​It really has been quite the incredible season when it comes to NFL Football. We’ve seen thrilling upset after thrilling upset. We’ve seen teams rally together when injuries have plagued their rosters and most importantly, we’ve been privy to some incredible games. But despite all the wonderful things the fans have experienced this season, tomorrow has a bittersweet feel to it. For tomorrow, signals the end of the regular NFL season and with it, the dream of playing in the playoffs for twenty teams. But despite the fact that so many teams will see their season come to an end, there are still games to be played tomorrow with plenty of interesting storylines hanging over all of them and here are the top ones we will be keeping an eye upon as the NFL regular season comes to a close.
 
Is this Paxton Lynch’s last chance to impress the Broncos brass?
There are incredibly high expectations that surround a first round draft pick at quarterback and for proof, look no further than Paxton Lynch, a man who has struggled to prove that he is pro ready, and has been labeled a bust by local fans for his lack of immediate development and progress. However, some of this concern is justified because he should have shown all of us more by now, and his inability to win the starting job in training camp and his lackluster play in general has all of us wondering, is tomorrow his last chance to prove to the team and the fans that he’s worthy of being on this roster? The answer is yes, with a few provisions. Because really, what the Broncos want to see out of Lynch is outright progress when it comes to his play on the field, so if his completion rate is respectable, and he gets the Broncos into the end zone a few times over the course of this game, he’ll likely remain on the roster when the offseason arrives. But if it’s more of the usual dink and dunk from Lynch, a few air balls and a low scoring affair on offense, expect Lynch to say goodbye to Denver once March rolls around.
 
Can the Tennessee Titans lock up a playoff spot?
It’s been quite the wild year for the Tennessee Titans, because at times, they have been a dominating squad, one that wins games in decisive fashion. Yet at other times, they look like the Titans of old, and their record reflect reflects this up and down style of play. But the Titans have a grand opportunity ahead of them tomorrow, because with a win over Jacksonville, they can return to the Playoffs for the first time in ages, but is this a feat they can actually accomplish? I honestly don’t see why not. After all, there’s a fair chance the Jaguars will be sitting most if not all of their starters since they’re already in and nothing will change their standing as the #3 seed. Which means that if Tennessee can put up some points, play some solid D and give us their best, then they have a shot at making the tournament.
 
Will Pittsburgh clench the number one overall playoff seed in the AFC tomorrow?
Pittsburgh is in quite the strange place entering Week 17. Sure, they’re in the Playoffs, and sure they have the first-round bye, but they’ll likely need to have their first team units on the field on both offense and defense so they can try and build an early lead against the Cleveland Browns as an insurance policy. Because, Pittsburgh simply isn’t in control when it comes to wrapping up home field advantage throughout the playoffs, their fate is in the hands of the players of the Jets/Patriots game, and New England has to lose in order for the Steelers to enjoy a potential pair of playoff games at home and really….can New York defeat the mighty, mighty Patriots? It’s a big fat maybe to be honest. The Jets are just not a great football team right now and while it’s possible that they may stun the Pats tomorrow, the odds are simply not in their favor, which is why I expect New England to wrap up the #1 overall seed in the AFC.
 
Is John Fox coaching his final game with the Chicago Bears on Sunday?
Three years ago, after an incredibly successful stint with the Denver Broncos, John Fox was let go from his job as Head Coach in the Mile High City for not getting the Broncos over the championship hump, and it didn’t take long for him to land with the Chicago Bears. The hope was, that by hiring John, the city of Chicago would see a similar turnaround like the one he pioneered in Denver and great success would come to Soldier Field. But alas, that turned out to not be the be case. Because for the past three years the Bears have finished fourth in the NFC North, and gone 13-33 thus far with John at the helm, and well…that’s just unacceptable. They’ve not improved under John, plain and simple. If anything, the team has taken a step back and that’s why I get the feeling, that regardless of how the Bears finish tomorrow, John Fox will be let go on New Year’s Day, and Chicago will start over at Head Coach once again in 2018…
 
Will the Cleveland Browns fire Head Coach Hue Jackson on Monday?
Hue Jackson has definitely found himself in the middle of the strangest coaching situation in the NFL. He’s literally been given zero fresh talent to work with, and he’s seen the front office get rid of quality players and whiff on franchise quarterbacks in the draft. Yet, he has soldiered on, and put in the work, but even that hasn’t panned out since he’s gone 1-30 as head coach of the Browns. So really, with that kind of awful record, and a changing of the guard again in the front office, will Hue Jackson be the Browns head coach in 2018? The official word from ownership is yes, they want him back, but honestly…I’m not so sure. The Browns have simply not been competitive or good during Hue’s tenure and a GM rarely inherits a coach in this league. So, I get the funny feeling, that come Monday morning, or as soon as Sunday night, Cleveland will hit the reset button on the coaching staff yet again and try to rebuild for the umpteenth time in 2018.

​Sometimes, the NFL season comes to an early conclusion in Week 16 when all twelve playoffs spots are clenched and slotted, leaving only pride on the agenda for the final week. But this is simply not the case when it comes to 2017. Sure, a fair chunk of the playoff spots were claimed this past weekend, but a handful still remain, and some Divisions are still up grabs, because Week 16 was full of surprises and fascinating stories yet again, and here is what we learned from this weekend’s slate of games.
 
The Eagles are dedicated to winning.
Sometimes a win appears to come easy in the NFL, but most do not, and that’s a lesson that Philadelphia learned against Oakland on Monday Night. But, the finest teams don’t care how the win comes about, as long as they get it and despite the fact that the Eagles were sloppy for a better part of the night in every single phase of the game, they didn’t let the game escape them, nor did they lose sight of the prize and they pulled it together when necessary because they are dedicated to winning, and their reward for their dedication? Home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and the knowledge that they can achieve anything when they put their minds to it…
 
The Rams are NFC West Champions once again.
It’s been ages since anyone has referred to the Los Angeles Rams as Division Champions but at long last, they are just that, but it sure didn’t come easy. The Titans put up one hell of a fight as they tried valiantly to lock up their own playoff spot this week. But the Rams have seen adversity all season long, and they have lost from to time and the feeling that comes with that apparently motivated them to seal the deal and bask in the wonder of their first Division Title since 2003. So really, cheers to the Rams. They’ve gone from laughing stock to contender and while the mantra in the NFL is to enjoy it quickly and move on, I hope the team basks in this wonderful honor for just a moment longer because it is quite the accomplishment considering where they were a year ago.
 
The Denver Broncos quarterbacking woes continue.
For a brief moment in the Mile High City, there was hope. Hope that Brock Osweiler had finally figured it all out and would bring some consistency to the quarterback position after his performance against the Colts, and well…as it turns out, his stellar play was nothing more than a fluke after all. Once again, the Broncos offense was ineffective and inept on Sunday and at this point, who knows where the franchise goes from here. It does look like Paxton Lynch will start in Denver’s season finale against the Chiefs, but considering his inexperience, we are likely in for more of the same when it comes to the QB position, and that’s unfortunate to say the least. But on the bright side, it looks like Broncos Country (and football fans everywhere for that matter) will only have to put up with another week of abysmal QB play, because once the offseason hits you know John Elway is going to make some serious and sweeping changes at that position.
 
The San Francisco 49ers have found their long-term answer at quarterback.
It’s truly been a tale of two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Because earlier this year it seemed as though they would be battling it out with the Browns for the number one overall pick in the draft, but what a difference a decent quarterback makes, because everything changed once they traded for Jimmy Garoppolo, especially when one considers that he is now 4-0 as the starter in San Francisco and once again, he impressed everyone on Sunday by beating the vaunted Jacksonville Jaguars defense and well, it really seems like the sky is the limit for Jimmy and while San Fran’s season is coming to an end, it’s clear that Jimmy G is the answer at this position and I have no doubt that getting him locked into a long-term and lucrative deal will be the top priority for the Niners once the postseason hits.
 
The Cleveland Browns are that much closer to an 0-16 season.
Every team out there will have its down years, some will have several, but if there’s one constant that I see from even the worst teams out there, is that they at least try to fight the fight good and try to win as the losses mount up. But that’s simply not the case with the 2017 Cleveland Browns. They have no fight, no desire, and they continue to make stupid mistake after stupid mistake and well, thanks to their lack of effort and focus, they once again lost in embarrassing fashion on Sunday to the Bears and more and more, it’s looking like the Cleveland Browns will be the second team in NFL History to go 0-16.    

​It’s been quite the long and wild journey when it comes to the NFL regular season and at last, the end is in sight. The playoffs are right around the corner, the playoff picture is taking shape and because the season is winding down, we are going to do something a little different with the NFL Roundup this week, and combine our look at the top storylines and the most fascinating games for the weekend into one great big article. So, with that in mind, let’s not waste any more time and dig right into all things Week 16, staring with the stories to keep an eye upon this weekend.
 
Is this the weekend the Browns finally win a game?
It’s been an ugly season for the Cleveland Browns…again, and unfortunately for this struggling team, there is really only one solid opportunity left for them to win a game this season and not go 0-16, and that game in question, arrives on Sunday. Because Cleveland will be facing off against an awful Chicago Bears squad and if they can’t pull off a win here, there’s no chance they’ll get one when they travel to Pittsburgh in Week 17. So, they’ll need to bring their A game to this matchup, and if they can confuse Mitch Trubisky and if the offense can score some points, the Browns will finally snag their first win of 2017. But in all honestly, one cannot forget that they are the worst team in the NFL, and no one wants to lose to Cleveland, so while the Bears may be bad, I expect them to put forth some solid effort in this one so they don’t have to deal with the pain of being the team that lost to the Browns.  
 
Sunday is a critical game for the Denver Broncos Quarterbacking Corps.
Normally when a team’s season comes to an end early, and the franchise moves into evaluation mode, they are in many ways quietly forgotten as they get a head start on preparing for the offseason. But in the city of Denver, that calm doesn’t exist this year. Sure, the Broncos are done, but everyone is dying to know if the quarterback of the future is currently sitting on the roster and come Sunday, all eyes will be on whomever the franchise chooses to start under center. After all, Brock Osweiler is still trying to prove to the league that he can play at a high level and he would also like to prove that last week’s performance in Indy wasn’t a mere fluke and if he can once again lead this team to victory, the Broncos and other QB needy teams will have to ponder upon signing him in 2018. As for Paxton Lynch, well, the organization needs to know they didn’t waste a draft pick in bringing him to the Mile High City, and need to see some serious progress in his overall quality of play. Either way, it should be fascinating to see how either Quarterback performs when the Broncos take the field Sunday and in all honestly, regardless of which player Denver names as the starter, I have a funny feeling we may see both of them play as the Broncos try and figure out their next steps at this critical position.
 
Will the Seahawks rebound this weekend?
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the ailing Seahawks secondary and all of its weaknesses were going to be exposed to the football world and unfortunately for Seattle, that all happened last week by way of a massive blowout against one of the league’s finest teams, the Los Angeles Rams. It was a loss that may signal the end of any playoffs hopes for the Seahawks which means that if they want to remotely keep those hopes alive, they have to rebound big time this weekend and the question is, can they? Well, the answer to that question is a big fat maybe unfortunately. After all, they’re facing off against a Dallas team that is whole again since Ezekiel Elliott is returning from his suspension and when you take that into consideration, along with how well Dallas is suddenly playing, you start to see how Seattle could lose this game. However, the Cowboys are not a tough team mentally, so if the ‘Hawks can stun them and get into their heads, I think there’s a chance they can pull off the win. So really, it comes down to which Seattle team takes the field, the one that folded against L.A., or the one that knows how to dig deep and make big plays happen. 

The NFC South is still up for grabs right now and two teams that are right in the middle of the hunt square off in this one and really, what has me excited to watch this one, is the sheer possibility that this could become a shootout for the ages. Because every football fan out there knows that Matt Ryan and Drew Brees can ball, and they each have wonderful weapons at their disposal when it comes to their receiving corps, so don’t be shocked to see touchdown after touchdown in this particular matchup. As for who wins this one, well I think the Saints have the upper hand here. Because their ‘bend but don’t break’ mentality on defense has served them well, and they know exactly when to step up to either slow down or shut down an elite quarterback. But you never know, Atlanta could play some lights out football as well and secure the win, but regardless of how this one ends, it’s going to be a fun game to watch through and through. 

There’s a lot at stake when it comes to this particular game and that’s why it’s on my personal radar. After all, the Titans are fighting for their playoffs lives in this one and need a win to keep their postseason hopes alive and as for the Rams…well, all they have to do is win and they’re in, and they’ll get the added bonus of being the NFC West Division Champions. So, with so much on the line in this matchup, I’m expecting it to be quite the hard-fought affair. Because the Titans are no slouch this year, and they don’t back down easy, but at the same time, the Rams love a good challenge and are hungry to win the division. However, while both of these teams are clearly talented, only one can walk out of this one the winner, and honestly…I think Los Angeles will be the victor in this one. They’re playing perfect in every single phase of the game right now, and that gives them quite the advantage. 

​Now, I know what you’re thinking when it comes to me even remotely suggesting that a game featuring the incredibly uneven Miami Dolphins can play out as fascinating, but hear me out here. For starters, Miami has a lot to prove. Their head coach wants to prove to everyone that he’s truly a leader of men and not just a coordinator who is in way over his head, and he would like everyone to view the Dolphins as an elite team, something they actually have resembled from time to time. On the other side of the coin, they face off against a Chiefs squad that is desperate to regain control of their season and they want the Division Title they so rightly believe they deserve and those components should make for one interesting and intense game as both of these teams try to accomplish their goals and in all honesty, I expect Kansas City to emerge from this game as the victor, simply because of the fact that they’ve proven to be the better team when their backs are against the wall.  

Boy, they really saved the best games for the end of the NFL season, didn’t they? I say that, simply because this weekend was once again filled to the brim with incredible games that took our breath away and honestly, I did not expect any of the surprises that came our way. So really, let’s not waste any time today since there’s plenty to discuss, so let’s break down what we learned from Week 15 in the NFL.
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Marvin Lewis is saying goodbye to the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the season.
While the NFL is widely viewed as a constantly evolving league where change is the only daily norm, some teams feature fixtures if you will when it comes to players and coaches and Cincinnati is one of those teams, thanks to Head Coach Marvin Lewis who has guided this team to plenty of success for the past 14 years. But alas, all good things must come to an end and at the end of the season, Coach Lewis is moving on to explore the next chapter in his life and his football career as well and well, I have to say, this is quite the loss for the Bengals. Yes, I know Marvin’s playoff record is atrocious, but Coach Lewis turned an awful franchise into a winning one. Either way, I hope Marvin finds success in whatever he chooses to do next, and that the game looks fondly upon a man that brought stability and a winning culture to a franchise that so many looked down upon years ago.
 
The Philadelphia Eagles are going to be just fine without Carson Wentz.
Adversity is truly the greatest opponent that any team or individual will face and this past week, the Philadelphia Eagles were facing plenty of it. They were without their star quarterback on the road, they were down against the New York Giants and it seemed for a moment there, that the Eagles were about to collapse. But instead, they handled adversity in epic fashion, rallied together and played as a team and the end result? Another wonderful win, and the fact that Nick Foles was able to throw for four touchdowns and help lead this team to another victory, speaks volumes to the coaching these players receive and that…when they put their minds to it, they can achieve wonders and because of what I saw on Sunday; I think it’s safe to say that they will be just fine going forward without Carson Wentz at the helm…
 
Aaron Rodgers melted down in his first game back from injury.
You know, I truly expected Aaron Rodgers to come out and perform wonders on Sunday because he’s a damn good quarterback. But alas, we learned on Sunday that he’s not a superhero, but a mere mortal like the rest of us because he clearly needed more recovery time before taking the field. He was not only painfully rusty early on in the game, but plenty of his throws just didn’t look right, and considering the fact that he threw for three interceptions in this game, it’s clear that Green Bay rushed him back to the field before he was remotely ready. So, for starters, my bad in thinking he could pull off a medical miracle, and I do hope the Packers take their time with him this week and sit him down if necessary since the playoffs aren’t looking like a sure thing for Green Bay.
 
The Jacksonville Jaguars, are playoff bound once again.
There was a time when the Jacksonville Jaguars were a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. In fact, I distinctly recall their incredible upset of the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round back in 1997, and for the next ten years, this team found ways to win and returned to the postseason on a fairly consistent basis…and then came the dark ages. Because for the next ten years, the Jaguars learned how to lose and lose big. But after stumbling about in the darkness for a decade, something magical happened this year. They found the right coach, they have the right talent and wouldn’t you know it? They’re back in the playoffs once again and I tip my hat to them, because they’ve earned it. They’ve played incredible football this year, and now they have a shot to go as far as they want in the playoffs, if they continue to play with this level of heart, and this level of fearlessness. But in the here and the now, I hope they’re living it up in Jacksonville, because the Jaguars are playoff bound once again and in a couple of weeks, teams need to take them seriously when the tournament gets underway.
 
The New England/Pittsburgh game was one for the ages.
You always hope, that when two teams square off with big stakes on the line that you get a quality game, and thankfully, Pittsburgh and New England went above and beyond on Sunday by delivering a true thriller for the ages. All game long it was touchdown after touchdown, and lead change after lead change and my goodness, I was standing in front of my television pacing in those final few moments of the game, wondering whether or not the Patriots would hang on for the win. Either way, I can only hope that this game was a preview of what we can all expect from the playoffs, because to see anything less than the wonder we enjoyed in this game in a couple of weeks, would be supremely disappointing. 

​There’s a quite a lot for teams to accomplish in the closing weeks of the regular season and for proof, look no further than the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Broncos and the Colts, wherein Denver proved that ending the season on a high note was priority one on their agenda. For other teams, their goals are different. Some are looking to lock up a playoff spot, or their division and some are just looking to do as the Broncos did and play with a sense of pride for a change. Either way, every team has a task they plan to accomplish and all of that is going to make for some fascinating games this weekend and here the matchups we simply cannot wait to watch.

​More than likely, this game will help determine 2017’s AFC West Division Champion and really, who would have thought at the start of the season that the Chargers would be in the mix for a Division title? I did not. I, like many others, thought the Chiefs were going to run away with the West after their incredible start to the season, yet, here we are. Which means that if the Chiefs don’t want to see their season end in utter disappointment, this is hands down the most important game of the year for them and in all honesty, I’m not sure they can win this one. The Chargers have proven themselves to be a formidable opponent thanks to their fearless style of play and they’ve brought down better teams than the Chiefs. So, if Los Angeles finds a way to frustrate Kansas City and can force some early mistakes in this game, expect them to topple another titan on their way to a well-deserved division title.

​The Carolina Panthers have to be walking into this game with a beaming sense of pride for certain because hey, they beat the mighty Minnesota Vikings in impressive fashion last week. But hopefully they quickly put that out of mind, because they’re about to go up against a Green Bay team that has their best weapon back in QB Aaron Rodgers. Sure, we can expect some rust from Mister Rodgers, but I get the funny feeling that rust will be shaken off quickly since he’s a veteran QB and game time is when he thrives. Which means, I fully expect this game to be quite the epic affair as these two quarterbacks battle it out for their playoff lives but in the end, I think experience will be the deciding factor in this game, so don’t be shocked if Rodgers snags the win in his first game back since October. 

​As it turns out, the AFC isn’t the only conference hosting a wild game in the west this weekend, the NFC has their own western struggles unfolding on Sunday by way of this game and well, this one is shaping up to be quite the matchup. Because neither of these teams like to lose, and both firmly believe they still have plenty to prove to this league, which means they are going to unleash their fury when they take the field and there is a fair chance that this one could become quite the shootout when all is said and done since both of the quarterbacks featured in this game love nothing more than to find the end zone. So, with that in mind, I honestly think the winner of this game will be determined by which squad tightens up their defense first, which is likely an easier task for Los Angeles than it is for Seattle and because of that, I honestly think that the Rams will walk away the winner of this game. But, you never know when it comes to the Seahawks, they could pull off quite the surprise as they’ve done in the past, but either way this is going to be one heck of a matchup, one that might just go down to the wire. 

​It really has been quite the strange season for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Because in a year where it seems they should be dominating teams left and right, they’ve instead suffered some embarrassing losses and are now fighting for home field advantage in the playoffs when they take the field against the Steelers and oddly enough, when one takes an objective look at this game, it’s Pittsburgh’s to lose. Because they are quite frankly, playing better football than the Patriots are right now, and they know exactly how to beat Tom Brady, which means there’s a fair chance New England could lose their second straight game in a row and at this point, the only way the Patriots can reclaim their playoff throne, is to find a way to intimidate the Steelers and that’s honestly easier said than done. So really, while I expect this game to be a close one, I think Pittsburgh walks out of this one with the win. Simply because they’re playing in fearless fashion, as though they have nothing to lose and that’s extremely bad news for the reeling Patriots. 

​There’s only three weeks to go in the regular NFL season and I won’t lie, I’m extremely excited to watch this weekend’s slate of games simply because, if this week of football is anything like last week’s, then we are in for quite the treat. We’ll see more upsets and unsung heroes leading their team to glory and most importantly…we’ll have teams wow us with their incredible effort on the field. Either way, it looks like we are in for some amazing games and some amazing stories this weekend and here are the top storylines we will be keeping an eye upon in Week 15 in the NFL.
 
Can the Eagles win without Carson Wentz?
Any way you slice it, Carson Wentz has been the X Factor that everyone was waiting for in Philadelphia. But after being placed on Injured Reserve thanks to a torn ACL, everyone in Philly has to be holding their breath as to whether or not the team can perform without him and honestly, I think they can. After all, this team has lost several big-name starters to injury this season and performed just fine without them, which speaks to the quality coaching this team enjoys and I expect that same type of coaching to come into play with QB Nick Foles. So as long as Foles does his job and keeps the mistakes to a minimum, this team should continue to win and make their victories look easy.
 
Who will take control of the AFC West?
A few weeks ago, it seemed as though the Kansas City Chiefs were going to run away with the AFC West, but now here we are late in the season and the Chiefs are fighting for their playoff lives and as fate would have it, they’re going to be locked in another battle for command of the West against a rival that everyone nearly forgot about in the Los Angeles Chargers and honestly, I’m inclined to think that Los Angeles is going to win this game. They’ve played with a chip on their shoulder and in fearless fashion for several weeks now and I don’t see that changing in this game. So, if the Chargers come out swinging and stun the Chiefs early in the game with some fast scoring, don’t be surprised to see them leave Arrowhead with the win and the lead in the AFC West.
 
Will the Denver Broncos land another win against the Colts?
The Broncos big win on Sunday was a wonderful early Christmas gift for Broncos fans, and well, they’d certainly like to find more of that under their football tree this year and really the big question of the hour is…can Denver put together a tiny win streak against the Colts tonight? Well, it’s quite possible. Provided they do exactly what they did on Sunday. If the defense can blanket the Colts offense and the Broncos offense can put up some points, then they’re looking at another big time win and a giant boost to their pride and their confidence, and most importantly, another win will signal that Vance Joseph is indeed the right man for the job and that he simply needs a little more time to grow into his new role.
 
There’s a lot at stake in the New England/Pittsburgh game.
In a perfect year, quality NFL teams already have their playoff standings locked in place and they’re resting starters as they prepare for the tournament. But this is not one of those years. This is the kind of year where teams find a way to surprise one another, and for proof, look no further than the fact that the mighty New England Patriots were upset on Monday Night Football and now, they’re going to have to fight to the bitter end with Pittsburgh for a shot at home field advantage and in all honesty, that’s not going to be an easy task. The Steelers are playing lights out football right now and as was evidenced on Sunday Night, Ben Roehtlisberger is exploiting every weakness he sees in an opposing defense so if the Patriots want any shot at hosting a pair of Playoff games this offseason, they’re going to have to bring their A game on Sunday, or else their search for a sixth title is going to become all the more difficult.
 
Expect big things from Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
I have no doubt that Green Bay fans were jumping for joy when the news broke this week that Aaron Rodgers had been medically cleared to play and while normally caution would be exercised in a situation like this to ease an injured player back into the lineup, I think we all can agree that barring some kind of horrific setback, Rodgers will start on Sunday and he is going to light up the Carolina Panthers. Sure, he’ll be rusty, but Rodgers always has something to prove and considering the fact that he can in essence will his team to a victory, his powerful leadership will no doubt provide the spark this team has been searching for in his absence. 

It truly seems as though the NFL is finding a way to add a theme to each and every week of football played and Week 14 is no exception to that rule, because one word keeps coming into my mind as I reflect upon this weekend’s slate of games and that word is: effort. Think about it for a moment, every single team that took the field this week gave it their all, even the Browns for that matter since they challenged the Packers straight through until overtime, and all of this extra effort made for some fascinating games and some incredible stories and here is what we learned from Week 14 in the NFL.
 
The Miami Dolphins just made the AFC Playoff Race extremely interesting.
Say what you will about the 2017 Miami Dolphins and their up and down, drama filled season, but when these guys put their mind to it and ball, they ball, and for proof, look no further than their incredible victory over the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. They executed the formula to beat Brady to a tee and dominated the Pats defense as well, and their long-term reward for that kind of work, is that they’ve made life difficult for New England, since their upcoming matchup with Pittsburgh may decide who earns home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs. Either way, the Dolphins once again rammed home an important point for the Patriots in that, they need to be focused every single week when they take the field, or more unpleasant surprises such as this one will await them down the road.
 
The Denver Broncos ended their eight-game losing streak in impressive fashion.
To call the Denver Broncos season ugly, would be quite the understatement. It’s been a downright disaster to be far more accurate, and there’s been plenty of speculation in the Mile High City that this team could go 3-13 to finish the season since losing streaks tend to demoralize a team. But something special happened on Sunday, the Broncos came out and looked like the confident, powerhouse squad that went 3-1 to start the season since they dominated on both offense and defense to the tune of a 23-0 shutout and well, while this win doesn’t fix all of Denver’s woes, because the offensive line and quarterbacking corps are still a mess, it’s nice to know that Vance Joseph is learning how to properly motivate these men and that they are capable of digging deep and making wonders happen and here’s to hoping that they can build upon this success and end their season on a high note.
 
The Philadelphia Eagles rebounded nicely, but at a great cost.
Normally when a playoff bound team rebounds from a tough loss there’s cause for celebration. But right now, there’s trepidation and worry hanging over the City of Brotherly Love, because while the Eagles won in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon, their franchise quarterback is done for the season and that is a scary prospect to deal with this close to the playoffs. Which means that the future of the season now rests upon QB Nick Foles, who has been a serviceable journeyman in his NFL career. But serviceable won’t be enough. The fans in Philly are hungry to see this team rise to the occasion and go far in the playoffs. Which means that it’s up the coaching staff to keep this season rolling and if Doug Pederson and his staff can adjust the playbook to suit Foles’ strengths, then expect this team to not miss a beat. But if they expect Foles to be the second coming of Wentz, then Philly will be filled to the brim with heartache. Personally, I think Coach Pederson is the right man for the job and considering how well their season has gone with other key players out, I think they’ll be just fine.
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The Seattle Seahawks were the winners of this week’s edition of the Stupid Bowl.
I just don’t get it. For essentially a month now, we’ve seen some ridiculous behavior from NFL players on the field. There have been fights, there have been dirty hits and I had honestly hoped the latest wave of suspensions from the Steelers/Bengals game would have been enough to stop the flow of stupid, but…the joke’s on me. Because the Seattle Seahawks are the Stupid Bowl Champions this week thanks to their over the top and reckless behavior. Not only did we have Michael Bennett try and blow out Jacksonville Center Brandon Linder’s knees, Defensive End Quinton Jefferson decided he needed to teach a fan a lesson with his fists after they threw bottles and trash at him and he tried to climb into the stands to deliver a beat down. Granted, the fans shouldn’t be doing that kind of crap, but hey, let security deal with that, and for the love of all that is holy…be the bigger man and really, I guess that’s where my frustration stems from in seeing all of this play out…in that, you’re grown men and professional football players. Act like it. Don’t like a guy? Beat his team into the ground with a decisive win, let that sting. But, despite my disdain for all of this classless behavior, it’s clearly becoming the norm, so I have no doubt we’ll be back here to discuss who won the Stupid Bowl for Week 15 next Tuesday.
 
The Houston Texans deserve a severe penalty for their inability to follow concussion protocol.
You know, I have to be in honest in saying that I’m downright angry and disappointed with the Houston Texans as an NFL Franchise right now. Because it was inherently clear on Sunday that Tom Savage suffered a concussion, and to not immediately remove him for the rest of the game is a stupid and reckless move by the coaching and medical staff. I saw the excuses, they’re all dumb so we won’t revisit those, because my fury here comes from the fact that this isn’t the first time this has happened in Houston. In 2015, Arian Foster managed to sneak onto the field with a concussion and let’s be honest, that’s on the team. So, I’d say it’s high time for the NFL to throw the book at this team. They’re repeat offenders, they’re incompetent when it comes to protocol so drop whatever fines and penalties are necessary and then maybe, just maybe…this team will finally get the hint when it comes to player safety. 

​There’s a special electricity in the air surrounding tomorrow’s slate of games, simply because, every single second, every single play, every single down, and every single yard matter more than ever before, and a lack of execution on any of those things…could spell doom for teams that are currently in the playoff hunt. These players know what’s at stake, and that the only way they can keep their playoff hopes alive is to deliver their very best when they take the field and that means we are in for some incredible football come game time, and here are the top games that we will be keeping an eye upon come tomorrow. 

​Expect the unexpected. That’s a lesson that every single player and coach in the NFL needs to learn and it’s a lesson that is one hundred percent applicable to the two teams involved in this matchup. Because both the Raiders and the Chiefs were expected to do incredible things this season when it comes to their loaded rosters, but the unexpected has come into play and now this game…may decide how these two squads reflect upon their season. Win, and there’s a chance they could clench the Division and get a shot at the tournament. Lose, and there’s a fair chance their season ends earlier than expected. Which means this game should be quite the knock-down, drag it out affair and as to who wins this one? Well I think that comes down to discipline, and the team that can settle down and make the least amount of mistakes, walks away from this one, the victor. 

​Sometimes, a particular matchup has far more meaning to a pair of teams than we will ever know and honestly, this feels like one of those matchups. Because both of these teams desperately want to be viewed as the best in the league and a win here will help both of them in that quest greatly. For the Panthers, a win over the mighty Vikings would not only deliver them confidence, but all the talk that would follow such a victory, would be about them defeating big teams at the right time and the possibility of them accomplishing that in playoffs and for the Vikings…well, with the NFC playoff picture suddenly wide open, a victory here would help them move one step closer to the number one overall playoff seed, an honor that would deliver a ‘best of’ symbol for their Conference. However, while I do expect this one to be quite the hard-fought matchup, I get the feeling that Minnesota will claim the victory here since they are a patient team that knows exactly when to strike. 

​There is quite a bit at stake when it comes to this particular game. After all, the Rams are looking to continue their win streak and defeat the almighty Philadelphia Eagles so that they too can join the number one playoff seed race in the NFC and also because hey, beating the Eagles gives you some serious bragging rights, and as for the Eagles, well they’re simply looking to rebound. They were a touch relaxed when they played Seattle last week and paid the price for it, so you know they’ll be looking to re-focus and secure a win so they don’t lose any of their playoff standing clout. As for who wins this game, well it comes down to the basics as always, whichever team doesn’t turn over the ball, executes on every single play and maintains their focus for sixty minutes, will enjoy a hard-earned victory.

​Some of the finest matchups you can get this time of year, feature teams that are still fighting for their playoff lives and that’s precisely what we’re looking at when it comes to this particular game. After all, Jacksonville is currently tied for first in the AFC South and would love a win to keep their Divisional or Wild Card hopes alive and the Seahawks are in a similar situation in that they’re a game behind in the NFC West, and a win here would keep them in the hunt for a shot at the tournament as well. So, expect both of these teams to deliver a little more effort than usual on the field as they try to improve their standings and I think that since this one is a pretty even keeled match on paper, the winner will be decided by a couple of intangibles. In that, if Seattle can rattle and stun the Jaguars like they did the Eagles, they’ll likely snag the win, but if Jacksonville can keep a level head and play their game, they’ve got a shot at keeping their magical season rolling.  

​Here we go ladies and gents. Welcome to the home stretch of the regular NFL season, and it’s going to be a doozy. Because with four weeks left, you know that every single team on the bubble or in the hunt is going to bring their best every single week to earn a shot in the tournament and that also means, we are in for some wild and intriguing stories as well. So, let’s not waste any more time and look ahead to Week 14 in the NFL and all the amazing stories that will come with it.
 
Will the Philadelphia Eagles rebound against the Rams?
To say that the Eagles were surprised by the Seahawks would be an understatement because wow, did Seattle stick it to Philly and good. Which means with the NFC playoff seeding getting tighter and tighter, a Philadelphia rebound against the Rams is an absolute necessity if the Eagles want to keep their shot at the #1 seed alive, but can they pull it off? It’s definitely possible with this team because of how ridiculously talented they are. But their focus was missing in last week’s game, so if they keep their minds locked on the next play and execute accordingly, they will likely secure their eleventh win of the season. But if they don’t take the Rams seriously for a second, then the NFC playoff race might become incredibly interesting.
 
Which team will get their act together in the Raiders/Chiefs game?
When it comes to the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, 2017 has most certainly not gone to plan. The Raiders are loaded with talent and should boast a better record than 6-6, and after starting off the season strong, the Chiefs have in essence, fallen to pieces. But the bright side in this game, is that the AFC West is still up for grabs and a win here by either team will move them closer to a Division Title, but which team will pull it together to snag a win? It’s incredibly tough to say since both of these teams are so sloppy. So really, I would say it comes down to which team is able to keep a level head, since neither of these squads are playing disciplined and it should be interesting to see which team gives in to their frustrations, first.
 
Will the promotion of Steve Spagnuolo make a difference for the New York Giants?
Whether you agree with the timing or not, a change needed to happen in Giants land and now that the firing of Ben McAdoo is complete, the time has come for Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo to pick up the pieces and try to coach this team to a bittersweet finale to a dismal season. But is he the right man to lead the New York Football Giants to victory? Well the answer to that question is a big fat maybe since Steve’s track record as a Head Coach in the league is mediocre at best. But, he does understand the need to have a quality franchise quarterback at the helm and the decision to start Eli Manning this week adds a little hope to his tenure as the head cheese in New York and if he learned anything from his failures as the HC of the St. Louis Rams, then there is a chance that Steve can turn around this dismal season and bring joy back to MetLife Stadium.
 
Will the Seattle Seahawks continue their impressive surge?
Seattle is a team that likes to sneak up on football fans everywhere. Because just when you think they’re down or out, or they disappear from the football conversation, they find a way to pop right back into the limelight and for proof, look no further than their upset of the Eagles from last Sunday’s game. But, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not they can continue playing at such a high level and honestly, I think they can. For starters, when a team decimated by injuries is able to rally together and put together a big win, they’re clearly hungry for success and determined to make it happen and this squad does have a tendency to win often in December. So, if the Jaguars make mistakes and underestimate the Seahawks, expect this team to assemble another big win that will boost their already healthy confidence.
 
Can Jimmy Garoppolo lead the 49ers to their third win of the season?
You never quite know what a quarterback, or any player for that matter, will bring to the table when they’re traded in the middle of the season because it’s incredibly difficult for any player to unlearn everything they spent a fair chunk of the season learning, but it would seem that issues stemming from such a drastic change don’t apply to Jimmy Garoppolo. While he didn’t light up the scoreboard against the Bears, he was incredibly efficient, completing 70% of his passes for 293 yards and that’s a pretty solid first start, which begs the question, can he lead the 49ers to another victory come Sunday? Well I think his chances are pretty darn good, considering the fact he’s clearly becoming comfortable with Kyle Shanahan’s system and he’s facing a mediocre Texans defense as well, and if that D makes mistakes or gives Jimmy the look he desires, he’ll most likely torch them in the end zone, and continue to instill hope in Niners fans everywhere. 

​Wow, what a weekend of NFL football. It was simply surprise after surprise when it comes to this past week’s slate of games, and I’m still in awe when it comes to how some of these games turned out and I’m still pondering upon what the future holds for some franchises after some bold decisions were made as well. Which means that this weekend brought forth plenty of juicy stories to discuss, so let’s not waste any more time and delve right into what we learned from Week 13 in the NFL.
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The New York Giants made the right decision in firing Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese now.
Sometimes a parting of the ways is inevitable in the NFL. A player doesn’t belong in a certain scheme, a coach isn’t the right fit, so ties are cut, people are move on, it’s just business. But there has always been a great debate in this league as to when exactly IS the proper time to let someone go. Some teams, like the Giants, prefer to say their goodbyes at the end of the season to instill a sense of continuity, and while that’s as classy as can be, I think the Mara family made the right call in relieving Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese of their duties yesterday morning. Because to keep these two men on for the rest of the year would have sent the wrong message to the players and the fans, in that they support McAdoo’s wild behavior and Reese’s commitment to mediocrity and rather than send that message, they did the right thing and fired them now and here’s to hoping the Mara’s learned their lesson when it comes to hiring based on buzz so that the fans and the franchise never again have to endure this kind of epic embarrassment.
 
The NFL is continuing its crackdown on ugly, on field behavior, and it’s a good thing.
I just don’t get what is going on when it comes to the excessive anger we’re all seeing on the field this year. We’ve been seeing fight after fight during game time and I thought the league made it clear to settle it on the scoreboard by suspending both Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree for their battle royale two weeks ago. Yet here we are again, with more suspensions coming down for last night’s issues from the Steelers/Bengals game and I’m glad the league is continuing to be harsh when it comes to this nonsense. Because someone is going to get seriously hurt if these players continue to take extra shots like so many did last night and hopefully the message to end this crap sinks in soon, otherwise expect the next wave of suspensions to be far harsher than a single game…
 
The Kansas City Chiefs are in a freefall right now.
It really has been quite the strange year for teams that started off the season in ‘elite’ fashion simply because…none of them have been able to maintain their high level of play and Kansas City is unfortunately one of those teams. Because after starting the season out strong, they’ve simply fallen to pieces in the past few weeks and well, it’s up to Head Coach Andy Reid to stop the bleeding before things go from bad to worse. He has to figure out how to get this team to focus on football above anything else because right now, they’re all over the place and they’re certainly not playing like it’s a team sport, and for proof look no further than Marcus Peters’ little flag toss on Sunday, and if Andy can’t get this team to settle down and ball the way they did at the start of the year, expect the slide to continue and for the season to end in harsh disappointment.
 
The Seattle Seahawks pulled off one hell of an upset on Sunday Night.
It truly seemed as though a win for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football was a foregone conclusion. After all, their defense has been playing lights out football all season long and Carson Wentz has looked like a polished pro, but nothing is ever a guarantee in this league and the Seattle Seahawks rammed that point home by beating the Eagles in impressive fashion. Because this is the first time all season long that I’ve seen the Philadelphia defense winded and Seattle pulled that feat off by delivering long and sustained drives on the field, and they shut down the Philly offense by getting to Wentz on a regular basis and I’m certain the miracle they made happen will be studied heavily by other teams in the NFC. But in the meantime, my hat goes off to the Seattle Seahawks for delivering a quality win, one that lets everyone else know that this team is going to be tough to beat as the season comes to a close.
 
The Minnesota Vikings continue to impress.
The best teams out there are the ones that cherish a win, no matter how they got it, and that kind of attitude is precisely why the Minnesota Vikings are enjoying such incredible success. Because this is a team that can score at will and devastate their opponent, or…they can be patient and only put up just enough points to secure the victory, as they did on Sunday. But any way you slice it, all they desire is the win, and they know that with every single one they add to the W column, they get that much closer to owning their division, or earning a bye week in the playoffs and really….it’s just impressive to watch this team play week in and week out and see how far they’ve come and with the Eagles now dropping to 10-2 as well, their playoff fate is entirely in their own hands now and I’m fairly certain they’ll make the most of every opportunity from here on out.