Carey

I'm sorry, Chit Chat.

Philadelphia fails to be the first NFC team to clinch its division. Washington with a BIG win! After 5 turnovers! Great news for Detroit (and Minnesota). The AFC had a chance to clinch all of theirs on Saturday before the NFC even clinched one, but Pittsburgh couldn't get it done. To be fair, Philly probably could've clinched last week, and the AFC North should be coming down to the end anyway (Baltimore lost to Philadelphia, a rare Ravens loss to the NFC). Plus, the leaders in each of the NFC divisions are close to each other (in a good way for the NFC North & not so much before NFC South). Finally, we had a chance to have all spots secure in a conference for the first time in at least a long time, if not in NFL history. Cincinnati survived so that may come to the end (unless Denver wins its next game). By the way, better luck next year, Dallas!

It was difficult to comprehend that since starting for the ratbirds it's Lamar Jackson's first win over them in regulation. Based on the rest of the schedule, the opportunity for Lamar to regain the lead permanently for the second straight MVP is there for the taking. Or not; since a non QB won the award, everyone that's won it played for a team that was the Top Seed for the most part. About 9 for 11 times. The other two teams were guaranteed a divisional playoff game at home (so as long as they didn't lose the week before). Lamar and company are too good of a team NOT to beat their division rival, so that outcome was long overdue. Meanwhile a lot of rather crazy fans in Western PA are crying as if they lost to a 2-12 team & wanting to fire everybody. Then there's Washington, who like someone else can't seem to maintain control of the ball. Turnovers happen, but many double efforts toward reducing that number if you were hoping to pull an upset.

Another thing that doesn't get mentioned enough: Sure coaches leave, to where the issue of them bolting was accepted but not a student athlete. There is a difference. A coach isn't going to be in 3 (plus) different institutions in as many years. I'll be dead before there's a concrete review on the current era of NIL & the transfer portal, but I think it'll definitely be an interesting read when it comes to a "Where Are They Now" story on these athletes. Spending 11 years in school, transferring to 14 programs due the one's inability to handle a half ounce of adversity. What was the endgame? What good came out from doing so to where the future was bright? Definitely something worth paying attention to, and hopefully something that gets addressed to where it's not so much a tough documentary down the road

That doesn't make sense. 506 is showing that the region has both NY teams. I haven't heard of any switches to Eagles/Commanders unless it took place at or after 12:59

I'm not making any excuses for Pittsburgh, but the structure of their schedule being completely a schedule from hell is a fact, period. Maybe not, but the world will end before someone comes up with any of the other 31 teams that have it worse. Plus, it could mean that Baltimore is in the same or similar spot Tampa Bay was in 4 years ago. Something I noticed & focused on for more than a minute back in August

Out of the 12 playoff teams? No. However, it's close. I'd say yes if you swap Tennessee & Arizona State. Not sure what to make of Boise State, but I think they're definitely better than Indiana, SMU, and Clemson. Boise State, like Ohio State, nearly escaped Eugene in a positive way. Speaking of the Buckeyes: Their excuse is that they played their first playoff game against one of, if not the best teams in the country. A team that's seasoned & has playoff experience. Plus, a team that I think will definitely make the CBF Playoff for the rest of time. Probably had more to do with their competition & less the weather than before, and I'd pick them to beat teams like SMU and Indiana anywhere

True, but usually it's a 60 minute game. Of course, the NFL competition is much better so those are more likely to come down to the wire. The first round games were over by halftime if not well before the final quarter. Part of the situation was that warm weather teams were playing in cold weather places in wintertime. So that's not good. Indiana has cool weather so they lost because they suck. Same goes for Clemson; they were playing in hot Texas, who might win it all. As mentioned elsewhere, I'm in the category of "games suck but it's Year One". Forget the fact that it's the first round & on one's home field. This is the first year they're doing this 12-team format. I'll wait at least a year or two to give better judgement. Personally, I'm more upset that there's no re-seeding & how less elite teams get a winning path that should be for the most elite. Either way, people are going to feel angry, but it's not a big deal. The pretenders are out (Tennessee is out but not a pretender) and now we'll get 8 teams going for the title. Things were not pleasant, but the teams that made it can't say they weren't given the nod to play for the title. Maybe next year well get people that'll lose by less than 5 scores because they're actually close to the level of the eventual winner. So, moving on. It's a double digit margin in terms of favorites for Penn State & Texas, while Ohio State is favored over Oregon by the same margin Notre Dame is against Georgia (1.5)

Man, imagine how bad Bama would've been waxed had they been playing today in Happy Valley! /s

Whew! I expected better from Indiana. Well back to being a (has-been) hoops team that has a football program. On a related note, Notre Dame opens as a 1.5 point favorite over Georgia

With the league trending back to an era where the run game is actually a good thing, you'd have to account for a running back as well. So in addition to the mentioned stuff about an MVP wide receiver, it's not going to happen if an RB puts in half of the effort people like Barkley, Derrick Henry, AP, C.M.C and others have put in.

Probably not ideal for whoever the AFC North runner up is, but LA overcomes their beatdown (from the Bucs) by winning in an epic way (including a 57 yard free kick for points). Denver goes the opposite direction as a result; both teams are 9-6, and they could win out. I just refrained from saying should since Cincinnati could win out. The Bengals chances are on life support, but the Broncos, who they host one week from Saturday, are the only team they can surpass if they want to play decent January football. ETA: The Bengals also need both Miami & Indianapolis to lose out so it's over for them. However, the chances of the AFC North second place team dropping all the way to the 7th spot is actually a possibility

Gotta defend Denver & Los Angeles. I'll be brief: Walton & Spanos aren't going ALL-IN judging players based on said players MADDEN ratings!

I'm not going to lie to you, I'd rather talk about the Kansas City Chiefs winning 3 (or 4 or 5) consecutive Lombardi Trophies than spending another second talking about Aaron Rodgers, period. In talk, I definitely mean non-stop Super Bowl talk with the champs. If the sports media wants to show the greatness A-Rod once showed in Green Bay so be it. However, with the two options being a world where No 12 never existed VERSUS a world where Kansas City wins the title and nobody else, I'll be signing up for the latter. Speaking for myself, and you can throw in 12 seconds about the New England Patriots and their 20 years of winning.

To be fair, I think Todd Bowles needs the Bucs to win the division more than anyone. However, I think he's safe so as long as they don't end up with a losing record. Which would actually shock me. Not a total lock toward the division, but I think even if they fail to win the NFC South, they should get into the playoffs. The only legit test left for Tampa Bay is a road game against Dallas. Say what you will, but they've been a little better than before. Keep in mind that Washington still has a playoff spot to obtain. They probably can't pack it in if they don't survive against Philadelphia. A second consecutive loss to Atlanta helps the latter but it would also benefit the Bucs. At the end of the day, Baker and company should be fine for the playoffs. While losing to the Cowboys is far from popular, just do not lose to the anybody else. After all, Tampa is the one team the Eagles do not want to see. I think Philly might be more worried about the NFC South champions than Detroit is of the soon-to-be eventual NFC East champions.