Running NFL Week XVI thread

Except in the playoffs.

My dream next week is to see the Giants (at Redskins), Packers (at Bears), Panthers (at Saints), Rams (at Vikings) and Falcons (at Eagles) all lose next week, thus ensuring a 7-9 team in the playoffs.

 

Damn. I was hoping the schedule would finish at 7 p.m. Sunday night, with New Year's Eve deadlines and all.

 

It was, gulp, my first Monday Night Football game in two years. I started watching after the half, and I was ready to throw things at the TV by the start of the fourth quarter. What was the deal with discussing Pennington's arm for so long? My lord. Move on, please.

 

I'm a die hard Jets fan, but I couldn't make it through the whole game. Fell asleep late in the 3rd quarter before all of the scoring and woke up after the game ended.

 

Not to supply the choking coughlins with an excuse, but of the 10 teams in the NFC who have not been eliminated from playoff contention, the Giants are the only team whose strength of schedule is greater than .500, at .543. The Bears have had the easiest schedule of any team in the NFL, to still be playoff eligible, at .413.

 

The Giants might have a tough schedule, but they have lost six of their last seven games -- and four of those happened to be at home. No excuse for losing that many times at home this late in the season, unless you're Detroit or Oakland.

 

I could see all of those teams losing - except the Rams. Bulger might throw for 400 yards in that one.

 

Since the Bears have everything wrapped up, will they play their third-teamers? If they do, I can see Green Bay winning, the Giants and Panthers losing and the Packers getting into the playoffs.

 

After what happened last season, Lovie Smith has made it very clear he doesn't want to coast into the playoffs. The starters will at least play the first half, if not the first three quarters.

 

Woo-hoo, Browns starting Ken Dorsey next week cuz Derek Anderson suffered a separated shoulder!

 

Put me in, coach!

 

Smith called out the Packers in his hiring speech ... beating Green Bay is big in Chicago, but would (all) fans understand losing to the Pack to rest starters, especially with Chicago having a bye week?