NFL Week 15 thread

[Judge Jude]

AFC
1 y-PATRIOTS 12-2 (Jets 9-5)
2 BENGALS 10-3, 6 STEELERS 8-5
4 TEXANS 7-7 (Colts 6-8)
3 BRONCOS 10-3, 5 CHIEFS 9-5 (Raiders 6-7)

NFC
4 REDSKINS 7-7 (Eagles 6-7, Giants 6-7)
3 z-PACKERS 9-4, 6 VIKINGS 9-5
1 y1-PANTHERS 13-0 (Falcons 7-7)
2 z-CARDINALS 11-2, 5 SEAHAWKS 8-5

y-clinched division
y1- clinched 1st-rd bye
z- clinched playoff spot

...............

RACE TO THE BOTTOM 2016 DRAFT CONTEST
3-11 - L-Titans
3-10 - L-Browns, L-Chargers
4-10 - L-Cowboys, L-Ravens
4-9 - L-49ers, L-Lions
5-8 - Saints, L-Dolphins
5-9 - L-Bears, Jaguars
6-8 - Buccaneers, Rams, L-Bills

L-losers, eliminated from playoff hunt

Eliminated from division title:
Dolphins, Bills, Ravens, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Chargers
Cowboys, Lions, Bears, Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints, Rams, 49ers

[Erik]

Tyler Eifert OUT.

[Judge Jude]

last Sunday nite game is Jan 3, and any of the 16 games (all scheduled for that day and all divisional games) can be flexed. who will we get?

should be either:
Eagles-Giants
Vikings-Packers
Seahawks-Cardinals

Jaguars-Texans is the most likely AFC game, but a lot would have to happen to bounce them to the top

[Judge Jude]

love Phil Simms, but he calls this a "do or die game" for the Jets

pretty sure that if the Steelers lose tomorrow, the Jets move into the 6 seed no matter what the Jets did tonite
and even if the Jets won, they were out as of now if the Steelers win

so...... no

Redskins in a somewhat similar spot tomorrow - more important what their rivals do than what they do vs Bills

[Trautdiggity]

love Phil Simms, but he calls this a "do or die game" for the Jets

pretty sure that if the Steelers lose tomorrow, the Jets move into the 6 seed no matter what the Jets did tonite
and even if the Jets won, they were out as of now if the Steelers win

so...... no

Redskins in a somewhat similar spot tomorrow - more important what their rivals do than what they do vs Bills

I actually think Simms was spot on. The Chiefs have no business losing any of their final three games, and neither do the steelers beyond this week as their opponents are doodoo. The Jets on the other hand face the Pats next week. Had the Jets lost last night then the odds would have been overwhelmingly against them making the playoffs even if the Steelers were to lose this week since the expected results over the last two weeks would be two wins for the Chiefs and steelers compared to just one for the jets. Obviously that's why they play the games but I think the jets really were in close to a do or die last night.

[Judge Jude]

you ignored my point: "pretty sure that if the Steelers lose tomorrow, the Jets move into the 6 seed no matter what the Jets did tonite
and even if the Jets won, they were out as of now if the Steelers win"

if that is accurate, then the Jets leapfrog the Steelers with a Steelers loss regardless of what the Jets did last night. the Jets would still need to win their last two games, presumably - but my premise is that the Jets move ahead of the Steelers with a Steelers loss today no matter what happened last night.

if that's wrong, I withdraw the tentative criticism. if it's not wrong, then I don't.

not all losses are created equal when it comes to tiebreakers.

[Trautdiggity]

you ignored my point: "pretty sure that if the Steelers lose tomorrow, the Jets move into the 6 seed no matter what the Jets did tonite
and even if the Jets won, they were out as of now if the Steelers win"

if that is accurate, then the Jets leapfrog the Steelers with a Steelers loss regardless of what the Jets did last night.

And if the season ended tomorrow then yes your point would be right (although I am not sure about all the short term scenarios) But in the big picture last night was pretty much a must win game for the Jets. If all three teams win out, the Jets are left out and the odds of KC winning out are sky high and the Steelers chances are arguably much better than the Jets. At a minimum the Jets would have had little to no chance had they lost two of three games down the stretch. Your point was that Simms was wrong to call it a do or die game. I disagree, I think he was absolutely right.

[Trautdiggity]

last Sunday nite game is Jan 3, and any of the 16 games (all scheduled for that day and all divisional games) can be flexed. who will we get?

should be either:
Eagles-Giants
Vikings-Packers
Seahawks-Cardinals

Jaguars-Texans is the most likely AFC game, but a lot would have to happen to bounce them to the top

Giants-Eagles has to be the favorite as it is the most likely to have major playoff implications. One sleeper pick is Tampa at Carolina. If the NFC East is not in the balance and the Panthers are still undefeated they could flex the Carolina quest for perfection.

[Judge Jude]

And if the season ended tomorrow then yes your point would be right (although I am not sure about all the short term scenarios) But in the big picture last night was pretty much a must win game for the Jets. If all three teams win out, the Jets are left out and the odds of KC winning out are sky high and the Steelers chances are arguably much better than the Jets. At a minimum the Jets would have had little to no chance had they lost two of three games down the stretch. Your point was that Simms was wrong to call it a do or die game. I disagree, I think he was absolutely right.

that's still not really getting my point, imo (the Jets have little to no chance if they lose to the Patriots regardless of their result against the Cowboys), so we'll have to agree to disagree.

and I agree that the Panthers at 15-0 is the most sensible fallback if the divisional games crap out.

[Judge Jude]

Beckham is literally in one stretch committing a personal foul on every single play. latest one was sticking his hand inside of Norman's facemask. he also slapped his helmet on one play and it looked like he threw a punch on another.

Beckham is annoyed because he dropped a wide-open TD pass, so the rest of the world has to pay for it. of course the Panthers are being physical on him, because he's super-talented and super-douchy.

UPDATE: Amazing that Beckham wasn't ejected so far. a league-leading lowlight reel will be out there...

[Judge Jude]

UPDATED

AFC
1 y1-PATRIOTS 12-2 (Jets 9-5)
2 z-BENGALS 11-3, 6 STEELERS 9-5
4 TEXANS 7-7 (Colts 6-8)
3 BRONCOS 10-4, 5 CHIEFS 9-5

NFC
4 REDSKINS 7-7 (Eagles 6-8, Giants 6-8)
3 z-PACKERS 10-4, 6 VIKINGS 9-5
1 y1-PANTHERS 14-0 (Falcons 7-7)
2 y-CARDINALS 12-2, 5 z-SEAHAWKS 9-5

y-clinched division
y1- clinched 1st-rd bye
z- clinched playoff spot

...............

RACE TO THE BOTTOM 2016 DRAFT CONTEST
3-11 - Titans, Browns
4-10 - Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers, 49ers
5-9 - Bears, Dolphins, Jaguars, Lions, Saints
6-8 - Buccaneers, Rams, Bills, Raiders, Giants, Eagles

[Trautdiggity]

But of course instead of getting kicked out of the game, Beckham catches the game tying TD. I hate the stupid Giants. Let's go Panthers!

Clearly you haven't watched the Giants enough. Under two minutes if the Giants are tied or with the lead, opposing fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

[Judge Jude]

Howie Long just said Beckham "is the kind of guy you can build your franchise around" - said no one ever about a WR. until now

Howie to sit out next week per NFL concussion protocols? lol, I know he's been retired for a while, but...

meanwhile, at least the Panthers (not THAT great and very banged up) Super Bowl celebration can go on hold until the regular season ends....

[Judge Jude]

WEEK 16

THU NITE
(4-10 CHARGERS at 6-8 RAIDERS)

SAT NITE
7-7 REDSKINS at 6-8 EAGLES - divisional title on the line for WASH

SUN EARLY
12-2 PATRIOTS at 9-5 JETS - ex-Jets head coach Belichick can bury them yet again
14-0 PANTHERS at 7-7 FALCONS - ATL last gasp v Panthers unblemished
9-5 STEELERS at 4-10 RAVENS - spoiler dreams in BALT
3-11 Browns at 9-5 Chiefs - KC has won 8 straight
7-7 TEXANS at 3-11 TITANS - Houston can smell it now
6-8 Colts at 5-9 Dolphins - the Sean Payton job bowl?
(5-9 Bears at 6-8 Buccaneers)
(4-10 Cowboys at 6-8 Bills)
(4-10 49ers at 5-9 Lions)

SUN LATER
10-4 Packers at 12-2 Cardinals - could meet again in playoffs
6-8 RAMS at 9-5 SEAHAWKS - Hawks have cruising
(Jaguars 5-9 at Saints 5-9)

SUN NITE
6-8 Giants at 9-5 Vikings - Vikes hungry; Beckham rabid

MON NITE
11-3 BENGALS at 10-4 BRONCOS - loser says bye to bye

[Erik]

last Sunday nite game is Jan 3, and any of the 16 games (all scheduled for that day and all divisional games) can be flexed. who will we get?

should be either:
Eagles-Giants
Vikings-Packers
Seahawks-Cardinals

Jaguars-Texans is the most likely AFC game, but a lot would have to happen to bounce them to the top

Cardinals clinched the NFC West, so it's probably not that game. Eagles-Giants is the obvious one if both win next week.