NFL Week 17 -- Swimming Downstream

Lions-Vikings has to be the Sunday Night game next week right?

 

The idiot trade the Panthers for Bryce Young set the price floor. At least two ones, this year's and next, plus whatever's serviceable from the current roster. They'd never trade Bowers or Nabers. but Crosby or Thibodeaux could be the price.

 

Yep

 

This has happened twice today. A team has scored a touchdown to cut its deficit to three. Both teams (Packers and Evil Irsays) kicked the PAT. I understand the benefits. Being down two means you win rather than face OT if you kick a FG.
But ... there's benefit to trailing by one rather than two, and I think it's worth considering. The one-point deficit is the only deficit scenario in which you can allow a TD and a PAT and still be in a one-score game. Of course, you have to hope the opponent breaks a big play and keeps running for the TD rather than falling down after crossing the sticks. The key, of course, is that the opponent should have the same mindset with any lead in the final minutes.
The Packers scored with a little more than two minutes left. I understand their decision. But the Evil Irsays had 6:38 left when they scored to cut the Giants' lead to three. They could have gone for two and had enough time that the Giants might not have taken the knee. They might have scored if they had more than two minutes to go.

 

Re: Packers. The Vikings weren’t going to Burrow-it and get a TD to increase the lead to 8 and hand the ball back to the Packers. They were going to get enough first downs and burn the Packers’ timeouts, which ended up happening and they ran the game out.

However, the Packers went for 2 and got it on their previous TD to cut the lead to 9 instead of 10. LaFluer has done this multiple times in recent years, giving them a chance to win with a field goal instead of tie. Worked against the Saints last year.

So he did what you suggested, just earlier and at a better time. Doing it a second time takes a winning FG out of the equation if they are unsuccessful.

 

As the NFL became passing focused, I kinda thought Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record would be unbreakable. Even with an extra game, what Saquon Barkley and the Eagles offensive line (and everyone who blocked) have been able to accomplish is damn impressive.

It takes a great runner, a good team, good health and luck.

The vibe seems like the Eagles are going to rest Barkley with nothing to play for. I get it but I don’t like it.

Maybe they’ll see if he can have a big first quarter and play it by ear from there.

I certainly understand resting starters, but it gives me bad feelings as a Peyton Manning era Colts fan. Resting starters always seemed to backfire on them in the playoffs.

I was a big fan of Dickerson and I am a big fan of Barkley. I hope he gets a chance to break the record.

 

He’ll probably need a long (70+) run in the first quarter to make a case for it.

 

I obviously haven't seen enough of Bijan Robinson. He's damn good.

 

Maybe there isn't a player like that, but the Giants still cost themselves a very valuable asset today.

 

Commanders are going to have their best season in a decade and still miss the playoffs. Bollocks.

 

They played Saturday games last year. Not sure how long they've been doing that. If they do Saturday games they have to make them at least somewhat meaningful, which I'd say puts the Broncos in decent spot for one since they are a win and in team.