Week 16 Thoughts
It's that week between Christmas and New Years where nobody knows what's supposed to be happening
Tis the night before Christmas and I have hung my stocking on my door hoping for a win.
The tale of last week isn’t a pretty one, particularly for me. I took some big swings and did some big missing. Brother tried valiantly but once again Mother sits unopposed.
I have to give her credit, she nearly nailed every single one of the games where we weren’t uniformed. We can’t blame her for the Chiefs pick, even without Mahomes they were playing the Titans but she did also pick the Jets. That’s pretty bad.
To the games.
Rams 37 Seahawks 38. I saw so many people say this delivered as the game of the season. When you look at the score, the fact the game went into OT and the Seahawks successfully converting three consecutive two point conversions, I can see how that argument is being made. Counter to that however, is the first three quarters. Once again the Rams were showing they are the NFL’s best team, and Sam Darnold was throwing interceptions. Now Darnold did right the ship and the Hawks took an enormous win to propel them to the number one seed but I think both these Rams Seahawks games speak to how incredible Seattle’s roster is. Spare a thought for my brother. I don’t know how the kid is still breathing. Puka Nacua’s OT TD almost made him levitate. He basically went radio silent after the Hawks won. Devastating.
Eagles 29 Commanders 18. So the Eagles have managed to avoid falling backwards into the dance with their last two wins. Now beating the Raiders and the Jayden Daniels-less Commanders is by no means impressive but can you imagine if they had struggled to win or worse, lost. As it stands Philly is either going to be the second or third seed and I maintain winning a road playoff game in the city of Brotherly Love is a tall task for any team.
Packers 16 Bears 22. I have no idea what to think about this game. This is both a great and devastating loss for the Packers and a tremendous yet worrying win for Chicago. Green Bay is sooooo banged up. They lost Jordan Love during this game yet, with mere minutes to go, backup QB Malik Willis and the defense had the visitors in perfect position to sweep their longtime rivals. Then they failed to recover an onside kick, the defense gave up a touchdown for the first time all game then again on the Bears’ drive in OT. For Chicago the way they ended that game was truly amazing. Winning games like that against your biggest historical rival must feel better than a heated seat during winter. And like the Rams Seahawks game, surely the first three quarters mean something. Right?
Chargers 34 Cowboys 17. The Cowboys really tried to make us think they were serious with their wins over Philly and Kansas City. Happily, they aren’t. They may have taken the lead in this game but Justin Herbert and Co. decided to give Dallas fans a chance to watch an actually serious team. The Cowboys had 17 points at halftime. I’ll let you do the match on how many they scored in the second. The Chargers are chasing the Broncos for the division and they play each other in Week 18. We will be there.
Vikings 16 Giants 13. Like I predicted for J.J. McCarthy. From the heights of demolishing Dallas on Sunday night to the lows of barely beating the Giants in the early Sunday window. Yet Jaxon Dart was undoubtedly worse. A really rough game to watch the quarterback position.
Bengals 45 Dolphins 21. One of my big swings. I took the Dolphins. I can give you every reason for doing so but, retrospectively, they’re all ridiculous. Joe Burrow was magnificent with his five touchdowns. If Burrow brilliance is basically good enough to beat teams like Buffalo, the result against a bad team like Miami is what we got. A thrashing.
Buccaneers 20 Panthers 23. This might be the most fascinating playoff race left because both of these teams are determined to give the other the spot. Would anybody be surprised if Carolina swept the Bucs next week? Nope. And if the Bucs were to win? No surprise there either. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs managed to lose to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Jets 6 Saints 29. The fact there are teams in this league with less wins than the Jets is maybe the eighth wonder of the world. It’s inexplicable how bad this team is. They just got blow out but the worst team in the NFC South. Enough said.
Bills 23 Browns 20. A very ugly win for the Bills. I see no other way to describe a three point win over Cleveland. James Cook was fantastic with his 117 yards and two touchdowns and that’s really all there is to say here.
Chiefs 9 Titans 26. Can’t believe it but the Chiefs are part of my weekly “bad team game I didn’t watch.”
Jags 34 Broncos 20. The AFC South division race is almost as fascinating as its NFC counterpart for the complete opposite reason. The Jags and the Texans are both horrifying. To go to Denver and not only end their 11 game win streak but also hand the Broncos their first home loss since October 2024 is super impressive. To beat this defense by two touchdowns is more impressive. To stop fourth quarter Bo Nix is, to me, most impressive. Definitely have to take the Jags seriously.
Falcons 26 Cardinals 19. Being either of these teams at this point in the year is brutal. Not bad enough (I know the Cardinals only have three wins) to be truly bad and certainly not good. Just the mediocre middle and waiting for next year.
Raiders 21 Texans 23. I didn’t see this game but I feel very similarly to the Bills Browns game, and the Raiders are significantly worse than the Browns. Last week the Texans hung 40 on the Cardinals. To go from that to beating these Raiders by only two is eyebrow raising at the very least. I don’t think it means anything, but I don’t like it. This is one of those ‘a win is a win’ games.
Steelers 29 Lions 24. I’ve called the Steelers frauds all year long, yet here they are one win from the playoffs. Once again, Aaron Rodgers sees an NFC North team and turns back the clock. The crazy thing about reading the box score is it tells just how impressive a win this is for Pittsburgh. They lost the turnover battle, took one more penalty and more doubled Detroit’s penalty yards and they went 0/3 on red zone trips. Their three touchdowns all came on 45 yard plays. Credit where it’s due, this was a very good win for the once again winning record having Pittsburgh Steelers. They’re going to get slaughtered by the five seed come Wild Card Weekend.
Patriots 28 Ravens 24. What a win for the ‘their schedule is soft’ Patriots. Not that I’m saying this Ravens team is a particularly good one. I’m mainly talking about the circumstance. They didn’t crumble after Drake Maye threw an interception on his first drive deep in the endzone. Or when he fumbled the ball at the end of the half again taking points off the board. Or when the Ravens scored their third very easy touchdown of the night to go up 11 in the fourth quarter. Or when the refs made one of the worse non calls in history and that’s not hyperbole. Instead, led by Maye and Stefon Diggs maniacal energy, New England played perfect football, drove down the field twice and scored 15 points to take full advantage of Denver’s loss. The number one seed is very much in the cards for this team and if the Broncos slip up they should be ready and waiting.
49ers 48 Colts 27. Speaking of number one seeds. The hospital Niners are in a position where if they win they’re last two games they will have home field advantage for as far as they go in the playoffs including the big game. It’s truly amazing how despite more injuries than a bad day at the circus, San Fran has already locked up a playoff spot and could literally not play another game on the road the rest of the season. I know the Colts are quarterbacked by a literal grandfather, but they hung 48 on a team that was once 8-1. This team is a problem. To be fair, the NFC West is a problem.
As I write this the Lions and the Vikings are tied early in the third quarter and I just want to say I’m not a fan of football on Christmas.
I do remember years ago there was a Ravens Steelers game but that was because Christmas was on a Thursday and so there was Thursday Night Football.
I get that I’m biased because of my upbringing but I feel like the players and the staff at the stadiums should get today off at least.
All that to say, Merry Christmas to you if you celebrate. I’m off to watch cricket.