Carey

58! Way too young. RIP I'm glad he got into Canton. And and Superbowl ring with Green Bay. Definitely a legend with several teams, including Pittsburgh along with Greg Lloyd and company. Not as great as the 1970s Steelers but a unit to be respected.

The Steelers could very well lose the North. The problem is any chance of turning things around has gone out the window, if not heading into that direction. They are losing several players, more on defense and now on offense. They are too afraid to make adjustments, though that is who they've been for a long time. It was upsetting given what happened with them and their schedule getting changed several times. It was without much, if any warning. I don't know whether Baltimore got or received word on the league's plans to postpone that Week 12 game three times. However, the fact is both teams had irregular schedules. The Ravens haven't really dealt with a major injury bug due to disruption. As a result, I will not point to that as a reason. By the way, unless I'm mistaken, Baltimore played 4 games, separated by a short week three times in a row. So that's 5 days rest after the Steelers game, then the Cowboys game, followed by the Browns game, and then the Jaguars game. Their result was a 112-73 margin post Steelers including two blowouts and two 40-point games. Even if the Browns don't get the AFC North this year, it really doesn't matter. The Steelers are punting to what's next, and it might be more of the same, if they're lucky. Meanwhile, The Browns are playing some awesome football. I may have dissed them before & referenced a weak schedule, but I wouldn't want to face Cleveland. They have the assets to win anywhere against anybody, or keep it close at the worst. Pittsburgh, despite a nice start, have only one positive thing going for them: they haven't cancelled their future games yet

THIS. A billion times this. First, these guys are competitors, they are not going to deliberately lose to try to get some guy who MAY flame out in the NFL. Second, the coach and/or GM are not going to lose so the NEXT Coach/GM can draft the dream guy and win with him. Not to mention even in the salary cap/rookie wage scale era, the first pick ties up a LOT of money that could be spent elsewhere on building the rest of the team. Tanking for a player is a media creation. It's not something teams actively do. Total agreement, and this is why I was actually happy for the Jets while many people joked about the Jets losing by winning or not losing right. The fact that several people in the media kept mentioning how the Jets are tanking and then they would fire Adam Gase. The only people that would sign up for that "myth" are the owners. I don't think Adam Gase is any good as it relates to being a head coach, and the Jets aren't great either, but I don't think they are bad enough to lose 16 games within a season. They had a tough schedule, but while they were bad last year, it was a .438 record and third in the AFC East. I don't think he was given any signs of returning. Good on him for winning, I guess. Looks like Gregg Williams boot wasn't scapegoating. As mentioned, the team needs a lot more than a QB to be effective. If there was ever an example, Cincinnati is just that

RIP, Kevin Greene.

The problem is the Pandemic is far from over. I don't know if they can commit right away toward playing in another country. At least for the next season. Just thought of how they could avoid repeating teams from opposing conferences, and I don't believe that would work properly. I guess we'll leave the records and tiebreakers for the league to figure out. Though I'd rather see an annual game between former rivals (i.e. Seahawks/Broncos, Steelers/Cowboys)

Personally, I'm glad that the Jets won. Sure it was dumb for them to do so, but I'm a fan of winning, not losing. I think it's a major problem that NFL teams full of professional football players have recently taken these measures to best draft the top prospect. The fact that someone has to lose each one of their 16 games too draft their future franchise QB is messed up. Speaking of 16 games, I agree that it's working given the fact that the league hasn't made much, if any effort to add new teams to the league. Because they need to collect, the NFL will hurry to have a 17th game with the same number of teams but then botch it when trying to figure out how to handle that 17th game. Sounds like it will be out of conference, but I'll believe it when I see it. The way Lamb18 described it works, but I think you wouldn't have to face a team from the other conference more than once. This is not easy to explain right now, but if you went with the preceding season's rankings, before you match the placement of one team from the AFC with the placement of the NFC team, I would remove the division you're scheduled to play, and then after that, match the AFC/NFC teams from a list of the 12 teams per conference that isn't part of the 4-year out-of-conference rotation. I think I have to display an example of what I'm talking about from past seasons. However, I don't think you need to face a team more than once from a difference conference. That would mess with the tiebreakers if and when it came to that

The Steelers played on Christmas in 2016 and in 2017. I'm not sure about any agreement that prohibits the league from scheduling NFL games opposite NBA games

It's already been voted on. It's happening. Very possible in 2021, but that is not set in stone yet. The league could wait until 2023, the first year of the new TV deal. I agree; 17 games is dumb as all hell (unless the 17th game is out of conference). 7 team playoff? Meh That is correct. He wasn't born yet. For the record, the Bills were rather close to dethroning the Patriots last year with Brady still on the team (and starting, unlike in 2008). During that run, the Jets of all teams in the AFC East might've been the team that had the bragging rights over Buffalo and Miami. They actually knocked off New England when it counted the most San Francisco, Seattle, Minnesota, Miami, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Cleveland win in Week 15, I think

It'll be Alabama vs Notre Dame, with the winner facing Clemson vs Ohio State. Texas A&M finishes in 5th place, and Oklahoma is the 6th team

Same here. I respect the Buckeyes and I do think they are one of the four best teams. As mentioned, having them in the mix is not a surprise and rather necessary in terms of revenue and prestige. However, I don't think Alabama or Clemson will beat Ohio State this year. That has less to do with the Tide or the Tigers falling, and more to do with Notre Dame being for real this year. Not enough to win out, but a much better team compared to 2012 or 2018. (FTR: I'm going chalk this weekend on the collegiate level). If Clemson wins, they would jump to number two (unless Bama loses). I don't know if you'd drop Notre Dame to 4. It's been 8 years, but I'd rather not see Alabama and Notre Dame again, and definitely not Clemson/Ohio State. Of course, the only way we'd get Ohio State vs Notre Dame is if the Irish win again and Northwestern loses

I Nooooo, this is not needed at all. I hope it doesn't interfere with watching the game normally. According to earlier reports, that's for the Nickelodeon broadcast and not the actual network. Maybe it's subject to change; I don't mind the playoff expansion (in fact, over the past week or so I'm actually admiring it), but do it for more games. I don't need to see unnecessary nonsense during one of the most important games of the entire NFL season. On the other hand, that garbage would be reversed for the other AFC South playoff team not playing a noon game on ESPN

I had to tune out everything Monday for various reasons, but that Monday Night Football game was pretty awesome. Not something you'd say over the past decade or so, but something that was the case back in the day. A wacky finish benefitting Cleveland would have been pretty insane (especially if you were listening to Westwood One's call of the game). While it didn't happen, the alternate did. Just ask those that took Ravens -4 (or Baltimore -3). FTR, I didn't check the most recent and valid spread, but when that safety happened, that was the first thing that came to mind over the significance of the results of the actual game

Apparently, the Saints were looking ahead to Kansas City as much as the Chiefs were looking ahead to New Orleans. The problem is the Chiefs are better at it in terms of a positive result

Man, for the most part, at least, Philadelphia said no thanks to winning. On a related note (related only because it's football): The Falcons said no thanks to the postseason. Coincidentally, both Houston & Atlanta, both of whom had winless starts and booted their HC's, were both eliminated from playoff contention today for losing

I joke earlier about Bailey being thrown overboard by the Vikings before they departed from the Bay. I don't think they were beating Tampa anyway. Bad kicking days happen. Miami looks like that one team that can upset Kansas City in the postseason if they make it. Next year they would be a problem for the Chiefs for sure, but I don't think they'll be able to pass Buffalo before seasons end

There's nothing good about this year. Even if one had a good year, you're not going to boast about that. In other words, 2020 sucked. That being said, there may be some good that comes out of this. IOW, there will be some changes made due to the pandemic that will become permanent. I can totally see the NFL flexing Sunday games to Monday Night with enough warning. It'll be similar to what they did or do for Week 15 & 16 with their Saturday slate Tampa Bay, Arizona, Kansas City, Tennessee, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas, Washington, New Orleans, Atlanta, Green Bay, Cleveland look like winners in Week Fourteen

Oh they do, as mentioned. I meant to say SNF. So Dallas will have a primetime game; not necessarily on Sunday Night ("spoiler alert: they will in 2021). The Cowboys typically have their Thursday night primetime game a week after Thanksgiving against one of the four teams that played in the Lions window or the NBC primetime game

Hopefully, we will get more of that next season. Or the NFL opts not to schedule the Cowboys in primetime at all

Something to think of: On the subject of contingency plans, I wonder if the CFB Playoff has one. I think they definitely do. For instance: who to choose for their Top 4. There is a possibility that Florida and or Clemson (the latter more realistic) jump Ohio State with a win. Florida probably has to blow out Alabama, while Clemson really doesn't have to blow out Notre Dame. However, if they actually kill ND, I could see the Irish missing out entirely. I'll be honest: I totally don't have a problem with OSU getting the legacy call here. I guess it's due to the fact that I didn't see a scenario on Planet Earth where TPTB would've said, "Sorry, Buckeyes. Life's not fair, move the hell on." One thing I might have an issue with is the committee, especially its chair say "No thanks" to programs like Cincinnati, Central Florida, Boise State, etc. When it comes to meaningful postseason. That added to the fact that they're never going to say, "We will never, ever, put you in the BCS or College Football Playoff, period!" There was a wish that they would expand the playoff for this year only, and when that failed, you had a chance to get a Group of Five in. Then the Big 10 and Pac 12 changed their minds. Really, nothing to lose sleep over. They were going to put in a 2-loss SEC team or a lousy, lucky one-loss non-traditional powerhouse before a Cincy or BYU before they lost

I should add the Brownies, Lions, and Jets Jets Jets, but if they're hosting, it's a moot point. An actual implosion would be an upgrade to their stadium

Dallas should win. Only because they're the underdog coming off of nearly two week's rest over a team that just played on Wednesday. Apparently the favorites are winless with that scenario, at least this season. As mentioned, rest could equal rust as was the case with the 2011 Packers or the 2019 Ravens, but it's no myth either. After all, each of the past 7 champions did not play a game that first week of the postseason

Won't be the same without Don Shula

They're missing James Connor today. Although I wouldn't rely on him anyway, I'd take him over Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels. I don't mind the short passing game. However the Steelers can defend themselves all they want to the media about how they are missing a valuable run game. I don't care if they develop an attitude about it, but they ought to address it behind closed doors at least. They play at Orchard Park on Sunday. If their run game is that pathetic that might cost them. I should point out the fatal mistake of being one-dimensional. No one's Bill Belichick but if someone is willing to allow the Steelers to run the ball as a complimentary gift of sorts, then they will not be winning the Super Bowl (regardless of whether Kansas City or New Orleans knocks them off)

It's official. Travis Kelce is the best tight end in the NFL. FWIW, Kansas City's struggles against Denver wasn't a surprise. It may come off as one since everyone (in the media) has come to the conclusion that it's the Chiefs and nobody else. I still think it's them until somebody beats them (when it counts the most). Pittsburgh could do it, New Orleans might do it. It is possible that Cleveland could win it all. Crazy as that sounds, they are playing some good football right now. While they nearly blew it against Tennessee, when you're up 38-7 on anybody that is very rare. If the Titans had come back all the way it would have looked bad but not fatal since it's December and the 31-point margin was reached with 30 minutes of game time left, not 17 minutes of game time remaining. Can the Browns sustain this for years to come? We'll see. I can see Baker and company winning in January and maybe in February so that they can get theirs before Mayfield gets paid (recent reference to that made by Cowherd). If it doesn't happen this season, I can see it in a year or two before it could fall apart. I don't know if it'll fall apart to what they were from 2015-2017 in recent history but the salary cap is not a pleasant thing. Twoods, I think it's over for Anthony Lynn too. Los Angeles booting him isn't so much as he hasn't performed. It's a combination of that and the fact that the Charges need to do whatever it takes to stop Kansas City from turning into this decades version of the Patriots of the preceding decade. Whatever happens, they did return to the postseason, and they did win a playoff game. Unless they kick him out today L.A. might allow him to complete the season. However, they were the fourth team eliminated so I guess they could get a head start or just start looking sooner rather than later

That would be interesting. The Patriots had something to play for in Week 16 five seasons ago, and you wouldn't know it given how it ended. At the time it hurt Pittsburgh more than New England. Somewhat ironic, the reverse happened two years later with the same parties (not the game's ending, at the Pats won by 20)