NFL Takeaways: Week 18
And that’s it.
The regular season of football is over.
All we have left is the postseason for the NFL, and the final games in college football.
(Also the FCS National Championship game tonight. North Dakota State vs Montana State. Should be a very good game. My thinking is a Montana State victory).
With that, let’s dive into the final week of the NFL regular season.
Playoff posts come later this week.
Ravens defeat Browns 35-10
It was a weird year for the Ravens.
Some bad losses. Some Lamar questions. Some Justin Tucker questions.
It all still ends up with a division title and a home playoff game.
Remember, no matter how frustrated you get, it can always be worse.
Bengals defeat Steelers 19-17
It wasn’t a “must” win game for the Steelers, but it was one where you wanted to get a win for morale.
Russell Wilson wasn’t great. George Pickens dropped a few passes. TJ Watt didn’t record a single statistic.
A bad time for them to have duds.
And another win for the Bengals, who still miss the playoffs.
Spare me the nonsense of “they deserved to be in they’re playing great football.”
Maybe they would be in if they took the beginning of the season more seriously…
Panthers defeat Falcons 44-38
First things first, Michael Penix Jr. looks excellent, and it makes you wonder why they bothered signing Kirk Cousins.
That money could’ve gone to the defense and prevented them from missing the playoffs.
Alas,,,
Second of all, Bryce Young has been revitalized and looks legitimately excellent.
Just an amazing turnaround from what looked like a sure fire bust.
Commanders defeat Cowboys 23-19
Good for Marcus Mariota.
Other than that, this game meant nothing.
Bears defeat Packers 24-22
The losing streak is over!
But good lord, the Bears did their absolute best to blow this game.
I guess progress that they still won? But jeez.
Texans defeat Titans 23-14
This game meant nothing at all.
Colts defeat Jaguars 26-23
This game ALSO meant nothing!
Got to love the end of the NFL season…
Patriots defeat Bills 23-16
The Patriots got to see their young guys play, and they played hard and got a win!
Sure it was against the Bills backups, but a win is a win! Good for them and good for Jerod Mayo who had a terrible team in year one but has something to build off of.
….what’s that?
…..Jerod Mayo got fired?
Ah…
Eagles defeat Giants 20-13
Thank god the Eagles didn’t try to let Saquon Barkley break the rushing record.
That would’ve made this game FAR too interesting!
Buccaneers defeat Saints 27-19
This was nervy for a while for the Bucs, but Baker Mayfield made some huge plays late to get the Bucs the win, the division, and another playoff appearance.
Baker rules, man.
Broncos defeat Chiefs 38-0
The cruelest prank the Chiefs could’ve pulled is giving the Broncos tons of hope heading into the playoffs by not only playing solely backups, but putting absolutely NOTHING on tape.
Chargers defeat Raiders 34-20
Justin Herbert was absolutely excellent.
I’d say it was the first time all year he looked excellent.
Not an indictment of him, but of the Chargers offensive philosophy.
We just don’t see it much.
Seahawks defeat Rams 30-25
The Seahawks are now the second team in NFL history to win 10 games and still miss the playoffs.
Neat!
Jets defeat Dolphins 32-20
That’s right, NFL GM’s!
Aaron Rodgers can TOTALLY still play at a high level!
You should definitely sign him!
Cardinals defeat 49ers 47-24
This game meant nothing, but man.
What a brutal loss to cap off a brutal Niners season.
Lions defeat Vikings 31-9
The Lions continue to be beat up, hurt, play starters needlessly last week, show too much from their playbook in meaningless games, and it continues to just not matter at all.
At what point do we just acknowledge they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders?
(I know I said last week they had too many injuries to win it all. Leave me alone).
