THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

NFL 2025 Week 18 Prequel

Saturday, January 3, 2025, 4:30pm

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2 1/2) — The 8-8 Panthers defeated the 7-9 Buccaneers two weeks ago. Initially this was billed as whoever wins this game wins the NFC South with the loser out of the playoffs. That has been modified. The Buccaneers with a loss are absolutely out. The Panthers can lose and still win the division as long as Atlanta wins. If the Panthers and Atlanta both lose, The Buccaneers take the division. Home field matters very little in this series. The Buccaneers have melted down since a 6-2 start. Todd Bowles, who might be a Black Monday casualty, tried to blame Baker Mayfield. The Panthers have the better defense and the momentum. The Buccaneers are trying to win the NFC South for the 5th straight year, but go with the team playing better football. Upset special, Panthers win outright

8pm

Seattle Seahawks (-1 1/2) at San Francisco 49ers — This is why we watch football. The 13-3 Seahawks face off against the 12-4 49ers for all the marbles. The winner takes the NFC West and the top seed in the NFC with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the first round bye. The loser is a Wildcard who has to play road playoff games. In Week 1, the 49ers went into Seattle and beat the Seahawks 17-13. As great as the Seahawks are playing, especially on defense, Brock Purdy has more offensive weapons than Sam Darnold. Upset special, 49ers win outright

Sunday, January 4, 1pm

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (-10 1/2) — The Colts are eliminated. The 10-5 Texans are already a wildcard. With a win and a Jacksonville loss, the Texans win the AFC South and would have a playoff game at home. The Texans have a great defense. Go with the team that has everything to play for. The Colts are an injured mess that started 7-1 and then went 1-7. The Philip Rivers experiment seems to have ended before the final game as Riley Leonard gets the start. Texans cover

Dallas Cowboys (-4 1/2) at New York Giants — Both teams are eliminated. The Cowboys have the better offense while the Giants got a rare win last week against the only team more wretched than them and playing backups. Jaxson Dart has shown enough promise to justify a closer game, especially against a porous Dallas defense. Cowboys win but fail to cover

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-7 1/2). — Both teams are eliminated. The Browns are playing for Myles Garrett to break the sack record. Both teams might be playing to save their coach’s job. Joe Burrow is playing, and his offense against the stout Cleveland defense is the chess match. Yet the Browns beat Pittsburgh last week, which is their Super Bowl. The Bengals should roll at home. Bengals cover

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-3) — Both teams are eliminated, yet playing decent football indecent weeks. Tyler Shough may be the Saints answer at quarterback. The Falcons stunned a good Rams team. Kirk Cousins might be playing his final game in Atlanta. Bijan Robinson is still all world. Home field rarely mattes in this series, and the Saints have a decent defense. This could go down to the final play, but the Falcons are a confident bunch of after last week. Falcons cover

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (-6 1/2) — The Vikings are eliminated. The 9-6-1 Packers are locked into the seven seed Wildcard and will play road playoff games as long as they stay in the playoffs. Since they cannot move higher, the Packers may rest their starters. The Vikings have had a rough season, but their starters can beat the Green Bay backups. Vikings cover

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-12 1/2) — The Titans are eliminated. The 12-4 Jaguars have a ton to play for. They are currently the three seed with a home playoff game. If they win and either Denver or New England loses, the Jaguars move up to the two seed. If the Jaguars win and both Denver and New England lose, the Jaguars rocket to the top seed with home field throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. On the flip side, if the Jaguars lose and Houston wins, the Jaguars lose the AFC South tie-breaker and the division. The Jaguars in that scenario tumble all the way to the five seed Wildcard and would play a road playoff game. The Jaguars have everything to play for and are playing like it in ha king won 6 straight. The Titans lack the talent to compete. Jaguars cover

4pm

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-7) — The Jets are eliminated. The 11-5 Bills stumbled at home last week on the final play of the game against Philadelphia. That means their 5 year reign is AFC East champions is over. The Bills are a Wildcard and will play road playoff games. Currently the seven seed, they may decide to rest players even though they could move up one seed. The Bills will be enraged after losing a one-point heartbreaker at home against Philadelphia. This is another game of one team with everything to play for against a team lacking talent. Bills cover

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (-7 1/2) — The Cardinals are eliminated. The 11-5 Rams stunning loss at Atlanta dropped them from the five seed to the six seed. If they win and get help, they could go back up to the five seed. Either way, they are playing a road playoff game. Yet the five seed would be traveling to a warm weather city to play a weaker team while the six seed will be playing in a cold weather city against a very good defense. This is also yet another case of an angry good team coming off a tough loss in the Rams against an untalented team that ay fire their coach on Black Monday in the Cardinals. Expect the Rams offense to explode and get their frustrations out. This game could be over by halftime. Rams cover

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos (-12/2) — The 11-5 Chargers home loss to Houston knocked them out of their division race. They are currently the six seed. They choose to rest their starters despite the chance to move up or down one seed. The Chargers will play a road playoff game no matter what. The 13-3 Broncos have a clear mission. They have already clinched the AFC West. If they win this game, they maintain the top seed in the conference with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. If they lose and either New England or Jacksonville wins, the Broncos fall to the two seed. If the Broncos lose and New England and Jacksonville both win, the Broncos fall to the three seed. They would have to host a Wildcard playoff game rather than get the week off. The Broncos are playing starters and the Chargers are playing backups. Trey Lance is filling in for Justin Herbert. Yet the chargers defense is good enough to prevent a blowout. Broncos win but fail to cover

Kansas City Chiefs (-5 1/2) at Las Vegas Raiders — Both teams are eliminated. After 9 straight AFC West crowns, 5 Super Bowls including the last 3, and 3 Super Bowl wins, the Chiefs are for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era out of the playoffs with a losing season at 6-10. The 2-14 Raiders with a loss will have the most losses in a season ever in franchise history. The Raiders would also be guaranteed the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders have put Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby on injured reserve, leading to accusations of tanking. The RaIders were blown out last week at home by the previously 2-13 Giants. Pete Carroll may be a one and done Black Monday coaching casualty. Travis Kelce may retire after this game. Geno Smith has been ruled out, which means the Raiders might actually be trying to win. If the Raiders were truly tanking, they would play Smith. For some reason, the Raiders play better against the Chiefs in Kansas City than at home. After their listless home performance against the Giants, it is hard to give the Raiders the benefit of the doubt, even against a wounded Chiefs team. Chiefs cover

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-11 1/2) — The Dolphins are eliminated. Mike MacDaniel could be a Black Monday coaching casualty, but the odds are he stays. The 13-3 Patriots are currently the two seed with a home playoff game. They have already clinched the AFC East. If they lose and Jacksonville wins, the Patriots fall to the three seed. Conversely, if they win and Denver loses, the Patriots grab the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a first round bye.As great as the Patriots are playing, Quin Ewers is no ordinary backup. He has played well enough to trust him for a garbage touchdown to beat the high spread. Patriots win but fail to cover

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (-7) — The Commanders are eliminated. The defending champion Eagles are 11-5. Yet the team they beat in last year’s NFC Title Game has fallen off of a cliff due to injuries. The Eagles are currently the three seed and will host a playoff game. If they win and Chicago loses, the Eagles move up to the two seed. The Commanders are an injured mess and the Eagles defense is carrying their offense. Eagles cover

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (-2 1/2) — The Lions are eliminated. The 11-5 Bears have already clinched the NFC North. They are currently the two seed. However, if they lose and Philadelphia wins, the Bears drop to the three seed. Either way, the Bears will be playing their first playoff game at home. Ben Johnson would love to put the final dagger in his former team this season. The Bears have quieted virtually all of the doubters, just as the Lions did three years ago. The Lins will bounce back next year, but this is the year for the Bears to show what they can do, especially on defense. They will be angry after a tough loss at San Francisco that went down to the final play. Bears cover

8pm

Baltimore Ravens (-3 1/2) at Pittsburgh Steelers — This is why we watch football. The 8-8 Ravens and 9-7 Steelers have a simple situation. The winner captures the AFC North and hosts a Wildcard game. The loser is out of the playoffs. For much of the last 20 years, John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin have fielded teams that are mirror images of each other. These teams win with hard nosed running and defense. To quote stone Cold Steve Austin, this game is going to be a bare-fisted slobberknocker. Home field is irrelevant. This is a last man standing war of attrition. The Steelers won 27-22 in Baltimore in Week 14. The rematch will be just as intense to close out the 2025 nFL regular season. As great as Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are, the Ravens may be out of gas after willing themselves to get this far. Aaron Rodgers three years ago needed to win one game at home to make the playoffs. Instead, it was his final game in Green Bay as he was bounced out of the playoffs. The talent favors the Ravens, but this is one of those games where Mike Tomlin confounds everyone. If it comes down to a field goal, trust Chris Boswell in any weather elements in that stadium. With everything on the line, expect TJ Watt to play. Steelers cover

NFL 2025 Black Monday Coach Firing Predictions

Happy New Year. You’re history. Happy Hanukkah. Clean out your desk. Merry Christmas. You’re fired. The NFL coaching carousel is about to spin like a dreidel. The NFL is a cold place in losing environments. The annual ritual of firing coaches on Black Monday is a long-established NFL tradition. As retired coach Jerry Glanville used to say, the NFL stands for “Not For Long.”

Thankfully, Black Monday now comes past the holiday season, allowing coaches to enjoy time with their families. The pink-slips come afterward.

This season’s NFL 2025 Black Monday Coach Firing Carousel:

The 2025 regular season coaching carousel saw two coaches fired during the season. The Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan. The New York Giants fired Brian Daboll. More changes will come Black Monday. 

A time to fire: Rules of the Black Monday coach firing ritual

Owners can fire any employee they want whenever they want, but that does not mean they should. There are certain unwritten rules that owners should consider before firing (or not) NFL coaches on Black Monday.

Never fire a coach after a winning season. No matter how badly the team underachieves, some teams would kill to go 9-8.

Do not fire a coach unless it is absolutely definite that a better replacement option exists.

Do not fire a coach after one season unless there is zero hope for improvement. Bill Parcells won only three games in his first season as an NFL head coach. Jimmy Johnson won one game. Tom Landry won zero games and tied one.

Do not fire a coach after two losing seasons if they had four or five winning seasons prior. Allow two or even three bad seasons if the coach has the ability to turn things around.

If a coach has won a Super Bowl for you, leave him alone for a few years.

If he has won two Super Bowls for you in non-consecutive years, give him a lifetime contract.

Lastly, if it is a close call, give the coach one more year.

With that, here are the NFL 2025 Black Monday Coach Firing predictions.

Black Monday firings that are necessary:

New York Giants: Mike Kafka

What should happen:

Mike Kafka is just a placeholder. The Giants may go for a big name. The team needs a quarterback whisperer who will unleash Jaxson Dart. 

What will happen:

Kafka is gone. 

Tennessee Titans: Mike McCoy

What should happen: Mike McCoy is also just a placeholder. The Titans need to develop rookie quarterback Cam Ward. This team also needs a quarterback whisperer.

What will happen: McCoy is gone. 

Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon

What should happen: In 3 years, Gannon has gone 15-35. That is just terrible. While Kyler Murray has been injured, the Cardinals have made no improvements since Gannon took over.

What will happen: Gannon is gone-on. 

Deserve to stay but will be fired:.

Pete Carroll: The Raiders have no offensive line and a quarterback in Geno Smih who makes too many dumb decisions. The big issue is the offensive line. It takes time to build a roster. Pete Carroll is a proven winner. Based on his entire body of work, he deserves better. Sadly, the Raiders keep recycling coaches in a never-ending rebuild. Forget Tom Brady. He can either be an announcer or an active de facto general manager, but not both. It would be utterly foolish to make Carroll the fool guy, but the Raiders have been foolish for far too long. 

Deserve to stay and will stay:

New York Jets: Aaron Glenn: Again, it takes time to build a roster. The Jets need a quarterback and more. Aaron Glenn is a Bill Parcells disciple. Parcells won 3 games in his first season before becoming a legend. Aaron Glenn is a leader of men. It would be a terrible mistake to saddle him with a terrible roster and t hen throw him under the bus. Woody Johnson is a fairly patient owner. Glenn will survive. 

Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: This innovator has not forgotten how to coach. His offense hung a whopping 70 points on a good Denver team last year. Tua Tagovailoa has regressed, but much of that is due to injuries. McDaniel wanted to give Quinn Ewers a shot, and the team was vindicated by that decision.Tagovailoa will be gone after the season. Stephen Ross should realize that his coach is not the problem. Give the Dolphins a speedy wide receiver to replace or complement Tyreek Hill. The team has not quit on him, so he should survive. 

Could go either way: 

Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski

What should happen: He ended the Browns curse by going into Pittsburgh and whipping them in the playoffs before barely falling to Kansas City. Then the ownership ran Baker mayfield out of town and brought in Deshaun Watson. Now they are saddled with Shedeur Sanders. While sanders is not Spergin Wynn or Johnny Manziel, he is  not Otto Graham either. The Browns have a slid defense. Wit better quarterback play, they can be competitive. 

What will happen: Flip a coin. In a close call, give the coach one more year. Yet Jimmy Haslam might throw Stefanski under the bus to take the heat off of his own bumbling as owner.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles:

This may seem odd given that the Buccaneers have a shot at winning their fifth straight NFC South Championship. Todd Bowles is a very good defensive coordinator. Yet this year his offense collapsed after a 6-2 start. The problem is Bowles wins just enough games to survive but does not seem to be able to get a team with talent to the next level. This Buccaneers team is loaded on offense, and they have regressed since Bruce airman’s retired so Bowles could take over. Keep in mind that the division is terrible, so wining it is not much of an accomplishment. 

What will happen:

If the Buccaneers make the playoffs, Bowles isn’t going anywhere. If the Buccaneers collapse against a weak Carolina team in their finale and miss the playoffs, his ground might be shakier.  He may be gone next year unless he can finally make a deep playoff run with a talented roster, but that should have been this year.

Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: Taylor keeps getting a free pass due to injuries to Joe Burrow. To be fair, a stubborn refusal to invest in a good offensive line falls on ownership. Yet Taylor may have worn out his welcome by squandering some of Burrow’s years. Burrow is entering his prime. With a healthy Burrow, the Bengals are explosive on offense. The defense is not what it was in past year.Owner Mike Brown is a notorious cheapskate, so he may keep Taylor out of expediency. With a healthy Burrow next year and Kansas City possibly on the decline, the Bengals will be out of excuses. Taylor may get some sympathy for holding a roster without Burrow together, but next year the Bengals have to make a deep playoff run for him to continue. 

Give them lifetime contracts: 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin

The man has never had a losing season.

Baltimore: John Harbaugh: 

He overcame a 1-5 start due to a team wracked by injuries, including Lamar Jackson.

Both of these coaches face a do or die regular season finale. The loser misses the playoffs. Either way, both the Rooneys and steve Bisciotti should thank the football gods that they lucked into the platinum standard of coaches. Players come and go and these guys keep winning. Just sign them to lifetime contracts and be done with it. The Steelers fans who grumble about Tomlin need their heads examined. 

eric

NFL 2025-2026 NFC Playoff Permutations and Combinations

The first 17 weeks of the 2023 NFL regular season are in the history books. Week 18 is here. 

This week football jargon not used for 51 weeks is said over and over. We learn who controls their own destiny and who needs help making the playoffs. Some years it seems almost everybody has a shot at the playoffs. This year the NFC playoff picture has very few possibilities. Only one playoff spot remains for two teams. Everything else is a fight for seeding among teams that have already clinched playoff berths.

This brings my assessment of the 2024-2025 NFC playoff permutations and combinations.

Only the top seed with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs gets the first-round bye.

The AFC Playoff picture is also fairly straightforward. 

NFL 2025-2026 AFC Playoff Permutations and Combinations

Five of the eight NFC Week 18 games have playoff implications. Only two of the four NFC Divisions have been clinched.

Now for the NFC Playoff picture. 

1.) Seattle Seahawks (13-3): The Seahawks control thrown destiny. The Seahawks have clinched a playoff spot but nothing more. Right now they are the top seed. They are one game up in the NFC West. Next week they have a regular season finale winner-take-all showdown at San Francisco. If the Seahawks win, they win their division and retain the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the first round bye. If they lose, the Seahawks drop to the five seed and play a road game on Wildcard Weekend. 

2.) Chicago Bears (11-5): The Bears have clinched the NFC North and are currently the two seed. The top seed is out of reach. If the Bears lose their regular season finale, they can still remain the two seed if Philadelphia also loses. If the Bears lose and Philadelphia wins, the Bears fall to the three seed. They cannot be lower than the three seed and no matter what are hosting a playoff game on Wildcard Weekend.

3.) The Eagles have clinched the NFC East and are currently the three seed. The top seed is out of reach. If the Eagles win their regular season finale and Chicago loses, the Eagles rise to the two seed. They cannot be lower than the three seed and no matter what are hosting a playoff game on Wildcard Weekend.

4.) Carolina Panthers (8-8): The Panthers control their own destiny. The Panthers are one game up in the NFC South, but they do not hold the tie-breaker and have not have clinched anything. They control their own destiny. They have a Week 18 regular season finale showdown at Tampa Bay. If the Panthers win, they win the NFC South and the four seed. They would host a Wildcard playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. If the Panthers lose, they still win the division if Atlanta wins. If the Panthers and Atlanta both lose, the Panthers lose the division tie-breaker and are out. 

5.) San Francisco 49ers (12-4): The 49ers control their own destiny. The 49ers are one game back in the NFC West. They are currently the five seed. Next week they have a Week 18 division showdown against Seattle. If the 49ers win, they win the division and conference tie-breakers and vault up to the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. If the 49ers lose, they can remain the five seed as long as the Rams also lose. If the 49ers lose and the Rams win, the 49ers fall to the six seed. Unless the 49ers win, they are on the road for their playoff game on Wildcard weekend. 

6.) Los Angeles Rams (11-5): The Rams have clinched a Wildcard and are currently the six seed. Although they are only one game back in the NFC West, they lose the key tie-breakers. The division and the top seed are out of reach. They are currently the six seed. If they lose their regular season finale, they remain the six seed. If they win and San Francisco loses, the Rams win that tie-breaker and move up to the five seed. Either way they will play a road playoff game on Wildcard weekend. They cannot move higher than the five seed. 

7.) Green Bay Packers (9-6-1): The Packers are locked into the seven seed. They have clinched a Wildcard and will be playing only road playoff games for as long as they last. They can rest their starters.

On the outside looking in:

8.)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): The Buccaneers control their own destiny. The Buccaneers are on the outside looking in. They are one game back in the NFC South. They have a regular season division showdown at home against Carolina. The Buccaneers only have one path to the playoffs. If they win and Atlanta loses, the Buccaneers win the division tie-breaker and are the four seed. If the Buccaneers win but Atlanta also wins, the Buccaneers lose the tie-breaker and are out. Obviously if the Buccaneers lose, they are out. 

Here are the five NFC games with playoff implications:

Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Arizona Cardinals (3-13) at Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

Washington Commanders (4-12) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at San Francisco 49ers  (12-4) 

Detroit Lions (8-8) at Chicago Bears (11-5) 

Predictions:

1.) 49ers 13-4

2.) Bears 12-5 

3.) Eagles 12-5

4.) Panthers 9-8 

5.) Seahawks 13-4

6.) Rams 12-5

7.) Packers 9-7-1 (They may rest their starters)

Out: Panthers 8-9

Wildcard Round: 

7.) Packers at 2.) Bears

6.) Rams at 3.) Eagles 

5.) Seahawks at 4.) Panthers

Divisional Round:

7.) Packers at 1.) 49ers

6.) Rams at 5.) Seahawks  

NFC Title Game: 5.) Rams at 1.) 49ers

On paper the Rams have the slightly better offense and the 49ers have the better defense. Home field means noting in this series. The road team frequently wins. Kyle Shanahan seems to have Sean McVay’s number. The Rams on their best day can beat anyone, but the 49ers are their toughest competition. Even the Rams team that won it all in 2021 was dominated by the 49ers for much of the game before basically being gifted the win. The 49ers will be the more rested team, needing only one game to get to this game. The Rams have a brutal playoff path. They may be exhausted by the time this game comes up. The 49ers will hold up the George Halas NFC Championship Trophy but lose again in the Super Bowl

eric 

NFL 2025-2026 AFC Playoff Permutations and Combinations

The first 17 weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season are in the history books. Week 18 is here.

This week football jargon not used for 51 weeks is said over and over. We learn who controls their own destiny and who needs help making the playoffs. Some years it seems almost everybody has a shot at the playoffs. This year the AFC playoff picture has very few possibilities.

That’s our assessment of the 2025-2026 AFC playoff permutations and combinations.

Only the top seed with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs gets the first-round bye.

The NFC playoff picture also has very few possibilities.

NFL 2025-2026 NFC Playoff Permutations and Combinations

Six of the eight AFC Week 18 games have playoff implications, but mainly in terms of seeding. Six of the seven playoff spots have been clinched. Two of the four AFC Divisions have been clinched.

Now for the AFC Playoff picture. 

1.) Denver Broncos (13-3): The Broncos control their own destiny. The Broncos clinched the AFC West, breaking the Kansas City streak of nine straight seasons and are currently the one seed. If the Broncos win their regular season finale, they clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the first round bye. if the Broncos lose, they still keep the top seed if New England and Jacksonville both lose. If the Broncos lose and New England or Jacksonville wins, the Broncos fall to the two seed. If the Broncos lose and New England and Jacksonville both win, the Broncos fall to the three seed.

2.) New England Patriots (13-3): The Patriots clinched the AFC East, breaking the Buffalo streak of five straight seasons. The Patriots are currently the two seed and would play a home playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. If the Patriots win their regular season finale and Denver loses, the Patriots move up to the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. If the Patriots lose and Jacksonville wins, the Patriots fall to the three seed.

3.) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4): The Jaguars have clinched a playoff spot and are one game up in the AFC South. They are currently the three seed. They would play a game at home on Wildcard weekend. If the Jaguars win their regular season finale and either Denver or New England loses, the Jaguars would move up to the two seed. If the Jaguars win and both Denver and New England lose, the Jaguars would vault to the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. If the Jaguars lose, they can keep the three seed as long as Houston also loses. Yet if the Jaguars lose and Houston wins, the Jaguars lose the tie-breaker and the division. They would fall to the five seed Wildcard and play road playoff games.

4.) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7): The Steelers control their own destiny. The Steelers are one game up in the AFC North and are currently the four seed. The Steelers have only one path to the playoffs. The regular season has a showdown between the Steelers and Baltimore. If the Steelers win, they win the division. They cannot move higher than the four seed and would host a playoff game on Wildcard weekend. If the Steelers lose, they lose the tie-breaker and are out of the playoffs altogether.

5.) Houston Texans (11-5): The Texans are one game back in the AFC South. They are currently the five seed and would play a road playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. If they win their regular season finale and Jacksonville loses, Houston wins the division tie-breaker and moves up to the three seed with a home playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. 

6.) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5): The Chargers have clinched a Wildcard and will play a road playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. As of now they are the six seed. If they win their regular season finale and Houston loses, the Chargers move up to the five seed. If the Chargers lose and Buffalo wins, the Chargers fall to the seven seed.

7.) Buffalo Bills (11-5):  (11-5): The Bills have clinched a Wildcard and will play a road playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. As of now they are the seven seed. If they win their regular season finale and the Chargers lose, the Bills move up to the six seed. If the Bills win and the Chargers and Houston both lose, the Bills rise to the five seed.

Outside looking in: 

8.) Baltimore Ravens (8-8): The Ravens control their own destiny. The Ravens are one game back in the AFC North and have a showdown with Pittsburgh. If the Ravens win in Week 18, they win the tie-breaker and grab the division and the four seed. They would host a playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. If the Ravens lose, they are out.

Here are the AFC games with playoff implications:

Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Miami Dolphins (7-9) at New England Patriots (13-3)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver Broncos (13-3)

Indianapolis Colts (8-8) at Houston Texans (11-5)

New York Jets (3-13) at Buffalo Bills (11-5)

Tennessee Titans (3-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

Predictions:

1.) Broncos 14-3

2.) Patriots 14-3

3.) Jaguars 13-4

4.) Steelers 10-7

5.) Texans 12-5

6.) Bills 12-5

7.) Chargers 11-6

Out — Baltimore 8-9

Wildcard Round:

7.) Chargers at 2.) Patriots

6.) Bills at 3.) Jaguars

5.) Texans at 4.) Steelers 

Divisional Round:

6.) Bills at 1.) Broncos

5.) Texans at 2.) Patriots

AFC Title Game: 6.) Bills vs 2.) Patriots

All the pressure is on the Bills. The Bills will never have an easier road to the Super Bowl than this despite being on the road. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Joe Burrow and the Bengals, and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are all sitting at home. The Broncos and Patriots are young, inexperienced teams. The Jaguars might be their toughest test. It is the Bills who will hold the Lamar Hunt Trophy as the AFC Champion. This time, wi everyone from Jack Kemp to Tim Russert watching in heaven, the Bills Mafia will finally get to see their team hold up the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

eric

 NFL 2025 Week 17 Recap

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders was the Thursday Christmas morning game. Both teams were done for the year. With Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota injured, third string quarterback Josh Johnson started for the Commanders. The Cowboys began at their own 22. On 3rd and 6, Dak Prescott threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 9 yard gain. Davis ran for 21. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 26, Prescott went to George Pickens for 19. Prescott went to Ferguson for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Cowboys. The Commanders moved to a 3rd and goal at the 3, but Johnson was sacked. Jake Moody hit a 29 yard field goal to get the commanders on the board. 

The Cowboys took over at their own 35. Defensive unnecessary roughness added 15. Defensive pass interference added 7. Davis ran for 16. Prescott hit Pickens for 19. The second quarter began with Brian Schottenheimer gambling on 4th and 2 from the Washington 23. Prescott went to Tolbert for 4. Schottenheimer gambled again on 4th and 1 from the Washington 10. Williams got the yard. Williams ran for a 4 yard touchdown to cap the 17 play, 65 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive to make it 14-3 Cowboys. The Cowboys got the ball back at their own 3 yard line and made it look easy. Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for 11. On 3rd and 11 from their own 14, Prescott uncorked a bomb to Kevontae Turpin for an 86 yard touchdown. Just like that, the Cowboys were cruising 21-3.

The ensuing kickoff was short of the landing zone, giving the Commanders the ball at their own 40. Deebo Samuel ran for 29. A defensive horse collar penalty added 15. Corskey-Merritt ran for a 10 yard touchdown to get the Commanders within 21-10. Brandon Aubrey hit a 42 yard field goal to put the Cowboys up 24-10 at the half. The Commanders took over in the third quarter at their own 28. One play and 10 seconds was enough for risky-Merritt to burst free for a 72 yard touchdown run. just like that, the Commanders were within 24-17. Then the field goal kickers took over. Aubrey hit from 52 and Moody responded from 23 to get the Commanders within 27-20. In the fourth quarter Aubrey missed from 58 but hit from 51 to give the Cowboys breathing room up 30-20 with 4 minutes  left. Needing 2 scores, Moody hit from 51 to get the Commanders back within 7 just before the two minute warning. The Commanders needed a defensive stop. With the Cowboys facing 3rd and 1 at their own 36, Prescott hit Pickens for 21. With 10 seconds left on 4th and 1 from the Washington 34, Prescott gained 3 to end it. 30-23 Cowboys

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings was the Christmas Thursday afternoon game. The Vikings were done and the Lions were all but done, needing to win out and get help after losing last week in heartbreaking controversial fashion on the final play. Two years ago the Lions had nothing to play for and hit a Green Bay team with everything to play for in the mouth. This year the Lions had everything to play for. A first quarter fumble gifted the Vikings the ball at the Detroit 16. Aaron Jones ran for 9, 2, 4, and on 3rd and goal from the one, the yard for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Vikings. In the second quarter the Lions mounted their drive of the year. A mind-blowing 19…yes, 19…plays. They moved 80 yards and took 10…yes, 10…minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 16 from their own 14, Jared Goff went  to TeSlaa for 28. On 3rd and 9 from their own 43, Goff went to Amra St Brown for 13. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 8 and 6. On 3rd and 15 from the Minnesota 35, Goff went to st Brown for 23. On 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 3, it was time for a Dan Campbell gamble.Montgomery got the carry, initially appeared stopped, got a late surge, and then got blasted by 2 defenders. Montgomery appeared to be just short but officials ruled  he got the first down by less than the nose of the football. On 4th and goal at the 4, Campbell refused to kick a field goal. Goff fired over the middle between two defenders and TeSlaa made a leaping catch, hit the ground hard, and somehow held on to the ball. The game was tied 7-7 at the half.

 The Lions in the second half turned the ball over on 3 straight possessions. Two third quarter interceptions of Goff led to Will Reichard field goals of 52 and 56 for a 13-7 Vikings lead. In the fourth quarter Goff was sacked and fumbled. Midway through the fourth quarter the Lions took over at their own 45. They moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Minnesota 30. Goff threw incomplete twice. On 4th and 8 with 4 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the time Dan Campbell decided to play it safe. Bates hit the 48 yard field goal to get the Lions within 13-10. The Lions defense had played well all game, and now they needed a stop. Instead, Jordan Addison took a pitchout and raced down the right sideline for a 65 yard touchdown. Replay showed that Addison was knocked out at the one yard line. somehow, the officials blew it and kept the touchdown. Given that the Lions entire season was on the line, better officiating would have been nice. The Vikings led 20-10. With 3 minutes left in desperation mode on 3rd and 10 from the Minnesota 43, a shotgun snap was fumbled. Goff fell on it and had it ripped out of his hands by Van Ginkel while Goff was on the ground. Although Goff had it, somehow the officials awarded the ball to the Vikings. Reichard tacked on a 42 yard field goal to complete the scoring. The Lions are 8-8 and eliminated from contention. While the officiating was awful, the Lions turned the ball over 6 times. That is what did them in. 23-10 Vikings

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs was the Christmas Thursday night game. The Chiefs had won the AFC West 9 straight times, made 5 Super Bowls including the last 3, and won 3 super Bowls. For the first time in a decade, The Chiefs have been eliminated from division contention, eliminated from playoff contention, and entering with a losing record of 6-9. Mahomes and backup Gardner Mnshew were out injured, so the Chiefs started 3rd string quarterback Chris Oladukon. This was expected to be Travis Kelce’s final home game before retirement.The 12-3 Broncos had a one game lead in the division and the conference. The Broncos reached a 3rd and 6 from the Kansas City 9 on they opening drive. Bo Nix threw incomplete. Wil Lutz hit a 27 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Broncos. On their next series an interception of Nix had the Chiefs at the Denver 35. On 3rd and 6, Oladukon hit Kelce for 11. Walrus Andy Reid went for it on 4th and 1 from the Denver 11. Karim Hunt gained 5. On 3rd and goal from the 5, Oladukon hit Smith for the touchdown to make it 7-3 Chiefs. Lutz hit from 30 to end the half and Butker responded from 53 in the third quarter for a 10-6 Chiefs lead.

The Broncos took over at their own 28. On 3rd and 3 from their own 46, Nix hit Adam Trautman for 11. On 1st and 20 from their own 47, Nix hit Cortland Sutton for 23. On 3rd and 2 from the Kansas City 22, Nix hit Franklin for 3. Sean Payton gambled on 4th and 1 from the Kansas City 10. Nix got the yard. Nix then ran for a 9 yard touchdown to have the Broncos up 13-10 after three quarters. the 14 play, 72 yard drive took 10 minutes off the clock. The Chiefs got a break when a 44 yard punt return had them at the Denver 45. Butker hit from 47 to tie the game 13-13 midway through the fourth quarter. The Broncos took over at their own 35 and slowly bled much of the clock down. At the 2 minute warning, the Broncos faced 4th and 2 at the Kansas City 9 yard line. A field goal would be a chip shot 26 yarder but would leave the Chiefs plenty of time to try and tie or win it. A failed attempt to go for it would be catastrophic. Sean Payton lined up to go for it. It may have been a bluff to get the Chiefs to jump. In front of a devastated home crowd, they did. 

The Chiefs had not committed a penalty all night. Yet at the worst possible time, their defensive star Chris Jones committed the killer infraction. On 3rd and goal at the one, Nix rolled out and fired to Harvey in the end zone. The Broncos led by 7 with 1:45 left. The Chiefs had one timeout. The Chiefs got a major break when an injury to a Denver defender gave the Chiefs an extra clock stoppage. With 25 seconds left the Chiefs had moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Denver 22. The Chiefs then took a delay of game to make it 3rd and 8. Oladukon threw incomplete. On 4th and 8 with 20 seconds left, OLadukon went to the end zone and threw high and incomplete. The Chiefs now for the first time in the Mahomes era have double digit losses at 6-10. Th Broncos survived to get to 13-3. A win next week would guarantee he Broncos home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Sean Payton with the win became only the second coach in NFL history along with Bill Belichick to hav at least five 13-win seasons. 20-13 Broncos

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers was the Saturday afternoon game.  Last year in the playoffs, the Texans eliminated the Chargers when the Houston defense intercepted Justin Herbert 4 times. This year the 10-5 Texans and 11-4 Chargers are each one game out in their respective divisions, with the Chargers also one game back in the conference. The Texans began at their own 16. On the third play from scrimmage on 3rd and 1, Stroud went bombs away to Higgins for a 75 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Texans lead. The Texans got the ball back at their own 28. Stroud hit Higgins for 18 and Hutchinson for 11. Stroud then threw another touchdown bomb, this time to Noel for 43 yards and a 14-0 Texans lead. 

The rest of the first half was a mini blunder bowl. A second quarter interception of Stroud had the Chargers deep, but they settled for a 27 yard Cameron Dicker field goal. The Chargers drove deep again. A Justin Herbert pass inside the opposing 10 yard line bounced off of the receiver’s fingers and was intercepted at the goal line. Yet Stroud was then intercepted again, only for the normally reliable Dicker the kicker to miss a 32 yard chip shot. Despite 3 trips to the red zone, the Chargers got only 3 points. In the third quarter Kaimi Fairbairn hit a 42 yard field goal for a 17-3 Texans lead. 

The Charges got the ball at their own 36 and finally found signs of life. On 3rd and 3 from their own 43, Herbert went to Keenan Allen for 17. On 3rd and 14 from his own 44, Herbert ran forward, banged over tough defender Darryl Stingley Jr., and ended up with a 28 yard gain. On rd and 6 from the Houston 12, Herbert appeared to be sacked. with a man all over him trying to pull him down, Herbert somehow willed an 8 yard completion to Johnston. Herbert found a wide open Gadsden for a one yard touchdownDespite being dominated, the Chargers only trailed 17-10 after three quarters. Yet Houston’s defense clamped down. Fairbairn hit a 44 yard field goal with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation to give the Texans breathing room up 20-10.

The Chargers took over at their own 25. Herbert went deep to Ladd McConey for 31, the first time McConkey had even been targeted all game. On 3rd and 6 from the Houston 40, Herbert was sacked. However, illegal contact on the defense gifted the Chargers a new set of downs. Herbert then found Gadsden for 25. Hampton took a handoff up the gut for a 5 yard touchdown. Yet Dicker’s nightmarish game continued when he missed the extra point. The Chargers trailed by 4 with 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Texans took over at their own 26. Stroud went to Nico Collins for 19. The Chargers took their final timeout with the Texans facing 3rd and 9 with 2 1/2 minutes left. One first down would end the game. Stroud was buried and sacked, but a killer defensive illegal contact penalty gave the Texans an automatic first down. Marks ran for 8 and 3 and Stroud took a couple knees. Both teams are 11-5. The Texans overcame an 0-3 start. The Chargers will be a wildcard, since their division and the conference are now out of reach. The Texans with some help can still win their division. 20-16 Texans

Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers was the Saturday night game. The 7-8 Ravens were on life support. They needed to win and out and get help to make the playoffs. The 9-5  Packers were in the playoffs but needed to win out and get help to win their division. With Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love both out injured, backups Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis got the starts. The Ravens began at their own 25. Huntley hit Mark Andrews for 9. Derrick Henry ran for 12, 4 and 9. On 3rd and 6 from the Green Bay 25, Huntley hit Andrews for just enough. On 3rd and 2 from the Green Bay 11, Henry ran for 8 and then the 3 yard touchdown. The 13 play, 75 yard, 8 minute drive had the Ravens up 7-0. The Packers took over at their own 31 and struck quickly. Willis went deep to Romeo Doubs for 40. Willis then went deep to Watson for a 39 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game. 

The Ravens took over at their own 26. Huntley went to IsaIah Likely for 7 and 9, Huntley hit Bay Flowers for 13. Henry ran for 7 and 5. Henry then ran for 3, 9, 5, and on 3rd and goal at the one, the one yard touchdown. The 13 platy, 74 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive made it 14-7 Ravens. Matt LaFleur gambled on 4h and 1 from his own 34. Josh Jacobs got stopped cold for no gain. Tyler Loop hit a 22 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Ravens. The Ravens held the ball for 20 of the first 23 minutes and ran 33 plays to only 6 for the Packers. The Packers then fumbled, leading to a Loop field goal from 34 for a 20-7 Ravens lead.

The Packers took over at their own 24. Willis went to Watson for 13, to Doubs for 13, and to Brooks for 11. Willis ran for a 22 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 20-14 with 1:24 left in the half. The Ravens took over at their own 35. Huntley ran for 25. Huntley hit Likely for 11 with defensive unnecessary roughness adding 15. Henry ran for a 3 yard touchdown with 10 seconds left to have the Ravens up 27-14. 

The Packers in the third quarter mounted an 11 play, 68 yard, 6 minute drive. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 7, Willis completed a pass for no gain and then ran for only one yard. Brandon McManus hit the 24 yard field goal to get the Packers within 27-17. The Packers got it back and soon faced 2nd and 17 at their own 7. Yet on 3rd and 5, the Baltimore defense jumped offsides. Willis then went deep to Watson for 23. On 3rd and 2 from the Baltimore 45, Willis went deep to Melton for 34. Willis then faked a handoff and scrambled around the right end for an 11 yard touchdown. With 2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Ravens were right back in it down 27-24. 

The Ravens soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 20. Henry ripped off big gains of 9 and 30. On 3rd and 4 from the Green Bay 35 to start the fourth quarter, Huntley ran for 9. Henry added a pair of 7 yard gains. On 3rd and 3 from the Green Bay 10, Huntley went to Flowers for the touchdown. The 12 play, 85 yard, 7 minute drive gave the Ravens a 34-24 lead with 10 minutes left in regulation. Needing 2 scores, the Packers drove to the Baltimore 35. Willis got injured on the drive. Third string quarterback Tune came in. Tune threw a pass that bounced off of the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Humphrey. On 4th and inches from the Green Bay 32, John Harbaugh went for it. Andrews lined up at center and the defense bit on the hard count and jumped offsides. With 3:$3 to play, it was a killer penalty. On 3rd and 5 from the Green Bay 31, Huntley scrambled and got just enough. Mary LaFleur unsuccessfully challenged the call, burning a timeout. 

With 2:02 left, the Packers were cooked. Henry put in the dagger as he took a pitchout and raced down the left sideline for a 25 yard touchdown. Both quarterbacks played we.. Willis was 18 of 21 for 288 yards, one touchdown and 0 interceptions. Huntley was 16 of 20 for only 107 yards but also with one touchdown and 0 interceptions. The Baltimore running game gashed the Green Bay defense with a whopping 308 yards on a ridiculous 52 carries, a 6 yards per carry average. Henry was the lead beast running for 216 yards on a monstrous 36 carries, also for a 6 yards per carry average. The Ravens at 8-8 had a simple situation. If Pittsburgh lost on Sunday, Baltimore would play Pittsburgh in a do or die regular season Week 18 finale for the division crown. If Pittsburgh won this Sunday, Baltimore was out and the regular season finale would be meaningless. Pittsburgh lost. Baltimore was alive. Green Bay was already in the playoffs, but the loss put their division out of reach. They are a wildcard and may rest their starters in the regular season finale. 41-24 Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns — The 9-6 Steelers with a win would clinch the AFC North. The Browns are eliminated but Myles garrett needs one more sack to set the single season NFL record. The Browns got the ball back at their own 14. On 3rd and 5, Williams gained 9. Shedeur Sanders went to Harold Fannin for a 28 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Browns. Boswell hit second quarter field goals of 44 and 40 to have the Steelers within 10-6 at the midpoint. A brutal second half saw the Steelers take over at their own 20 with 2:16 left in regulation. Aaron Rodgers threw 4 straight incompletions. Szmyt hit a 33 yard field goal to have the Browns up by 7 with 1:40 left. The Steelers moved from their own 35 to a 2nd and goal at the 7 with 30 seconds left. Rodgers threw 3 straight incompletions as the Dawg Pound erupted in celebration. The Steelers now have a regular season showdown against Baltimore. The winner takes the division. The loser is out of the playoffs. The Browns supposedly had nothing from a team standpoint to play for. Nobody told them. Taking? Hardly. This game represented everything right about football. 13-6 Browns

New England Patriots at New York Jets — The 11-4 Patriots are one game up in the AFC East with an outside shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Patriots began at their own 39. Drake Maye went to Stefan Diggs for 12. Raimondre Stevenson ran for 4 and 24. Maye went to Hunter Henry for 13 and to Austin Hooper for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Patriots. The Patriots got it back at their own 15. Maye went to Williams for 11. Maye found Chism for 30. Henderson ran for 12 and Stevenson added 11. Defensive pass interference added 18. Stevenson got the last yard for a 14-0 Patriots lead. For some reason, league rules required that the remaining 50 minutes be played. The Patriots got it back at their own 34. Maye went to Diggs for 31. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 29, Maye went to Williams for just enough. On the first play of the second quarter on 3rd and 7 from the Jets 22, Maye went to Stevenson for the touchdown. The Patriots had the ball for 12 minutes to only 3 minutes for the Jets. The Patriots led 21-0 and had more points than the Jets 13 total yards. 

The Jets managed a field goal but the Patriots kept coming from their own 26. Maye went to Diggs for 21. Henderson added 17. Mike Vrabel gambled on 4th and 3 from the Jets 20 in what seemed to be a total lack of respect for an inferior opponent. Maye ran for 11. Vrabel did it again on 4th and goal at the 3 rather than take the easy field goal. Maye hit Diggs for the touchdown to make it 28-3 Patriots. The Patriots got it back at their own 9 yard line with 1:44 left in the half. Maye threw incomplete on 3rd and 6 but roughing the passer gifted the Patriots 15 yards. Maye hit Stevenson for a pair of 7 yard gains. Maye hit Diggs for 26. On 3rd and 1 from the Jets 23, Maye gained 2. Maye hit Henry for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 35-3 Patriots with 30 seconds left in the half. In the third quarter Aaron Glenn tried a fake punt that didn’t work. The Patriots took over at the Jets 47. Maye went to Chism for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 42-3 Patriots. Maye had 5 touchdown passes, so Vrabel decided to teach him a new skill. It was time for Maye to learn how to hold a clipboard. He was benched for all the right reasons as backups finished the game. The J-E-T-S chant of Just End The Season has never been truer. The 12-4 Patriots awaited results of other games. A Buffalo loss later in the day meant the Patriots clinched the AFC East. They are still one game back in the conference chase for home field. The Jets got one garbage touchdown in a garbage season. 42-10 Patriots

New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans — Both teams are eliminated. Joey Slye hit first quarter field goals of 50 and 38 sandwiched around a missed 43 yard try by Smyth for a 6-0 Titans lead. The Titans face 2rd and 1 at their own 45. On the last play of the first quarter, Mullings gained 4. Mike McCoy gambled on 4th and 2 from the New Orleans 43. Ward connected with Okonkwo for the touchdown to make it 13-0 Titans early in the second quarter. 

Smyth nailed a 56 yard field goal to get the Saints on the board. Then came craziness. The Titans faced 1st and 20 at their own 44. Ward went back to pass and was sacked by Chase Young. Young also ripped the ball out of Ward’s hands. Although ward may have already been down, officials ruled the play legal. Young raced for a 33 yard defensive touchdown to have the Saints within 13-10. The Titans then took over at their own 20. Ward hit Van Jefferson for 11. On 3rd and 2 from their own 43, Ward hit Ayomanor for 4. On 3rd and 14 from their own 43, Ward went bombs away incomplete but drew a 50 yard defensive pass interference call. Ward then hit Ayomanor for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 20-10 Titans.

The Saints faced 3rd and 4 at their own 32 in the third quarter. Tyler Shough hit Chris Olave for 7. Estime ran for 9 and 2. Shough hit Johnson for 30. On 3rd and 9 from the Tennessee 19, Shough went to Olave for the touchdown to have the saints within 20-17. Slye hit from 28 to extend the lead, Smyth blasted one from 57, and Slye blasted one right back from 58 in the fourth quarter to make it 26-20 Titans. 

The Saints took over at 20 with 8:45 left in regulation. Estime ran for 12. Shough went bombs away to Olave for a 60 yard gain. Shough went to Austin for a 10 yard touchdown. Despite being outplayed most of the game, the Saints somehow had a 27-26 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left. The Saints got it back at their own 36 with 5 minutes left. On 3rd and 1, Shough went to Johnson for 23. Estime then ran for a 32 yard touchdown to have the Saints up by 8 with 3:44 left. On 1st and 10 from the New Orleans 37, Ward threw 3 straight incompletions and on 4th and 10 was sacked as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. The Titans took their timeouts on defense as only 23 seconds came off the clock. With 18 seconds left from the New Orleans 43, the Titans had 2 shots at the Hail Mary. The first one fell incomplete and the second one never got off the ground as Ward recovered his own fumble and then threw short incomplete. 34-26 Saints

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts — The 11-4 Jaguars are one game up in the AFC South with an outside shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Colts are eliminated. 44 year Old Man Philip Rivers started again for the Colts. The Colts came in having lost 5 straight while the Jaguars entered having won 6 in a row. Blake Grupe hit a 33 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Colts. The Jaguars drove right down to the field for a 1st and 10 at the Jacksonville 17. Liam Cohen opted for a hook and lateral play that backfired and was fumbled away. The Colts took over at that spot. Rivers went to Warren for 13 and to Mallory for 16. On 3rd and 3 from the Jacksonville 39, Rivers hit Warren for 5. On 3rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 25, Jonathan Taylor gained 6 , 6, 6, 5, and then the 3 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Colts in the second quarter.

The Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 38. Trevor Lawrence went to Jakobi Meyers for 8 and then 8 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Indianapolis 36, Lawrence went to Strange for 15. Travis Etienne ran for 10 and 5. On 3rd and 3 from the Indianapolis 4, Lawrence got around the end for the touchdown to get the Jaguars within 10-7. In the third quarter the Jaguars took over at their own 19. Lawrence went to Thomas for 17. Dallas gained 17. On 3rd and 10 from the Indianapolis 43, Lawrence went deep to Washington for 37. Lawrence ran for a 6 yard touchdown to have the Jaguars up 14-10. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 10 at their own 39. Rivers went to Downs for 18. Rivers went deep to Pierce for 26. Rivers hit Mo Alie-Cox for a 5 yard touchdown to have the Colts back on top 17-14. Little hit from 34 to tie the game 17-17 after three quarters. Midway through the fourth quarter, an interception of Rivers was returned by Jones 13 yards to the Indy 21. Little hit from 42 to have the Jaguars up 20-17. Little drilled another field goal from 53 with 18 seconds left in regulation to have the Jaguars up by 6. That was enough time for Rivers to throw a Hail Mary that reached the end zone. It was intercepted. The 12-4 Jaguars with a win next week will clinch he AFC South. They have an outside shot at the top conference seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 23-17 Jaguars 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins — The 7-8 Buccaneers can win out and still win the NFC South. The Dolphins are eliminated. The Buccaneers took over at their own 32. Baker Mayfield went to Cade Otton and to McMillan for 8 apiece. Todd Bowles went for it on 4th and 1 from the Miami 44. Tucker gained 2. On 3rd and 7 from the Miami 39, Mayfield went to McMillan for 18 and 13. On 3rd and 4 from the Miami 5, Mayfield went to Chris Godwin for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Buccaneers.

Quinn Ewers, starting in place of the benched Tua Tagovailoa, went bombs away to Theo Wease for a 63 yard touchdown. It was Wase’s first NFL touchdown in his second NFL game that was tied 7-7.

Riley Patterson hit a 29 yard second quarter field goal to make it 10-7 Dolphins. An interception of Mayfield had the Dolphins at their own 24. Devon ache ran for 15. Ewers found Dulcich for 13. wright and Achane each added 7. Ewers went to Achane for 20. On 3rd and goal from the 11, Ewers went to Dulcich for the touchdown to have the Dolphins up 17-7 at the break. A 55 yard field goal try to get the Buccaneers within 7 to end the half was blocked. From 33 in the third quarter, McLaughlin was good. Patterson answered from 31 early in the fourth quarter to have the Dolphins up 20-10. On the next two Buccaneers drives, Mayfield was intercepted and then sacked and fumbled. With 1:50 left the Buccaneers took over at their own 9. They rapidly moved 91 yards as Mayfield hit Mike Evans for a 4 yard touchdown with 50 seconds left. The onside kick failed. Despite the loss, Carolina also lost. Next week the Buccaneers have a showdown with Carolina. If The Buccaneers win, they are in. Lose, and they are out. 20-17 Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers — The 12-3 Seahawks are one game up in the NFC West and in the conference with the inside track for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The 8-7 Panthers with a win next week would win the NFC South regardless of this game. An early defensive slugfest saw Jason Myers hit a 48 yard first quarter field goal and Fitzgerald responded from 35 in the second quarter for a 3-3 bonelock. In the third quarter the Seahawks moved down the field only for Sam Darnold to be intercepted in the end zone for a touchback. Yet the very next play saw Chuba Hubbard fumble and the Seahawks recover at the Carolina 21. On 3rd and 9, Darnold went to Barner for 16. On 3rd nd goal at the 2, Zac Charbonnet ran it in for a 10-3 Seahawks lead. Bryce Young was then intercepted by Love, who returned the pick 26 yards to the Carolina 29. On 3rd and 2, Charbonnet ran for 4. Darnold went to Barner for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 17-3 Seahawks.

The Panthers soon faced 4th and 1 at their own 40. Dave Canales went for it. Young got around the end for an 8 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 just past midfield, Young hit Hubbard for 8. Rico Dowdle ran for 9 and 4. Young ran for a 10 yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, the Panthers were only down 17-10. They would get no closer. The Seahawks from their own 33 moved 56 yards in 14 plays and took 8 minutes off the clock. Jason Myers hit from 30 to give the Seahawks breathing room up 20-10 with 5 1/2 minutes left. The Panthers turned it over on downs to set up the Seahawks at the Carolina 25. Charbonnet did the rest, running for 4, 15, 4, one, and on 3rd and goal at the one, the touchdown to ice the game. The 13-3 Seahawks with a win next week will win the NFC West and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The 8-7 Panthers blew a golden chance to lock up their division. They have a showdown next week against Tampa Bay. If the Panthers win, they are in. If they lose, they are out. 27-10 Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals — Both teams are eliminated. The Bengals began with 3rd and 8 at their own 30. Joe Burrow went to Hudson for 13. On 3rd and 10 from the Arizona 45, Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for 22. On 3rd and 2 from the Arizona 16, Samaji Perine gained 3. Burrow hit Chase for the 13  yard touchdown to cap the 12 play, 72 yard, 6 minute drive to make it 7-0 Bengals. The Bengals got it back at their own 21. Burrow went to Higgins for 10. Brown ran for 13. Defensive pass interference added 16. Burrow went to Iosivas for a pair of 12 yard gains. Zac Taylor went for it on 4th and 1 from the Arizona 2. Burrow got the yard for the first down and Perine got the last yard for the touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Bengals led 13-0. 

The Cardinals took over at their own 30. Jacoby Brissett went to McBride for 15 and to Carter for 8. Brissett connected to Wilson, who made a spin move. Thanks to miserable tackling, Wilson somehow stayed in bounds and completed the 38 yard touchdown to get the Cardinals within 13-7. Evan McPherson belted a 56 yard field goal to make it 16-7 Bengals. A 43 yard punt return gave the Bengals the ball back at the Arizona 36. Brown ran for 25. Burrow hit Chase for an 8 yard touchdown t make it 23-7 Bengals. The Bengals just poured it on. They moved 84 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes, with Brown running for a 6 yard touchdown. Then the Bengals moved 82 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes, with Brown running for a one yard touchdown. The Bengals led 37-7 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter garbage time, the Cardinals needed 3 or 4 touchdowns and managed only one. 37-14 Bengals

New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders _ This game is the Stupor Bowl. The Raiders and the Giants are both 2-13, having each lost 9 straight games. The loser of this game is most likely to get the number on pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. So why bother trying to win the game at all? Why not just tank?

Because tanking is wrong. It is just plain wrong. It goes against everything i believe in as an American and as a sports fan. It violates my competitive spirit. It violates the integrity of the game.

As the late John Madden said, “The worst thing you could say about somebody is that they lost on purpose…for the sake of football, for the sake of what’s right…you gotta win.”

In 2006 when the Raiders were the second worst team. The Lions were the worst. Then in the final week of the season, with nothing to play for, the Lions won. The Raiders were now the worst and got the number one pick. The Raiders chose quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was a total bust. The Lions with the second pick chose wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

When the Raiders were winning, they were often accused of cheating. Yet they were never accused of cheating the game itself. No tanking. Not now. Not ever. Just win, baby.

Sadly, the Raiders chose to put Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby on injured reserve, shutting down their best offensive player and their best defensive player. An enraged Crosby insisted he was healthy enough to play. He had been battling a knee injury for 9 weeks but was adamant about playing. He was overruled. The Raiders will deny this was tanking, but John Madden was rolling over in his grave. 

In the first quarter the Raiders moved 64 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. Yet then Geno Smith did what Geno Smith does. On 2nd and 7 from the Giants 12, Smith was intercepted by Okereke, who returned the pick 47 yards to the Raiders 44. Singletary ran for 29 and then added the one yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 Giants. A short kickoff had the Raiders taking over at their own 41. Yet on 3rd and 6 from the Giants 22, Smith was sacked. Daniel Carlson hit the 42 yard  second quarter field goal to get the Raiders on the board. 

The Giants soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 44. Jaxson Dart gained 7. Dartwent to Hodgins for 8 and to Darrius Slayton for 21. Dart ran for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Giants. Sauls then tacked on a 32 yard field goal to have the Giants up 17-3 at the midpoint. Sauls hit again from 23 in the third quarter to have the Giants cruising 20-3. 

The Raiders managed a 14 play, 65 yard, 7 minute drive. On 4th and 2 from the Giants 13, Smith hit Thornton for 7. On 4th and goal at the 4, Smith fired over the middle to Tyler Lockett for the touchdown. The raiders were within 20-10, but this game was over. The Raiders were terrible on offense and defense. The only thing left for them was to be terrible on special teams. They quickly obliged for the trifecta. Banks returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to have the Giants up 27-10 after three quarters. Smith threw another interception.  The Giants then pounded the Raiders into dust with a 15 play, 75 yard, 9 minute drive. Dart ran for a 2 yard touchdown end the scoring 34-10. The Giants snapped their 9 game losing streak. The Raiders lost their 10th straight. If the Raiders lose next week, they are guaranteed the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 34-10 Giants

Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills — The stakes were very high in this potential Super Bowl matchup. The defending champion Eagles were 10-5. They had already clinched the NFC East. They were seeking to move up in seeding. The 11-4 Bills were one game back in the AFC East and in the conference race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. With hard rain coming down, the first half was all Eagles. Helped by a 50 yard bomb, the Bills reached the Philadelphia 23 before fumbling the ball alway. After a mad scramble the Eagles recovered the ball all the way at the Buffalo 45. Jalen Hurts went to AJ Brown for 27. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 5, Saquon Barkley gained 3. Hurts went to Dallas Goedert for a one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Eagles in the first quarter. Both offenses then took long stretches off. Jake Elliott hit second quarter field goals of 47 and 28 as the Eagles took a 13-0 lead to the locker rooms. Late in the third quarter the Bills moved to a 4th and goal at the 3. Allen scrambled everywhere and was finally brought down inches short of the goal line. The Bills got the ball back at moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Philadelphia 27. Yet with Allen scrambling for his life, he was sacked for a 17 yard loss. 

Buffalo’s defense was keeping them in the game, and a 28  yard punt return by Shakir set up the Bills at the Philadelphia 46. On 3rd and 5 from the Philly 24, Allen hit Shakir for 13. On 3rd and 1 from the Philly 2, a very violent tush push got Allen in the end one. After 55 minutes, the Bills had finally scored. Yet the extra point was blocked as the Bills trailed 13-6. The Eagles weren’t doing much on offense either. Hurts did not complete a pass the entire second half. The Eagles had only 17 yards of total offense in the second half. With 3:20 left, the Bills took over at their own 17 yard line with all 3 timeouts. With 1:51 left, the Bills faced 4th and 10 at their own 29. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio brought the house. A perfectly executed hook and lateral saw Allen fire over the middle to Shavers, who lateraled to Johnson for a 25 yard gain. Allen then went deep to Brandin Cooks for a 36 yard gain that resembled the David Tyree helmet catch. Allen then scrambled with two defenders chasing him and somehow managed to get in the end zone. Yet on further review, the touchdown was reversed. The Bills took their last timeout with 8 seconds left. Everything came down to 4th and goal at the one. Allen’s tush push initially appeared stopped but he was practically lifted over the top for the touchdown. Sean McDermott opted to go for two, risking the entire division on one play. With everything on the line, Allen had an open receiver but overthrew him incomplete. 5 seconds still remained, but the onside kick never had a chance. The 11-5 Eagles still had a shot at the two seed in the NFC while the Bills saw their 5 year reign atop the AFC East end. They will have to win it all as a wildcard. 13-12 Eagles

Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers was the Sunday night game. Both teams came in 11-4. The Bears had already clinched the NFC North. The 49ers were one game back in the NFC West. Both teams were one game back in the conference race for home field advantage. The 49ers began the game at their own 24. On the very first play from scrimmage, Brock Purdy had his pass batted in the air and intercepted. Edwards picked up a convoy and returned the interception 34 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Bears led 7-0 only 15 seconds into the game. The 49ers soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 38. Purdy went to Tonges for 18. McCaffrey ran for 9 and one. On 3rd and 2 from the Chicago 26, Purdy went to Robinson for 25 down to the one. Purdy hit tones for the touchdown for a 7-7 game only 4 minutes in. 

The 49ers took over at their own 34. McCaffrey ripped off a 41 yard gain. Robinson added 15. Purdy ran for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 49ers. The Bears took over at their own 23. Caleb Williams went to Buren for 10. Swift ran for 8 and  defensive low block penalty added 15. Williams went deep to Burden for a 35 yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 after the first quarter. The 49ers took over at their own 25. Purdy went deep to Pearsall for a 30 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Chicago 37, Purdy ran for 4. Purdy hit Pearsall for 13. McCaffrey gained 16 and then ran for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 21-14 49ers in the second quarter. The Bears took over at their own 35. Monangai ran for 18. Williams went to Monangai for 11. Williams went deep to Loveland for a 36 yard touchdown for a 21-21 game only 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter. 

The 49ers took over at their own 28. Purdy hit Tonges for 10. Moore ran for 10. Purdybhit McCaffrey and Pearsall for a pair of 14 yard gains. On 3rd and 2 from the Chicago 16, McCaffrey gained 7. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Purdy was intercepted. Yet defensive illegal contact nullified the interception. Purdy ran for a 3 yard touchdown. The 15 play, 72 yard, 9 minute drive had the 49ers up 28-21 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. The Bears began the third quarter at their own 35. Williams went to Smythe for 11. On 3rd and 14 from the San Francisco 46, Williams went to Walker for 19 and to Burden for 24. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Swift got in for a 28-28 game. The 49ers took over at their own 35. Purdy went to Bourne for 25. McCaffrey ran for 4 and 6. Purdy hit Brian Robinson for 6 and Kyle Juszczyk for a 6 yard touchdown to have the 49ers up 35-28 after three quarters. The Bears took over at their own 20. Williams hit Swift for 10. On 3rd and 8 from their own 37, Williams found Burden for 27. Williams hit Walker for 11. On the last play of the third quarter, Ben Johnson gambled on 4th and 5 from the San Francisco 31. Williams hit Loveland for 9. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Swift ran for a 22 yard touchdown. The game was tied for the 5th time at 35-35.  

The 49ers moved to a 3rd and 7 at the Chicago 43. Purdy threw incomplete. Kyle Shanahan decided not to try a 61 yard field goal or go for it. The 49ers punted and the Bears took over at their own 11. They moved to a 2nd and goal at the 8, but a Williams completion lost 3 yards followed by an incompletion. After 10 touchdowns, the game had its first field goal attempt. From 29 yards out, Cairo santos was good as the Bears led 38-35 with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The 49ers soon faced 3rd and 6 at their own 29. Purdy went to Tonges for 7. Purdy went to McCaffrey for 18. purdy then went deep to Jauan Jennings for a 38 yard touchdown. The 49ers led by 4 points, but they may have scored too early. 2:15 still remained. The Bears had all 3 timeouts. 

The Bears took over at their own 35. The Bears moved to a 4th and 5 at the Frisco 26. Williams hit Loveland for 13 as the Bears took their final timeout with 25 seconds left. The Bears had 4 shots to get 13 yards. Ben Johnson went to the bag of tricks and called a hook and lateral. The Bears got the first down but the clock was ticking. The Bears raced up to the line and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 4 seconds left. The Bears were at the 2 yard line. One play and 2 yards separated both teams from possible home field. Williams escaped a pursuer, rolled to his left, and kept retreating. With a man in his face, he fired to the end zone low and incomplete. The 49ers had survived. The Bears are 11-5. The top seed is out of reach. The 49ers are 12-4 and next week host an NFC West showdown against Seattle for all the NFC marbles. This game was an instant classic, and a playoff rematch would be well worth the price of admission. 42-38 49ers

Los Angles Rams at Atlanta Falcons was the Monday night game. While the top seed was out of reach, the Rams still had a chance to steamroll into the playoffs. The Falcons were eliminated and had nothing to play for. A ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman reminds us, “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES.! The Falcons took over at their own 35. Kirk Cousins went to Sills for 13. On 3rd and 8 from midfield, Cousins went to Mooney for 13. On 3rd and 2 from the Rams 29, Cousins went to Sills for 20. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Cousins hit Bijan Robinson for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Falcons. The Rams drove to a 3h and 1 at the Atlanta 11. Sean McVay went for it  and Kyren Williams got blasted in the backfield for a 2 yard loss. In the second quarter, Matthew Stafford was intercepted by Bates, who returned the pick 34 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 14-0 Falcons lead. Stafford tied Brett Favre for the all time lead in interceptions for touchdowns. Stafford went deep again and was intercepted again. With 90 seconds eft in the half the Falcons were pinned at their own 7 yard line. Robinson broke through the line and raced for a 93 yard touchdown and a 21-0 Falcons lead. Mevis hit a 35 yard third quarter field goal for the Rams but Zane Gonzalez answered from 56 to make it 24-3 Falcons.

The Rams tried to make  game of it from their own 35. Stafford went to Williams for 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Atlanta 42, Stafford hit Colby Parkinson for 15. Stafford then went deep to a wide open Ferguson for a 27 yard touchdown to get the Rams within 24-10. Late in the third quarter Gonzalez for a 37 yard field goal try to put the Falcons up by 17. 27-10 would not end the game but it would tighten the screws. Blocked! Gonzalez’s kick was blocked. Jared Verse got the block, got the bounce right to him, and raced the other way for a 76 yard touchdown in front of a shocked home crowd in Atlanta. Instead of being down by 17, the Rams were right back in down 7. The Rams trailed 24-17 after three quarters. The Rams got it back and moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Atlanta 33. Stafford fumbled but the defense jumped offside. A 3rd and 3 run gained only one yard. On 4th and 2, Sean McVay passed up a field goal and went for it. Watts jumped the route and raced 75 yards the other way for a defensive touchdown. Yet on further review, Watts stepped out at the Rams 43. Also, a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Atlanta bench on the return moved the Falcons back to their own 42. Instead of a 31-17 lead, the Falcons ended up punting. 

The Rams took over at their own 11. Williams ran for 15. Stafford went to Williams for 21. On 1st and 10 from the Atlanta 41, Stafford went bombs away to Nacua. The perfectly thrown ball beat the double coverage for a spectacular touchdown. Yet offensive holding wiped it off the board. On 3rd and 2 from the Atlanta 33, Williams gained 22. Stafford went to Nacua for an 11 yard touchdown as the Rams tied the game 24-24 with 2:45 left in regulation. It was the biggest Falcons collapse since the Super Bowl 9 years earlier when the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead. Yet the Falcons only needed a field goal to win this game. The Falcons moved from their 35 to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 35. Raheem Morris went ultra-conservative and ran Tyler Allgeier into the line 3 straight times for 3 total yards. Gonzalez came in for a 51 yard field goal try for the lead and redemption. This time Gonzalez was good. The Falcons led by 3 with 21 seconds left. The Rams took over at their own 35. On 1st and 10 Stafford had a wide open receiver deep but overthrew him. On 2nd down, a perfectly thrown bomb was dropped due to blatant defensive pass interference that was not called. It was horrendous officiating. Nacua made an acrobatic third down catch in field goal range, but further review showed he bobbled the ball incomplete. On 4th and 10 with 5 seconds left, rather than try the Hail Mary, a shorter pass fell incomplete. The 11-5 Rams are still going to the playoffs but this game was a missed opportunity. 27-24 Falcons 

 NFL 2025 Week 17 Prequel

Christmas Thursday December 25, 2025, 1pm

Dallas Cowboys (-7) at Washington Commanders — Both teams are bad. It is time to stop making excuses for the Cowboys because their potential means nothing. The spread is too high for a road team that plays down. Cowboys win but fail to cover

4:30pm

Detroit Lions (-7 1/2) at Minnesota Vikings — Las year the Lions were 15-2 and the Vikings were 14-3. he Lions lost Ben Johnson and the Vikings lost Sam Darnold. This is not the same Lions team. They can still score in bunches but not consistently. The Lions are the better team but the spread is too high for a road team not playing that well. The Lions are desperate while the Vikings are done. Go with the desperate team. Lions win but fail to cover

8pm

Denver Broncos (-3 1/2) at Kansas City Chiefs — The 12-3 Broncos lost at home last week to Jacksonville but still sit atop the conference and the division by one game. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs have a losing record. Mahomes is out injured and the Chiefs are down to their third string quarterback. The Chiefs are wounded. Yet this might be Travis Kelce’s final home game before retirement. The Chiefs will play hard. Broncos win but fail to cover

Sunday, December 28, 1pm

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers (-1 1/2) — he 10-5 Texans and 11-4 Chargers are both one game back in their respective divisions, with the Chargers being one game back in the conference as well. Both teams have great quarterbacks and stout defenses. Home field means little. The Texans barely survived the Raiders. This could go down to the final play. Chargers cover

Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers (-3) — The 7-8 ravens are on the brink of playoff elimination while the 9-5 Packers are 1 1/2 games back in their division thanks to a shocking loss at Chicago where they dominated for 59 minutes and gave the game away. Lamar Jackson has battled injuries all year. Expect the Packers to be angry at home and handle business. Packers cover

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Cleveland Browns — The Steelers can lock up the division with a win. The Browns are done for the year. Expect the big brother to beat up on the little brother for the billionth time. Steelers cover

New England Patriots (-13 1/2) at New York Jets — The Patriots are only one game up in their division and one game back in the conference. The Jets were done weeks ago. Yet the spread is too high for a road team, especially since a garbage touchdown at home is reasonable. Patriots win b ut fail to cover

New Orleans Saints (-2 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — Neither team is any good but they both won last week. The Saints are improved under Tyler Shough. That should be just enough to eke out a win. Saints cover

Jacksonville Jaguars (-6 1/2) at Indianapolis Colts — The 11-4 Jaguars can officially knock the 8-7 olds out of the playoffs. Old Man Phillip Rivers has played well, but The Jaguars are just flat out good. The Jaguars are one game up in their division and one game back  in the conference. Trevor Lawrence is playing well. The spread is too high for a road team playing a team fighting for its life. Jaguars win but fail to cover

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5 1/2) at Miami Dolphins — The 7-8 Buccaneers are in utter free fall but are only one game back in their division. The Dolphins are done. Go with the team that has everything to play for, especially given how lifeless the Dolphins looked at home last week against Cincinnati. Baker Mayfield should be able to spread the ball around. Tua Tagovailoa is benched. Buccaneers cover. 

Seattle Seahawks (-7) at Carolina Panthers — 10 years ago this was the NFC Title Game. Now it is a battle between a great 12-3 Seahawks team and an improving 8-7 Panthers squad. The Seahawks seized control of their division, leading the division and the conference by one game. The Panthers lead their division by one game as well. Go with the great team and the great defense. Seahawks cover

Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals (-7) — Both teams are done but the Bengals are a much better team with a healthy Joe Burrow. after watching him lead 5 straight scoring drives last week at Miami, he should be unstoppable against the Cardinals. Bengals cover

4pm

New York Giants (-1 1/2) at Las Vegas Raiders — This is the Stupor Bowl. Both teams are 2-13. The loser is almost guaranteed the top pick in the Draft. One team seems desperate to win this game and the other does not. The Giants brought Tommy Cutlets DeVito back to back up Jaxson Dart. The Raiders shut down Brock Bowers for the year. Go with the team that seems to care. Giants cover

Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills (-1 1/2) — The 10-5 Eagles are at the 11-4 Bills. The Eagles have clinched the NFC East, but home field advantage throughout the playoffs seems out of reach. The Bills are one game back in their division but the conference and home field for them is also pretty much out of reach. The Bills have an explosive offense while the Eagles offense has struggled. At home, go with the Bills Mafia and the better offense. Bills cover

8pm

Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-3) — From 1984 through 1990, these teams battled for NFC supremacy. Then the Bears took 35 years off. Yet now both teams are 11-4. The Bears are 1 1/2 games up in their division and can lock up the NFC North with a win. The 49ers are one game back in their division. Both teams are one game back in the conference. Both teams have good quarterbacks and good defenses. Both Ben Johnson and Kyle Shanahan are innovative offensive minds. Go with the team with more experience and more offensive weapons. 49ers cover

Monday, December 29, 8pm

Los Angles Rams (-7 1/2) at Atlanta Falcons — After a brutally tough loss at Seattle last week, the Rams will be an angry bunch. at 11-4, they are one game back in their division and the conference. The Falcons are done. The spread is still high for a road team playing against a division rival that has some offensive talent. Rams win but fail to cover