Week 17 Other Games

Didn't see one already up. On the slate we have:

1:00 Games

ATL@TB: Influences playoff seeding. If the Bucs win, they face the winner of the NFC East guaranteed. If they lose, they may face NO, GB, or SEA in the Wild Card Round.

DAL@NYG: Influences playoff picture. If WAS loses to PHI, the winner of this game is in the playoffs. Yes, that means the NYG can qualify for the playoffs with a 6-10 season. Personally I'm kinda rooting for that because it would be hilarious.

MIN@DET: Influences draft order. Both of these teams are bad, and both are guaranteed out of the playoffs. Not exactly a must-watch game.

PIT@CLE: Influences playoff picture, seeding. The Browns are one of 5 teams in the AFC with a 10-5 record, competing for 4 spots. One of those will be Titans / Colts, but the Browns are playing for the chance to get into the playoffs while the Steelers are resting starters.

BAL@CIN: Influences playoff picture, seeding. The Ravens are another of the 5 teams in the AFC with a 10-5 record. The Bengals are terrible though, so this is unlikely to be particularly competitive.

MIA@BUF: Influences playoff picture, seeding. The Dolphins are yet another of the 5 teams in the AFC with a 10-5 record. Buffalo already has things locked up. This is also potentially interesting just as it's between divisional foes.

4:25 Games

SEA@SF: Influences playoff seeding. The Seahawks could potentially still get the #1 seed, if things fall their way. Both GB and NO have to lose for that to be a possibility, but it could happen.

ARI@LA: Influences playoff picture. The winner of this game will be in the playoffs. If ARI loses, they're out. If LA loses, they're out, unless the Bears also lose, in which case the Bears would be out and the Rams would be in.

JAX@IND: Influences playoff picture. The Colts are currently on the outside looking in, but they're yet another 10-5 team in the AFC, and it's still possible for them to win the division, if they win and the Titans lose. If the Titans win, they still have a shot if one of the Ravens, Browns, or Dolphins lose. If they lose, they're out.

TEN@HOU: Influences playoff picture. The Titans are currently leading their division, and with a win they're in. If they lose, and the Colts win, as well as the Dolphins, Ravens, and Browns, they could be out.

LV@DEN: Influences draft order. Two teams knocked out of playoff contention. The Raiders aren't terrible, but regardless, a largely meaningless game to anyone other than those involved.

LAC@KC: Influences practically nothing. LAC is out. KC is the #1 seed. In theory it might have an impact on LAC's draft spot, but this is about as meaningless as they come. KC is resting their starters.

GB@CHI: Influences playoff picture, seeding. If GB wins, they're guaranteed the #1 seed. If CHI wins, they're guaranteed to be in the playoffs. Both teams will be playing for something, should be a good, competitive game.

NO@CAR: Influences playoff seeding. NO could still win the #1 seed, if they win and GB loses. NO will be without their entire RB room, though, which may make this more or less interesting to watch depending on how you look at it.

8:20 Game

WAS@PHI: Influences playoff picture. If WAS wins this game, they are in, as the champion of the NFC East, as unimpressive as it may be. PHI is already out, but if they win, the winner of the DAL/NYG game is in.

Of note, on the AFC side, an 11-5 team could miss the playoffs, while on the NFC side, a 6-10 team could make it in. I'm not sure I've ever seen the conferences so lopsided. Only 4 games lack impact on the playoff picture, though a lot of that has to do with the disaster which is the NFC East. I wouldn't blame a lot of folks for skipping out on the weekend entirely, but there definitely should be some interesting games for those who are so inclined.
 
The Bears made it in at 8-8. Dolphins are out of the playoffs. The 6-10 playoff team dream is still alive. Plus, there have been some genuinely entertaining games today. Overall not too shabby.
 
Pedersen is getting serious flack from his own players for tanking that game. That is why it's a lousy strategy to follow, the downside is significant. Pedersen has lost a lot of his players on this.
 
Pedersen is getting serious flack from his own players for tanking that game. That is why it's a lousy strategy to follow, the downside is significant. Pedersen has lost a lot of his players on this.

Yeah, forget the Giants. Nobody should be outraged because it screwed over the Giants. That team only won 6 games anyway. The issue here is Pederson doing this to his own players. It definitely seems like there's no going back from that.

This is why I was ultimately happy Pats beat the Jests. BB was never going into the game to possibly lose. There were so many reasons to do so yet he still coached to win the game as it should be.
 
Back
Top