2017-18 NFL (Week 15)

Games I watched (some of):
Packers 24-31 Panthers
This was the test-case game for the Packers...and the test failed. If Rodgers had come back and gotten a victory in Carolina then the Packers would definitely be back in the playoff discussion, but without a W the Packers are definitely out of the playoff discussion (and we can call it the Groundhog Day game: we can now expect 3 more weeks of Hundley at QB). Rodgers had some brilliant moments but his three interceptions were all underthrown, indicating he wasn't really ready to come back. The Panthers are still a heart attack team: I thought they pretty well dominated on both sides, kept Rodgers from having much of a game, ran the ball at will, and still the game was on the line late. The Panthers clearly have plenty of talent to win, even to go deep in the playoffs, but they still seem like such a ramshackle squad, barely scrounging to finish out what should be easy wins. I dunno, man, the Panthers vanquished the Packers but didn't blow me away.

Patriots 27-24 Steelers
Good game! Felt like both teams were gonna score every time they touched the ball, seems like there should've been a lot more points in this game. Pats came back late, marched with ease down the field to get the go-ahead TD. Then before you know it, the Steelers were inside the 5 yard line. Had a TD called back on replay (it was the right call) and then scrambled to a last second interception instead of kicking the tying FG. A blunder but if it'd worked we'd be hailing their moxie. Pretty even game, guess I'd say the Pats deserved the W. (Man, what if they'd tied?) These are still clearly the two best teams in the AFC (though the Jags are rolling right now).

Cowboys 20-17 Raiders
I kept waiting for the Cowboys to take the game over but they never really did. The Cowboys offense is fine, the Cowboys D is okay, but with the Packers (and I'd say the Seahawks) now definitively out of the picture, there's still room for the Cowboys to squeeze into the playoffs. The Raiders gave the game away in pure Raider fashion: reaching out for the goal line, the ball squirts out for a game-ending touchback. It was a good drive, too, the Raiders really deserved to pull it out but, of course, they did not.


Other results:
Broncos 25-13 Colts
Yeah, okay.

Bears 10-20 Lions
The Lions are still hanging around and with the Rodgers return already stillborn, the Lions are gonna get their chance to get into the post-season. The Lions are one of those teams that are occasionally kinda good but not often enough to make you think they actually have a shot. But we'll see. The Bears are just killing time til the new coach arrives at this point.

Chargers 13-30 Chiefs
Division games: either this was the chance for the Chargers to put the Chiefs out of their misery and take control or it was a chance for the Chiefs to make their final stand and regain their form. I thought it would be the former but it was the latter. I said a while back that the cratering in the middle of the season might be a good thing (or at least not a fatal blow) for the Chiefs, but I don't think I really believed that. I was so impressed with the Chiefs for the first third of the season that I made excuses for their mid-season faltering, but even I had to acknowledge that they were broken, they had lost their magic and they wouldn't be back. Well, here they are. The Raiders are officially done, the Titans don't look capable of consistent winning and the Bills have probably peaked, so both of these teams are still in line for a playoff spot. Just a matter of who is playing better when the time comes. Looks like it will be the Chiefs.

Ravens 27-10 Browns
Thought the Browns had a decent shot at catching the Ravens napping. But the Ravens are a veteran-enough squad to know to gobble up the easy prey. I'd say the Browns are falling apart but that would vastly overrate their standing, right? The Ravens are gonna get into the playoffs, seems like they'll be heading to Kansas City as of now.

Cards 15-20 Redskins
Two so-so squads knocking it around in garbage time. This was the Oh-we're-rebuilding?-I-didn't-even-know bowl.

Eagles 34-29 Giants
Division games: will the better team play better or will the familiar rival step up and play spoiler? Looked like it might be the latter but the Eagles stepped up and got it done with their 2nd string QB. As great as Wentz has been all year, I think I'm even more impressed with how the Eagles have played without him. Suddenly they seem like a more complete team, more in control than they have all year, which was not what anyone would've thought when Wentz came up hobbling last week. Yeah, yeah, I know they just gave up 29 to the Giants, but division games, man, that shit happens. Good win for the Eagles.

Dolphins 16-24 Bills
Technically the Bills are still hanging on at 8-6, but as I've been saying all year: a lot of 8-8 Bills teams looked good early on. I like what Buffalo is doing, this 8-8 squad (they won't win in Miami and New England is going to need the W, so no off-day in Foxboro for the Bills) is a cut above where they've been lately. That said, the Bills will enter next season with a rickety O line, looking for a QB and scrambling to replace free agents just like always. The Dolphins are another one of those teams that looks good every once in a while, hard to tell what they'll be doing in the off-season, but they'll be getting Tannehill back which....I dunno...I guess that's good.

Texans 7-45 Jags
The Jags have developed a real taste for blood lately. I like it! Not unlike how the Rams have been eagerly running up points on people all season, the Jags have a newfound swagger that is encouraging to see. That Chargers match in the 1st round just gets all the more tantalizing.

Bengals 7-34 Vikings
The Bengals never had a chance in this game. I'm curious about the new gossip that they may be trading to get Coach Hue Jackson back for next year, he definitely did his best work in Cincy, I guess he could restore some of their lost luster, but I think the rebuild in Cleveland is probably more promising than the rebuild in Cincy. The Vikings are good, man, I think they're the class of the NFC.

Jets 19-31 Saints
Yeah, that's about right. The Saints get it done but they're not really dominant, they just have enough savvy to figure it out. The Jets are occasionally frisky but the Saints have too much to let them make a game of it. The Saints are still in control in the AFC South.

Rams 42-7 Seahawks
Yeah! Lovin' the Rams running up scores on division foes! Must feel good to drop a bomb on the team that has been bedeviling them for the last decade. I think the Seahawks are done, they've just had too many losses on defense, the offense is still a project 15 weeks into the season, I just don't see how they make a dent against the Falcons or Panthers. The Rams can still score a bye in the playoffs, I expect they'll run up some more points from here on out.

Titans 23-25 Niners
Garoppolo is a winner, dude. The Titans needed this one and they should've taken it but they didn't because they're a half-hearted squad. There's reason for optimism for next year and they're still in the playoff hunt, I suppose, but they've just got no killer spirit, no way to close out games. As for the Niners, well, they've got their QB, scouting the NCAA and free agent talent for next year is their mission for now.

Falcons 24-21 Bucs
I saw none of this. The Falcons are better, the Bucs are worse, I'm willing to believe that that's all I need to know about this game. 


Playoffs:
AFC -- Pats, Steelers, Jags are in; Chiefs are pretty much in; Titans and Bills for now, Ravens and Chargers still hanging around. I think the Bills and Titans both go winless from here, Ravens win both games and Chargers do, too, which would make Ravens @ Chiefs, Chargers @ Jags on that first weekend, not bad.

NFC -- Eagles, Vikings, Rams are in; Saints are pretty much in; Panthers and Falcons for now, Lions, Seahawks and Cowboys still possible. I think the Falcons win out, leaving the AFC South with a 3-way tie and everyone else out of the playoffs (though I do think the Cowboys end up at 10-6, everyone thinks they had a great season and got robbed). I'm not sure but I think that scenario leaves the Panthers @ Rams and Falcons @ Saints for the opening weekend.