I am expecting this week to set up the Patriots to make the playoffs at 8-9. Tua being out makes this feasible as Miami losing out was the least probable needed outcome for this to happen. The Jets losing this week and the Steelers and Raiders dropping one is another condition. Pats could then lose to the Bills and be in at 8-9 so long as the Jags either beat Tennessee and/or lose to Houston.
News you cant use... but here it is anyway. The most significant late-season Monday night game in years will end later than usual. Because it will start later than usual. ESPN has announced that Bills-Bengals will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET, not the usual 8:15 p.m. ET. The delay is aimed at accommodating the Rose Bowl, which begins at 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday. Of course, there’s little chance that the Rose Bowl will be over by 8:30 p.m. ET, because college football games continue to take much more time than NFL games. Bowl games seem to last even longer. Bills-Bengals will be televised by ABC, with ESPN sticking with the Rose Bowl and joining Bills-Bengals in progress, if needed. When needed. PFT
Pick 6 for the Patriots... they take the lead back from the Dolphins. Good news for a few teams hanging on out there. 16-14 Pats, 2:51 to go 3rd
Falcons win the meaningless game with Arizona on a last second field goal. Matt Prater kicked a 57-yarder to put the Cardinals ahead, then Atlanta came back and burned the clock to kick the game winner rather than go for a touchdown and leave the Cardinals time to respond. Apparently they learned after making that mistake against the Chargers. Or maybe they watched the Peach Bowl last night...