GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
- 194,480
- 44,335
Well, we made it. 18 weeks of regular season football. 18 weeks of coming up with thread titles. 18 weeks of Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback for the New York Jets. All the Thursdays, and national windows, and bad teams. And good ones too. The good ones will continue to play football. The bad ones, we wish would stop. And after today, they will. As has been the standard with the latest media rights contracts, there is no game on Thursday or Monday. But there are two on Saturday, as the duel in the AFC South will culminate. Also, as is traditional, both CBS and Fox will have doubleheaders, so anyone not watching Red Zone can at least go back and forth all day, if they find enough compelling things going on, that is. After this, we will have the NEW Off-season thread, along with Black Monday to follow. Sometimes that starts on Sunday, but it will be Monday somewhere.
Saturday 4:30pm, ABC/ESPN
CLE @ BAL: The Ravens can lock down the AFC North and the 3-seed with a win over a division rival where they opened as 18-point favorites. The Browns are letting Dorian Thompson-Robinson get snaps, just in case Jameis Winston were to accidentally lead them to another win. There are some who feel Lamar Jackson still has a case to make here for his MVP case. This is also a revenge game as the Ravens somehow lost to the Browns earlier in the season, but I'm thinking we're gonna see some Ravens backups before this is over.
Saturday 8pm, ABC/ESPN
CIN @ PIT: The Bengals never got straightened out, but they have won 4 in a row since the last time they played the Steelers on December 1. They're managing to win the close games now, but their run looks like it may have started a week or two too late after waiting the whole first half of the season for it. That said, they do still have a chance to get into the playoffs with a win, and losses by Miami and Denver. They were even installed as favorites here against Pittsburgh, who can still win the AFC North, but they may also be playing to avoid being leapfrogged by the Chargers, which would then lead to a third Ravens/Steelers game next week, probably on Saturday night. Which, you can sign me up for that, too.
MAPS
CAR @ ATL: Alright, some of these we can keep short given they are meaningless games. The Panthers are obviously playing for nothing, and some of their hard work has been unraveled a bit being blown out by the Bucs last week. The Falcons lost a heartbreaker in Washington in overtime, but Michael Penix, Jr. looks good so far, clearly better than Kirk Cousins. They need to win and hope the Bucs lose to the Saints to win the NFC North.
NYG @ PHI: Where on earth did that effort come from last week? The Giants hung 45 on the Colts, double their previous highest total for home games this season, and no longer hold the 1st overall pick. The Eagles have decided to rest who they can, so Saquon Barkley is not going for Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, which takes any juice out of this game Kenny Pickett left last week's 41-7 win over Dallas with aggravated ribs, so it may be Tanner McKee Time. The Eagles are locked into the 2 seed in the NFC
BUF @ NE: These two teams played their first matchup just two weeks ago, which is weird to have happen. Seems like there could've been better schedule-making there. The Bills are locked into 2 seed in the AFC. Josh Allen is expected to start but not play long.
HOU @ TEN: The Titans are one of four teams who are 3-13, which means they could come away with the #1 overall pick. The Texans are locked into the 4-seed in the AFC, and will probably play next Saturday, because they always do.
NO @ TB: Second year in a row that the Bucs will come into Week 18 with a win-and-in scenario for the division title. The Saints felt pretty embarrassed losing to the Raiders at home last week, and with the events unfolding in New Orleans, will likely feel more of an impetus to play hard for their city. They also were embarrassed by the first meeting where the Saints had a 27-point second quarter, but scored none in any of the other three and lost by 24. There's enough here apparently
WSH @ DAL: Last week Dallas started hard, but upon being given a reason to quit, did exactly that against the Eagles. WFT had that huge win against the Falcons last week, and Jayden Daniels has put together a few games in a row where he looked like the rookie of the year contender we saw early in the season. WFT is still hoping to improve their playoff position, needing a win here to move up to the 6-seed in the NFC and avoid a third matchup with the Eagles next week.
CHI @ GB: The Packers are currently slotted as the 7-seed, which would give them a trip to Philadelphia next week and rematch of their Week 1 game in Brazil. The Packers are 11-5, but 1-4 in the division having been swept by both Detroit and Minnesota. The Bears have not won since their bye week and subsequent gag in Washington. They've hung in some games, but maybe had an even more hilarious loss to Seattle last Thursday, 6-3. Let's see if they show something against their forever rival.
JAX @ IND: Whoever feels compelled to watch this game - and as you can see by the map, is not very many - will at least have a decent PXP guy in Jason Benetti.
MIA @ NYJ: The Dolphins still live, but they're living again without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Snoop Huntley managed them to a 20-3 win in Cleveland last week, and he will need to do so again, and do so in cold weather while hoping the Broncos lose. Aaron Rodgers is insisting his two years with the Jets is the best two years of his life, which is as convicting as claiming Charlie Brown had hoes. Is this is final game? A lot of people are hoping so, something else he learned from Brett Favre.
SEA @ LAR: The Rams clinched the NFC West on account of strength of victory that played out last week, but may still need to win to maintain hold on the 3-seed if Tampa Bay wins. So we probably need to keep watch on that inactive list for them. We missed out on this being for the division itself. The Seahawks will have a winning record for the second year in a row while also missing the playoffs in both of them.
SF @ AZ: Two teams running out the clock.
KC @ DEN: Last week, the Broncos could have both went for a game-winning two-point conversion in Cincinnati, or played for a tie with the ball in their hands and still clinch a playoff spot. They did neither and lost, so they will need to win this game to assure their spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Andy Reid has been consistent in his career that he rests players, so there will be no Patrick Mahomes, but there will be a resurfacing of Carson Wentz. And, you know, the Chiefs have had their struggles on offense, but that seems to be rounding into form. And I just don't think you can look past Carson Wentz just because his best year is a long time ago as he is now following the Nick Foles Path to Redemption (Foles was Chiefs back up under Andy Reid in 2016 after nearly retiring and then won a Super Bowl, and that was pre-Mahomes). The Chiefs have proven to still play these games competitively, and we all know there's no sure thing in the NFL.
LAC @ LV: The Chargers sound like they're full-go, and it appears people in Oregon will need something to feel good about. The Chargers are currently the 6-seed, but that can improve if a Steelers loss and a win here, and they would get a trip to Houston in lieu of Baltimore, and probably be favored in that game. The Raiders appear to be a team that will be one of the main characters this off-season.
Sunday Night Football 8:20, NBC
MIN @ DET: Game 272 will feature the first regular season game in NFL history between two teams with 14 wins. The winner will get the 1 seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. The loser will be the 5-seed and probably will have to play the other team on their field in two weeks if they win a road game next week. The Lions have never had the 1 seed in the NFC and have only otherwise had a playoff bye once, in 1991. Everyone knows the Lions have been decimated by injuries, but they still played to win on Monday in San Francisco and put 40 on them and their reasonably healthy defense, so the Lions still have reason to think they can go in and outscore anybody, just a matter of whether that translates in the playoffs. The Vikings have reason to think they can win a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold, which is very Vikings of them, they do have a great defense, and the first game went down to the end. Just makes me think what they could have if they drafted another player with their first round pick.
Saturday 4:30pm, ABC/ESPN
CLE @ BAL: The Ravens can lock down the AFC North and the 3-seed with a win over a division rival where they opened as 18-point favorites. The Browns are letting Dorian Thompson-Robinson get snaps, just in case Jameis Winston were to accidentally lead them to another win. There are some who feel Lamar Jackson still has a case to make here for his MVP case. This is also a revenge game as the Ravens somehow lost to the Browns earlier in the season, but I'm thinking we're gonna see some Ravens backups before this is over.
Saturday 8pm, ABC/ESPN
CIN @ PIT: The Bengals never got straightened out, but they have won 4 in a row since the last time they played the Steelers on December 1. They're managing to win the close games now, but their run looks like it may have started a week or two too late after waiting the whole first half of the season for it. That said, they do still have a chance to get into the playoffs with a win, and losses by Miami and Denver. They were even installed as favorites here against Pittsburgh, who can still win the AFC North, but they may also be playing to avoid being leapfrogged by the Chargers, which would then lead to a third Ravens/Steelers game next week, probably on Saturday night. Which, you can sign me up for that, too.
MAPS
CAR @ ATL: Alright, some of these we can keep short given they are meaningless games. The Panthers are obviously playing for nothing, and some of their hard work has been unraveled a bit being blown out by the Bucs last week. The Falcons lost a heartbreaker in Washington in overtime, but Michael Penix, Jr. looks good so far, clearly better than Kirk Cousins. They need to win and hope the Bucs lose to the Saints to win the NFC North.
NYG @ PHI: Where on earth did that effort come from last week? The Giants hung 45 on the Colts, double their previous highest total for home games this season, and no longer hold the 1st overall pick. The Eagles have decided to rest who they can, so Saquon Barkley is not going for Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, which takes any juice out of this game Kenny Pickett left last week's 41-7 win over Dallas with aggravated ribs, so it may be Tanner McKee Time. The Eagles are locked into the 2 seed in the NFC
BUF @ NE: These two teams played their first matchup just two weeks ago, which is weird to have happen. Seems like there could've been better schedule-making there. The Bills are locked into 2 seed in the AFC. Josh Allen is expected to start but not play long.
HOU @ TEN: The Titans are one of four teams who are 3-13, which means they could come away with the #1 overall pick. The Texans are locked into the 4-seed in the AFC, and will probably play next Saturday, because they always do.
NO @ TB: Second year in a row that the Bucs will come into Week 18 with a win-and-in scenario for the division title. The Saints felt pretty embarrassed losing to the Raiders at home last week, and with the events unfolding in New Orleans, will likely feel more of an impetus to play hard for their city. They also were embarrassed by the first meeting where the Saints had a 27-point second quarter, but scored none in any of the other three and lost by 24. There's enough here apparently
WSH @ DAL: Last week Dallas started hard, but upon being given a reason to quit, did exactly that against the Eagles. WFT had that huge win against the Falcons last week, and Jayden Daniels has put together a few games in a row where he looked like the rookie of the year contender we saw early in the season. WFT is still hoping to improve their playoff position, needing a win here to move up to the 6-seed in the NFC and avoid a third matchup with the Eagles next week.
CHI @ GB: The Packers are currently slotted as the 7-seed, which would give them a trip to Philadelphia next week and rematch of their Week 1 game in Brazil. The Packers are 11-5, but 1-4 in the division having been swept by both Detroit and Minnesota. The Bears have not won since their bye week and subsequent gag in Washington. They've hung in some games, but maybe had an even more hilarious loss to Seattle last Thursday, 6-3. Let's see if they show something against their forever rival.
JAX @ IND: Whoever feels compelled to watch this game - and as you can see by the map, is not very many - will at least have a decent PXP guy in Jason Benetti.
MIA @ NYJ: The Dolphins still live, but they're living again without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Snoop Huntley managed them to a 20-3 win in Cleveland last week, and he will need to do so again, and do so in cold weather while hoping the Broncos lose. Aaron Rodgers is insisting his two years with the Jets is the best two years of his life, which is as convicting as claiming Charlie Brown had hoes. Is this is final game? A lot of people are hoping so, something else he learned from Brett Favre.
SEA @ LAR: The Rams clinched the NFC West on account of strength of victory that played out last week, but may still need to win to maintain hold on the 3-seed if Tampa Bay wins. So we probably need to keep watch on that inactive list for them. We missed out on this being for the division itself. The Seahawks will have a winning record for the second year in a row while also missing the playoffs in both of them.
SF @ AZ: Two teams running out the clock.
KC @ DEN: Last week, the Broncos could have both went for a game-winning two-point conversion in Cincinnati, or played for a tie with the ball in their hands and still clinch a playoff spot. They did neither and lost, so they will need to win this game to assure their spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Andy Reid has been consistent in his career that he rests players, so there will be no Patrick Mahomes, but there will be a resurfacing of Carson Wentz. And, you know, the Chiefs have had their struggles on offense, but that seems to be rounding into form. And I just don't think you can look past Carson Wentz just because his best year is a long time ago as he is now following the Nick Foles Path to Redemption (Foles was Chiefs back up under Andy Reid in 2016 after nearly retiring and then won a Super Bowl, and that was pre-Mahomes). The Chiefs have proven to still play these games competitively, and we all know there's no sure thing in the NFL.
LAC @ LV: The Chargers sound like they're full-go, and it appears people in Oregon will need something to feel good about. The Chargers are currently the 6-seed, but that can improve if a Steelers loss and a win here, and they would get a trip to Houston in lieu of Baltimore, and probably be favored in that game. The Raiders appear to be a team that will be one of the main characters this off-season.
Sunday Night Football 8:20, NBC
MIN @ DET: Game 272 will feature the first regular season game in NFL history between two teams with 14 wins. The winner will get the 1 seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. The loser will be the 5-seed and probably will have to play the other team on their field in two weeks if they win a road game next week. The Lions have never had the 1 seed in the NFC and have only otherwise had a playoff bye once, in 1991. Everyone knows the Lions have been decimated by injuries, but they still played to win on Monday in San Francisco and put 40 on them and their reasonably healthy defense, so the Lions still have reason to think they can go in and outscore anybody, just a matter of whether that translates in the playoffs. The Vikings have reason to think they can win a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold, which is very Vikings of them, they do have a great defense, and the first game went down to the end. Just makes me think what they could have if they drafted another player with their first round pick.
