JO_75
Hall of Famer
Week 17 is now upon us and after 16 grueling weeks of the NFL, we know 10 of the 12 playoff teams that will have a chance at a Lombardi Trophy. Only two spots remaining, the AFC's 6th Seed and whether Dallas or Philly win the NFC East. As for the other teams, it's a matter of Head Coaches fighting for their jobs, players fighting for roster spots in 2020 and finalizing the Top 20 NFL Draft Order.
Jets @ Bills: This game doesn't mean much at all to the playoffs, the Bills are locked in at the 5th seed and will likely face the fourth seeded Texans in the Wild Card unless there is a surprise upset by the Chargers. It was such a disappointing season for the Jets that showed promise early on until injuries derailed the team and Sam Darnold needed to call Ghost Busters. The question is whether Adam Gase returns next season or not.
Browns @ Bengals: They say nothing good comes out of Ohio, except some kid named Joe Burrow who thought he left Ohio for good but has to return to save the Bengals Franchise. As for Cleveland, their season of hopes and dreams became rubbish as the team fell apart and was nowhere near the Super Bowl contenders people expected them to be. Can the Bengals win one more after nearly pulling off the win against Miami in OT or will Cleveland show enough for Freddie Kitchens to make it to year two as the Browns Head Coach?
Falcons @ Buccaneers: Congrats Dan Quinn, you get another year to turn things around after going 5-2(potentially 6-2) after the BYE week. Maybe in 2020, Atlanta will finally get over the hangover of their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Jameis Winston improved this season and has seen the light under Bruce Arians and had 31 Touchdowns this season, his highest touchdown total since 2016. Unfortunately, he has severed up 28 INTs and with two interceptions on Sunday, he will be the first QB to throw 30 TDs and 30 Interceptions in the same season.
Saints @ Panthers: The Saints head to Charlotte to close out the year against the Carolina Panthers with an owner ready to hit the reset button and start fresh with the new decade. Questions surround the future of Cam Newton in the Queen City, who will replace Ron Rivera as the next head coach? For the Saints, they need an upset from the Lions along with a win to secure a first round bye, and need a 49ers loss on top of a Packers loss to secure home field advantage.
Packers @ Lions: Congrats Matt Patricia, you get one more season to make The Patriot Way work in Detroit or your fired. It's amazing how the Lions have declined since letting Jim Caldwell go but Green Bay is fighting for something here. Green Bay needs a win to clinch a first round bye, and a Seahawks win over the 49ers to clinch home field advantage in the NFC.
Bears @ Vikings: The thing about week 17 is you don't know which playoff teams are resting their starters or playing their starters. The Vikings have already decided to rest their starters meaning the Bears will be playing the backups as Minnesota is locked into the sixth seed, the only question now is which team will the Vikings be playing Wild Card weekend.
Chargers @ Chiefs: For the Chargers, Philip Rivers will likely end his career as a Charger or potentially NFL career all together asking himself what could have been. The Chargers wasted his talent away making him the Dan Marino of the 2004 Draft Class. The Chiefs still have a chance at a BYE this week if the Pats lose to the Dolphins but we will likely see Patrick Mahomes and company next weekend playing whoever the sixth seed ends up being.
Dolphins @ Patriots: Despite losses to three of the young QBs who will lead the next decade of NFL Quarterbacks(Jackson, Watson & Mahomes), here they are once again AFC East Champions with a BYE week for Belichick to study 360 degree camera angles and hack into every Bluetooth device at the stadiums. Thanks to Fitzmagic, the Dolphins screwed up their own Blow for Burrow tanking strategy and didn't get the first overall pick.
Cardinals @ Rams: The Rams will complete their Super Bowl hangover by missing the playoffs. This time last year, Sean McVay's own parents could have gotten head coaching jobs because they raised him. Now the Rams find themselves out of the playoffs and need a new defensive coordinator if Wade Phillips being on the outs is true. Murray showed promise in Arizona but it's going to take several strong offseasons to compete with the likes of the 49ers, Seahawks & Rams but they have a bright future. Will this be the final game we see Larry Fitzgerald play in the NFL or will he once again suit up in 2020 and the start of the new decade?
Colts @ Jaguars: Mean Old Mr. Coughlin is gone and questions remain about the future of Doug Marrone in Jacksonville. It seems he is safe reading Khan's statement about firing Tom Coughlin but we'll see come black Monday. Despite the shocking news to start the season, it wasn't Andrew Luck's retirement that proved to be costly. The Colts were competitive and got off to a 5-2 start before Adam Vinatieri started missing kicks. One has to wonder if Adam had retired, if the Colts would be playing in January.
Redskins @ Cowboys: Despite the loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys still have a shot at winning the NFC East barring an Eagles loss to the Giants. Dwayne Haskins' rookie season comes to an end and if the Redskins don't bring in the right coach to develop him, he won't have much success. Jason Garrett's contract expires at the end of this game, so there is no need for Jerry to fire Jason as he becomes a free agent on Monday, again barring a Giants win over the Eagles. Will Jerry Jones turn to College Football and look for a new Jimmy Johnson to lead the Cowboys into the next decade?
Eagles @ Giants: This game is all about the Eagles and if they can win to clinch the NFC East. Pat Shurmur is gone and the Giants need to find a Head Coach who can develop Daniel Jones into the next great QB for the G-Men. Reports are that Eli Manning is going to retire following this game. Eli may not start, the Giants may not even win and watch the Eagles clinch the division title but Eli will get one final standing ovation from the Giants fans as he was the reason they won two Super Bowls and why the Patriots don't have 8 rings.
Titans @ Texans: This game starts at 4:25pm, and the Texans say they will play to win but if the Chiefs win could they bench their starters? Thanks to the Jets, all the Titans have to do is win and they are in the playoffs. In fact, they very well could be playing a Chiefs team who they went toe to toe with and beat earlier in the year. A loss opens up the door for the Steelers if they were to win but Tennessee has a big decision to make at QB, how much should they pay Ryan Tannehill who has took their offense to a level Marcus Mariota never could?
Raiders @ Broncos: It may be for a lack of game film, but Drew Lock just may make Elway look like a genius. Lock has played well since taking over, even a dominating road win against the AFC South Champion Houston Texans. Could Drew Lock and the Broncos spoil the Raiders playoff hopes if everything were to go their way? The Raiders head to Sin City next year but look to give the city of Oakland one last playoff appearance. They have to beat the Broncos, Titans and Steelers must lose and the Colts have to beat the Jaguars in order for the Raiders to make the playoffs as the sixth seed.
49ers @ Seahawks: The NFC is so jumbled up, the Seahawks and 49ers can end up anywhere between the 1 and 5 seed. For the 49ers, they just need a huge road win over the Seahawks to secure home field advantage and the NFC West. Seattle needs a win and a Packers loss to secure a first round bye, and need the Saints & Packers to lose to secure home field advantage. How much of a difference will the return of Marshawn Lynch make in this NFC West Championship Fight? Can the 49ers avenge their loss from earlier in the season by going into Seattle and getting a much needed BYE week?
Jets @ Bills: This game doesn't mean much at all to the playoffs, the Bills are locked in at the 5th seed and will likely face the fourth seeded Texans in the Wild Card unless there is a surprise upset by the Chargers. It was such a disappointing season for the Jets that showed promise early on until injuries derailed the team and Sam Darnold needed to call Ghost Busters. The question is whether Adam Gase returns next season or not.
Browns @ Bengals: They say nothing good comes out of Ohio, except some kid named Joe Burrow who thought he left Ohio for good but has to return to save the Bengals Franchise. As for Cleveland, their season of hopes and dreams became rubbish as the team fell apart and was nowhere near the Super Bowl contenders people expected them to be. Can the Bengals win one more after nearly pulling off the win against Miami in OT or will Cleveland show enough for Freddie Kitchens to make it to year two as the Browns Head Coach?
Falcons @ Buccaneers: Congrats Dan Quinn, you get another year to turn things around after going 5-2(potentially 6-2) after the BYE week. Maybe in 2020, Atlanta will finally get over the hangover of their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Jameis Winston improved this season and has seen the light under Bruce Arians and had 31 Touchdowns this season, his highest touchdown total since 2016. Unfortunately, he has severed up 28 INTs and with two interceptions on Sunday, he will be the first QB to throw 30 TDs and 30 Interceptions in the same season.
Saints @ Panthers: The Saints head to Charlotte to close out the year against the Carolina Panthers with an owner ready to hit the reset button and start fresh with the new decade. Questions surround the future of Cam Newton in the Queen City, who will replace Ron Rivera as the next head coach? For the Saints, they need an upset from the Lions along with a win to secure a first round bye, and need a 49ers loss on top of a Packers loss to secure home field advantage.
Packers @ Lions: Congrats Matt Patricia, you get one more season to make The Patriot Way work in Detroit or your fired. It's amazing how the Lions have declined since letting Jim Caldwell go but Green Bay is fighting for something here. Green Bay needs a win to clinch a first round bye, and a Seahawks win over the 49ers to clinch home field advantage in the NFC.
Bears @ Vikings: The thing about week 17 is you don't know which playoff teams are resting their starters or playing their starters. The Vikings have already decided to rest their starters meaning the Bears will be playing the backups as Minnesota is locked into the sixth seed, the only question now is which team will the Vikings be playing Wild Card weekend.
Chargers @ Chiefs: For the Chargers, Philip Rivers will likely end his career as a Charger or potentially NFL career all together asking himself what could have been. The Chargers wasted his talent away making him the Dan Marino of the 2004 Draft Class. The Chiefs still have a chance at a BYE this week if the Pats lose to the Dolphins but we will likely see Patrick Mahomes and company next weekend playing whoever the sixth seed ends up being.
Dolphins @ Patriots: Despite losses to three of the young QBs who will lead the next decade of NFL Quarterbacks(Jackson, Watson & Mahomes), here they are once again AFC East Champions with a BYE week for Belichick to study 360 degree camera angles and hack into every Bluetooth device at the stadiums. Thanks to Fitzmagic, the Dolphins screwed up their own Blow for Burrow tanking strategy and didn't get the first overall pick.
Cardinals @ Rams: The Rams will complete their Super Bowl hangover by missing the playoffs. This time last year, Sean McVay's own parents could have gotten head coaching jobs because they raised him. Now the Rams find themselves out of the playoffs and need a new defensive coordinator if Wade Phillips being on the outs is true. Murray showed promise in Arizona but it's going to take several strong offseasons to compete with the likes of the 49ers, Seahawks & Rams but they have a bright future. Will this be the final game we see Larry Fitzgerald play in the NFL or will he once again suit up in 2020 and the start of the new decade?
Colts @ Jaguars: Mean Old Mr. Coughlin is gone and questions remain about the future of Doug Marrone in Jacksonville. It seems he is safe reading Khan's statement about firing Tom Coughlin but we'll see come black Monday. Despite the shocking news to start the season, it wasn't Andrew Luck's retirement that proved to be costly. The Colts were competitive and got off to a 5-2 start before Adam Vinatieri started missing kicks. One has to wonder if Adam had retired, if the Colts would be playing in January.
Redskins @ Cowboys: Despite the loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys still have a shot at winning the NFC East barring an Eagles loss to the Giants. Dwayne Haskins' rookie season comes to an end and if the Redskins don't bring in the right coach to develop him, he won't have much success. Jason Garrett's contract expires at the end of this game, so there is no need for Jerry to fire Jason as he becomes a free agent on Monday, again barring a Giants win over the Eagles. Will Jerry Jones turn to College Football and look for a new Jimmy Johnson to lead the Cowboys into the next decade?
Eagles @ Giants: This game is all about the Eagles and if they can win to clinch the NFC East. Pat Shurmur is gone and the Giants need to find a Head Coach who can develop Daniel Jones into the next great QB for the G-Men. Reports are that Eli Manning is going to retire following this game. Eli may not start, the Giants may not even win and watch the Eagles clinch the division title but Eli will get one final standing ovation from the Giants fans as he was the reason they won two Super Bowls and why the Patriots don't have 8 rings.
Titans @ Texans: This game starts at 4:25pm, and the Texans say they will play to win but if the Chiefs win could they bench their starters? Thanks to the Jets, all the Titans have to do is win and they are in the playoffs. In fact, they very well could be playing a Chiefs team who they went toe to toe with and beat earlier in the year. A loss opens up the door for the Steelers if they were to win but Tennessee has a big decision to make at QB, how much should they pay Ryan Tannehill who has took their offense to a level Marcus Mariota never could?
Raiders @ Broncos: It may be for a lack of game film, but Drew Lock just may make Elway look like a genius. Lock has played well since taking over, even a dominating road win against the AFC South Champion Houston Texans. Could Drew Lock and the Broncos spoil the Raiders playoff hopes if everything were to go their way? The Raiders head to Sin City next year but look to give the city of Oakland one last playoff appearance. They have to beat the Broncos, Titans and Steelers must lose and the Colts have to beat the Jaguars in order for the Raiders to make the playoffs as the sixth seed.
49ers @ Seahawks: The NFC is so jumbled up, the Seahawks and 49ers can end up anywhere between the 1 and 5 seed. For the 49ers, they just need a huge road win over the Seahawks to secure home field advantage and the NFC West. Seattle needs a win and a Packers loss to secure a first round bye, and need the Saints & Packers to lose to secure home field advantage. How much of a difference will the return of Marshawn Lynch make in this NFC West Championship Fight? Can the 49ers avenge their loss from earlier in the season by going into Seattle and getting a much needed BYE week?
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