NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Raiders are back as the AFC #1 Seed and will stay there if they keep winning.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/t...-and-much-of-nfl-has-caught-on-011427565.html

oh oh. NFL has figured out Carson Wentz's throwing style. Perhaps the Browns knew something the Eagles didn't? After starting 3-0, the Eagles have fallen flat and are 5-7. More issues than just Wentz, but this can't help.

 

This is that time of the season when the Falcons blow all hope of a Division title and a playoff berth. Sigh.

 

Except for that time when they kicked the FG to eliminate the Vikings. I still havnt gotten over that. *WALL*

 

The Vikings haven?t gotten much good news lately. They got some on Monday.

?Mike Zimmer has returned to his coaching duties and is expected to travel with the team to Jacksonville for this weekend?s game,? G.M. Rick Spielman announced.

The phrase ?travel with the team? implies he?ll be flying from Minneapolis to Jacksonville. The phrase ?is expected to? implies that plans could change.

Zimmer, who had emergency surgery on Wednesday to repair a detached retina, will need clearance to fly in a pressurized cabin. Otherwise, the Vikings would have?to find another way to get Zimmer to Florida.

The 6-6 Vikings remain alive for the wild-card berth. They have a longer shot to win the NFC North; they?ll need to run the table and hope the Lions lose three of their final four games.

 

Seahawks safety Earl Thomas suffered a devastating injury Sunday night, one that led the All-Pro player to openly ponder retirement soon thereafter.

Thomas suffered a lower leg fracture according to the team. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that Thomas is out indefinitely.

 

Tough blow for Seattle. They flashed a graphic during the game about how the team fares when the Legion of Boom is fully healthy (5-1) vs. how they fare when one of their crew is out (2-2-1).

 

Interesting. When Wentz said mechanics weren't the issue, I wonder if he meant for the game, or the season as a whole...? Because if you believe the article, mechanics WERE something the coaching staff wanted to focus on and correct.

 

7-0 Colts. They need to win out.

 

14-0 now. Also winning out isn't necessary but the win next week vs the Texans might as well be considering their schedules and tiebreakers.

 

LMAO I am so damn bored I looked at the Bengals playoff scenario and there is one realistic option that doesn't involve the Browns beating the Steelers in the final week.

Bengals win out. They'd hand the Steelers and Ravens a loss making this less impossible than it could be. Finish 8-7-1.
Ravens lose to the Bengals, Patriots and Eagles but beat the Steelers. Finish 8-8
Steelers lose 3 of their final 4 games (Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Browns) to finish 8-8.

This is not going to happen but there is one truly realistic scenario in there and that surprised me when I discovered it.

EDIT: To summarize - Win out, Steelers lose 3, Ravens only beat Pittsburgh.

 

D'Qwell Jackson suspended 4 games for PED violation

As quickly as the Colts built up momentum for the stretch run, the wind was taken out of their sails.
Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was hit with a four-game suspension, according to an announcement made by the league on Tuesday. Jackson was found to be in violation of the league's policy on performance enhancing substances and cannot return until Jan. 2, 2017.

The extremely durable veteran, who has not missed a regular-season start since 2009 as a 26-year-old linebacker with the Browns, is a gigantic loss for a Colts defense that has been struggling to find consistency all season long. Jackson logged a pair of tackles in the team's 41-10 win over the Jets on Monday night. He has three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, a sack and 52 tackles on the season thus far. (NFL.com)

 

Jets waive running back C.J. Spiller...

 

Poor CJ id say its time to walk away unless his goal is to play for all 32 teams

 

The Cowboys play 3 teams that are currently listed in the NFC playoffs right now the next 3 weeks. Giants, Bucs & Lions.

 

Depending on what happens this weekend they could come out of this weekend holding down a first round bye.

 

Or if they lose the next 3 they could be a wild card.

 

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has gone under the knife.

The Pro Bowl pass rusher, who is having a resurgent season with the Giants, posted a picture of himself from the hospital early Wednesday morning. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Pierre-Paul opted for surgery after a visit to core-muscle specialist Dr. William Meyers and will be out at least six weeks. Pierre-Paul injured a core muscle in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

For those counting at home, that puts Pierre-Paul out for the regular season, but does not rule out a playoff return.

 

Steelers' next three games include a division leader, and on the road against two "in the hunt" teams.