Week 18

Another week, another seed for the playoffs, and a bit more drama.

The Bills lost a chance for a bye, and the Bengals game was never to be completed. The rule is to go with the percentage of games played, but they tweaked it, and they might get a neutral site versus Kansas City.  The Bills, after scuffling early, did beat the Patriots.

Jags won on Saturday. So, that left the Dolphins (on their third string) and the Steelers, who won. Helped by an early missed long FG and late by a dubious penalty, Dolphins did win 9-6. Oh well, toss in a safety at the end. 11-6. The Jets lose again. Geno Smith (Seattle) won in OT later.

The Giants rested, helping the Eagles. The Colts continued to be incompetent, giving up a 4th and 20 to Houston late, plus a two-point conversion.  This pissed off a few people since it meant the Texans lost their #1 pick.  The Texans seemed to try to lose.  They allowed the Colts to come back from a sizable deficit.  It took two 4th down plays in that drive to score.  And, they didn't play for OT.  Could have lost by one there.

[I saw a highlights video of that Texans game after writing this and that last TD was basically a Hail Mary 4th Down play from around the forty-yard line.  The team ultimately fired the head coach -- for whatever reason; it is unclear what more he could have done with a really flawed team -- but again, against most opponents, the Texans would have lost.]

The last week from Saturday to Sunday night had games of some import. Seattle eliminated Detroit tiebreaker-wise, but they also once put off as dead Packers still had a shot.  And, the Lions had a chance to eliminate the Packers, about as satisfying as getting a #7 seed to many.  It was a low-scoring game early with mistakes on both ends.  The winner in the end ... Detroit.

[A bit of a surprise that.  Detroit went ahead by four and you figured the Packers would score.  But, on 3rd and 10, with time to get the ball back, there was an interception.  Detroit marches.  It still came to a 4th and 1 deep in Green Bay territory with a little over a minute left.  A FG would mean a seven-point lead.  They went for it and made it.  Game over.]

The Giants will have a rematch with the Vikings.  The Giants lost on Christmas Eve via a 61-yard field goal at the buzzer.  Their back-ups still held down the Eagles, who had to win to get that #1 seed, to mostly field goals.  And, the Vikings are ready to turn into a pumpkin again, right?  So, why not?  The Giants basically had a good season already.  Time for gravy.

The Jets were a tease and then fell off a cliff.  To be continued.

ETA: To toss it in, after weeks of negotiating, the long contract of star Correa for the Mets turned out to be a no-go.  He got half as many years with the Twins.  In the end, it's a relief.