NFL - NEWS & NOTES

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport ;

"I talked to a team source this week to find out what they will do. This person was very adamant: 'We will play our guys.' Do not expect the Cowboys to do what the Colts did famously a couple years back and sit their guys down for a week or another week if there's nothing to play for," Rapoport said Sunday on GameDay Morning. "They have too much chemistry going on, too much mojo to try to screw things up and play some other games now. However, if they get to say, they want to take a little pressure off Dak Prescott in the second half of a game, do not assume it is going to be Tony Romo coming in at quarterback. It actually could be Mark Sanchez coming in at quarterback, keeping Romo out of harm's way until they need him."

Obviously, the Cowboys have subscribed to the theory that Prescott could use every snap possible heading into the playoffs. While the rookie has been phenomenal, there is always the chance he'll encounter something he's never seen before. Romo, meanwhile, can enter the playoffs completely fresh should they need him and the rest of the Cowboys' offense can move along like nothing happened. (in part from NFL.com)

 

Julio Jones? status to be determined in pregame workout...

Trevor Siemian to start for Broncos...

Lions expecting to have Eric Ebron, Marvin Jones...

 

NFL will reportedly inform teams of an $8M-$10M cap jump in 2017
The cap will reportedly fall somewhere between $163 million and $165 million

The NFL salary cap is increasing again.

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL will inform teams at an owner's meeting this week in Dallas that the 2017 salary cap will fall somewhere between $163 million and $165 million. The 2016 cap was set at $155.27 million, so we can expect the increase for next year to be at least $8 million to $10 million.

As the report notes, however, the initial league projections on the salary cap have routinely fallen short of where the actual cap is set when the league does its yearly books in March, so it's possible the cap could jump even higher.

As of now, only three teams have more than $163 million on their books for the 2016 season: the Jets, Chiefs and Cowboys are between $1 million and $12 million over. Though the cap is set at a certain amount for the year, each team is subject to an adjusted cap figure based on how far below the cap they were the previous season. (They get what's called "holdover" cap room.)

Additionally, each team is required to spend at least 89 percent of the cap over a four-year period. They can go below 89 percent in any given year, but have to hit that level on a rolling four-year basis.

 

1 PM ET Games...

BUF @ PIT............................PIT 27-20
SD @ CAR............................CAR 28-16
CIN @ CLE...........................CIN 23-10
CHI @ DET..........................DET 20-17
HOU @ IND........................HOU 22-17
MIN @ JAX..........................MIN 25-16
ARI @ MIA..........................MIA 26-23
WSH @ PHI........................WSH 27-22
DEN @ TEN........................TEN 13-10

 

[twitter=https://twitter.com/WillBrinson/status/808030001958453253][/twitter]

Well it at least was an attempt to pass. Officially it's a fumble.

 

[twitter=https://twitter.com/DanLevyThinks/status/808046726812725248][/twitter]

Has got up on his own power after a few minutes. Penalty but no ejection.

 

The Eagles have no long snapper after Jon Dorenbos and Celek go down. They had tryouts on the sideline but Pederson doesn't want to risk it even though it'd be the game-leading FG in the last 5 minutes. They are going for it on 4th and short. What a way to lose if it costs them the game.

 

After a timeout because Wentz didn't like the look the Eagles decide to let Burton snap it. A bit high but the punter grabs the hold and the Eagles take the lead on the good kick.

 

BULLSHIT! The refs gave Washington a timeout when they called it well past the clock hitting 0. They convert on 4th and 1.

 

Broncos in big trouble.

 

And injures officially kill the Eagles season. 4th string RT lets the rusher in too easy for the strip sack. Upset that the refs gave the late timeout as it should have been a long FG try for Washington but this team is so banged up that they would have only made the playoffs based on others teams struggling and schedules falling certain ways.

 

CBS just took Buffalo out of the playoff picture after their loss today. I LOL in their face. The Bills are still okay with the loss.
Actually they are in better position than they entered the day. A win would have been much better but the Broncos and Colts lost and that is huge. The Dolphins game is actually irrelevant as the Bills need to beat them and have the Dolphins lose to the Jets or Pats because of the tiebreaker.

 

Dolphins win or lose today, the winner of Bills vs Dolphins is in the playoffs IMO. One of them is winning out (or in Miamis case win 2 and lose to the Pats in week 17 but be in anyways.

Titans and Ravens can throw a wrench to that within the next week though.

 

4pm+ Games...

NYJ @ SF.............................NYJ 23-17
SEA @ GB...........................GB 38-10
ATL @ LA............................ATL 42-14
NO @ TB............................TB 16-11
DAL @ NYG.......................

 

ESPN Playoff Machine is wrong right now. It gives the Dolphins the common opponents tiebreaker if they end up tied. They only have 2 uncommon opponents and they both split them. It would go to Strength of Victory. Next week's Dolphins result means nothing to the Bills. The Bills need to win out and the Dolphins need to lose their last 2 vs the Bills and Patriots. If that happens then the Bills will have the tiebreaker.

 

Well, Seattle didn't show up. I'm looking for some help.

 

AFC Clinched and locks are the Patriots, Chiefs and Raiders.

AFC North Race is between the Steelers and Ravens. Both control their own destiny but the Steelers better watch out because they could even beat the Ravens and still lose the division with equal records. the Steelers are very close to safe though since they play the Browns. Talking about the Browns, the Bengals are still alive and have a plausible scenario that works except that the Browns need to beat the Steelers in week 17.

The AFC South is between the Texans and Titans right now with a major advantage tot he Texans. The Colts also have a chance but need to win out and need the Texans to lose twice and Titans once. Very tough with how the schedules are laid out. If the Texans, Colts or Titans somehow are 9-7 without a division crown then they have a good chance of getting the final wildcard.

The Wildcard is even more chaotic now but we do know the teams that are still realistically involved and have all have plausible scenarios. Those are the current division leaders, the Ravens, Broncos, Dolphins, 9-7 South team and the Bills (at a very likely 9-7, other results could fall their way). Baltimore can up the stakes if they beat the Pats.


NFC Clinched and locks are the Cowboys and Seahawks.

The Giants are not included due to their losses to the Vikings and Packers and upcoming game vs Washington. Lions are not included due to games vs Green Bay and the Giants coming up.
There are too many tiebreakers that swap depending on teams mainly based on H2H. The only certainty is that Atlanta or Tampa Bay will win the AFC South. The other races (including the East and wildcards) have too many possibilities to properly lay out what could happen. All teams with winning records have very realistic chances to make the playoffs.

Also the Seahawks are listed as a lock now that Arizona lost their game but they would lose the division and surely miss the playoffs if they lose out and the Cardinals win out. They would have to lose to the Rams and 49ers.

 

Bomb to Odell Beckham Jr. beats the??Boys

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The Giants had done nothing offensively until Odell Beckham Jr. made their lone ?play late in the third quarter, leading them to a dramatic 10-7 win over the Cowboys.

The 61-yard touchdown catch-and-run was an eye-opener, ending an incredibly slow start. It was especialy startling for the Cowboys secondary, as Beckham hit another gear and pulled away after a simple slant.

It?was the ninth of 60 yards or longer in Beckham?s career, the most in the NFL since he joined in 2014. (PFT)