NFL Week 18

The Game Room
1

On Thursday, the Lions ushered themselves out of the playoffs, committing six turnovers in a loss to the Vikings. Later that day, the Broncos scored a late touchdown to defeat the Chiefs in Arrowhead. That win took on added importance on Saturday, when the Chargers lost to the Texans, which gave the AFC West division title to Denver. With that win, Houston stayed in the hunt for the AFC South title. And on Saturday night, the Ravens spanked the Packers in Lambeau, which meant that the Bears will win the NFC North division title, and also kept Baltimore alive for the postseason.

On Sunday, the Steelers could have wrapped up the AFC North, but the Browns had other ideas, defeating Pittsburgh in a defensive struggle. Jacksonville outlasted the Colts to keep their hold on first place in the AFC South, while New England solidified their division lead with a rout of the Jets. When Buffalo later lost to the Eagles, the Patriots won the AFC East. Tampa Bay lost to Miami, but Carolina also dropped a game to Seattle, so the NFC South is still up for grabs. The Bears and Niners played a wide-open game Sunday night, which was won by the Niners and kept them in contention for the #1 seed. Then on Monday, the Falcons surprised the Rams to further muddle the NFC wild-card seeding.

With one week to play, here is the postseason picture:

AFC: Patriots and Broncos have won their divisions; Broncos will be the AFC #1 seed with a win over the Chargers or a Patriots loss to Miami. Chargers and Bills are wild-card teams. Texans and Jaguars are in the postseason; Jacksonville needs a win or a Houston loss to win their division. And the winner of the Steelers/Ravens game will win the AFC North and the AFC #4 seed.

NFC: Eagles have won the NFC East. Bears have won the NFC North. Packers are a wild-card team and the #7 seed. Seahawks, Niners, and Rams are in the playoffs; either Seattle or San Francisco will win the NFC West and the NFC #1 seed, and the other two are wild-card teams. And the winner of the Panthers/Bucs game will win the NFC South and gain the NFC #4 seed, maybe*.

Saturday will feature two division-deciding games, when Carolina visits Tampa Bay* and Seattle travels to San Francisco. As mentioned, the Seahawks/49ers game will also decide the top seed in the NFC. On Sunday, the AFC South will be decided when the Jaguars host the Titans and the Texans host the Colts. The Broncos need to defeat the Chargers at home to win the AFC #1 seed, while the Patriots will need to defeat Miami to keep their chances alive for the top AFC seed. The Eagles still have a chance at the NFC #2 seed if they beat the Commanders at home, but the Bears can clinch that seed by defeating the Lions in Soldier Field. In the final regular-season game on Sunday night, Pittsburgh will host the Ravens in a game that will decide the AFC North.

*If the Falcons beat the Saints this week, they would finish 8-9. And if the Bucs beat the Panthers, both of those teams would also finish 8-9. The first tiebreaker among a 3-way tie is the best won-loss percentage in games among those three clubs. In that situation, Carolina would have a 3-1 record, while Atlanta and Tampa Bay would both have 2-2 records. So, if the Bucs win on Saturday, the Falcons/Saints game on Sunday will determine the NFC South winner. A Falcons win would hand the title to the Panthers, while a Saints victory would make the Bucs the division winner.

Here are this week’s lines. All spreads taken from ESPNBet on Tuesday the 30th at 8:45 am CT.

Saturday:

Panthers @ Bucs (-2.5)
Seahawks @ 49ers (+1.5)

Sunday early:

Saints @ Falcons (-3)
Browns @ Bengals (-7.5)
Packers @ Vikings (-6.5)
Cowboys @ Giants (+4.5)
Titans @ Jaguars (-12.5)
Colts @ Texans (-10.5)

Sunday late:

Jets @ Bills (-7)
Lions @ Bears (-2.5)
Chargers @ Broncos (-12.5)
Chiefs @ Raiders (+5.5)
Cardinals @ Rams (-7.5)
Dolphins @ Patriots (-11.5)
Commanders @ Eagles (-7)

Sunday night:

Ravens @ Steelers (+3.5)

NFL Week 17
2

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its list of finalists for induction next year.

The fifteen finalists on the main ballot are:

  • OT Willie Anderson (Bengals, Ravens)
  • QB Drew Brees (Chargers, Saints)
  • OG Jahri Evans (Saints, Packers)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
  • RB Frank Gore (49ers, Colts, Dolphins, Bills, Jets)
  • WR Torry Holt (Rams, Jaguars)
  • LB Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
  • QB Eli Manning (Giants)
  • LB Terrell Suggs (Ravens, Cardinals, Chiefs)
  • K Adam Vinatieri (Patriots, Colts)
  • WR Reggie Wayne (Colts)
  • DT Kevin Williams (Vikings, Seahawks, Saints)
  • TE Jason Witten (Cowboys, Raiders)
  • S Darren Woodson (Cowboys)
  • G Marshal Yanda (Ravens)

Brees, Fitzgerald, Gore, and Witten are all finalists in their first year of eligibility.

Candidates from other areas include Seniors Committee players QB Ken Anderson (Bengals), RB Roger Craig (49ers, Raiders, Vikings); and DE L.C. Greenwood (Steelers), coach Bill Belichick (Browns, Patriots), and contributor Robert Kraft (Patriots).

Between three and five players from the main ballot will be selected, as well as one to three men from the senior/coach/contributor list. Inductees will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on February 5.

3

Hell yes. I have tons of respect for every one of those players and I hope they all get in. Larry most of all. I just love that guy. So does everyone else, so I’m sure he’s a lock.

4

Looks like there are reports the Colts, now out of playoff contention, are considering starting Riley Leonard at QB over Rivers.

On the one hand, without any pressure to win, it’s probably a good thing to give him some reps and see how he looks.

On the other hand, Houston still has a shot, albeit a long one, at winning the division, and putting a rookie up against that defense should count as some sort of abuse.

5

Pick your poison. Child abuse or elder abuse.

6

I’m proud of my Dolphins for not tanking this season after a disastrous start. Last week, when the Bucs had a reason to win, the Phins were a formidable opponent. Quinn Ewers has some value at quarterback (although I don’t think he’s “the one”), and Devon Achane and Jaylen Waddle are legitimate stars.

But this team is probably looking at a drubbing to finish the season. I expect Maye and the Patriots will cut through the defense like a hot knife through butter. It might get ugly.

Still, Coach Mike McDaniel didn’t lose the locker room, despite the problems this year. I’m okay with giving him another year to see if he can deliver a winner

7

The problems in Miami mainly exist in the owner’s box. With any luck, McDaniel will be retained to see what he can actually do, get input into the new GM, and get players that fit whatever vision that is, win or lose. Then next season and beyond will be on him.

Most of all, hopefully Ross lets the experts actually be the experts for a change so they can figure that out, rather than going through the coach/GM mill like every other team with bad ownership.

8

POLL: Your choices for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

9

I figured he would be gone mid-season, starting 1-7 and losing to Cleveland 31-6. But they later won 4 in a row, including a 30-13 thumping of the Bills.

But like many others, I don’t think Tua is the guy.

10

That’s absolutely the truth.

Miami’s problem is all of the guaranteed money Tua is owed. It’s going to be a drain on their cap space, so it sort of makes sense to keep him on the roster.

11

Is it possible that a team might be desperate enough to want to take him and his contract?

I bet the Browns would if Watson hadn’t already taken all their cash.

:laughing:

12

For Eagles, I think the plan is to start our, uh, uninspired offense to help gear them up for playoffs. Would be great if we get 2nd place, pairing us up with Packers first game. At least our defense was playoff ready against Bills.

13

Perilous times for the Diggs brothers. Sequential headlines on ESPN’s website today:

14

Ravens-Stillers feels like an ugly game in the making, played down in the slop where Pittsburgh excels.

15

I dunno, I feel like this year’s Ravens are better at those kinds of games than this year’s Steelers. The Steelers are missing key players, are trying to get by with some older guys past their prime trying to “win now” (like Rodgers), and don’t have the run game the Ravens do.

I’m not saying the Ravens should be favored, but the Ravens that beat the crap out of the Packers definitely looks like a team that can win ugly.

16

The win over the Packers was perhaps Baltimore’s best of the season but who knows what version of them shows up Sunday night? If there’s a reason for optimism, it’s because of a healing defense that has put up very decent numbers in the last 6-8 games and a backup QB who can manage a game well enough to win.

I just can’t bring myself to foresee a romp like last year’s.

17

Doesn’t look like it. From today’s Inquirer:

The Eagles are expected to rest quarterback Jalen Hurts and most of their starters against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, NFL sources said.

Eagles backups should still be able to beat the Commodes, who are starting their third string QB.

Expect the offense to remain uninspired. They aren’t going to force things unless desperate. Eagles are 42-2 under Sirianni when they win the turnover battle.

18

There are some clips of the 49ers walk through practice this week. They’re wearing the regular red jerseys but with the Rivalries black helmets. Still getting used to it. I kinda like the jerseys (much better than the last attempt at black), but it’s still weird.

Also weird - the practice was going on inside Levi’s stadium instead of the adjacent practice facility.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to an epic game. I live just across Puget Sound from Seattle, and I’ve been flying my flag all week.

19

And, interestingly, the Bears’ win over the Packers the week prior was probably Chicago’s best of the season.

Green Bay is clearly bringing out the best in their opponents. :wink:

20

With both Jordan Love and Malik Willis uncertain to play on Sunday against the Vikings, the Packers signed quarterback Desmond Ridder today.

Love is still in the concussion protocol, and Willis, who has an injury to his throwing shoulder, didn’t throw in the “open view” portion of this morning’s practice. The only other quarterback who they had on the roster was Clayton Tune, who had been elevated from the practice squad last week, and played briefly against the Ravens when Willis re-aggravated his shoulder injury.

As this weekend’s game is meaningless, as far as playoff position – the Packers are locked into the #7 seed in the NFC – it seems likely to me that they’ll rest Love and Willis, as well as some other banged-up starters, such as Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson.