Official 'Other Games' Thread - Week - 16

[Foxx]

© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY Sports

 

This week sees ten games that will affect the AFC standings, and the schedule features what should be some exciting games. With three games left in the regular season, the quest for a playoff position couldn’t be much tighter, with thirteen teams still vying for a spot and not one of them having clinched a position as of yet. Of them, only the Chiefs and Titans can clinch a playoff spot this week. Currently the number one seed, Kansas City only needs to win to clinch their division. Tennessee must win and have Indianapolis lose to secure a playoff seeding. That would give them the AFCS division crown and, at worst, the third seeding. On the other end of the spectrum, While I don’t think any of the thirteen teams can be mathematically eliminated, we can probably expect to see a couple of teams virtually eliminated from contention this week.

 

Speaking of the Titans, they kick off this week’s slate with the Thursday night game against the 49ers at home in Nissan Stadium. The Titans have played .500 ball these last four weeks, with losses to the Texans at home and the Steelers in Pittsburgh this last week. While Tennessee only needs to win one of their remaining games to qualify for the playoffs, they don’t appear to be the same team since losing Derrick Henry for the season in week eight. Having Ryan Tannehill shoulder the load is not a recipe for success. After facing a solidifying San Francisco team, they will meet a team on a six-game winning streak at home next week, the Miami Dolphins, and close the season against the Texans on the road. 

 

Saturday sees two interconference games for the Christmas holiday, with both AFC teams hitting the road. We see the Browns traveling to Green Bay to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field to open the day. The nightcap will bring the Colts venturing into Arizona to take on the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

 

Because of the Browns’ loss to the Raiders in a covid protocols delayed game, Monday afternoon, they are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. A win would have seen them vault to the top of their division. It was not to be though, and the loss dropped them to twelfth in the seedings. However, in this year of parody, they still have a chance to win their division with three games remaining. After the road game against the Packers, they stay on the road to face the Steelers. They then return home for their season’s final contest to take on the Bengals, who they crushed in Cincinnati earlier in the season. Green Bay has been instilled as a 7.5 point favorite, and though they have clinched the NFL’s lone playoff position, they are still playing for seeding and are not going to be thinking about the post-season at this point. Cleveland’s path to the playoffs is not an easy road.

 

The Colts and Cardinals game has all the makings of an entertaining game. Indianapolis has been on a roll, going 7-2 in their last nine. The only losses in those games were to the defending champs, Tampa Bay, and a close overtime thriller against the Tennessee Titans in Indy. During that stretch, they steamrolled the Bills and Patriots in a game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. Arizona, losers of their last two games and three of their last seven, are looking to get back on track. It should be a good game.

 

Sunday gives us five intraconference games that directly bear the AFC playoff positioning.

 

The Chargers head south to play the Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston. Los Angeles lost a close one at home to Kansas City in week fifteen while the Texans beat the hapless Jaguars in Jacksonville. It is still possible for the Chargers to win their division and attain the number one seed, but the Chiefs would have to lose all their remaining games for that to happen, and that doesn’t seem very likely. A more realistic goal at this point would be to shoot for the fifth seed to play the lowest-seeded division winner (whoever that may be, as there are nine different possible combinations of teams that could take that up that position) in the first round of the playoffs. For the Texans, they have been playing better ball of late, winning two of their last five, including a win over the Titans in Tennessee. Davis Mills is proving he can play in this league, giving Houston hope for the future. Houston currently has a top-five pick in the coming draft. 

 

The Ravens hit the road to take on the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The game is for the division lead in what promises to be another exciting match-up amongst this week’s slate. Both teams have identical 8-6 records, but because the Bengals crushed the Ravens in week seven, 41-17, they are the AFCN leaders. Baltimore has lost their last three games, having lost two of them by choosing to go for a 2-point conversion to win instead of kicking the extra point to tie, which would have forced those games into overtime. One thing you can say about John Harbaugh, he has a set of brass ones and is not afraid to do what he thinks is the right thing given the situation on the field. For Cincinnati, led by a blossoming Joe Burrow, they are 3-4 since that win over the Ravens and needed last week’s win over the Broncos to halt a two-game skid. They will need to be on top of their game to defeat Baltimore here. 

 

The Steelers will attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Chiefs appear to be back on track and are looking very much like the number one seed they currently are. While they won last week at home against Tennessee, Pittsburgh has lost their previous three road games. Arrowhead is not an easy place to play, and the game’s result may well determine if the Steelers will have anything to play for in their last two games of the season. Those games are both within the division. They get the Browns at home and then the Ravens on the road to more than likely close out their season.

 

In a game that will probably see the loser virtually eliminated from a post-season seeding, the Broncos meet the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas for the right to keep their respective slim playoff hopes alive.

 

Our last preview is, of course, the Buffalo Bills against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in New England for the second game of their round-robin. Thanks to the Colts granting the Bills a reprieve, the winner of this game will be the AFCE division leader. For Buffalo, they almost have to win this game. Lose, and they would be in jeopardy of missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

 

The Bills have been a model of inconsistency this year. Alternately playing like the team that made the AFCC game last year, and a team that can’t get out of its way at times. If the Bills are on top of their game this weekend, the Patriots will be hard-pressed to stay with them. If, however, they show up thinking they can just step on the field and walk away with the win, they will more than likely suffer their second straight loss to the hated Patriots. And if one thinks Bill was short in his post-game presser after the Colts loss, should the Pats lose here, Bill just might set a new standard.

 

As much as it pains me to say, Belichick has done a masterful job putting his team back together after his first missed post-season in two decades last year. Nothing would thrill Bills Fans more than to put the Patriots down. If the Bills were to win, it sets the stage for the Patriots’ last game of the season against the Dolphins in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. The game could very well be for a playoff position. A win for either team, and they get to play in the Wild Card round the following week. Lose, and they will be looking towards the NFL Draft and free agency to better their rosters for next year.

 

For fun, you can utilize the ESPN NFL Playoff Machine to play out various scenarios and see where each team would position themselves based upon possible outcomes for these last three weeks.

 

Week 16

Visitor	Home	Info	Location
49ers	Titans	Thu, 12/23, 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network	Nissan Stadium
Browns	Packers	Sat, 12/25, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/NFL Network	Lambeau Field
Colts	Cardinals	Sat, 12/25, 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network	State Farm Stadium
Lions	Falcons	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Ravens	Bengals	1 p.m. ET, CBS	Paul Brown Stadium
Rams	Vikings	1 p.m. ET, FOX	U.S. Bank Stadium
Bills	Patriots	1 p.m. ET, CBS	Gillette Stadium
Jaguars	Jets	1 p.m. ET, CBS	MetLife Stadium
Giants	Eagles	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Lincoln Financial Field
Buccaneers	Panthers	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Bank of America Stadium
Chargers	Texans	1 p.m. ET, CBS	NRG Stadium
Bears	Seahawks	4:05 p.m. ET, FOX	Lumen Field
Steelers	Chiefs	4:25 p.m. ET, CBS	Arrowhead Stadium
Broncos	Raiders	4:25 p.m. ET, CBS	Allegiant Stadium
Washington	Cowboys	8:20 p.m. ET, NBC	AT&T Stadium
Dolphins	Saints	Mon, 12/27, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN	Caesars Superdome

 

 

 

Rooting interests this week include:

49ers

Packers

Cardinals

Jets (draft position)

Texans

Ravens/Bengals?

Steelers/Chiefs?

Broncos/Raiders?

Saints

 

 

Go Bills!!

[B-Man]

1 hour ago, Foxx said:

 

Rooting interests this week include:

49ers

Packers

Cardinals

Jets (draft position)

Texans

Ravens/Bengals?

Steelers/Chiefs?

Broncos/Raiders?

Saints

 

 

Go Bills!!

 

I plan on the Bills winning the next 3 games,

 

So I want the Steelers over the Chiefs

 

and Ravens over the Bengals

 

Broncos / Raiders both have 7 losses already , so I don't care

 

 

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

1 hour ago, Foxx said:

© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY Sports

 

This week sees ten games that will affect the AFC standings, and the schedule features what should be some exciting games. With three games left in the regular season, the quest for a playoff position couldn’t be much tighter, with thirteen teams still vying for a spot and not one of them having clinched a position as of yet. Of them, only the Chiefs and Titans can clinch a playoff spot this week. Currently the number one seed, Kansas City only needs to win to clinch their division. Tennessee must win and have Indianapolis lose to secure a playoff seeding. That would give them the AFCS division crown and, at worst, the third seeding. On the other end of the spectrum, While I don’t think any of the thirteen teams can be mathematically eliminated, we can probably expect to see a couple of teams virtually eliminated from contention this week.

 

Speaking of the Titans, they kick off this week’s slate with the Thursday night game against the 49ers at home in Nissan Stadium. The Titans have played .500 ball these last four weeks, with losses to the Texans at home and the Steelers in Pittsburgh this last week. While Tennessee only needs to win one of their remaining games to qualify for the playoffs, they don’t appear to be the same team since losing Derrick Henry for the season in week eight. Having Ryan Tannehill shoulder the load is not a recipe for success. After facing a solidifying San Francisco team, they will meet a team on a six-game winning streak at home next week, the Miami Dolphins, and close the season against the Texans on the road. 

 

Saturday sees two interconference games for the Christmas holiday, with both AFC teams hitting the road. We see the Browns traveling to Green Bay to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field to open the day. The nightcap will bring the Colts venturing into Arizona to take on the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

 

Because of the Browns’ loss to the Raiders in a covid protocols delayed game, Monday afternoon, they are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. A win would have seen them vault to the top of their division. It was not to be though, and the loss dropped them to twelfth in the seedings. However, in this year of parody, they still have a chance to win their division with three games remaining. After the road game against the Packers, they stay on the road to face the Steelers. They then return home for their season’s final contest to take on the Bengals, who they crushed in Cincinnati earlier in the season. Green Bay has been instilled as a 7.5 point favorite, and though they have clinched the NFL’s lone playoff position, they are still playing for seeding and are not going to be thinking about the post-season at this point. Cleveland’s path to the playoffs is not an easy road.

 

The Colts and Cardinals game has all the makings of an entertaining game. Indianapolis has been on a roll, going 7-2 in their last nine. The only losses in those games were to the defending champs, Tampa Bay, and a close overtime thriller against the Tennessee Titans in Indy. During that stretch, they steamrolled the Bills and Patriots in a game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. Arizona, losers of their last two games and three of their last seven, are looking to get back on track. It should be a good game.

 

Sunday gives us five intraconference games that directly bear the AFC playoff positioning.

 

The Chargers head south to play the Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston. Los Angeles lost a close one at home to Kansas City in week fifteen while the Texans beat the hapless Jaguars in Jacksonville. It is still possible for the Chargers to win their division and attain the number one seed, but the Chiefs would have to lose all their remaining games for that to happen, and that doesn’t seem very likely. A more realistic goal at this point would be to shoot for the fifth seed to play the lowest-seeded division winner (whoever that may be, as there are nine different possible combinations of teams that could take that up that position) in the first round of the playoffs. For the Texans, they have been playing better ball of late, winning two of their last five, including a win over the Titans in Tennessee. Davis Mills is proving he can play in this league, giving Houston hope for the future. Houston currently has a top-five pick in the coming draft. 

 

The Ravens hit the road to take on the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The game is for the division lead in what promises to be another exciting match-up amongst this week’s slate. Both teams have identical 8-6 records, but because the Bengals crushed the Ravens in week seven, 41-17, they are the AFCN leaders. Baltimore has lost their last three games, having lost two of them by choosing to go for a 2-point conversion to win instead of kicking the extra point to tie, which would have forced those games into overtime. One thing you can say about John Harbaugh, he has a set of brass ones and is not afraid to do what he thinks is the right thing given the situation on the field. For Cincinnati, led by a blossoming Joe Burrow, they are 3-4 since that win over the Ravens and needed last week’s win over the Broncos to halt a two-game skid. They will need to be on top of their game to defeat Baltimore here. 

 

The Steelers will attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Chiefs appear to be back on track and are looking very much like the number one seed they currently are. While they won last week at home against Tennessee, Pittsburgh has lost their previous three road games. Arrowhead is not an easy place to play, and the game’s result may well determine if the Steelers will have anything to play for in their last two games of the season. Those games are both within the division. They get the Browns at home and then the Ravens on the road to more than likely close out their season.

 

In a game that will probably see the loser virtually eliminated from a post-season seeding, the Broncos meet the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas for the right to keep their respective slim playoff hopes alive.

 

Our last preview is, of course, the Buffalo Bills against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in New England for the second game of their round-robin. Thanks to the Colts granting the Bills a reprieve, the winner of this game will be the AFCE division leader. For Buffalo, they almost have to win this game. Lose, and they would be in jeopardy of missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

 

The Bills have been a model of inconsistency this year. Alternately playing like the team that made the AFCC game last year, and a team that can’t get out of its way at times. If the Bills are on top of their game this weekend, the Patriots will be hard-pressed to stay with them. If, however, they show up thinking they can just step on the field and walk away with the win, they will more than likely suffer their second straight loss to the hated Patriots. And if one thinks Bill was short in his post-game presser after the Colts loss, should the Pats lose here, Bill just might set a new standard.

 

As much as it pains me to say, Belichick has done a masterful job putting his team back together after his first missed post-season in two decades last year. Nothing would thrill Bills Fans more than to put the Patriots down. If the Bills were to win, it sets the stage for the Patriots’ last game of the season against the Dolphins in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. The game could very well be for a playoff position. A win for either team, and they get to play in the Wild Card round the following week. Lose, and they will be looking towards the NFL Draft and free agency to better their rosters for next year.

 

For fun, you can utilize the ESPN NFL Playoff Machine to play out various scenarios and see where each team would position themselves based upon possible outcomes for these last three weeks.

 

Week 16

Visitor	Home	Info	Location
49ers	Titans	Thu, 12/23, 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network	Nissan Stadium
Browns	Packers	Sat, 12/25, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/NFL Network	Lambeau Field
Colts	Cardinals	Sat, 12/25, 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network	State Farm Stadium
Lions	Falcons	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Ravens	Bengals	1 p.m. ET, CBS	Paul Brown Stadium
Rams	Vikings	1 p.m. ET, FOX	U.S. Bank Stadium
Bills	Patriots	1 p.m. ET, CBS	Gillette Stadium
Jaguars	Jets	1 p.m. ET, CBS	MetLife Stadium
Giants	Eagles	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Lincoln Financial Field
Buccaneers	Panthers	1 p.m. ET, FOX	Bank of America Stadium
Chargers	Texans	1 p.m. ET, CBS	NRG Stadium
Bears	Seahawks	4:05 p.m. ET, FOX	Lumen Field
Steelers	Chiefs	4:25 p.m. ET, CBS	Arrowhead Stadium
Broncos	Raiders	4:25 p.m. ET, CBS	Allegiant Stadium
Washington	Cowboys	8:20 p.m. ET, NBC	AT&T Stadium
Dolphins	Saints	Mon, 12/27, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN	Caesars Superdome

 

 

 

Rooting interests this week include:

49ers

Packers

Cardinals

Jets (draft position)

Texans

Ravens/Bengals?

Steelers/Chiefs?

Broncos/Raiders?

Saints

 

 

Go Bills!!

 

Though I wouldn't normally root for the Jets, it's such an irrelevant game I can't really be bothered to worry about it.  I have no real problem rooting for any of those teams this week.

 

Hell, I would probably have rooted for the Texans out of pity anyway.  It's kind-of like rooting for Wile E. Coyote to get the Road Runner, just once.

[Foxx]

7 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

Though I wouldn't normally root for the Jets, it's such an irrelevant game I can't really be bothered to worry about it.  I have no real problem rooting for any of those teams this week.

 

Hell, I would probably have rooted for the Texans out of pity anyway.  It's kind-of like rooting for Wile E. Coyote to get the Road Runner, just once.

With the races as tight as they are and the match-ups this weekend, it's good to be a fan of the NFL.

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

6 minutes ago, Foxx said:

With the races as tight as they are and the match-ups this weekend, it's good to be a fan of the NFL.

 

I prefer dominant teams I like mowing down weak opponents like wheat before a scythe, myself.  &#%$ being competitive with shit franchises like New England.  

 

[B-Man]

1 hour ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

I prefer dominant teams I like mowing down weak opponents like wheat before a scythe, myself.  &#%$ being competitive with shit franchises like New England.  

 

 

 

[Uncle Joe]

3 hours ago, Foxx said:

However, in this year of parody,

Sigmund, is that you?

[Foxx]

4 hours ago, Uncle Joe said:

Sigmund, is that you?

[Foxx]

Come on San Fran!

https://twitter.com/MaioccoNBCS/status/1474163506874302473

 

[snafu]

Greg Olsen looks like Tommy Boy’s thinner brother. 
 

[4merper4mer]

The 9ers are what happens when a good roster meets a self proclaimed genius coach and a horrible QB.  A lot of waste.

 

Tenn has no business being on the same field with SF yet they are winning due mostly to SFs own doing.

[4merper4mer]

The Titans kicker has a Hitler mustache.

[Ann]

Poop.

[Foxx]

I can't believe the 9ers lost. I watched them roll up a 10 zip lead and figured the game was going to a rout so didn't try to stay awake. Sheesh. 

[snafu]

33 minutes ago, Foxx said:

I can't believe the 9ers lost. I watched them roll up a 10 zip lead and figured the game was going to a rout so didn't try to stay awake. Sheesh. 

Jimmy G isn’t very good. One pick in the Titans Endzone and then a second one in 9ers territory at the beginning of the second half. Plus, the 9ers defense didn’t get any pass rush and they let AJ Brown catch everything. 
 

[Foxx]

4 minutes ago, snafu said:

Jimmy G isn’t very good. One pick in the Titans Endzone and then a second one in 9ers territory at the beginning of the second half. Plus, the 9ers defense didn’t get any pass rush and they let AJ Brown catch everything. 
 

The D was getting to Tannehill early. Saw the ez int. Ahh well, it is what it is. 

 

Not that it is engraved in stone but a good possibility that it sets the stage for a third meeting of the Bills and Pats in the wildcard round. Whoever wins Sunday would probably host.

[snafu]

2 hours ago, Foxx said:

The D was getting to Tannehill early. Saw the ez int. Ahh well, it is what it is. 

 

Not that it is engraved in stone but a good possibility that it sets the stage for a third meeting of the Bills and Pats in the wildcard round. Whoever wins Sunday would probably host.

i don’t think my nerves can take a third meeting with them. 
 

[Foxx]

6 minutes ago, snafu said:

i don’t think my nerves can take a third meeting with them. 
 

Would love to be the ones who knock them out.

[Foxx]

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1474430314244198406

 

[Foxx]

This doesn't bode well for Indy.