The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 17

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Well my fellow football fans, the day has come. We have reached the end of the line for the regular season and that means Monday is going to feel quite different. Because for twenty teams, their season will be over, and the work begins to re-build the roster and any semblance of hope for a title run in 2020. But before we prepare to look toward the playoffs, the Super Bowl, free agency and the Draft. There’s still a ton of football to be played on Sunday, and plenty of fascinating storylines to explore and we are going to do just that, in slightly different fashion this go around. Because there’s really only one major game on the radar this weekend, so prepare yourself for a supremely short matchup list, as we offer up a heavier emphasis on the storylines that are brewing in Week 17 in the NFL.  
 
Will the Denver Broncos wrap up the season on a high note?
Not that long ago, it seemed as though the Denver Broncos were going to be competing for the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Because the defense was tired, the offense was boring, and the losses were piling up. But then a funny thing happened. The young rookie that was deemed to be ‘not ready’, got his shot under center and well, what a ride it has been since. Because Drew Lock has energized this squad in every way imaginable and he’s finally made the offense productive and well, that brings us to the big question at hand; can Denver win on Sunday and end this season on a high note? The answer is a resounding yes. Because the Raiders aren’t that great a team and the Broncos want to bask in the joy that comes with a victory over a division rival. So, I honestly expect Lock to put some big points on the board, and for the defense to play some inspired ball, so that Broncos Country heads into 2020 with hope in their hearts.
 
Can the Miami Dolphins play the spoiler this weekend?
Make no mistake about it, the Miami Dolphins are a bad football team. They traded away all of their talent, and their quarterbacking future is shaky at best. But if there’s one thing Miami loves to do, is surprise the New England Patriots when they least expect it. For time and time again, we’ve seen the Dolphins just come out and play New England with incredible aggression and steal some important games away from them and the real question is, can they do that again this weekend? It’s possible, provided some key things happen. First and foremost, the offense has to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way and put some points on the board, and the defense has to come after Brady aggressively and shut down his receivers, and if they can pull all of that off… they’ve got the upset in hand. But honestly, it’s 50/50 that they’ll make this happen, because of their talent drain, but don’t be shocked if they come out and play some magnificent football just because they can.
 
Jason Garrett is truly coaching for his job this weekend.
What happens when you provide a head football coach with oodles of talent and said coach does nothing with it? You see the fanbase outright revolt and for proof, look no further than the Dallas Cowboys. Because Head Coach Jason Garrett has squandered great opportunities with wonderful players and every fan wants him gone, yesterday. But I do get why Jerry Jones has stood by him, because they are oddly enough, still in the playoff hunt and Garrett has playoff experience. But whether he likes it or not, he is coaching for his job on Sunday. Because if Dallas loses this game, and Philadelphia wins their matchup, that’s it, they’re out of the tournament and Garrett is likely fired hours later. So, keep an eye on how this team handles the Redskins this weekend, because you could be watching an era come to a close in Dallas if Coach Garrett does a poor job of preparing his boys to play against a terrible team.
 
The Cleveland Browns need to fire Head Coach Freddie Kitchens on Monday.
I’m sure the Browns are planning to come out swinging on Sunday, all in the hopes of winning this game and proving to the doubters that they are a good football team. But honestly, I don’t care if the Browns drop fifty on Cincy, there’s a bigger problem on this team that needs to be addressed, and that’s Head Coach Freddie Kitchens. Because this squad embarrassed themselves all season long with garbage play and controversial moments that we have never seen before, and all of that falls onto the shoulders of the Head Coach. Which means, Cleveland just needs to fire the guy and be done with it. He’s obviously not the right man for the job, nor does he have the proper mental fortitude to handle it. So, for the good of the game and for the fans in this proud city, cut the man loose on Monday, and get an experienced guy in there who knows how to handle a group of strong personalities so this team can finally get back to winning. 

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Nerds That Geek’s Game of the Week

Sunday Night Football
San Francisco 49ers (12-3) at Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Washington
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC 

​I think it is safe to say, that this is the biggest game of the week, hands down. Because so much is the on the line for both teams here. Because the winner of this one takes the NFC West title, and potentially locks up the number one seed in the playoffs. Which means I am expecting this game to be one heck of a matchup. Because there’s no room for error here, and that will likely lead to some long and sustained drives, and potentially a lot of points depending on how the defenses hold up and honestly, I think they are the key to this game. Because in order to win, one of these defenses has to slow down or stop the dynamic quarterbacks they are facing. So, whichever D is able to tighten up and control the damage, is likely the one that leads their team to victory and all kinds of rewards, and it should be interesting to see which team wants it more on Sunday night.