Week 16 Discussion (Other Games)

[flaccopoe]

There are a lot of games this week that will have playoff implications: only 3 matchups will have no impact on the postseason picture.  I shall dissect the playoff warmup games here:

 

MIA@ BUF:  A somewhat revitalized Bills' offense (Spiller/Jackson, Woods) will be looking to pull off a division upset at home in the blustery weather, with huge implications in the WC race hanging in the balance.  MIA must win to keep pace with BAL for the 6th seed, especially considering that they lost to the Ravens earlier this year.

 

NO@ CAR:  The Big Easy Breesies will be looking to find their identity again after getting smashed by Kellon Clemmons' Rams at STL.  NO needs to start tackling the issues of road games if they are to have expectations for another Super Bow, for they are unlikely to end up with the #1 seed (home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoff Rounds).  Carolina will be looking to win its first division pennant since the 2008-2009 season with a statement win at their house.  The Panthers' #2 defense is in an intriguing matchup with an offense that's sputtered on the road to teams like the Jets, but is nonetheless very dangerous (#2 offense overall).  Will anybody in the Panthers' weak secondary be able to contain Jimmy Graham?  Likewise, Cam Newton and his ensemble cast will have their hands full against Rob Ryan's #5 overall defense.  NO should be able to blanket CAR's weak WRs, so Cam will probably have to find a happy medium distributing the ball to Olsen, his RBs and himself on the ground.

 

MIN@ CIN:  After being humiliated on national TV by rival PIT, CIN will be looking to rebound against a team with a very poor record to maintain a narrow division lead over BAL.  However, MIN has been on a hot streak lately, only losing 1 of their last 4 games.  Cassel has been red-hot lately throwing to rookie speedster Cordarelle Patterson.  AP and Gerhart will be well rested after sitting out Week 15 and should thus be ready to zip through the Bengals' home turf.  Dalton will be looking to exploit a secondary that has surrendered the 5th most yd, most TD rec and the 19th least INT

 this season.

 

DEN@ HOU:  Peyton will be looking to stop his team's recent spiral with a juicy matchup against a team with a rookie QB that's lost 12 straight.  HIs crippled O-line will have their hands full however, with a fierce defensive front helmed by JJ Watt.  KC could still win the division, so DEN can't stumble through their final weeks.

 

IND@ KC:  The crippled Chiefs' defense will be looking to make a statement after surrendering 104 pt in their last 3 division matchups (at least 31 a game), 2 of whom to teams with losing records.  Luck's chaotic offense will be looking to notch a statement win, in the hopes of securing the best seeding possible.  Will IND, who gives up the 4th most rushing yd and 6th most rush TD) be able to stop the versatile machine that is Jamaal Charles?

 

DAL@ WAS:  DAL will be looking to keep pace with the Eagles for the division title, after failing to take advantage of a PHI loss, due to 2 late Romoceptions.  Cousins will be looking to impress in his 2nd start of the season.  Morris will be looking to atone for his 2 fumbles last week.  Who knows what Shanahan will be looking for...  Both QBs will be able to exploit Bottom 6 passing yardage defenses.

 

AZ@ SEA:  Palmer and the boys will be looking to upset their division rival, after SEA beat them 58-0 last year at home.  AZ is still in the hunt for a WC; SEA will be looking to clinch the #1 seed and maintain their home field dominance.  SEA's suspension-wracked secondary was still able to pick off Eli Manning 5 times last week, so Palmer must be careful with the ball.

 

NYG@ DET:  DET will be looking to maintain its pace in the crowded race for the NFC North title.

 

OAK@ SD: Davis' team will be looking to play division spoilers in the cross-Cali matchup.  McGloin and Jennings will be looking to impress anyone looking.  SD must win in order to continue its hopes of achieving both a winning season and a shot at a WC spot.

 

PIT@ GB: Big Ben's crew will be looking to play spoilers once again, as the Packers are desperately trying to keep pace with DET and CHI for the division pennant.  Will Rodgers be back to streamline the passing game, or will they have to rely on Flynn again?  Either way, GB will have a lot of run support from ROTY-candidate Eddie Lacy.  Sam Shields should have an interesting matchup, guarding Antonio Brown.

 

CHI@ PHI:  Both teams are trying to keep pace in their divisions.  Cutler will try to refine his game after a thorny win over CLE against PHI's 4th-worst pass yardage defense; Cutler is in the final year of his contract and will be looking to win a big contract.  MVP candidate Nick Foles will be looking to avenge a humiliating loss to MIN.  McCoy will look to exploit CHI's league-worst rush defense.

 

ATL@ SF:  Kaep's Krew is still in the race for a WC spot and will thus look to exploit the battered Falcons.

[berad]

Week 16 up before week 15 is over?

[Pats]

Hoping for another cincy loss

[AsianRice]

He tries to steal JO75's job.....

[AsianRice]

Week 16 up before week 15 is over?

He tries to steal JO75's job....

[H8R]

Look... this is how I see it... We need the win tonight, obviously...
BUT, I predict the Bills Shalac the Phins in Buffalo come Sunday.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Look... this is how I see it... We need the win tonight, obviously...
BUT, I predict the Bills Shalac the Phins in Buffalo come Sunday.

funny enough, was thinking the same about the Bills since I woke up this morning

[Inqui]

Just a little bit quick off the blocks. :P

 

 

I'll do my Playoff Watch after today's game.

[flaccopoe]

DET must win out now to have a chance to steal the division. Luckily, they close out their season against NYG & MIN.

[AsianRice]

DET must win out now to have a chance to steal the division. Luckily, they close out their season against NYG & MIN.

The Vikings look strong in the end......

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

a Ravens win cumulated with Dolphins and Charger loses would secure us a playoff place; so let's go Bills and Raiders; also Vikings, Chiefs and Texans wins will make life so much sweeter

[flaccopoe]

No way Jamaal Charles loses to SD.

[JO_75]

a Ravens win cumulated with Dolphins and Charger loses would secure us a playoff place; so let's go Bills and Raiders; also Vikings, Chiefs and Texans wins will make life so much sweeter

 

It will be very hard for the Bills to beat the Dolphins without E.J Manuel. They have announced QB Thad Lewis will start against Miami....... just our luck. Thanks Bills.

[Inqui]

It will be very hard for the Bills to beat the Dolphins without E.J Manuel. They have announced QB Thad Lewis will start against Miami....... just our luck. Thanks Bills.

I don't think it's as hard as you're making out. Backup QBs often have a really nice honeymoon period as teams don't have any real tape on them. The Bills are a good team at home and their rushing attack will have a nice day, which will make things a bit easier for Lewis too.

[beanfigger]

It will be very hard for the Bills to beat the Dolphins without E.J Manuel. They have announced QB Thad Lewis will start against Miami....... just our luck. Thanks Bills.

I don't remember Lewis doing that poorly earlier this year. I'm pretty sure he was the QB when they took the Bengals to OT. They're a serious team at home.

[Jokerraven]

I don't think it's as hard as you're making out. Backup QBs often have a really nice honeymoon period as teams don't have any real tape on them. The Bills are a good team at home and their rushing attack will have a nice day, which will make things a bit easier for Lewis too.

wasn't lewis playing in there first game this year when Miami lost I figured that's why he was starting this week

[cursona pirate]

After the Kicker hit in the Bengals game their is speculation whether or not a kicker is a defenseless player.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--declaring-kickers-punters--defenseless--is-a-setback--says-colts--pat-mcafee-011056174.html

[berad]

cursona pirate, on 18 Dec 2013 - 11:40 PM, said:
After the Kicker hit in the Bengals game their is speculation whether or not a kicker is a defenseless player.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--declaring-kickers-punters--defenseless--is-a-setback--says-colts--pat-mcafee-011056174.html

You can block them just don't cheap-shot them when they're not even part of the play. Justin Tucker got destroyed going after an onside kick attempt against Pittsburgh and no one batted an eye.

[beanfigger]

Clinching scenarios this week (excluding scenarios that require a tie):

 

NFC

Eagles - clinch East with win AND Cowboys loss

Bears - clinch North with win AND Packers loss AND Lions loss

Saints - clinch South and first round bye with win, clinch playoff birth with Cardinals loss

Panthers - clinch playoff birth with win OR 49ers loss AND Cardinals loss

Seahawks - clinch West and #1 seed with win OR 49ers loss

49ers - clinch playoff birth with win OR Cardinals loss

 

Cowboys - eliminated with loss AND Eagles win

Packers - eliminated with loss AND Bears win

Lions - eliminated with loss OR Bears win AND Packers win

Cardinals - eliminated with loss AND Panthers win

 

AFC

Patriots - clinch East with win OR Dolphins loss, clinch first round bye with win AND Bengals loss AND Colts loss, clinch playoff birth with Bengals loss

Dolphins - clinch playoff birth with win AND Ravens loss AND Bengals loss

Bengals - clinch North with win AND Ravens loss, clinch playoff birth with win AND Dolphins loss

Ravens - clinch playoff birth with win AND Dolphins loss AND Chargers loss

Broncos - clinch West and first round bye with win AND Chiefs loss, clinch #1 seed with win AND Chiefs loss AND Patriots loss

 

Dolphins - eliminated with loss AND Ravens win AND Bengals win AND Chargers loss

Steelers - eliminated with loss OR Dolphins win OR Ravens win OR Jets loss

Chargers - eliminated with loss OR Dolphins win OR Ravens win

 

I'm pretty sure I'm right about everything, but if someone can correct a mistake or add something I missed, I'd appreciate it.

[Inqui]

I don't think the Dolphins can clinch anything this week. If they win and we lose, we can still win and jump them if they lose next week.

[beanfigger]

I don't think the Dolphins can clinch anything this week. If they win and we lose, we can still win and jump them if they lose next week.

 

They do clinch if then win, we lose, and the Bengals lose.  This is because we play the Bengals in Week 17.  If they go into that week tied with the Bengals and a game ahead of us, they would make the playoffs automatically if we lose because they'd still be ahead of us, but also if the Bengals lose because they win the tiebreaker over them.  That is why they can clinch this week.

[flaccopoe]

Thad Lewis has been playing better than Manuel this year. Go Bills!

[JO_75]

Packer once again rolling with Flynn this week against the Steelers. I thought for sure Rodgers would return this week knowing the circumstances of the division race. If Flynn is able to get the Packers to the playoffs, and they bring back Rodgers to start the playoffs, they will be dangerous.

[Nge2grads]

Hoping for another cincy loss

Help us out here Minnie!!

[Pats]

Help us out here Minnie!!

Adrien peterson and gerhart get er done please, also if cassle and patterson have another field day that will help

[cursona pirate]

Anyone see that Christmas thing on ESPN. Ditka was Santa telling kids they won't get presents for Christmas. Then got them jerseys and hats and stuff. One kid went from a Brady fan to a Russell Wilson fan.

[jdynamite]

Let's go Vikings. A bengals loss would be great for us!!! Hope AP goes for 200 yds with 4TDs. Lol

[JO_75]

I have my jokes ready for the Colts. Since I heard about Irsay giving the players Xbox Ones, I'm ready to unleash a bunch of Madden jokes every time something doesn't happen for the Colts lol.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Time for the red zone channel. .

[cursona pirate]

Watching the Panthers game with my brother.