today but still made a couple of ill-advised throws, including a pick in the end zone where the Skins receiver had three Bronco defenders on him. Your thoughts? ---
**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:** [December 24, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/16 "2017-12-24T21:37:32Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > He played OK again today but still made a couple of ill-advised throws, including a pick in the end zone where the Skins receiver had three Bronco defenders on him. You basically described every non-elite/non-terrible QB in the league. He’s basically upper-middle class. You can win a Super Bowl with upper-middle class QB, but he won’t throw the team on his back and carry you there himself. There’s maybe 3 guys who can. The real question, is what is a upper-middle class QB worth? Most of the armchair GMs don’t think anyone but those handful of elite guys deserve $20M+ a year, but ask yourself, is it worth being a team without a QB who’s essentially hopeless? Is there a $15M guy out there to get who you can still win a SB with? Basically the Skins have 2 choices. Pay Cousins, or rebuild again. If they choose the latter, they better be damn sure they get a first-class QB in this draft. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/17 "2017-12-24T21:38:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, this one seemed even worse to me than the last one. From the first angle they showed (the inside angle), it seemed like, yeah, it’s possible the toe wasn’t touching the ground when he established possession, but you couldn’t really tell if the toe was on the grass or just above it. But when they showed the two other angles (on the outside), it seemed clear to me that when the ball was in his hands and against his body and possession was established, he toe was dragging on the grass, as evidenced by the black trail it was leaving. It wasn’t even at the end of the toe drag when control was established. It was towards the first 1/3 or maybe 1/2 of the drag. There certainly wasn’t anything I saw that incontrovertibly overturned the ruling on the field. If anything, I thought it _confirmed_ the ruling on the field. I agree 100%. I was making bets with myself on whether the call would be ‘upheld’ or ‘confirmed’, and was rather surprised the answer was neither of those. This is, in a nutshell, the biggest problem with the NFL today. They took like five minutes, bored the hell out of their fans, interrupted the rhythm of the game, and _then still managed to get the call wrong_. Seriously, just trust the refs on the field to get it right, and let coaches challenge if it’s egregious. This every-scoring-play-every-turnover nonsense is just slowing games down with no improvement in quality. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/18 "2017-12-24T21:45:22Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Chargers beat Jets and Raiders > Ravens beat Colts and Bengals > Titans lose to Rams and Jaguars > Bills lose to Patriots Check, check, check, check. So: Chargers beat Raiders Ravens beat Bengals Jags beat Titans and the Chargers get in. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/19 "2017-12-24T21:57:14Z")
Any of those are about a 4 out of 5 So you got a fifty-fifty shot it looks like. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008/20 "2017-12-24T22:43:14Z")
There’s apparently some level of stink going on over the Packers placing Aaron Rodgers back on injured reserve this week, despite apparently not suffering a new injury during last week’s game. As noted in [this story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/12/24/nfl-teams-reportedly-think-the-packers-should-have-to-release-aaron-rodgers-over-ir-move/?utm_term=.71f3f66384fd) in today’s Washington Post: > [@](#): > > Teams are taking issue with this because Rodgers reportedly suffered no new injury and NFL rules require that a player must have suffered a new injury that would sideline him at least six weeks to be placed on injured reserve. If that is not the case, the team is obligated to release the player when he is healthy. As former Packers exec Andrew Brandt is quoted, later in the article: “Good luck with that. Players with hangnails are put on IR this time of year.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/805008.md?page=2)