NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I would have given Davis a fine and no games, following what little bit of consistency there is. Gronk should have been gone until the playoffs, 4 games.

 

B0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #wutAboutGronk?

 

The league didn't want to have a marquee player sit out the game of the year. It's so obvious.

 

Trump learned from the best, the NFL. Just push forward and refuse to shake things up or give up any power.

I will refrain from any more political comments here.

 

When it comes to dishing out punishment, reputation shouldn't even be a factor... a penalty is a penalty regardless of who the perp is. Double standards shouldn't exist, but they certainly do.

 

Reputation should only be a factor when giving the benefit of a doubt on intent. Gronk had no history but he admitted he got hot-headed and went to hurt him on purpose. That should be enough. Then he had the gall to appeal a 1-game suspension after he admitted to it.

Gronk may be the biggest douche in the league. He may do charitable things and not be a Burfict type serial offender but his arrogance and completely ignorant comments, his sense of entitlement when it comes to football for him and his team... holy crap are we sure he was a Bills fan and not a Pats millennial?

 

Falcons survive tying field goal try in 24-21 victory over Buccaneers

Patrick Murray‘s 54-yard field goal try sailed wide right as time expired as the Atlanta Falcons held on for a 24-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

A sack of Matt Ryan by Buccaneers defensive tackle Clinton McDonald enabled Tampa Bay to get the ball back with one minute remaining. Jameis Winston completed three passes to move the Buccaneers into range for a tying field goal try only to have the attempt just slice outside the right upright.

Devonta Freeman rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and converted a pivotal third down on Atlanta’s final possession. He also led the team in receiving with five catches for 68 yards.

Freeman’s big night was part of 201 rushing yards racked up by the Atlanta offense against a Buccaneers defense that lost several players to injury throughout the night. Ten Buccaneers in total were announced with injuries at some point during the night.

 

The Detroit Lions probably could have used that kick...

 

NFC Playoff Picture...

LEADERS
1. Eagles (12-2): They clinched a bye and can wrap up the top spot by beating the Raiders this week.

2. Vikings (11-3): A division championship is guaranteed and a bye is a win away.

3. Rams (10-4): Sunday’s slaughter of the Seahawks felt like a passing of the torch, but the NFC West hasn’t been clinched yet.

4. Saints (10-4): Beat the Falcons and the division title is theirs to enjoy.

5. Panthers (10-4): They need help from the Falcons before beating the Falcons to move up from Wild Card position.

6. Falcons (9-5): Monday night’s win was a big help to the defending NFC champions as they try to return to the postseason.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

7. Lions (8-6): They have the tiebreaker edge on the 8-6 teams, but a loss to the Falcons may make that moot.

8. Seahawks (8-6): Losing to the Rams felt like a changing of the guard and a loss to the Cowboys this weekend will make it official.

9. Cowboys (8-6): They remained Ezekiel Elliott‘s return, but just winning out isn’t enough for the Cowboys.

10. Packers (7-7): There will be no fairy tale ending for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

11. Redskins (6-8): They held off the Cardinals, but it’s too little too late.

12. Cardinals (6-8): Finishing with a .500 record is the only upside left in Arizona.

13. Buccaneers (4-10): Did Monday’s loss push them closer to a coaching change?

14. 49ers (4-10): Thanks to Jimmy Garoppolo, the Niners are feeling better about being a four-win team than most in recent memory.

15. Bears (4-10): Mitch Trubisky’s future looks good, but those four wins don’t feel so good in Chicago.

16. Giants (2-12): Their offense showed up against the Eagles, so the defense and special teams did their part to make sure the Giants keep losing.

 

And Dallas.

 

13 of this week’s 16 games have playoff implications

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH TEAMS
Rams at Titans: The Rams can clinch the NFC West with a win. The Titans would win the AFC South with two wins and a Jaguars loss on Sunday.

Dolphins at Chiefs: The Dolphins have very slim playoff hopes, which rest on winning out and getting a lot of help. The Chiefs clinch the AFC West with a win.

Bills at Patriots: The Patriots control their own destiny for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Bills are still fighting for a wild card and will have a great chance if they can upset the Patriots.

Falcons at Saints: The winner of this game clinches a playoff berth. The loser will still have a good chance of making the postseason.

Seahawks at Cowboys: The loser of this game is eliminated from playoff contention. The winner still has a chance, but will need help.

Raiders at Eagles (Monday): Right now this game has implications for both teams, but it might be meaningless before kickoff. The Eagles would clinch home-field advantage with either one more win or a Vikings loss. The 6-8 Raiders’ very slim playoff hopes hinge on winning out and getting a whole lot of help, including the 8-6 Chargers, 8-6 Bills and 8-6 Titans all losing out. If any of those teams win on Sunday, the Raiders are out of it.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS FOR ONE TEAM
Colts at Ravens (Saturday): At the moment the Ravens are the AFC No. 7 seed, but if they win out they’ll be a wild card team. The Colts are out of it.

Vikings at Packers (Saturday): The Vikings have clinched the NFC North but are still fighting for a first-round bye and a chance at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs — which for the Vikings would include the Super Bowl. The Packers were eliminated when the Falcons won on Monday night.

Lions at Bengals: The Lions can make the playoffs with two wins, and help in the form of either the Falcons or Panthers losing twice. The Bengals are playing only for pride — which they don’t have much of, judging by their last couple games.

Chargers at Jets: The Chargers are still alive but will be eliminated with a loss. The Jets are out of it.

Buccaneers at Panthers: Carolina clinches a playoff berth with a win. Tampa Bay is out of it.

Jaguars at 49ers: Jacksonville has already clinched a playoff berth and will clinch the AFC South with a win. San Francisco is out of it but may be a tougher test than expected with Jimmy Garoppolo leading the 49ers on a three-game winning streak.

Steelers at Texans (Monday): Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff bye by winning out, and can still earn home-field advantage if the Patriots stumble. The Texans are out of it.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS FOR NEITHER TEAM
Browns at Bears: The Browns are trying to avoid going 0-16, while the Bears are trying to avoid the embarrassment of losing to the Browns.

Broncos at Washington: Two of this year’s more disappointing teams are already out of it.

Giants at Cardinals: A lump of coal on Christmas Eve.

(PFT)

 

It's pretty interesting how not 1 team has yet to be locked into a playoff seed.

Also, only 5 clinched playoff berths, 4 divisions winners and 1 bye.

 

With all this Patriots/Steelers game fallout, did anyone mention Shady McCoy topping 10,000 career rushing yards in just under 9 years? He is the 30th player to do so.

 

Browns' OL Joe Thomas offers...
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/joe-thomas-publicly-offers-to-buy-the-panthers/?hl=1&noRedirect=1
Of course its a joke, but ...

 

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Don't mind me... still trying to figure out what the "N" in NFL means.

 

Steelers sign Stevan Ridley.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/steelers-sign-stevan-ridley-200539214.html

 

Biggest Pro Bowl snub: Jason Kelce
I'm not just defending my guy. He has arguably been the best Center in the league but bigger names in Mack and Frederick got in.

 

Thomas Davis’ suspension reduced to one game

 

ESPN lands Monday Night Football mobile rights (2018-2021).
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/espn-lands-mobile-streaming-rights-205000820.html

 

Rams place K Greg Zuerlein on IR.

Of course both fantasy teams I am alive in have him as the kicker. Now both are rocking Phil Dawson.