GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
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We are in the Saturday phase of the NFL season, since the league stands down for no one (unless they're lighting a Christmas Tree in New York City live on NBC, then you gotta play Wednesday afternoon, but that was Covid, so doesn't count). But this is also happening so that the same teams can come back and play on Christmas, which is Wednesday. Once upon a time, the NFL refused to play playoff games on Christmas. The NFL is going up against the Expanded College Football Playoff, which means we will have dueling live threads on Saturday. It also means more national windows - a number that will go up next week. It also means there was enough space for Amazon Prime to get a flexed game.
Thursday Night - Amazon Prime
DEN @ LAC: Some of the rules on this included that the game be decided 28 days ahead of time, and that if a team was playing on the road for a second Thursday this season, they had to approve it, which the Broncos did. So, we know who could've stopped this from happening. Or we know who to thank for not forcing us to watch the Browns again. Although that was fun last time. The Broncos and Chargers are thee 6 and 7 seeds respectively in the AFC, and there's a scenario where if the Chargers win, and other teams lose, that all seven AFC playoff teams would be decided with a full two weeks to go before the end of the season, which has never happened.
Saturday 1pm EST, NBC/Peacock
HOU @ KC: The Texans answered the bell last week against the Dolphins, and quelled a few non-believers in them. They are the AFC South champions for a second year in a row, even though it feels like their season has been disappointing. Their task will be beating the Chiefs in Kansas City, something the Texans have only done twice, but that may have more to do with the fact that this is only 6th time, including playoffs, that the two teams will play in KC. Five teams this season have yet to score 30 points in a game. The Chiefs are one of them, and they have more wins than the other four combined. Oh, and don't worry about Patrick Mahomes and his week-to-week ankle injury, he's been a full in practice all week.
Saturday 4:30pm EST, Fox
PIT @ BAL: Strange bedfellows here as this rivalry is airing on Fox. The shine has wore off the Russell Wilson-led offense for the Steelers as they were not only stuck in mud against the Eagles last week, but they could barely get the ball - they ran 11 plays in the second half on only two drives. However, they did beat the Ravens earlier in this season with him, by kicking six field goals (again). You'd say that can't happen again, especially in a revenge game, but it's a rivalry that's proven that if either team happens to get to 20, they will likely win. The last 8 meetings between these two teams has seen the winner score 20 or less. If you're wondering, this will be the Burkhardt/Brady broadcast. And seems like TJ Watt is a full go.
MAPS
PHI @ WSH: It's a Fox single week, and they only have 5 games on Sunday (next week CBS will only have 4). But they do have the overall best lineup, and it starts with the top two teams in the NFC East. The Eagles are on a franchise record 10-game winning streak after their win over the Steelers last week, and their final drive lasting over 10 minutes over 21 plays, which is obscene since they didn't even score. It was Jalen Hurts' best game of the season, and he made sure in the press conference that everyone was entertained. WFT nearly let a 17-0 lead get away to the Spencer Rattler-led Saints in the second half, having to stave off a game-winning two-point conversion attempt. They're currently in the final wild card spot in the NFC, and also have revenge on their mind with the Eagles making the train ride down to DC. They could use a bigger win, because their strength of victory is fourth-worst in the league despite being tied for the easiest schedule.
DET @ CHI: The Lions' defense really took it on the chin finally against the Bills last week, but despite the loss, they do still control their destiny in the NFC for the #1 seed, however with 21 players on IR or out for the season - by far the most in the league - it seems people are waiting for that to really catch up to them. On Thanksgiving, the Bears found a beat against them in the second half, and now they will play outdoors in Chicago. Not that being outdoors has been a detriment to the Lions, but they have their own revenge game next week in San Francisco on Monday night.
NYG @ ATL: It's officially Michael Penix, Jr. Season, the 8th overall pick in the NFL draft is being inserted into the lineup over a breaking-down Kirk Cousins, which can't feel good even though the Falcons won on Monday night. But it was the Raiders, and it was only 15-9, and the there was a safety involved. Penix gets a softball opponent. This is only the 26th time these two teams will play. By comparison, the Falcons have played the Seahawks 20 times, despite the Seahawks being in the NFC like 25 fewer years (there was an instance where the Giants and Falcons did not play for 10 years between 1988-1998), and the Steelers 19 teams despite only being in the same conference for two years. Penix found out he was starting while buying a hot dog at Costco. He didn't eat it.
ARZ @ CAR: When the Cardinals beat the Jets on November 10, it was their 4th win in a row, and they seemed like the team that did the most things that looked most like a playoff team. But their win over the Patriots last week stopped a 4-game skid to land them at 7-7, and need help from opponents of the Seahawks - which seems promising. But they can't look past the Carolina Panthers, who sadly fell flat on their face as last week as favorites for the first time in 34 games.
MIN @ SEA: Luckily for the Cardinals, the Seahawks have to play the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings. However, the game is in Seattle, and the Seahawks have proven they can rise to the challenge. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen losing 30-13 to the Packers last week, and Geno Smith getting injured. If he can't play, it's Sam Howell's game. The Vikings now get to keep pace with the Lions in hopes of winning the NFC North, but a big game against the Packers next week awaits.
LAR @ NYJ: The last two weeks have shown us that the Rams wan win multiple ways. After beating the Bill at home 44-42 to weeks ago, they managed a season series sweep of the 49ers on Thursday by beating them just 12-6. The last Ram to score a touchdown on the road at the Jets was Trung Candidate in 2005. And the Jets looked like they finally had some fun last week in beating the Jaguars. The Rams have climbed up to the 4 seed in the NFC as they now lead the NFC West, which is looking like a rematch against an NFC North team in the playoffs.
CLE @ CIN: It's probably a gift that this was the game moved out of Amazon Prime, maybe especially now that we will no longer witness the Jameis Winston Experience. It's Dorian Thompson-Robinson at QB for the Browns, who will have to deal with the Bengals explosive offense, even if their record doesn't match that. The Bengals could be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss if the Chargers win.
TEN @ IND: The Colts could also be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss and Chargers win, as their ugly loss in Denver last week did them no favors. The Titans want you to know that if you think they're soft, you're full of shit. That was the message from Brian Callahan.
SF @ MIA: This is a playoff eliminator, almost assuredly, for both teams, so this I guess is a big game. A Dolphins loss and Chargers win would eliminate them, while a 49ers loss could eliminate them. The year after losing the Super Bowl is a bitch. The Dolphins have now lost two of three, while they were taken to overtime by the Jets at home, as the seat is warming again around Mike McDaniel. If they can find a way past the 49ers, their schedule looks good despite closing with two road games against the Browns and Jets.
NE @ BUF: Well, the Bills have passed all the tests. They have earned the schedule they have to end the season - two games against the Patriots and one against the Jets. Though, they also can't look past anyone. They've beaten the Chiefs and Lions, Josh Allen is almost definitely going to buck the trend of NFL MVP winners receiving a bye in the playoffs (unless they manage to get it). They've dealt with injuries and weather concerns, although I don't think snow during games really concerns them. They do need to work out things on defense, as they became the first team since the 1966 Giants to both score and allow 40 in consecutive games. At least they didn't give up 72 in one of them.
JAX @ LV: Fans of Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes may be the only people interested in this game.
Sunday Night, NBC
TB @ DAL: Unfortunately, we will be forced to watch the Dallas Cowboys in yet another prime time spot. And as things stand, they are currently a full national next week. At least the Bucs are fun, they hung 40 points on the #1 scoring defense in SoFi against the Chargers last week. And as the Falcons have fallen apart, those two losses the Bucs have against them, they are almost past. Unless they lose.
Monday Night, ABC/ESPN
NO @ GB: Maybe it looked genius after Week 2, but this is Week 15, so someone needs to tell me why the NFL schedule makers thought this was an intriguing game. It's even less so now that Spencer Rattler is starting again, depending on what you think of Derek Carr. Or even if you don't. The Saints nearly came back on WFT last week, and it has Saints writers, actually writing, with real words, that Darren Rizzi may have learned something about Spencer Rattler. Now, Troy Aikman has had to watch tape of him all week, and he's going to have to have an in-depth discourse on him. And none of it will matter, because we already know where this is headed. It just may have to last for another season if they decide they don't like any quarterbacks in this draft. The Saints are 3-11 all time in Wisconsin. And Alvin Kamara is questionable. The Packers have a playoff spot clinched, but they could be in a trap game here after running over the Seahawks in Seattle last week, and a revenge game against the Vikings on the horizon.
Thursday Night - Amazon Prime
DEN @ LAC: Some of the rules on this included that the game be decided 28 days ahead of time, and that if a team was playing on the road for a second Thursday this season, they had to approve it, which the Broncos did. So, we know who could've stopped this from happening. Or we know who to thank for not forcing us to watch the Browns again. Although that was fun last time. The Broncos and Chargers are thee 6 and 7 seeds respectively in the AFC, and there's a scenario where if the Chargers win, and other teams lose, that all seven AFC playoff teams would be decided with a full two weeks to go before the end of the season, which has never happened.
Saturday 1pm EST, NBC/Peacock
HOU @ KC: The Texans answered the bell last week against the Dolphins, and quelled a few non-believers in them. They are the AFC South champions for a second year in a row, even though it feels like their season has been disappointing. Their task will be beating the Chiefs in Kansas City, something the Texans have only done twice, but that may have more to do with the fact that this is only 6th time, including playoffs, that the two teams will play in KC. Five teams this season have yet to score 30 points in a game. The Chiefs are one of them, and they have more wins than the other four combined. Oh, and don't worry about Patrick Mahomes and his week-to-week ankle injury, he's been a full in practice all week.
Saturday 4:30pm EST, Fox
PIT @ BAL: Strange bedfellows here as this rivalry is airing on Fox. The shine has wore off the Russell Wilson-led offense for the Steelers as they were not only stuck in mud against the Eagles last week, but they could barely get the ball - they ran 11 plays in the second half on only two drives. However, they did beat the Ravens earlier in this season with him, by kicking six field goals (again). You'd say that can't happen again, especially in a revenge game, but it's a rivalry that's proven that if either team happens to get to 20, they will likely win. The last 8 meetings between these two teams has seen the winner score 20 or less. If you're wondering, this will be the Burkhardt/Brady broadcast. And seems like TJ Watt is a full go.
MAPS
PHI @ WSH: It's a Fox single week, and they only have 5 games on Sunday (next week CBS will only have 4). But they do have the overall best lineup, and it starts with the top two teams in the NFC East. The Eagles are on a franchise record 10-game winning streak after their win over the Steelers last week, and their final drive lasting over 10 minutes over 21 plays, which is obscene since they didn't even score. It was Jalen Hurts' best game of the season, and he made sure in the press conference that everyone was entertained. WFT nearly let a 17-0 lead get away to the Spencer Rattler-led Saints in the second half, having to stave off a game-winning two-point conversion attempt. They're currently in the final wild card spot in the NFC, and also have revenge on their mind with the Eagles making the train ride down to DC. They could use a bigger win, because their strength of victory is fourth-worst in the league despite being tied for the easiest schedule.
DET @ CHI: The Lions' defense really took it on the chin finally against the Bills last week, but despite the loss, they do still control their destiny in the NFC for the #1 seed, however with 21 players on IR or out for the season - by far the most in the league - it seems people are waiting for that to really catch up to them. On Thanksgiving, the Bears found a beat against them in the second half, and now they will play outdoors in Chicago. Not that being outdoors has been a detriment to the Lions, but they have their own revenge game next week in San Francisco on Monday night.
NYG @ ATL: It's officially Michael Penix, Jr. Season, the 8th overall pick in the NFL draft is being inserted into the lineup over a breaking-down Kirk Cousins, which can't feel good even though the Falcons won on Monday night. But it was the Raiders, and it was only 15-9, and the there was a safety involved. Penix gets a softball opponent. This is only the 26th time these two teams will play. By comparison, the Falcons have played the Seahawks 20 times, despite the Seahawks being in the NFC like 25 fewer years (there was an instance where the Giants and Falcons did not play for 10 years between 1988-1998), and the Steelers 19 teams despite only being in the same conference for two years. Penix found out he was starting while buying a hot dog at Costco. He didn't eat it.
ARZ @ CAR: When the Cardinals beat the Jets on November 10, it was their 4th win in a row, and they seemed like the team that did the most things that looked most like a playoff team. But their win over the Patriots last week stopped a 4-game skid to land them at 7-7, and need help from opponents of the Seahawks - which seems promising. But they can't look past the Carolina Panthers, who sadly fell flat on their face as last week as favorites for the first time in 34 games.
MIN @ SEA: Luckily for the Cardinals, the Seahawks have to play the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings. However, the game is in Seattle, and the Seahawks have proven they can rise to the challenge. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen losing 30-13 to the Packers last week, and Geno Smith getting injured. If he can't play, it's Sam Howell's game. The Vikings now get to keep pace with the Lions in hopes of winning the NFC North, but a big game against the Packers next week awaits.
LAR @ NYJ: The last two weeks have shown us that the Rams wan win multiple ways. After beating the Bill at home 44-42 to weeks ago, they managed a season series sweep of the 49ers on Thursday by beating them just 12-6. The last Ram to score a touchdown on the road at the Jets was Trung Candidate in 2005. And the Jets looked like they finally had some fun last week in beating the Jaguars. The Rams have climbed up to the 4 seed in the NFC as they now lead the NFC West, which is looking like a rematch against an NFC North team in the playoffs.
CLE @ CIN: It's probably a gift that this was the game moved out of Amazon Prime, maybe especially now that we will no longer witness the Jameis Winston Experience. It's Dorian Thompson-Robinson at QB for the Browns, who will have to deal with the Bengals explosive offense, even if their record doesn't match that. The Bengals could be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss if the Chargers win.
TEN @ IND: The Colts could also be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss and Chargers win, as their ugly loss in Denver last week did them no favors. The Titans want you to know that if you think they're soft, you're full of shit. That was the message from Brian Callahan.
SF @ MIA: This is a playoff eliminator, almost assuredly, for both teams, so this I guess is a big game. A Dolphins loss and Chargers win would eliminate them, while a 49ers loss could eliminate them. The year after losing the Super Bowl is a bitch. The Dolphins have now lost two of three, while they were taken to overtime by the Jets at home, as the seat is warming again around Mike McDaniel. If they can find a way past the 49ers, their schedule looks good despite closing with two road games against the Browns and Jets.
NE @ BUF: Well, the Bills have passed all the tests. They have earned the schedule they have to end the season - two games against the Patriots and one against the Jets. Though, they also can't look past anyone. They've beaten the Chiefs and Lions, Josh Allen is almost definitely going to buck the trend of NFL MVP winners receiving a bye in the playoffs (unless they manage to get it). They've dealt with injuries and weather concerns, although I don't think snow during games really concerns them. They do need to work out things on defense, as they became the first team since the 1966 Giants to both score and allow 40 in consecutive games. At least they didn't give up 72 in one of them.
JAX @ LV: Fans of Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes may be the only people interested in this game.
Sunday Night, NBC
TB @ DAL: Unfortunately, we will be forced to watch the Dallas Cowboys in yet another prime time spot. And as things stand, they are currently a full national next week. At least the Bucs are fun, they hung 40 points on the #1 scoring defense in SoFi against the Chargers last week. And as the Falcons have fallen apart, those two losses the Bucs have against them, they are almost past. Unless they lose.
Monday Night, ABC/ESPN
NO @ GB: Maybe it looked genius after Week 2, but this is Week 15, so someone needs to tell me why the NFL schedule makers thought this was an intriguing game. It's even less so now that Spencer Rattler is starting again, depending on what you think of Derek Carr. Or even if you don't. The Saints nearly came back on WFT last week, and it has Saints writers, actually writing, with real words, that Darren Rizzi may have learned something about Spencer Rattler. Now, Troy Aikman has had to watch tape of him all week, and he's going to have to have an in-depth discourse on him. And none of it will matter, because we already know where this is headed. It just may have to last for another season if they decide they don't like any quarterbacks in this draft. The Saints are 3-11 all time in Wisconsin. And Alvin Kamara is questionable. The Packers have a playoff spot clinched, but they could be in a trap game here after running over the Seahawks in Seattle last week, and a revenge game against the Vikings on the horizon.
