NFL '13 SEASON THREAD

[DaRadniz29]

To clear up the playoff mess:

Seattle clinches the NFC West and the #1 seed with a WIN or San Francisco LOSS
San Francisco clinches the NFC West and a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + Seattle LOSS (and with a Carolina LOSS, they get the #1 seed)
Carolina clinches the NFC South and a 1st-rd bye with a WIN or New Orleans LOSS (and with a WIN + Seattle LOSS + San Francisco WIN, they get the #1 seed)
New Orleans clinches the NFC South and the #2 seed with a WIN + Carolina LOSS, or clinches a wildcard with a WIN or Arizona LOSS
The winner of PHI/DAL clinches the NFC East (Philadelphia would get #3; Dallas would get #3 with a Green Bay WIN or #4 with a Chicago WIN)
The winner of GB/CHI clinches the NFC North (Green Bay would get #4; Chicago would get #3 with a Dallas WIN or #4 with a Philadelphia WIN)
Arizona clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + New Orleans LOSS

Denver clinches the #1 seed with a WIN or New England LOSS
New England clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN or {Cincinnati LOSS + Indianapolis LOSS} (and with a WIN + Denver LOSS, they get the #1 seed)
Cincinnati clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + New England LOSS
Indianapolis clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + New England LOSS + Cincinnati LOSS
Kansas City is locked into the #5 seed
Miami clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + {Baltimore LOSS or San Diego WIN}
Baltimore clinches the #6 seed with a {WIN + {Miami LOSS or San Diego LOSS}} OR if Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh ALL LOSE
San Diego clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + Miami LOSS + Baltimore LOSS
Pittsburgh clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + Miami LOSS + Baltimore LOSS + San Diego LOSS

There's a quiz later...

^^^^ My head hurts.

Okay, so it's really not that complicated, but a lot of shuffling going on. I'm just glad the 49ers got in tonight. Rather not play the streaky Cardinals in a win or go home regular season game. Though it would have essentially been a playoff game.

If I am Baltimore, I'm nervous, because even with a win they need Miami or San Diego to lose. Miami hosts Jets, Chargers host Chiefs team that probably will be resting starters since they are locked into the 5th seed. That's not a scenario I'd want. Then again Miami just lost to Buffalo, so...

Secondly, the Bengals host the Ravens. Cincinnati is 7-0 this season at The Jungle. Steelers host the Browns. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dolphins, Ravens and Chargers lose and the Steelers win, from the chart above and ESPN NFL Playoff Machine this scenario would put the Steelers in the playoffs and a matchup vs the Bengals.

I don't know what the possible combinations are of match ups in the AFC, but it will be a crazy Week 17. NFC is also wild.

49ers could be 1,2, 5 or 6 seed.

Colts, Bengals and Patriots could be 2, 3 or 5 seed.

Saints could be 1, 2 seed or not even make playoffs.

Panthers could have first round bye or go on road in Wildcard weekend.

I don't think the Seahawks will lose two in a row at home, however, while the handled the Saints as did the Rams. Seahawks did beat the Rams, but it was a close game 14-9 and Seattle had to hold the Rams on 4th and Goal. So don't sleep on St. Louis.

49ers and Cardinals from Arizona. Two hot teams with the Cardinals needing a win and help from the Bucs. While I like the way the 49ers closed out the Stick with the Bowman pick six, would definitely take a division win and first round bye.

[NJTank]

Jose Cortez also played in xfl

[CS85]

I know this Bears/Packers game is an enormous festival of stress that honestly means nothing for the Bears (they'll get blown out in the playoffs regardless of opponent), but I felt like griping about the team in general for a moment.

I'm tired of Cutler. I've defended him for years now and I think he COULD be a solid starter but I can't deal with it anymore. He's always going to offset touchdowns with turnovers; he'll forever offset acts of courage with ones of indifference. The polarizing nature of his personality, play, and demeanor are too much. The fan base can't take it but more to the point is that the franchise can't afford it.

Jay's got incredible arm strength, perhaps the strongest in the NFL; Brandon Marshall loves him, he throws an excellent deep ball, and when he heats up is red hot. On the other hand he's going on 31, has an ever-growing history of injuries, and wants the Bears to pony up a Tony Romo-like contract that could hobble the salary cap. The franchise tag sounds appealing but that means you're paying around $16 million, equating to around 13% of the total cap.

Fact is that's simply too much for a team that has one of the most daunting offseason tasks in the entire NFL: Rebuilding almost an entire defense from the ground up. Of the 14 (!!!!) players on defense whose contracts will expire I can only realistically see the team extending 4 of them, including giving a nice boost in pay to DT/DE Corey Wootton. It's also becoming incredibly clear that the ever-fattening Lance Briggs and apathetic Julius Peppers serve no further purpose on this roster and likely carry hostilities attached to the firing of the 10-6 Lovie Smith (another bag of worms that makes being a Bears fan nearly insufferable).

The team needs new starting safeties, more linebackers, new starting defensive ends, new starting defensive tackles, a new starting punter, new kick returner, and depth at numerous positions. If the Bears feel like they can fit this financial square into a round hole, all the more power to them, but I just don't know. If there's one word to describe this franchise it's precarious. The pieces are in place at a few positions but you're not winning titles unless you can align the stars. I don't trust this team to do that. I hope they prove me wrong.

[BlueSky]

I don't think the Saints can get the #1 seed but I'd be thrilled with them getting a win over TB and making the damn playoffs at this point. But if they end up playing at Philly in cold weather...well, let's just say I'm not optimistic about their potential there.

Ironically, I hope if the Saints don't get the #2 seed, Carolina gets the #1 (they need to win & Seattle to lose). I'd rather see the Saints play in Charlotte again than Seattle.

On another note, did anyone notice what was happening with Fox's score bug? It has the multicolored Christmas lights on it but if a team scores and it goes to TOUCHDOWN, the lights turn the team color and twinkle. If they did that in prior seasons I never noticed.

[Kramerica Industries]

To clear up the playoff mess:

Seattle clinches the NFC West and the #1 seed with a WIN or San Francisco LOSS

San Francisco clinches the NFC West and a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + Seattle LOSS (and with a Carolina LOSS, they get the #1 seed)

Carolina clinches the NFC South and a 1st-rd bye with a WIN or New Orleans LOSS (and with a WIN + Seattle LOSS + San Francisco WIN, they get the #1 seed)

New Orleans clinches the NFC South and the #2 seed with a WIN + Carolina LOSS, or clinches a wildcard with a WIN or Arizona LOSS

The winner of PHI/DAL clinches the NFC East (Philadelphia would get #3; Dallas would get #3 with a Green Bay WIN or #4 with a Chicago WIN)

The winner of GB/CHI clinches the NFC North (Green Bay would get #4; Chicago would get #3 with a Dallas WIN or #4 with a Philadelphia WIN)

Arizona clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + New Orleans LOSS

Denver clinches the #1 seed with a WIN or New England LOSS

New England clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN or {Cincinnati LOSS + Indianapolis LOSS} (and with a WIN + Denver LOSS, they get the #1 seed)

Cincinnati clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + New England LOSS

Indianapolis clinches a 1st-rd bye with a WIN + New England LOSS + Cincinnati LOSS

Kansas City is locked into the #5 seed

Miami clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + {Baltimore LOSS or San Diego WIN}

Baltimore clinches the #6 seed with a {WIN + {Miami LOSS or San Diego LOSS}} OR if Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh ALL LOSE

San Diego clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + Miami LOSS + Baltimore LOSS

Pittsburgh clinches the #6 seed with a WIN + Miami LOSS + Baltimore LOSS + San Diego LOSS

There's a quiz later...

Considering I've probably thought as much about this as you have, I don't have to read that post. Quiz me, buddy!

(damn, not reviewing material before a test/quiz. THAT'S the school version of me that I remember! )

[BBTV]

By no means do I think it's a lock that PHI will beat DAL, but if they do and end up #3, who is #6? I see where Arizona could be it, but if they don't make it who would? Could CAR, NO, or SEA really fall to #6?

[The_Admiral]

The Bears got all their timing wrong. What they should have done was keep Lovie Smith for the last season on his contract, maybe offer Brian Urlacher one last year as a part-timer, and try to go forth with one last year of the old defense. Meanwhile, bring in Trestman at offensive coordinator so that he can shore up the offense for Cutler without sacrificing the structural integrity of the locker room by booting a beloved coach after a 10-win season. You could have gotten away with it; in grand Bears tradition, no one else in the whole league was looking to give him a head coaching job. Look: this time a year ago I was as sick of Lovie as anyone, but I see now that there was real merit to keeping him around. The defense played hard for him. Would the outcome have been any different? Probably not, no. They'd have won some games this team lost and lost some games this team won, most likely. But it would have offered a clean break for 2014 and beyond: one clear era of the team ends, another starts. The way it is now, everything is so staggered. Do they keep going with Cutler? Now we don't know.

[BBTV]

I'll simply never understand why teams hire head coaches because they want to install their defensive system or offensive system. Isn't that what a coordinator is for? Obviously the coach and coordinator have to share the same philosophy, but I don't get coaches like Andy Reid who up until his last couple of years (when he stupidly and fatly moved his offensive line coach to DC) literally didn't have any input into the defense and gave the DC complete authority to do whatever he wanted.

Andy Reid was a horrible game day coach - I don't see any way that this point could be argued - but probably would have been a good OC and the Eagles would have won more had they had someone else managing the clock, reviews, overseeing the defense and special teams, keeping Reid in line when he gets all pass happy, and just overall operating at a high level.

Being a good offensive or defensive mind doesn't in any way qualify someone to be a head coach. I work with a lot of amazing software developers - brilliant guys. None of them is qualified to manage the team though (just like I'm not qualified to do what they do.)

look at Seattle - everyone thought Gus Bradly was the hot coaching candidate. Well, he leaves, and the team continues to succeed. Meanwhile, Jacksonville. I get that most coaches want to ascend to the top of the ladder - but most are not qualified and should just be satisfied being coordinators.

[Kramerica Industries]

I don't think you can hold it against Gus Bradley that the team he is the head coach of is probably the most talent-devoid team in the league.

[BlueSky]

By no means do I think it's a lock that PHI will beat DAL, but if they do and end up #3, who is #6? I see where Arizona could be it, but if they don't make it who would? Could CAR, NO, or SEA really fall to #6?

I can answer re the Saints and it's yes. The current scenarios show them at #6 or #2. As you know, 1 through 4 are the division winners so whoever doesn't win their division is going to be 5 or 6.

Saints-Bucs is now a late game but Falcons-Panthers is still early. The Saints will know whether they're playing for the #2 seed. They have to win to be sure of a playoff spot either way so I wouldn't think they would need any more incentive. I'm concerned. I know they're at home but I also remember the last time they had everything to play for and faced an opponent whose season was over.

[BBTV]

If the Egles get in, I'd like them to play the Saints. I think they match up very poorly against NO, and would have no chance at beating them in the dome, so having them at home would be their best shot. I think that they'd have a better shot at Seattle than at NO. Drew Brees could throw for like 700 yards against them in the dome. In Philly, there's always the chance that it could snow or there'd be some conditions that take away from the saints passing attack. Keep in mind I say this without having seen a single Saints game this year, but I just assume that their real good at passing.

[BigEd76]

By no means do I think it's a lock that PHI will beat DAL, but if they do and end up #3, who is #6? I see where Arizona could be it, but if they don't make it who would? Could CAR, NO, or SEA really fall to #6?

Seattle can only be #1 or #5, so we'll avoid them until the championship game no matter what

San Francisco = LOSS + New Orleans WIN

Carolina = LOSS + New Orleans WIN + San Francisco WIN

New Orleans = Seattle WIN + Carolina WIN + San Francisco WIN

Arizona = WIN + New Orleans LOSS

[rams80]

By no means do I think it's a lock that PHI will beat DAL, but if they do and end up #3, who is #6? I see where Arizona could be it, but if they don't make it who would? Could CAR, NO, or SEA really fall to #6?

I can answer re the Saints and it's yes. The current scenarios show them at #6 or #2. As you know, 1 through 4 are the division winners so whoever doesn't win their division is going to be 5 or 6.

Saints-Bucs is now a late game but Falcons-Panthers is still early. The Saints will know whether they're playing for the #2 seed. They have to win to be sure of a playoff spot either way so I wouldn't think they would need any more incentive. I'm concerned. I know they're at home but I also remember the last time they had everything to play for and faced an opponent whose season was over.

In fairness, the Rams have kind of had the Saints' number since the mid-2000s.

[Kramerica Industries]

It's what the Saints have to deal with in exchange for Hakim muffing the punt.

[BlueSky]

By no means do I think it's a lock that PHI will beat DAL, but if they do and end up #3, who is #6? I see where Arizona could be it, but if they don't make it who would? Could CAR, NO, or SEA really fall to #6?

I can answer re the Saints and it's yes. The current scenarios show them at #6 or #2. As you know, 1 through 4 are the division winners so whoever doesn't win their division is going to be 5 or 6.

Saints-Bucs is now a late game but Falcons-Panthers is still early. The Saints will know whether they're playing for the #2 seed. They have to win to be sure of a playoff spot either way so I wouldn't think they would need any more incentive. I'm concerned. I know they're at home but I also remember the last time they had everything to play for and faced an opponent whose season was over.

In fairness, the Rams have kind of had the Saints' number since the mid-2000s.

Yes they have. The Bucs usually play the Saints tough as well. But you know, I'm letting it go. The Saints will do what they do. But...if they get a wild card it would be nice to get the "no road playoff wins" monkey off their backs even if it's just one game.

[dbadefense1990]

Wow. What an incredible way to put The Stick to rest. It couldn't have been scripted any better than that. I've had a lot of great memories there, from my first ever NFL game vs the Raiders, to seeing the Niners have the biggest come from behind win in the history of the NFC playoffs (03 vs the Giants), to tonight. The place was a dump and it was time to move on, but it sure as hell will be missed.

It might not be over yet. San Fran could be the #5 and get Candlestick for the NFC title game should they face the #6 (i.e. Arizona or whoever the NFC South runner-up is). Or in a more bizzare twist, they could supercede Seattle, win the NFC West, and get a home playoff game in the Divisional round.

What a dream Week 17 the NFL has drawn up.

[Kramerica Industries]

No divisions clinched in the NFC going into the final week. That's pretty remarkable.

[FiddySicks]

Yeah this has been one helluva year.

Now watch the Super Bowl be something awful like Patriots vs Cowboys.

[infrared41]

Yeah this has been one helluva year.

Now watch the Super Bowl be something awful like Patriots vs Cowboys.

At least it can't be Patriots - Giants again. So there's that, I guess.

[Kramerica Industries]

That sucks. Brady's Super Bowl krpytonite isn't there to deny him again should he reach the Super Bowl.