WEEK 17; Playoffs Push
We made it. This season had many low points and more than enough high points. Honestly, I will look back at this season with two takeaways. The first was how Covid-19 affected the game and the season, the game looked ugly at times. The other takeaway is that the NFL provided us as fans some joy and sanity. For a year that was difficult in every facet, the NFL gave us the much-needed enjoyment that we craved in our lives. With Week 17 in the books, there are some games that have little significance on the season but many with a major impact on the playoffs that will take place next week.
Vikings-Lions
The only major takeaway anyone should have after watching this game is that both defenses need fixing. This season has been a lost cause for both teams and the defenses have to be blamed. Many think that Matthew Stafford needs to be replaced as the Lions quarterback, honestly, he was keeping that team afloat. It will be a long offseason for both teams but with a good draft class, we can see both teams relevant next year.
Jets-Patriots
A reminder that Adam Gase needed to be fired. This game was almost a reality check for the Jets and it should be a reminder of a few things. One, Adam Gase needed to be fired and he has destroyed this franchise. Two, Sam Darnold has witnessed his career destroyed by this franchise and needs a change of scenery. Three, The Jets can’t make the same mistake again and hire a head coach solely for his ability to coordinate an offense or defense, they need a leader who can fix this broken franchise.
The Patriots have a different outlook on this season. Yes, they failed to make the playoffs, but a lot had to go wrong for that to happen. Many of the star players on the defense opted-out of the season. Tom Brady left in free agency and Cam Newton wasn’t a viable replacement. The schedule was especially difficult and the Bills and Dolphins became greater than we expected. Will the Patriots be back? They should be but there is a decent amount of work to be done this offseason.
Falcons-Buccaneers
The Buccaneers locked up the five seed and the Falcons locked up the fourth pick in the draft. The Bucs are the team of focus since they look like two different teams depending on the week. There have been times that Tom Brady has missed throws deep and the run game is non-existent. Likewise, there have been games that the defense has looked exposable and vulnerable to any offense. However, Tampa has looked great in recent weeks and some might even say a Super Bowl team. The Wild Card playoffs game should be interesting since Washington isn’t a better team, rather they match up very well against the Bucs.
Steelers-Browns
Twitter was created in 2006. This means that until today, nobody has Tweeted anything about the Browns clinching a playoff spot. It does feel weird but at the same time, not surprising for anyone that has watched the Browns this season. They built an offense that is run-first behind an excellent offensive line and allows Baker Mayfield to make smart, low-risk passes. The Browns have also looked like one of the best teams in the AFC throughout the season and may have lost to the Jets in Week 16, they were able to sneak in. The Browns will have to face the Steelers in the Wild Card playoff round but this time, the Steelers will be starting Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers and Browns have a one-sided rivalry but Cleveland matches up surprisingly well with what Pittsburgh does. It should be interesting to watch.
Dolphins-Bills
The Bills fan base has to be overjoyed these days. Josh Allen is breaking the game and the offense looks unstoppable. In addition, the defense is starting to find their strengths at the perfect time and enter the playoffs suitable to halt any offense. In the AFC, the Chiefs appear to be the heavy-favorite but if there is any team that can give them problems, it would be Buffalo. Josh Allen has to be a reminder for any team hoping to find the next great quarterback, it’s preferable to build the offense around the strengths of your quarterback.
The Dolphins got the short end of the stick this season. This team looked great the entire year and any other season would have been a playoff team. The Dolphins have a lot to look forward to as they prepare for next season. They have a great defense, many quality players on the offensive side of the ball, and most importantly, the Texans first-round draft pick, which is the third pick in the draft.
Cowboys-Giants
This game reminded us of the downfall of the Dallas Cowboys. They went all-in on this season, yet failed to beat a Giants team that had zero expectation of being competitive at this point in the season. The Cowboys enter this offseason in a cap Hell unlike any other. Some players will have to be released and others might have to be traded. I don’t know if Mike McCarthy will stay as the head coach but we saw from this season that he won’t be the answer for the Cowboys in the future. This game did remind us of the foundation that Joe Judge has in place to compete next season. Joe Judge did more with far less than any coach in the NFC East. The Giants will enter this offseason with question marks but the fans can be hopeful of a bright future.
Ravens-Bengals
This game went as expected. The Ravens once again played an easy opponent on their schedule and took care of business. The Bengals won back-to-back games entering the regular-season finale but anyone could tell the victories were circumstantial (playing a Steelers team that was searching for their identity and then beating a broken Texans team). This allowed the Ravens to win and do so easily to secure the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs. They will face the Titans in a rematch of last season’s embarrassment, which leaves us more than enough storylines.
Saints-Panthers
The Saints ended this game early and secured the second seed in the NFC. This could have been a trap game considering the Saints didn’t have any of their running backs and were playing a tricky Panthers team, but the route began and the Panthers players were hoping the clock would hit zero. The Saints enter the playoffs as one of the favorites to make the Super Bowl. Will this year be different from the previous three? Will the Saints find a way to close out each game and not give their fans more heartbreak? They have to hope they can get Alvin Kamara back (Michael Thomas would be nice too).
Packers-Bears
The Packers secured the one seed and Aaron Rodgers made his closing argument for being named the NFL’s MVP. This Packers team does look different from previous years. Usually, Aaron Rodgers has to face a team that is more complete and built to win a Super Bowl but this year, it looks like the Packers are that team. The offensive line will have to still protect Aaron Rodgers without David Bakhtiari but other than that, the Packers look like Super Bowl contenders. The Bears meanwhile clinched a playoff spot only by default, someone had to do it. The Bears looked like fools gold the previous four games and this game showed some of the obvious flaws as they sneak into the playoffs. They face the Saints on Wild Card weekend, good luck with that.
Seahawks-49ers
The Seahawks have shown us, two teams, this season. The explosive one that can score 50 while the defense can’t stop anyone or anything and the defensive team that can win games by halting their opponent to 20 points or fewer. As the Seahawks prepare for a Super Bowl run, we have to wonder if they are built for the teams that match up well with them. In all likelihood, the Seahawks will have to face the Rams (this is guaranteed), the Saints, and the Packers. All those teams have their number one way or another, making us wonder how the Seahawks will be able to handle them. There is confidence in Russell Wilson but recent games have to make you wonder.
Cardinals-Rams
This game was a reminder that Kliff Kingsbury is an awful head coach. Yes, Kyler Murray got hurt and couldn’t play most of the game. Yet, the Cardinals lost to a team that was playing a backup quarterback who had little help in the game itself. This whole season has felt weird for Arizona in a way since their offense was lagging behind for the majority of the season and the defense was oddly enough leading them to victories. Kyler Murray might be a great NFL quarterback, but the Texas Tech system is going to destroy his career. The Cardinals need a run game and a better offensive line. On the flip side, the Rams made the playoffs with this win, good for them.
Titans-Texans
This game was exciting but too close for anyone who is ready to buy into the Titans. Derrick Henry looks unstoppable and continues his dominance as the playoffs enter. The Titans’ main issues this season are one defense. They tried to fix their defense from last season, they signed Clowney and Vic Beasley, neither signing worked out. The Titans can win a playoff game, or two, but it’s hard to feel good about this team with as many question marks as they have. The upcoming game against the Ravens will be fun, we can expect a lot of running yards in the process.
Jaguars-Colts
The Jaguars have done it, they lost every game this season after accidentally losing their first one. The Colts took care of business and even though there were times that this game got close, the Colts assured us that they were going to win this game. The Colts have a complete team that should be able to win a playoff game. Jonathan Taylor is running at a new level, the defense is still playing great and the Colts have a clutch kicker. However, they will face the Bills to start the Wild Card weekend. The Colts are going to have their work cut out for them but they should put up a fight in Buffalo.
Chargers-Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t play their starters with the knowledge that they clinched the top seed and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This game as a result only helped boost the morale and hope of the Los Angeles Chargers. The big victory might have some thinking that they can be legitimate contenders next season. Make no mistake, there is a lot to work on to turn this team into contenders. The Chargers have many issues on the defensive side of the ball and while they might be getting Derwin James back, they will still need to sign and draft many players on that side of the ball. They also help to build more around Justin Herbert, the promise is there but the help isn’t at the moment.
Raiders-Broncos
This game was a reminder for both teams of what could have been. The Broncos suffered some unfortunate injuries at the beginning of the season and couldn’t climb out of the hole from the start. The Raiders, on the other hand, looked like a clear-cut playoff team for most of the season, yet they underachieved again. Both teams enter this offseason and next season with promise but will have to master this offseason to be playoff teams. It’s still early to determine which team is off to a better start in that field.
Washington-Eagles
This game was laughable at times. Personally, I couldn’t help but not laugh at the embarrassment that we were forced to watch to help determine who would win the NFC East. Washington didn’t play well but did the bare minimum to win. There were times that the casual fan had to wonder about a few things. One of the things that had to cross anyone’s mind is why this game was the Sunday Night Football game. The only logical explanation has to be so the national audience can watch the brilliance of Chase Young (don’t get me wrong, he is worth watching). The fans also had to wonder if Doug Pederson was actively trying to get fired when he benched Jalen Hurts and played Nate Sudfeld. Fans also must have wondered why both coaches didn’t look at each other in the final quarter and mutually agree to take a knee for every play of the remainder of the game. Needless to say, the 2020 season ended appropriately.
