We are down to the final week of the NFL regular season. Nine of the 14 playoff teams have been determined with some seeding yet to be decided. Kansas City got off the schneid this week, while Philadelphia hopped back on. Baltimore followed up last week’s statement game with another big one. However, the biggest statement of the weekend came from a person wearing a black and white striped uniform in Dallas on Saturday night.
Detroit Beats Dallas, But Refs Say “Not on Our Watch”
There have been some bad referee calls over the years. Yes, depending on what team you are cheering for, there are bad calls every game, but every once in awhile we get a call that is truly embarrassing to the sport of football. One of those calls took place on Saturday evening in the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys game.
With Dallas leading 20-13, Amon-Ra St. Brown scored on a touchdown pass from Jared Goff with 23 seconds remaining to cap off a 75 yard play drive. With Detroit holding an 11-4 record and sitting third place in the NFC and only having the ability to move up in the standings, Lions coach Dan Campbell elected for his team to attempt a two point conversion and go for the win.
On the initial attempt Goff made a successful conversion throw to longtime offensive lineman Taylor Decker, but a delayed flag was thrown to call the play back. Head referee Brad Allen reported that Decker did not declare himself a receiver prior to the play.
Further investigation of the game tape showed that Goff had sent Decker to Allen prior to the play with another offensive lineman (as a means to confuse Dallas) which would’ve been awfully strange to do unless Decker was reporting, leading many to believe that Allen didn’t realize Decker was declaring or that he himself became confused by the two lineman coming up to him.
After a failed attempt that was then declared a penalty on Dallas, Detroit attempt the two point conversion again before failing on a short throw by Goff. The 20-19 loss likely looks Detroit into the third overall seed in the NFC, while Dallas ends up as the current second seed and NFC East leaders.
Despite some streaks of sloppy play, the game had a feel of an NFC playoff game and one that we could see a rematch of in just a few short weeks. The possession time was nearly dead even and the total offense by the two teams was 420 for Detroit and 384 for Dallas.
Dallas saw a majority of their offense continue to come on the back so of the Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb connections. 227 yards of Dak Prescott’s 345 yards passing were through the play of Lamb, who has established himself as one of the NFL’s true elite receivers. Prescott threw two touchdowns, one of which was to Lamb on a 92 yard pass.
Detroit saw a more balanced attacked with three receivers catching more than 60 yards off the passes from Goff. David Montgomery and Jahmyr continued to pace a Lions rushing game that posted 125 yards again the Dallas defense.
As good as the game was, unfortunately the story of this game will always be the game deciding penalty and a lost opportunity by Detroit to have a chance to host at least two playoff games. If the football gods are fair, they will allow these two teams to run it back in an NFC Divisional Round playoff game when the season is really on the line.
Baltimore Emphatically Clinches Playoff Bye
As if there was any doubt that the Baltimore Ravens are playing the best football in the NFL after their dominating win in San Francisco last week, the Ravens erased any argument by following that up with a 56-19 win over Miami this weekend.
The matchup between the Ravens and Dolphins featured the two teams in the AFC with the best records and a top seed in the AFC on the line. Even without Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins made the first half competitive to the tune of a 14-13 deficit with 3:10 left in the 1st half. That small deficit got large quickly though as Lamar Jackson closed the half with two passing touchdowns to increase the Ravens lead to 28-13. Baltimore would never look back.
According to most, Lamar Jackson took the MVP award lead after the San Francisco win, but his performance Sunday may have just locked that award up to be given to Jackson for a second time. It was Jackson’s most dominant game of the season, connecting on 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards, and five touchdowns without an interception. Jackson sprinkled in a modest 35 rushing yards as well.
Along with a likely MVP award, Baltimore also clinched the first overall seed and a bye in the AFC. The team that has been the most consistent the whole season now appears to also be playing dominant football at the right time. The Ravens looks like strong favorites to raise the Lombardi Trophy at season end.
Miami still sits in the second seed, but will have to defeat Buffalo this Sunday just to win the AFC East. A loss to lose the division and a home playoff game will be devastating in a season that saw Miami near the top of the AFC standings all season long. The Dolphins finally earned a big win over a good team in Week 16 when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys, but the way they lost to Baltimore is a disappointing follow up. Miami looks like world beaters against mediocre to bad teams, but it’s hard not to be concerned about their ability to win games against any teams in or around the playoff picture.
Philadelphia’s Poor Stretch Continues with Home Loss to Arizona
The Philadelphia Eagles opened the season with a 10-1 record and it looked like they were destined for another NFC Championship Game with the San Francisco 49ers. Four losses in the next five games now has Philadelphia searching for answers. The most recent loss at home to Arizona by a score of 35-31 is the most concerning of the season.
Despite recent weeks of poor play, no one expected the defending NFC Champions to slip up to an Arizona team that is likely to have a top five draft pick. A 21-6 score at halftime also made it look like the Cardinals would pose no problem, however, that disappeared quickly into the second half as the Cardinals tied the game up at 21 by the end of the third quarter.
In a fourth quarter that saw Arizona first year coach Jonathon Gannon take some gutsy game decisions against his former team, both teams traded touchdowns. Philadelphia eventually took a three point lead with 2:30 to go after a Jake Elliott field goal.
Against a Philadelphia defense that looks more and more suspect week after week, Kyler Murray helped lead the Cardinals offense down the field before James Conner scored his second touchdown of the game with just 32 seconds left for the final score of the game.
After reclaiming the NFC East lead last weekend, the Eagles have quickly lost it once again with a Dallas win. The Eagles sit in the top wild card spot with one week left to play, but currently don’t look like they will get a home game in one of the strongest home field advantages any NFL team has to offer. Philadelphia has gone from one of the two heavy favorites in the NFC to being a very erratic team at the wrong time upon entering the playoffs. It’s hard to say they should even be favorites in a Wild Card road game against the NFC South champ if that’s what happens.
The other concern that doesn’t seem to be discussed as much is what seems like major limitations to Jalen Hurts as a passer. Even though Hurts had three touchdown passes, he only connected for 167 yards passing and was outplayed by Kyler Murray when the game got tight. Hurts has 23 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and although he has 15 rushing touchdowns, most of those are by short yard “Brotherly Shoves”. Undoubtedly an elite weapon in an offense, it seems appropriate to question Hurts ability to throw the Eagles back into a game.
Week 18 Game Watchability Rankings
16. Jets vs Patriots: One of two games that features two teams that know they won’t be in the postseason entering the weekend. Skip it.
15. Broncos vs Raiders: The second of two games that features two teams that know they won’t be in the postseason entering the weekend. Denver and Las Vegas are better than the Jets and Pats, but still…skip it.
14. Buccaneers vs Panthers: This game is not worth watching, but the reason to watch it would be very simple: Tampa Bay wins and they win the NFC South. The Bucs didn’t do themselves any favors by getting beat at home by New Orleans, but fortunately for them they get one more chance by playing the worst team in the NFL. With no first overall pick next year, this really is Carolina’s Super Bowl. The Panthers have an opportunity to be the postseason berth eliminator to a divisional foe. If Tampa Bay intends to be taken seriously at all, this is a game that should and needs to be won.
13. Vikings vs Lions: Minnesota is technically still alive in the playoff race, but the reality is they would need to earn a road win against a Detroit team that was just robbed of victory and is playing for the NFC’s second seed. Oh, and the Lions just beat the Vikings in Minneapolis two weeks ago. This one could get ugly really quickly. Once the Lions are done playing with their food, they will look forward to a postseason home playoff game. Minnesota will enter a big offseason in which they need to sign Justin Jefferson and decide what to do at the quarterback position.
12. Falcons vs Saints: The NFC South is the lest impressive of all NFL divisions this season, but still finds three teams that are still alive. Atlanta vs New Orleans features the two teams in the South that are least likely to join the postseason party, but the loser of this game will be mathematically eliminated. New Orleans needs a win and either a Tampa Bay loss or a Seattle AND Green Bay loss. Atlanta needs to win this game and have Carolina defeat Tampa Bay. A true playoff eliminator match for two teams that will almost certainly be eliminated anyways.
11. Chiefs vs Chargers: Kansas City finally got back on track this week with a win over Cincinnati. The Chiefs still have a long way to go before they will build confidence around football fans that this team is anywhere near close to the teams of the past couple of seasons. This game against Los Angeles is more of a tune up before the playoffs. Kansas City is most likely locked into the three seed. A convincing win for Kansas City might be needed before they enter their most intriguing postseason in their Super Bowl window.
10. Eagles vs Giants: This game between Philadelphia and New York isn’t necessarily a great game, but it’s more fascinating just to see how Philadelphia will respond to their choke job home loss to Arizona. Barring a Dallas loss to Washington, Philadelphia is locked into the top wild card spot and will be playing the NFC South champion. That game would’ve seemed like an automatic road win for the Eagles, but they need a confidence boosting win in New York.
9. Cowboys vs Commanders: Dallas may have gotten away with a highway robbery thanks to some very poor refereeing, but the Cowboys now hold have an opportunity to win the NFC East and claim the second seed in the NFC with a road win in Washington. This will likely be Ron Rivera’s finally game as the coach of Washington so a win over Dallas would be an ideal way to close his tenure in Washington and quite possibly his career as a head coach in the NFL.
8. Seahawks vs Cardinals: Seattle is involved in a race of the final NFC Wild Card berth with a multitude of teams, but their path is pretty clear. The Seahawks need to beat an Arizona team that just won on the road in Philadelphia and the Green Bay Packers need to lose at home against Chicago. Seattle defeated Arizona earlier in the season by 10 points, but the Cardinals have been frisky since Kyler Murray has returned. Wins over Philadelphia and Seattle wouldn’t be a bad way to close Jonathon Gannon’s first season as head coach of Arizona.
7. Bears vs Packers: With Jordan Love’s performance and Green Bay win over Minnesota, the Packers sit in the final wild card place in the NFC. One home win over Chicago, a team Green Bay has dominated over the past ten years, is all the Packers need. The problem? This Chicago team has been playing quite well lately and is much more improved than the team they saw in Week One. Chicago would love nothing more than to potentially deliver Green Bay a season ending loss to close this season’s version of the NFL’s longest rivalry. A sneaking intriguing game in the NFL’s final regular season weekend.
6. Browns vs Bengals: No playoff ramifications with this game as Cincinnati has been eliminated and Cleveland is locked into the top wild card spot. Joe Flacco has put more hope in Cleveland than we’ve seen in years. The Ohio rivalry will have this weekend, but Cleveland won’t be able to contain itself for a home playoff game against whichever AFC South team decides to win their division. The Browns look like one of the NFL’s hottest teams entering the postseason.
5. Jaguars vs Titans: A rematch of last season’s “winner takes the AFC South” matchup, but this year Tennessee is already eliminated. Instead, the Titans will look to deliver Jacksonville a loss and play spoiler for their goal of becoming division champs for the second straight year. Although the Jaguars haven’t played great football over the last couple months, they did enough in the earlier part of the season to earn a “win and in”. Even with a loss, Jacksonville can still clinch a wild card spot, but just beating a below average Tennessee team would be the easier option.
4. Steelers vs Ravens: Baltimore is locked in to the top AFC seed and looks as good as they have all year, but will they sit players for two straight weeks? Pittsburgh may be hoping so as they need to win this game to have any chance at touching the playoffs. Pittsburgh needs a win and a loss from either Jacksonville or Buffalo. Not entirely impossible for the Steelers, but winning their game against the best team in the NFL might be the toughest component to a postseason berth.
3. Rams vs 49ers: It’s hard to know whether San Francisco will play their starters in this game now that they have clinched the top seed and a bye in the NFC playoffs. Los Angeles has clinched their playoff berth in a season that has had ups and downs, but finds the Rams playing good football at the end of the season. Will the Rams win and hold off a number of teams battling for a final NFC playoff spot or will they lose and fall to the NFC’s last seed.
2. Texans vs Colts: Saturday Night’s primetime game is a true “win and in” game for these AFC South rivals. Indianapolis won a 31-20 game in Houston back in Week Two, but both of these teams have gone from teams expecting to be looking towards the draft at the end of the season to being a legitimate tough out for any team in the NFL. C.J. Stroud will get his first big moment to lead a team into the playoffs in his very first season. With a Jacksonville loss, the winner would also become AFC South champions. No matter what though, the loser of this game will not be playing past Week 18.
1. Bills vs Dolphins: The best game of the week is the Sunday Night Football regular season finale between Buffalo and Miami. This is the game to the determine the AFC East winner and a wild card home game. The loser will likely be heading to Kansas City for their first round game or in Buffalo’s case, maybe even out of the playoffs. Buffalo dominated the early season matchup between these two teams, 48-20. Miami has had a lack of marquee wins against good teams despite their impressive record and after getting blow out by Baltimore, this might be a good time to find one of those wins.
The Brewball NFL Power Rankings
- Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
- Buffalo Bills (10-6)
- Miami Dolphins (11-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
- Detroit Lions (11-5)
- Cleveland Browns (11-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
- Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
- Houston Texans (9-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
- Denver Broncos (8-8)
- New Orleans Saints (8-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
- Green Bay Packers (8-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
- Chicago Bears (7-9)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
- New York Jets (6-10)
- Tennessee Titans (5-11)
- New York Giants (5-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
- New England Patriots (4-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-12)
- Carolina Panthers (2-14)