2021-22 NFL (Week 18)

Games I saw (some of):

Chiefs 28-24 Broncos

The Broncos were the better team (Drew Lock got unleashed!) but a fluke Chiefs scoop-and-score right as the Broncos were about to put the game away turned it around.  The Chiefs had good stretches and bad stretches this season and the last coupla regular season games were...uh...not in the 'good' pile. So how are the Chiefs gonna look in the playoffs? I suspect they're still the team to beat. 

Cowboys 51-26 Eagles

Game over quick. The Cowboys offense is rolling again lately, they're getting hot at just the right time. The Eagles, on the other hand, limp into the playoffs (how did they make it anyway?). 

Bengals 16-21 Browns

Sloppy game of two sloppy 2nd strings slopping away at each other. This game was pure contractual obligation, the Browns just wanted to look busy and the Bengals just wanted to get through without injury. 

Steelers 16-13 (OT) Ravens

I watched the Steelers a lot this year and I am convinced they suck. The Ravens never got their offense going (with or without Lamar Jackson), the whole season seemed like a sleepwalk, not sure where they go from here. The Steelers somehow made the post-season and I fully expect them to get drop kicked quickly by the Chiefs (that said, the Steelers won a bunch of games this season they absolutely did not deserve, so maybe they can keep it going).  

Chargers 32-35 (OT) Raiders

Fascinating match! All  week long we were reminded that both teams would make the playoffs if the game ended in a draw. And when the Chargers got the late score to send it to OT, that improbable scenario was firmly on the table. There has been much post-game chatter about whether the Raiders actually intended to run out the clock rather than kick the winning FG but I think all that is bunk. The Raiders had every intention of winning if possible and even if they hadn't gotten the late 1st down, I think they would've punted it away and taken their chances with 10 seconds or so to go. At any rate, the Chargers were generally the better team and outside of some bonehead moves (going for it on 4th down from their own 20-yard line...?) and some uninspired drives, really should've won this game outright. Oh well. Instead of the Colts and Chargers in the playoffs, we get Raiders and Steelers instead...not an upgrade. 

The rest of the slate:

Packers 30-37 Lions. Yup, not a surprise. The Lions play hard against good teams and suck balls against bad teams. Buck up, Packer fans, your team is obviously good. 

Bears 17-31 Vikings. Meh.

WTF 22-7 Giants. Meh. 

Colts 11-26 Jags. Colts lost to the Jags--bwa ha ha! I thought the Colts would cover the 16-point spread without much effort. But, no, apparently 'not much effort' just wasn't gonna get it done. The Jags were dreadful from beginning to end this year but managed to score a W over Buffalo and knocked the Colts out of the playoffs, just goes to show even the lowliest team can still do damage. Still can't tell whether the Colts really blew an easy shot at glory or if they really sucked and overachieved all season. 

Titans 28-25 Texans. Titans secure the #1 seed in the AFC but almost let this game get away from them. I kinda like the Texans and their young QB (Davis Mills) and if they can get a boatload of picks for Deshaun Watson (Philly has a bunch of picks and a need for a for-real QB....), I can see them being good next year, especially since the Colt are shaky, the Jags are terrible and the Titans seem like massive overachievers. We'll see.

Saints 30-20 Falcons. Meh.

Jets 10-27 Bills. Yeah, that's about right. The game was kinda close til the 4th quarter but, yeah, that's about right. 

Niners 27-24 (OT) Rams. The Rams were up 17-0 almost instantly and still couldn't make it stand up, even though the Niners were playing with an injured QB. The Rams are possibly the toughest 'good' team to figure out. 

Pats 24-33 Dolphins. Not sure how the Pats gave up 33 points to the Dolphins, but it doesn't really matter. (Gotta say I was surprised the Dolphins fired Brian Flores, I thought the Dolphins had some pretty good moments this season, good enough to keep Flores on--but not good enough to lure in some Svengali to take this team up the ladder; weird move)

Seahawks 38-30 Cards. Meh. The Cards (like the Rams) had brilliant moments and shit moments and I'm not sure who they actually are. 

Panthers 17-41 Bucs. Yeah, that's about right.