Week 17 discussion thread

[Judge Jude]

The only 2 QBs ever to have a 100+ QB rating as rookies will meet next week in the playoffs - Seahawks at Redskins...

[Erik]

The top 20 of the draft is now set:

1 = Chiefs
2 = Jaguars
3 = Raiders
4 = Eagles
5 = Lions
6 = Browns
7 = Cardinals
8 = Bills
9 = Jets
10 = Titans
11 = Chargers
12 = Dolphins
13 = Buccaneers
14 = Panthers
15 = Saints
16 = Rams
17 = Steelers
18 = Cowboys
19 = Giants
20 = Bears

[Judge Jude]

Agreed. My first hunch on Vegas longshots for next year would be Lions with this draft slot - maybe even moreso with a new coach. Very talented bunch, with the best QB in the top 10 there....

For all the clown-car stuff, the Jets D was solid even without Revis in the 2nd half. They have big problems, but...

[Vecmizer]

I can't believe the Lions are going to get the #5 draft pick. I thought they were a pretty good team going into the year.

I had predicted a 6-10 record and they could not even meet that.

It's the Lions! When you see them week in week out you know they are a bad team no matter how good they should be or how much the media likes them. For all the talk there really isn't a lot of above average NFL talent on the team. 2011 was a fluke. They had a very easy schedule and thanks to the Bears losing Cutler AND Forte the Lions were able to make the playoffs.
Offense:
Above average talent:Stafford, Calvin and Jason Hanson (who may retire)
Average talent: Backus and Pettigrew-He is too inconsistent and cannot be depended on to catch the ball more than half the time
Horrendous: Cherilus, Peterman
Defense
Above average: Suh (Fairley could move into this group)
Average: Tullloch, maybe De'Andre Levy, Avril (soon to be a former Lion), Corey Williams
Talent but issues Delmas-cannot stay healthy. They guy missed 3 games do to a toothache!! Vandenbosch career is over but was talented

This team has absolutely no discipline on or off the field. Football is not a priority for more than half the guys on the team and winning is a priority for even less. I think what has really happened is that they were so bad under Millen that because they have improved from outright laughing stock to horrible NFL team many think they are on their way.

Besides the lack of talent they have other issues. When Schwartz first started he looked like he was going to be a really good coach. Now he looks over matched and looks like next year will be make or break for him. His use of timeouts is ridiculous. He calls timeouts on Defense when he should be letting the clock run down. He cannot make in game adjustments and is out coached at every turn. Not to mention the whole challenge flag fiasco. How the hell do you lose to Arizona? They have a good D and Larry Fitzgerald and absolutely no semblance of a semi pro QB.

The front office while drafting better than Millen is still wretched. Yes Mayhew drafted Stafford and Suh but they were #1 and #2 picks and were consensus no brainer picks. His vaunted 2009 draft was Stafford (hit), Pettigrew (miss as a first rd pick-but is an NFL player), Delmas (if he can't get on the field he's a miss), De'andre Levy (maybe-average) and Derrick Williams (Bust).
2010 Suh (hit) Jhavid Best (bust-and they knew about all his concussions when they took him-stupidity!!), Amari Spivey (miss)
2011 Fairley (looks to be solid), Titus Young (malcontent and they are paying him to stay away-they knew he had a poor attitude and still took him this high), Leshoure (looks like a back up for any average team but has to start for the Lions--use a 2nd round pick on a career back up)
2012 Riley Reiff-cannot beat Cherilous but yet they took him over Jenoris Jenkins and they sorely needed any DB let alone a quality DB, Ryan Broyles rehabbing ACL yet took in rd 2-woulda been there in the 3rd) Dwight Bentley now injured but was horrible when he did play.
Here is what is scary their draft philosophy in 2012 was to take the best available player regardless of Position. Reiff is better than Doug Martin, David Wilson, Donta Hightower??

I am not sure how to fix this team. Losing is just the dominant trait with this organization. Schwartz and Mayhew looked as if they were going to turn this this around and yet four years later this team is still horrible. Yes I know it will take time to repair the Millen damage but in 4 years they should have more talent, more wins and brighter looking future. The other problem is they could be losing a number of players to free agency/retirement: Avril, Delmas, Hanson, Houston, Levy, Cherilous, Corey Williams, Backus, Vanden Bosch.

[Judge Jude]

from the twitterverse:

Aaron Rodgers is the only NFC quarterback in the playoffs who has won a playoff game in his career.

No team in nine seasons has repeated as NFC East champ: Phil, NY, Phil, Dall, NY, Dall, Phil, NY, Wash.

[Gregg]

That Vikings-Packers game was excellent. AP is an absolute beast and, IMO, should be the MVP of the league.

I give the Vikings very little chance of winning next week at Lambeau, but it's nice to have a horse in the race come playoff time.

I hope the kick the livin snot out of the Packers.

[Moonlight J]

No team in nine seasons has repeated as NFC East champ: Phil, NY, Phil, Dall, NY, Dall, Phil, NY, Wash.

that's pretty amazing