NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Monday Night Football: Chargers clinch playoff berth with 20-3 win over Colts



The Chargers clinched a playoff spot with a 20-3 victory over the Colts on Monday Night Football.

The Chargers last made the postseason in 2018, two years before they acquired Justin Herbert in the first round of the 2020 draft. Los Angeles improved to 9-6, while the Colts fell to 4-10-1.


Nine days after the Colts fell to the Vikings 39-36 in the biggest collapse in NFL history, Indianapolis set offensive football back a decade. The Colts gained 173 yards, went 0-for-10 on third down, 1-for-4 on fourth down and 0-for-1 in the red zone, gave up seven sacks and threw three interceptions.

Having benched Matt Ryan to keep him healthy for his offseason departure, the Colts started their third quarterback of the season. Nick Foles was not good.

Foles, who had taken only 76 snaps the past two seasons before Monday night, went 17-of-29 for 143 yards and threw interceptions to Derwin James, Michael Davis and Asante Samuel. James was ejected in the first half with a hit on defenseless receiver Ashton Dulin.

Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox had two sacks.

The Chargers gained 314 yards as Herbert went 24-of-31 for 235 yards and an interception.

PFT

 

WEEK 16... is in the Books

 

Bears move closer to #1 pick... it would be their first #1 pick in 76 years.

 

That dumbass (Derwin James) put himself in concussion protocol for the hit he delivered that got him ejected, lol.

 

Mike Tomlin embraces flex to Sunday night: If you’re being flexed you’re doing something right



The Steelers’ game on Sunday at Baltimore has been flexed into Sunday Night Football, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin embraces it.

Tomlin noted today that he and Ravens coach John Harbaugh have gone against each other on Sunday night many times in their coaching careers, and he said that’s a credit to both franchises, that the league views the Steelers-Ravens rivalry as one that it wants to put in front of a large audience.

“I think this is the 10th time that Harbs and I have played Sunday night ball together,” Tomlin said. “He’s an awesome dance partner. They’re an awesome dance partner. It’s just good to be in significant games. When I got that call the other night that the game was flexed, I didn’t hate that. I loved that. If your games are not getting flexed this time of year you’re not doing it right. You’re not in significant ones. So we don’t run from that, we run to that. Although we do respect their environment, and the hostility of that environment on Sunday Night Football, we’re not going to hate the fact that we’re there. We’re going to embrace that and smile in the face of the adversity that those variables create.”

The Steelers are long shots to make the playoffs, but Tomlin noted that it’s valuable for his players to get experience playing in significant games. And they’re in a significant game on Sunday night.

PFT

 

Of all the teams on the bubble... Im rooting for the Steelers to make it. Its a long shot, but its also possible.

 

The Saints still have a dog in this fight. (a very small dog) But a couple of months ago I thought I'd be done paying attention by week 14 or 15. And yet here I am. Now I know how everyone in the AFC East felt. Anybody but Brady!!! Hell. I'd even be rooting for the Falcons if they were still in it!!

 

I'm good with the Dolphins and Jaguars in the final two spots of the AFC.

Would LOVE to see the Saints or Panthers knock off the Buccs for the NFC South title. Bubble team over there, I'm rooting for the Lions to get in the wild card spot. I have a really hard time with (4) teams from the NFC East in the playoffs.

 

I've got a soft spot for the Lions too. If the Packers lose to the Vikings this Sunday, I'll root for the Lions in the final week.

 

I don't know what's worse the hit or the 1000s on tik tok trying to say it was clean and that's just football.

 

Ill be honest... Im old school and love a good hit, i mean LOVE a good hit, but the rules have changed on helmet to helmet hits and head shots and James got busted by todays standards. Its always going to be a tough call, but the one doing the tackling must be more in control these days, accident or not. For me personally, the second hit by James, in which he may have concussed himself, was a legitimate DQ incident.

 

If you make two head hits in a game isn’t it automatic ejection from the game?

 

Well, it was a DQ. He had 2 personal fouls for hit to the head... automatic DQ.

Now fine the guy and hit him hard and see if he learns.

 

More of an opinion but I'll post it here.

If the Packers and Lions win AND the Commanders lose AND the Jets win, then Lions @ Packers WILL be flexed to Sunday Night Football. Winner gets the final wildcard.

If the above doesn't happen but the Dolphins and Jets win this week them their game WILL be the Sunday night flex in Week 18. Winner gets the final wildcard. Dolphins can be the 5-7 seed. Although some seeds may be eliminated before the week is done.


If that doesn't happen but either wins or the Jags lose then Jags vs Titans can be flexed as an alternative. It could still be flexed as long as the Dolphins and the Jets don't both win but there would be a chance the Jags already clinch a berth before kickoff.

If Ravens win then their finale vs the Bengals can be flexed early.
If the Ravens lose they'll have to wait for Monday Night in case the Bengals clinch. If the Bengals clinch OR the NFL can't wait, then the Jags vs Titans will be flexed despite the Jags having a chance to clinch at least the wildcard before kickoff, and it not being as sexy.


There is a chance the Bengals vs Ravens isn't considered at all if both are in though. However, if both win and the Chiefs lose it is extra spicy though as the Bengals are also playing for the bye.

 

Derek Carr getting benched and apparently being made inactive.

Derek Carr being benched shows the Raiders don't care about the playoffs. With Tua out the 7 seed is open if they do the impossible and win out but they won't give Carr that chance.

 

The flex post was edited. I forgot about the clear #1 option.

 

I agree, but they would need every single game to fall perfectly for two weeks to have a chance. The odds are extremely low, even if they win their last two games.

They can't even help themselves with the bubble teams above them since they play the 49ers and Chiefs. They were saying on the radio last night and today that if Carr is benched that means he is being cut before the 3rd day after the Super Bowl, which is when a hefty part of his incentives kick in. He also would receive a huge part of his '23 salary and a fairly good portion of his '24 salary guaranteed on injury. That's why they are putting him on ice and removing that from the equation.

 

Basically they don't want to have that chance to succeed with him because of they do they'll be pressed to keep him. Imagine beating the 49ers and then the Chiefs twice in a row and then losing to the Bills or Bengals and having to decide on Carr then. The results that need to happen are tough BUT they are all what should be the favourite results individually.