The NFL Roundup 2021: Week 17 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​Well football fans, we have reached quite the important point in the NFL season. For after seventeen weeks of hard-fought battles and surprises and injuries and Covid related delays, we have come to the end of the regular season. Which means that the playoffs and all the wondrous games that it has to offer is right around the corner. But before we dig into who will best who in the tournament and who might hoist the Lombardi Trophy, we do still have one last week of regular season NFL football to reflect upon. So, let’s dive right in and break down Week 17 in the NFL and all of the lessons it sent our way.  
 
Congratulations to the Washington Redskins for winning the NFC East.
Usually by the middle of the season, football fans have a general idea as to who is going to win a particular division thanks to the play of a dominate team that begins to pull away from the pack. But that simply wasn’t the case in the NFC East at all this year. Because from Week 1 to Week 17, there was no dominant team. Just four squads trying desperately trying to take the lead and it took the entire season to determine a division winner. Which just so happens to be the Washington Football Team and that’s awesome. Because this is a team that was all but forgotten by football fans and now, they’re in the tournament and in the national conversation once again. Which is a testament to Ron Rivera’s skills as a head coach. And while this team will likely be bounced out of the playoffs this weekend because they’re not quite there yet, that’s okay. Because if this is what Washington can accomplish with a so-so roster, imagine what they will do later this year, when they reload said roster with far better talent.
 
The New York Jets finally did the franchise a solid by firing Adam Gase.
Sometimes executives in football make some head-scratching decisions, personnel wise, and this year definitely featured a doozy, since no one can explain exactly why the front office let Adam Gase coach the New York Jets for the entire season. Because Gase simply lost control of this team and he did a terrible job of having them ready to play on Sunday. But despite the fact that this team established itself as the laughingstock of the league early on in the season, Gase was still allowed to prowl the sidelines for the entire year. But finally, the front office relieved Adam Gase of his head coaching duties on Sunday night and hopefully the Jets learned a valuable lesson when it comes to selecting a head coach. In that, sometimes the guys that are the next hot thing, simply don’t have what it takes to lead a team to victory and all Jets fans can hope for now, is a long and thorough search for their next head coach. One that hopefully finds this team the right leader so this franchise can get back to winning.
 
The Cleveland Browns finally ended their playoff drought.
Make no mistake about it, the Browns getting back into the playoffs is a huge deal to say the least. Because this team and more importantly this fanbase, have dealt with an incredible stretch of failure. One that has seen quarterbacks come and go under center, because the team simply couldn’t evaluate talent in the slightest and to make matters worse, this team also endured an 0-16 season not that long ago, and really… that’s but a sampling of the problems that the Browns have faced since the last time they were in the tournament, making them something of a running joke in the league. But at long last, they’re back in and they also have a dynamic young QB under center. One that can ball and make big moments happen and that’s just amazing to say the least. And while we don’t know how this playoff run is going to end, what matters more is that the Browns are finally moving in the right direction and that’s a wonderful thing for the fans that have stuck by this team, regardless of the results.
 
Derrick Henry joined quite the elite club on Sunday.
These days in the NFL, the amazing rule changes that benefit offenses, really do make it seem as though every record out there is going to fall. But while that has allowed for incredible numbers to be put up on a regular basis, to the point where a record falling doesn’t quite hold the weight that it used to; there are still some accomplishments on offense that are worth discussing and celebrating. Such as when a tailback goes over 2,000 yards in a single season. Because that is something that doesn’t happen all that often in this pass happy league and also because bruiser running backs are rare these days. But it does happen from time to time and for the eighth time in league history, it happened again on Sunday. For Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans crossed that threshold and that’s amazing to say the least. Because it speaks to Derrick’s work ethic and determination to be the best tailback in the league and well, this milestone makes it clear that Derrick Henry has accomplished that particular mission.
 
The Buffalo Bills are going to make the playoffs quite interesting.
Every year there is a particular team that heads into the tournament, that simply makes life hell for every team that they face. Last year, it was the Tennessee Titans since they were able to shock the AFC by ending the Patriots dynasty and by knocking out the number one seeded Ravens before falling to the Chiefs on Championship Sunday and this year, it looks as though the Buffalo Bills are going to fill that role. Simply because they continue to surprise the league and Sunday’s game against the Dolphins reinforced that. Because no one thought they would drop a fifty-burger on Miami, but they did, and they made it happen with second teamers. Which speaks to their depth and their determination and well, they’re going to make the playoffs supremely interesting for certain and no one should be surprised if they make it to the title game. Since this team has made it clear they’re in it to win it and they’ll stop at nothing to earn the dub.  

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