.png)
The NFL is pure mayhem as we enter the final three weeks of the regular season on the gridiron. The playoff hunt is givin' off a level of noise we haven't experienced in some time. Wild Card races are NUTS and the fight for the top playoff seeds is a straight up bloodbath. I get that grinch smile going when I think about the noise only becoming greater the more we flip the script. This regular season is setting up an epic playoff bracket... we hope.
This rundown is packed with headlines. I will run you through the Wild Card Mania updates; discuss Aaron Rodgers attempting to return this season; discuss the dumpster fire inside the Chargers camp; and more! Let's move those chains and get to it.
Thankfully I can cover NFL football again in a time that Brandon Staley isn't employed as a head coach in the league. The bad fumes are no longer in the air Chargers fans- you can breathe now. It's like a drought coming to an end. That first rain drop type stuff. Staley was that bad as he finishes his tenure in LA with a lackluster 24-24 record and zero playoff wins. Chargers did right and completely cleaned house firing Staley; GM Tom Telesco; and Defensive Run-Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Jay Rodgers.
Chargers' head of the table smartly named interim replacements to finish the season to give the correct amount of time to search for the best suitable replacements. LA named outside linebackers coach Giff Smith as the interim head coach and JoJo Wooden as interim general manager. The decision to go with Smith was perfect. Smith is a former player and connects well with the roster. His attitude is perfect for them to finish up the season and move on to the future. Look how good that has been for Vegas and Antonio Pierce. Finally some smart decisions being made inside the Chargers organization... crazy I know.
Keeping OC Kellen Moore and DC Derrick Ansley in their roles was the right decision, in my opinion. Moore is set to interview for head coaching jobs in the offseason; and would sure have been a better pick than Smith for the interim role to most people, but not to me nor the team. They don't want to experience losing 63-7 (final 63-21) again, changing up all these roles in WK-16 would have caused them to feel Déjà vu. Now the coordinators can actually do their jobs and call their side of the ball; something that Staley didn't allow which was why I screamed for his head to be at the gallow weeks ago. Lets give a small round of applause to the Chargers' DOFO John Spanos on making a good decision for a change. Lets see if they can follow suit by making the right replacement decisions in the off-season.
I really hope in a weeks time that I can sing the same praise to Aaron Rodgers that I did for Spranos. AR12... oh I mean AR8, was cleared for practice last week and is expected (CAP) to be medically cleared to return to game action in the coming week. Now I haven't spoken to Rodgers, but the "buzz" is he may be thinking about returning if he was magically cleared (won't be) to complete his incredibly fast comeback. I sternly ask him not to return this season. I know you don't really have much family, but that doesn't mean you can't think of something to do on Christmas Eve that DOESN'T include playing the Commanders in a basement game. People entertaining it; are weird.
Why would he come back this season? The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention and each week we see the offensive line damn near get the man under center killed. The cat has nothing to prove, his recovery is remarkable and deserving of major respect. Unfortunately the Jets have a terrible coaching staff that killed the chances the defense had made for his remarkable comeback to have a possible Cinderella ending. That won't happen, but that doesn't take away any of his hard work. It would be disgusting for him to come back and get hurt in a trash game with no purpose. I see how he is slingin' them laces, waiting some months won't take any time away from what he has left. Mangling your leg again will. I'm sure he will be smart on this. We will see you next year, cowboy. (PS.. I wrote this prior to his interview on Pat McAfee's show)
One more quick headline here before we dive into the playoff race and what went down in WK-15. How was that treat of the Saturday Showdown NFL triple-header!? Psssh it was a damn delight for me! I love everything about it, baby. Sure, the middle game and closer ended up being routes, but the thought is what matters. We had three games that each had major playoff implications on the line. Having NFL football transition into UFC 296 was a beautiful evening lemme tell ya. Do this more often, NFL... so we can see epic plays like Tee Higgins' stretch tuddy more often on our Saturdays:
video via NFL//X
For those of you not aware, the NFL is now given more flexibility to schedule on Satudays with the subsiding of College Football. They have had their hands tied since the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that prohibits the NFL from televising games within a certain vicinity of live college and high school games. Now that the College season is on break during the middle of December, the NFL can roll some Saturday matchups. All 32 teams having their bye weeks gave the league more spots to fill, which made this happen. Hopefully it becomes a yearly thing, I think WK-15 was the best scheduled weekend the league has put out. The banger between the Vikes and Bengals was a treat, and gave us an epic moment from Bengals QB Jake Browning, who is taking advantage of his newfound opportunity:
video via Bengals//X
The Jaguars and Eagles have handed down many opportunities for teams to take advantage of with their collpase atop the seeding in their respected conferences. Eagles have now lost three straight and look like an entirely different team. It's obvious they had a lot of false confidence. Losing their coordinators this season is now coming back to hurt them in full light as Nick Sirianni and co. have been exposed by the 49ers; Cowboys; and Seahawks. The lost last night in Seattle was a real tough pill for Philadelphia. Real tough.
Despite controlling most of the game, the Eagles found a way to blow it to the Seahawks in ugly fashion. Hats off to the Seahawks and Drew Lock for havin' the grit to win the game late, but the Eagles helped make things easier for them. Taking responsibilities away from DC Sean Desai and transfering them to Matt Patricia hasn't started off all too good. Patricia, like Desai, hardly sent blitz packages; allowing Drew Lock to find confidence by rippin' up James Bradberry in crunch time. The linebacker packages; positioning; and personel usage was horrible in the second half. I speak this time and time again: coordinator positions have a level of impact that will make or break a team's success. They are VITAL to have. For the Eagles organization, it has been one of the biggest themes to their 'chise in the past 20 years. They don't win their Super Bowl without stellar coordinator play, and they don't go to the Super Bowl last season without stellar coordinator play. I highly doubt they can turn their ship around and go on a Super Bowl run this season; not with Brian Johnson as OC and the mess on the otherside of the ball.
Coordinators make or break teams. Nick Sirianni doesn't know ball enough to attempt and run an offense or defense. Nor should he; so don't think I want him on a hot seat- by no means. Frankly, I can't name a head coach anymore that can run an offense or defense without coordinators. Bill Belichick was the only name; and that turned to dust. Head coaches nowadays are hired to run the system. Keep everything in-line and to have skill in clock management. They need coordinators to do the play-calling and player progression. In Philly, Brian Johnson is failing at that in a high degree.
Jalen Hurts has taken noticable steps back this season & no, you can't blame his "knee" or health bar. Hurts can't read a defense and his decision making is horrible. He is missing Shane Steichen badly. Brian Johnson's playcalling and poor coaching isn't helping Jalen's case; this has been a story of his football career, poor guy. I don't believe he has had the same offensive coordinator for 2+ years in a row in his entire football career. Coordinators make or break teams. We are seeing it in full view in Philadelphia. Doug Pederson falls right into that.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is feeling the same pain in Jacksonville; which is Déjà vu for the Super Bowl winnin' coach. Pederson was in the same boat in Philly that Sirianni is in- he too lost his best coordinator in Frank Reich which resulted in his career in Philly to go downhill and quick (hopefully that won't happen to Sirianni). Now, Pederson is seeing a major collapse by his Jaguars due to poor coordinator play along with other issues. Jacksonville is ridin' the same wave as the Eagles losin' three games in a row. Jags' have lost their lead atop the AFC South as they sit in a three-way record tie at 8-6 with the Colts and Texans. They do currently hold a tie breaker over them both as they are 2-0 versus the Colts and 1-1 versus the Texans. If the Jags keep losing the tie breaker means nothing.
The offense has to find a way to create diversity and HAS to find a way to not go AWOL against the toughest teams. 49ers and Ravens have each depleted the Jaguars' offense as they ran away with dubs. Trevor Lawrence being banged up and now in the concussion protol does not help their matters. Jacksonville travels 200 miles south to take on the fiesty Buccanneers next; who are in win or go home mode. Jags need to carry the same importance; they can't afford to lose. Press Taylor needs to orchestrate a game plan that will elevate this team to a win; not having Trevor Lawrence won't be a valued excuse with the Texans out there winnin' with Case freakin' Keenum and the Colts winnin' with their backup QB Gardner Minshew. There is no margin for error.
The collapses of the Eagles and Jaguars have opened doors for other teams to enter as the time is runnin' out to secure the top seeds. Baltimore and San Francisco still sit alone as the one seeds, but they have not clinched just yet. With three games left for all 32; this thing can turn bloody and quick. Here is how things currently look:
I don't exaggerate when I say this thing can get more bloody; especially the AFC. The Ravens are the only AFC squad to clinch a playoff berth as we enter WK-16 compared to the NFC that has seen the 49ers; Cowboys; and Eagles clinch. 49ers are the only team to have clinched their division. The NFC has a pure war in the South and the AFC can see a twister flip the whole landscape. We can see the Dolphins collapse for the Bills takin'; the Jaguars come in third place in the AFC South; or even the Browns STEAL the AFC North from under the Ravens. So much can happen; this is pure mayhem!
Cowboys; Lions; and the by the needle Eagles are still in the runnin' for the one seed in the NFC as they beg the Ravens to beat the 49ers on Monday Night Football this week and the Rams to beat the Niners in the season closer. The odds for the one seed in order: 49ers; Cowboys; Eagles; and Lions. San Francisco would need to lose those games against Baltimore and LA in order to lose the one seed. Dallas needs to win-out and have the 49ers lose at least 2 of their last 3. Philly needs to win-out and have both the Niners and Cowboys lose 2 of 3. Lastly, Detroit needs to win-out and have the Niners lose 2 of 3 and the Eagles to lose at least 1 of their remaining games (Lions still have to play Dallas).
Cowboys play the Dolphins and Lions next while the Niners have to play the AFC's one seed Ravens and a fiery Rams team who wants the playoffs bad... ALOT can still happen at the top of the NFC folks. We can still see a huge shuffle. I won't be quick to bet on a 49ers collpase in the final three weeks, but ya never know! All I know is that the race for the top seeds is going to bring the noise. BOTH races will bring the noise.
AFC is hot on the stove. Baltimore sits with some seperation atop the pack as they have an advantage with the best record (11-3); strength-of-victory; and strength-of-schedule over the Chiefs and Dolphins, but playin' the 49ers and Fins back-to-back makes things very interesting atop the AFC seeding. Miami takes the one seed if they beat the Ravens and win-out. Defending champion KC takes the one if they win-out; Fins lose at least one game; and if the Ravens lose 2 of their last 3. All those scenarios can happen. We are in for one helluva ride.
Both the Ravens and Dolphins' next two games are must-watch TV, baby. The football gods have the playoff picture workin' out to perfection and they even give us a Christmas Day present with the Ravens takin' on the Niners. NFL fans are happy campers as we are amped to see the top squads make up the top seeds for the playoffs. We get even more excited over the mayhem across the Wild Card races.
The AFC chase is bonkers; straight up off the wall bonkers. Backup QBs makin' headwaves. Bills hittin' the Undertaker get up. 12 teams still in playoff contention. Just bonkers. Considering the Browns' remaining schedule- ALL three Wild Card spots are up in the air for the taking. We have seven squads dukin' it out in full on warfare for the spots. Four of them play against each other in WK-16 & six of them square off against each other in WK-18. Ugh, such good stuff.
This week we have the 9-life Bengals takin' on the Steelers & the Browns takin' on the Texans. Joe Flacco vs Case Keenum... in 2023! How can you not dig this. We have reached the point of the season that anything can happen. I can't even find justice in makin' predictions; I am just along for the ride! Pure Wild Card Mania- the same noise is ringin' out of the NFC.
Seahawks beatin' the Eagles just made the NFC race even more exciting. Just like the AFC, there is 12 teams still in playoff contention with 8 of them fightin' for the final Wild Card spots (Dallas & Philly clinched). The Vikings; Rams; Seahawks; and Saints all sit at 7-7 as the final two Wild Cards are deadlocked. We have a banger of a TNF this week as the Rams and Saints look to battle for that needed 8. Vikings go survival mode as they try and use their rival Lions as a beacon to the playoffs. This is going to be bloody when it's all set and done.
For those 7-7 squads & the 6-8 Packers; record means nothing. It's win or go home mode. You have three games to prove you deserve a crack at the playoffs. Fans rejoice, we should see some hungry teams collide to create some major comp'. How will the races look come this time next week? We soon are to find out.
My power rankings couldn't make the cut on this piece, we had some more important business. I will throw them up on X for your view. Right now all the attention is on the playoff picture and the final three weeks of action. PRs don't hold weight to that! I am beyond pumped for the games this week. A holiday storm of football; football; and MORE football. RUN IT UP!
Follow our Socials and my personal Twitter:
Twitter: @SpittinCap & @djp_spittincap
IG: @spittin_cap
Make sure to click the heart and leave a like... share for others to read
Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.
Comentarios