Yesterday, the NFL owners approved the
formula
that would determine the 17th regular season game for next season or
whenever they decide to add it to the schedule. It will "be an
interconference match-up based on divisional standings on a rotating
divisional basis" like how a AFC division plays a different NFC division
every year on a four year rotation. Ideally this will generate more marquee
interconference matchups that are normally limited to only playing out every
four years on the schedule.
Originally, this was intended to be the international game where teams play
a neutral site game in a foreign location like London, Mexico, Canada,
Germany, etc. But thanks to Corona, those plans are on hold and they have to
figure out who gets the extra home game because I doubt they will play in
areas that don't have professional football like Hawaii, Omaha, San Antonio,
Birmingham, etc.
Another sticking point according to PFT is whether to play
two or three
preseason games. Two preseason games along with two bye weeks with only
teams coming off a bye to be scheduled for Thursday Night Football makes the
most sense. But as you know, common sense doesn't exist in this world.
Owners Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones, John Mara and Art Rooney II don't
want to give up that extra game, especially after taking massive hits in
ticket, parking and concession revenue this year due to the shutdowns. To
sum it up, we know teams will play 17 regular season games, we just don't
know when they will do it or will they up it to 18 games to satisfy owners
who want that 9th home game every year instead of every other year.
THE GAMES
Los Angeles Chargers 0
Las Vegas Raiders 23
It's the battle between a underperforming team vs a fraudulent team that
just
dumped
their defensive coordinator for giving up 40+ points in two of the last
three games. It might be too late considering they have to hope the 8-5
Dolphins and Ravens falter so they can
leapfrog them
for the brand new Wildcard spot. Winning is easy, hoping others lose is
the hard part!
Buffalo Bills 23
Denver Broncos 21
Drew Lock threw a career high 4 TDs
last week
in a 32-27 win. Of course, it was against a shitty Panthers team so it was
practically like beating themselves. They have the Bills this week who
added another loss to the Steelers record Sunday Night. You know how this
will go but at least former XFL kicker Taylor Russolino will start thanks to Pat McAfee so good on him.
Carolina Panthers 17
Green Bay Packers 26
Speaking of the Panthers, they play the Packers in the second game of this
Saturday doubleheader. I expect Aaron Rodgers to sling the ball and pad
his stats since they already clinched the NFC North so he can get that
third MVP award. He's
4th in passing yards
(3,685), 1st in TDs (39), has a passer rating of 119.7 and only threw 4
interceptions and sacked 13 times. I'd say he has a damn good case for the
MVP award!
Arizona 49ers of San Francisco 41
Dallas Cowboys of Arlington 21
Andy Dalton got his
revenge against his old team going 16/23 for 185 and 2 TDs in a 30-7 win vs the
Bengals. It was a nice win but the good vibes will be short lived as they
host the 49ers traveling team. Certainly a loss here will officially end
their playoff hopes right?
Seattle Seahawks 23
OG Nameless Team 24
Division leader Washington is the last NFC East team with a loss to spare
in their Road to 8. This will be a
tough matchup
vs the 9-4 Seahawks so they have to hope their 4th ranked defense can
contain Russell Wilson long enough for their 30th ranked offense do
actually do something productive. Whoever's
starting at QB
better take advantage of the Seahawks' 27th ranked defense while he still
has a chance before DangeRuss breaks loose.
Chicago Bears 7
Minnesota Vikings 27
It's a cold world for Kickers. If a QB throws 4 interceptions, he had a
bad game. If a receiver drops four balls, he gets another shot at
redemption in the next game. But if a kicker misses three goals and a
extra point, they're ready to
cut his ass. Kickers suddenly sucking for a stretch of games is a fairly common
thing that happens to all of them (including Punters). So "we'll see" if they stick with him or bring in another Kicker for
these final games.
New England Patriots 20
Miami Dolphins 10
When asked about changing QB's Bill Belichick says
"We're not there right now". At 6-7 the Patriots will miss the playoffs so you would think they want
to see what they have in Jarrett Stidham instead of sticking with a
underwhelming Cam Newton. They can't tank for anyone but they could at
least figure out if Stidham will be their future QB or not. Even when you
do get the players back who skipped out on this season next year, they
still need to know who their QB will be. Cam is not a long term solution
so if Stidham is not the answer either, they better get a QB who IS the
answer to go along with their returning talent.
Jacksonville Jaguars 27
Baltimore Ravens 20
The Ravens
win
over the Browns was more dramatic than it had any right to be when Lamar
Jackson left the game late due to
"cramping". Whether he had the cramps or
had the runs he came back to lead them down the field for a game winning Justin
Tucker field goal. It would be so disheartening for their playoff chances
to get crushed by a tanking one win Jaguars team.
Tompa Bay Buccaneers 21
Atlanta Falcons
49
So...the Bucs are without their Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper. That's
problematic. Not as problematic as playing a game without a QB but it's
still something you would hate to deal with considering they're hanging on
to that second Wildcard spot by a thread. The simulation, knowing this,
predicts the Falcons will pick the bones of this specialistless team for a
easy win.
Detroit Lions 24
Tennessee Titans 35
I like many football fans asked when heard of the news of Lions' Center
Frank Ragnow's
injury, "HOW THE HELL YOU FRACTURE YOUR THROAT!!!". Did a D-lineman throat
strike him on the line? Did a stray foot or elbow catch him under the
facemask when he or someone else was falling down? Doctors say that a
fractured throat is trauma to the larynx that can disrupt respiration,
swallowing and phonation. Thankfully Ragnow isn't having those problems
even though he's not supposed to talk right now as they figure out how to
get him back on field. Just think, hockey fans love to brag about how
tough their players are and how football players are a bunch of diva
pussies. Well I like to see a hockey player complete a game with a
fractured larynx at a position he has to talk every time he's out on the
ice!
Houston Texans 24
Indianapolis Colts 23
Even diehard Texans fans would admit this is a lost season for their team.
That wont stop Romeo Crennel from trotting out Deshaun Watson to play
these
pointless games behind a porous O-line that allowed him to be sacked 39 times this
season and 164 times in his four year career. While Crennel is coaching
for a possible permanent head coaching gig here, Watson has his reasons to
play these last three games as well. Despite the record, he's on pace to
set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards per game, TD-INT
ratio and passer rating so that's all the incentive he needs to play out
the rest of the season. It also couldn't hurt to fuck over a division
rival's chances of a playoff spot as well.
Philadelphia Eagles 31
Arizona Cardinals 17
The Eagles shocked everyone when they
beat
the playoff bound Saints 24-21 Sunday. Like, where the hell was THIS team
all season? Sure, Drew Brees wasn't playing but this team was lifeless all
season until Jalen Hurts started. He went 17/30 for 167 and a TD in the
air and added 18 rushes for 106 yards. That nice statline
earned
him his second start, this time vs a Cardinals team that's desperately
holding on to that final Wildcard spot. I hope it doesn't happen for the
sake of a 8 win representative out of this division but Hurts has the
chance to keep their hope alive till the end of the season.
New York Jets 24
Los Angeles Rams 13
I don't know how. I don't know why? But the simulation has the winless
Jets defeating the NFC West leading Rams. Maybe it saw that Sam Darnold
REALLY wants to
remain a Jet
(is he a masochist?) and feels he will play his best game this season
vs...the league's
#1 defense.
Kansas City Chiefs 30
New Orleans Saints 23
Drew Brees
is back
and they didn't flex this game to Sunday Night? Those CBS executives
caught a break there. Anyway, the Chiefs look to hold on to that lone 1st
round bye as the Saints try to
clinch
the NFC South with a win. Looks like Who Dat Nation will have to wait
another week for them do that.
Cleveland Browns 27
New York Giants 20
Why is a 5 win Giants team playing the Browns on Sunday Night? Because
2020 doesn't give a fuck about your feelings that's why. Giants' Offensive
coordinator Jason Garrett tested
positive
for Coronavirus so TE coach Freddie Kitchens will call plays in his place.
He will get the chance to call plays against his old team but he's not the
only former Brown on this team. If Daniel Jones can't play (Why the hell
did they rush a clearly hobbled bum QB out there?), then former Brown QB
Colt McCoy will start. Too bad they're gonna lose this revenge game, they
need to keep pace with Football Team for them to still have a shot at the
division tittle.
Pittsburgh Steelers 30
Cincinnati Bengals 6
The Steelers went from undefeated with a first round bye to 2 loses and
play one of three opening AFC playoff games with the other schmucks. My
have time changed. Whatever funk they're in, they better get out of it or
they will lose out on the AFC North title and be forced to play on the
road in these playoffs.
LAST WEEK 13-3
OVERALL 120-86-1
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