NFL Week 17 -- Swimming Downstream

[Batman]

Am I wrong to think Cowboys-Eagles and Panthers-Bucs might actually be fun games to watch?
Got some playoff stakes for the Eagles and Bucs, and the Cowboys and Panthers have both been sneaky decent the past few weeks and could easily spoil some playoff scenarios.

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

If the Eagles-Cowboys means something for one of the teams it's usually worth flipping on for a few minutes. I'll be at Bucs-Panthers, curious to see how feisty the Panthers will be on the road.

 

[Cosmo]

Oh I dunno that Lions-Vikings Week 18 game would seem mighty important if both teams win this week.

I'm an idiot

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

I'm an idiot

Not at all. I had to re-check the schedule four times and the standings to make sure it would mean something. Merry Christmas

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Eagles-Cowboys watchability depends entirely on whether or not Hurts plays. Few QBs suck the spectacle out of a game as thoroughly as Kenny Pickett.

 

[Batman]

Eagles-Cowboys watchability depends entirely on whether or not Hurts plays. Few QBs suck the spectacle out of a game as thoroughly as Kenny Pickett.

He's no Nick Foles.

 

[Della9250]

Eagles-Cowboys watchability depends entirely on whether or not Hurts plays. Few QBs suck the spectacle out of a game as thoroughly as Kenny Pickett.

If Hurts doesn't play and the fact the Cowboys are actually playing hard despite their lot in the league, I can totally see a Dallas win.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

The Cowpokes certainly love Mike McCarthy. They play hard for him, even in a lost season. The late wins are hurting their draft status and they're not in the playoff hunt.

 

[Cosmo]

Rams would have the better strength of victory, I'd expect. They beat both the Vikings and Bills. Seahawks can't match that.

From The Athletic's newsletter this morning:

(Note: The Rams clinch the strength of victory over the Seahawks with 3.5 or more wins from the following teams: Vikings, Bills, 49ers, Commanders, Bengals and Browns)

 

[Cosmo]

The Cowpokes certainly love Mike McCarthy. They play hard for him, even in a lost season. The late wins are hurting their draft status and they're not in the playoff hunt.

Not sure there's a whole lot of difference between picking 10th and 18th in this particular draft. It's not terribly deep.

 

[poindexter]

I feel like worrying about a couple rungs of draft position is really an NBA thing that has somehow transferred to the NFL. Even moreso if you don't need a qb, like the Cowboys.

 

[Batman]

I feel like worrying about a couple rungs of draft position is really an NBA thing that has somehow transferred to the NFL. Even moreso if you don't need a qb, like the Cowboys.

Yeah, unless you're in position for the top pick and need a QB, you can get a good player pretty much anywhere if you know what you're doing. And for all the crap they take, the Cowboys do draft pretty well. More than half the players on their roster and about 2/3 of their starters are either guys they drafted or undrafted free agents that they signed (that includes a couple of players who they originally drafted/signed, left the team and circled back around, like Ezekiel Elliott and Cooper Rush).
You can argue that they're not that good, but they don't seem to have a problem finding players who can compete at an NFL level.