The NFL Roundup 2020: Week 16 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​Well, it took sixteen weeks. But at long last we kinda, sorta, mostly… have an idea what the playoff picture looks like in the NFL. Okay, just kidding, we really only have a clue as to which teams are going to be the top-tier seeds, and even that is murky in some cases. Simply because this was another wild weekend of football. One filled to the brim with epic surprises and upsets and well… rather than continue to scratch our heads and try to figure out the endless playoff scenarios for Week 17, let’s take a moment and reflect upon this wild weekend of football and all the lessons it sent our way.
 
Tampa Bay returns to the postseason.
Thirteen years. That’s how long it’s been since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a playoff run and even then… it was a short run, since they were quickly bounced from Wild Card Weekend. But after languishing and searching for a quarterback and defense that could give them a shot at the postseason once again, their time has finally arrived. For Tom Brady and a solid defense has finally given them another shot at the tournament and while this should be cause for celebration, let’s be honest… there are definitely some concerns swirling around this team as the postseason looms. Because the offense is inconsistent at best and that defense can in fact be worn down, and they are going to be facing some tough teams in January. So hopefully they can figure out how to keep that D fresh and how to find a rhythm on offense in Week 17 and in practice leading up to their playoff game. Because if they cannot, then it will be another one and done, for a team that is desperate to return to glory.
 
The NFL needs to expand practice squad rosters for the postseason.
Truly, one of the finest ideas that the league had this year in regard to its Covid response, was to expand the practice squad, all so that teams could dip into the talent pool in the event of a positive Covid test. And while this has indeed helped at times, this weekend’s incident with the Browns just goes to show that surprises can and will happen with rosters at the most inopportune time and that means… the league needs to expand their practice squad rosters for the playoffs. Because without a bubble, another multiple player incident could happen again, and that could impact the quality of a playoff game. And the league doesn’t need that kind of embarrassment, especially after all the missteps that have occurred in 2020.
 
The Jacksonville Jaguars won the Trevor Lawrence lottery.
Truly, the greatest gift that a franchise can give to their fans, is a Super Bowl Championship. Since that gives their fans the sheer joy of knowing that their team is the finest in the land, and all the bragging rights that come with that. But for fans that languish through a tough year, they get their own special consolation prize, one that we don’t talk about enough… hope. Because sometimes a losing record means that a team will be able to snag the finest player in the draft and the potential and possibilities they bring to the table, brings forth all kinds of hope and that’s precisely what fans in Jacksonville are feeling right now. For they now hold the #1 pick in the 2021 Draft, and they will undoubtedly select the ultra-talented Trevor Lawrence and that’s huge. Because this team has never really had a top-tier franchise quarterback and nabbing him could change the landscape of the AFC South if the right cast is put around him. So, here’s to hoping Mister Lawrence finally brings good fortune to this flailing Florida team, because every fan deserves to feel good about their franchise and selecting this skilled QB will go a long way in making that happen.
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the scare on Sunday.
It’s a big deal when a team slides into a losing streak. Simply because a chain of losses gets into the head of every player on that team and for a moment there on Sunday, it seemed as though Pittsburgh was about to deal with the sour reality that they were in the midst of a terrible losing streak. But something special happened in the second half of their game against the Colts, and they pulled it together and locked up a super important win. One that reminded them of how they earned their quality record in the first place and well… it just goes to show that a little fear can be helpful at times. Since this team did not want to let bad vibes take hold this close to the tournament, but they’re not out of the woods just yet. Because teams now have an idea of what the Steelers’ offensive playbook consists of, and it will be up to the coaching staff to keep their opponents guessing, otherwise their joyous playoff run will end early and in disgrace.
 
The Washington Football Team made the right call with Dwayne Haskins.
It seems as though every couple of years, a ‘superstar’ arrives in the league that thinks they are bigger than the team and the game and they’re just looking forward to dominating the league with their sheer presence instead of instilling fear with their play. And well, it would seem that the next player that meets that criteria, is Dwayne Haskins. Because he’s done all the wrong things since he’s come into the league, and well… what makes his story different is that the Washington Football Team handled his mistakes in a unique manner. Because so many teams will hang onto the wrong guy when they are taken with a high draft pick, since pride in such matters comes into play. But yesterday saw this team outright release Haskins because they’d simply had enough and understood he wasn’t getting it and that’s a wonderful thing. Since it sets the tone in Maryland, that team comes first and it also shows that Ron Rivera is going to do what he must to change the culture in this town, and most important of all, hopefully this serves as a wakeup call to Haskins. One that he can answer in a noble manner, IF he gets a second chance in the NFL.  

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