OT: NFL Week 18 Open Thread
As unnecessary as this week and the #7 seed in each conference are, the beat goes on. Some big games today:
Titans vs. Texans: Vrabs and TEN can lock down the top seed in the AFC or open the door for the Chiefs or Bengals to snatch it away.
Colts vs. Jags: Big Ben's career hangs in the balance. Likely his last game today if Indy can win in Duval.
Rams vs. 49ers: seeding implications apply here. Jimmy G is rumored to be suiting up.
Raiders vs. Chargers on SNF: Win or go home. What a job by LV to deal with all the drama this year to stay in the playoff picture.
Packers vs. Lions: Jordan Love is about to throw for 400 yards in this game. Go Pack Go!
NFC North might be replacing half of its coaches after today. That's some tasty Schadenfreude.
Good luck all!
January 9th, 2022 at 12:31 PM ^
The body of this OP is a better summary of which games are interesting this week than any articles I've been able to find from ESPN or the other big sports publications, thank you.
January 9th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Fuck the packers
January 9th, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
I'd like to see one of the Lions perform a clean teeth-rattling, bone jarring hit on Rodgers. Don't want to see anyone injured, just a little payback from all of the hurt he has induced over the years. Call it a "Physical Fuck You".
January 9th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
So now Denver and Chicago are in play along with Vegas and Jax.
January 9th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
Thank You for bumping that thread off the top of the board.
January 9th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
Hoping TJ takes down Strahan’s record today.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
*Gastineau's record. That Favre crap shouldn't count.
January 9th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
Balas new information, says all options still on table for Harbaugh. Won't post the entirety, but here is a snippet...
"The fact is, this is and always has been real, and will remain that way until he signs. We still believe he stays, based on what has been said. We do know Harbaugh would love more progress on the N.I.L. stuff. What he'd really like ... well, they probably aren't that close. And where they are now is not an equalizer with those like Texas A&M, etc."
IMO, the best thing that can happen is for the Raiders to win tonight.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Not good. I also saw Jay Glazer (who by the way has a very spazzy way of making hand gestures) in the FOX pregame said that Jim has been reaching out to potential assistant coaches, gaging interest should he jump to the NFL. Smoke=fire.
January 9th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Cooper Kupp can break two receiving records today (although there are now 17 games vs 16 when the records were set):
Kupp is 11 catches away from equaling Michael Thomas' remarkable 149-reception campaign back in 2019 with the New Orleans Saints. Kupp also needs 135 receiving yards to tie Calvin Johnson's single-season record of 1,964 yards set in 2012.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^
So if Kupp breaks Calvin's record, Matthew Stafford has thrown the two best receiving seasons in history. Wow!
January 9th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
Marvin Jones Jr with his first catch today. Needs 3 more for a $500K bonus.
EDIT: Another third down conversion for Jones. 2 catches away!
January 9th, 2022 at 1:18 PM ^
I'm a fan of both the Browns and the Bengals (yeah...), so this season has been a mixed bag. I'm wondering: can the Bengals win their first playoff game since I was in HIGH SCHOOL? Remains to be seen.
Today's epic "Battle of Ohio" is shaping up to be a rock fight, by the way.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
Also, go Jaguars and Packers so the Lions can capture the 1st pick in the draft.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Jaguars are kicking the Colts' butt. 23-3 end of 3Q.
Lions are playing for their paychecks, careers, and respekt, not for the first pick. They may lose, the Packers are playing their backups, but it's going to be close.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
Chris Evans is at least getting a bit more work today for Cincinnati -- still, not very much. Cincinnati basically didn't use him this season.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
Raiders vs Chargers: winner gets in, HOWEVER a tie and they are both in. Sounds like a game who can kneel the most and everyone is a winner!
January 9th, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
I would give anything to see a SNF broadcast of 872 consecutive kneeldowns.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
Colts loss and Steelers loss puts Raiders in, also.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
Dan Campbell bringing the trickeration today.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
I just discovered NFL Red Zone this year. It's a very good way to watch Sunday games. They flip back and forth to show practically all of the red zone plays from all games, and in between those they rapidly cut to show the best action from whatever game is interesting. VERY FEW commercials, if any. And you get to skip much of the commentating and boring time in between plays if you watch a full game.
At first I didn't realize that I had the channel, but if you get NFL Network you should get Red Zone.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
Once you go Red Zone, you won't ever go back.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
And there's the moneymaker for MJJ!
January 9th, 2022 at 2:24 PM ^
I'm watching the Giants game just to see how bad it gets and how much detest the few in attendance show.
Without the help of the NFL, the Mara's might be the worst owners in the NFL. I don't think this shit show has hit rock bottom yet, either.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Lions just having fun out there. I think Campbell has his flaws as an HC but he does seem to, for lack of a better word, give a shit about trying to win football games however he can, which is more than could be said for various other recent HCs of the Lions.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
Go Bills! Go!
January 9th, 2022 at 2:55 PM ^
Michigan should’ve let AJ Dillon play running back.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:07 PM ^
Go Niners!!! Our playoffs start today!
January 9th, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
Raiders clinch playoff berth with:
1. Raiders win OR
2. Raiders tie + Colts loss OR
3. Colts loss + Steelers loss or tie
January 9th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
Lions win!
January 9th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
....and LOSE the #1 pick, totally lie-downs thing to do as they have a long history of winning meaningless games late in the season just to worsen their draft status.
But just you wait, Shelia will be up there talking about:
- how great a win this is,
- building character,
- will give them momentum for next season,
- Dan Campbell is building something special here, and
- BTW, season ticker prices are increasing 10%.
Jags PLEASE pick Aidan #1, don't let him fall to the lie-downs!
January 9th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
Congrats to the Lions on taking a huge L by winning
January 9th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
Pretty funny that the Lions managed to screw themselves out of #1 overall in spite of the Jags trying their utmost to do the same thing. It's almost like the Lions saying "hold on guys, NO-ONE is better at screwing themselves than the Lions okay".
January 9th, 2022 at 5:01 PM ^
Lolcats gonna lolcat.
January 9th, 2022 at 5:10 PM ^
Not getting the first pick is meaningless this season.
Flip a coin between Hutchinson or Thib. No one is trading up this year to #1 or #2- there are no transformational QBs or players. Both of those guys are great, but I don't see them being elite players.
The Jags may be taking a tackle regardless, so the Lions may have their pick of those two.
It's really not a big deal. In the past, I'd be pissed. This year? Nah- it really doesn't matter.
Yes, it is a small bummer that they slide down a pick each round, but for this team, it's really not about where they pick- there have been SO many years they've had top picks and botched them. They just need to get the right guy at each spot. I wouldn't even be mad if they were picking 10th- just get it right.
January 9th, 2022 at 5:54 PM ^
How dare you use logic here...LOL lions...I am a big lions fan, but as I am middle-aged now, I am almost impressed by all the different ways they (and the refs) fuck them(selves). Oddly enough, they may be a decent team sometime within the next 24 months.
Hope is a dangerous thing
January 9th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Trust me, I'm incredibly apathetic towards them at my age. I'll be back into it when they win a playoff game.
But I'm too old to get angry over silly things. If there was a transformational QB in this draft, yeah, I'd be saying SOL. But it's honestly such a small gripe this draft.
January 9th, 2022 at 7:39 PM ^
Ambry Thomas sends the 49ers toy playoffs!!
January 9th, 2022 at 7:40 PM ^
Ambry Thomas seals the dub with an INT, sending the Niners to the playoffs!
January 9th, 2022 at 8:56 PM ^
What’s everyone’s Raiders rooting interest relative to Harbaugh, and if their playoff outcome impacts his decision?
If the Raiders win they are in the wild card and I could see us being kept in the dark another week as they wouldn’t want to announce a new coach before end of season - maybe they even keep their interim coach?
if they lose their season is over but probably more of a push to get new blood and a new coach. But it’d probably guarantee us a resolution quicker as Michigan fans
all that being said I’m rooting for LV for now
January 9th, 2022 at 11:49 PM ^
Wow. Chargers drove 83 yds to tie it up. Going to OT, Raiders win the toss, will receive..
January 10th, 2022 at 12:16 AM ^
The tie was in play, but Raiders kick their 2nd FG of OT to win.