A new year begins, but the regular season of the National Football League is still nearing its end.
Winners
Lamar earns the title of MVP of Major League Soccer, and the Outlaws are the best in Major League Soccer (and perhaps in the National Football League).
The best team in Major League Soccer, the Outlaws, shines at the right time, destroying two of the best teams in the National Football League in consecutive weeks while showcasing all the components needed to win the Super Bowl. Baltimore (13-3) has a strong and completely suppressive defense as the Outlaws dismantled the Dolphins, teams with the highest speed in the National Football League (excluding the Outlaws). Baltimore has an experienced coaching staff that tailors its plans to fit its players. They also have the MVP of the National Football League. The Outlaws are the first team in the history of the National Football League to win two consecutive regular season games by a margin of 10 points against teams that achieved 11 victories.
Miami’s decline is Buffalo’s gain
The Dolphins (11-5) lost two of their last four games and four of the last ten, opening the door for the Buffalo Bills (10-6) to slide in and win the AFC East, despite a 6-6 start to the season. Miami suddenly faces a host of injuries and poor execution on short-distance attempts and third-down conversions – they have only converted 22 of 56 (39.3%) attempts in their last four games – and a defense that has been completely dismantled by the Outlaws. The Dolphins have held the top spot in the AFC East every week this season except one, after being defeated by the Bills in Week 4. Miami has owned the division all season, but the Bills will have a chance to win the division in the final week.
The Packers take control
Green Bay (8-8) capitalized on several breakdowns in the Minnesota Vikings’ secondary to achieve a decisive 33-10 victory, and now the Packers control their playoff destiny. If they win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon, they will be in the playoffs thanks to the Seattle Seahawks’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenny Love (24 of 33 passes for 256 yards and four total touchdowns) was stellar, distributing the ball well to receivers who found openings. The defense, even in the absence of starting corners Eric Stokes (thigh) and Jaire Alexander (suspension) for the game, restricted Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and thwarted both Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens. This is a young team that has had a solid and productive campaign – albeit inconsistent. They may be unlikely to make a significant playoff run, but this is exactly the type of experience that could prepare the Packers for the future.
Chaos in the AFC South
This division is often ridiculed for having weaker teams, but the AFC South has a chance to provide American football fans with a beautifully chaotic finish in Week 18. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans all have the same record (9-7). Jacksonville is currently in the lead, with the Colts in the last wildcard spot and the Texans outside the playoff picture in eighth place. The Texans travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Saturday; the winner of that game secures a playoff spot. However, if Jacksonville loses somehow against the Titans, the winner of the Houston-Indianapolis game will claim the division title. In any case, the Texans-Colts game will be filled with the drama and high tension we love in sports. The AFC schedule deserves credit for giving it a standalone time slot on Saturday evening. It adds more pressure on Jacksonville on Sunday.
Losers
It was
The Eagles are indeed in the playoffs, yes, but they are in deep trouble.
Philadelphia (11-5) has lost four of its last five games, the latest being a surprising defeat by a score of 35-31 against a Cardinals team that was rebuilding. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in the previous two seasons, so he is well-acquainted with Philadelphia’s processes. However, Sunday’s loss was evidence of more systemic issues affecting the Eagles. First, the defense was exploited, especially on the ground, where the Cardinals rushed for 221 yards against the Eagles. In fact, in their last seven games, the Eagles have not prevented any opponent from reaching less than 100 rushing yards once and allowed an average of 150.3 rushing yards during that span. The Eagles turned the ball over 11 times in their last seven games. They came into week 17 with a one-game lead in the NFC East. Now, if both the Cowboys (11-5) and the Eagles win their final games, Dallas will be the winner of the NFC East.
The Seahawks are conceding, perhaps irreparably.
Seattle’s mission was simple: win and qualify. But the Steelers ran all over the Seahawks, rushing for 202 yards, leaving the Seahawks (8-8) on the fringes of the playoff picture in the NFL. Now, Seattle must win the final game against the Cardinals and hope that the Packers lose to the Bears (7-9). Seattle’s aerial attack has not been as productive or explosive as it was last season, but the ground game has been the biggest disappointment. They have lost carries, have been unable to extend drives, and have allowed explosive passes in the game. Frankly, this doesn’t come as a major surprise. They have lost six of their last nine games. The average margin of victory in the four games they have won since week 8 is 3.25 points per game. Their reliance on turnovers and narrow margin for error has been unsustainable. Now, they are almost certainly not going to qualify for the playoffs.
Kenny Pickett
This is a simple fact: the Steelers’ offense is better with Mason Rudolph starting. Kenny Pickett, the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has missed the last four games due to an ankle injury. Mitchell Trubisky stumbled in his time as Pickett’s replacement, but Rudolph has shined. The Steelers (9-7) have won both games that Rudolph started. The downfield passing game, particularly for athletic receiver George Pickens, has flourished. While the ground game has been the key factor, Pittsburgh’s total yards on Sunday against the Seahawks, 468, was the team’s highest total of the season. The total points in the last two games, 34 and 30, also represent the highest totals of the season. The previous was in week 2, with 26 points against the Cleveland Browns. With slim playoff hopes—Pittsburgh needs to win against the Ravens and for the Jaguars to lose—there is no reason for Pickett to play over Rudolph, even if he is fully healthy.
The Bucs, once again, freeze at home.
First and foremost, Tampa Bay (8-8) still has an inside shot at winning the NFC South title. All they need to do is win against the 2-14 Carolina Panthers next week, and the Bucs will host a playoff game. This might be a problem. With the chance to win the division at stake, Tampa Bay has fallen to 4-4 this season at Raymond James Stadium, this time against a St. Louis team that has been inconsistent all season. Bowles stated that the Bucs would have lost to any team today, whether they were playing against an NFL team, a college team, or a high school team. He said the coaches and players have messed things up. However, if the Bucs lose—who are 1-6 this season against teams currently above .500—next week, the winner of the Saints-Falcons game will take the division. But even if the Bucs win the NFC South crown for the third straight time, there are issues. Tampa Bay’s ground game, as it has been all season, rushed for only 57 yards on 15 carries against the Saints. Baker Mayfield and the offense did not make a single trip inside the red zone. These are the qualities of a team unprepared for playoff participation.
Source:
https://www.aol.com/nfl-week-17-winners-losers-111206623.html
Leave a Reply