NFL Week 18 Takeaways
Photo by Patrick McDermott from Getty Images
The NFL regular season has officially come to an end, and now comes the playoffs.
I’m not sure about anyone else, but it feels like this season flew by.
So, for one final time, let’s go over what we learned from each game in the regular season.
Chiefs defeat Raiders 31-13
I figured the Raiders would take a step back after a bunch of luck last year, but this was a pretty dramatic step back.
Wonder why…
Jaguars defeat Titans 20-16
First things first, massive congratulations to the Jaguars.
It’s rare for a team who previously had the first overall pick to make the playoffs the very next season. The last time it happened was the Colts in 2012-2013 with Andrew Luck, and they weren’t even that bad of a team. They just had the first overall because Peyton Manning got hurt the year prior.
So good for the Jags.
As for the Titans…
A lot of Titans fans desperately wanted Ryan Tannehill gone because they lost to the team that went on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Still feel that way?
Cause that team is a hell of a lot worse without Tannehill than with him.
Falcons defeat Buccaneers 30-17
The Falcons win means that there is no NFC South team that has a winning record.
Fun!
Bills defeat Patriots 35-23
The Bills returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown after Damar Hamlin’s injury last Monday are the type of moments that make you feel that this is a simulation.
It was an electric moment that gives you goosebumps, like Dee Gordon’s home run after Jose Fernandez’s death or Paul Kariya’s goal after he was knocked out earlier in the game.
What a moment.
Vikings defeat Bears 29-13
The Bears started the year 2-2 with Justin Fields really struggling.
As the year went on, Fields got better and better.
So it makes perfect sense that during that stretch the Bears finished the year 1-12 and got the first overall pick.
Great stuff, Bears.
Bengals defeat Ravens 27-16
Lamar Jackson.
Blank check.
Texans defeat Colts 32-31
The Texans have now fired first year coaches in back to back seasons.
Both of which I assume are simply due to the fact that they exceeded expectations from the garbage roster put in front of them and didn’t end up with the first overall pick.
Tanking in this sport doesn’t work, and the Texans will find that out when nobody wants to come to Houston in free agency.
Dolphins defeat Jets 11-6
The Jets ended their season with 3 straight games without a touchdown.
Great!
Panthers defeat Saints 10-7
If you watched this game, you’re a stronger man than I am.
Steelers defeat Browns 28-14
First, this was a successful Steelers season.
Tomlin’s winning season streak stays alive, and the growth of Kenny Pickett is huge for next year.
As for the Browns, it’s really a damn shame that Deshaun Watson seems to not live up to his contract.
Hey, Baker Mayfield is a free agent.
Maybe he can take them to the playoffs next year.
Broncos defeat Chargers 31-28
Russell Wilson was horrible in the first half.
And then, for whatever reason, the deep ball opened up in the second half and he was outstanding.
It was a wildly disappointing year for the Broncos, but that 2nd half has to give them a little bit of optimism.
Eagles defeat Giants 22-16
Considering the Giants rested everyone as they were locked into the 6 seed, that performance by the Eagles didn’t exactly spark confidence heading into the playoffs.
Thankfully for them, a first round bye will let Jalen Hurts heal up a bit more.
49ers defeat Cardinals 38-13
The whole Cardinals offseason was messy, and so it made sense the season was the same way.
Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray had a few public disagreements this year, and it was announced today that Kingsbury has been fired.
It had to happen.
Seahawks defeat Rams 19-16
Please excuse my victory lap, but after an entire offseason of me saying that the Seahawks were better than people thought, I’m going to gloat a bit that I was right.
Did I think they’d be a playoff team? No.
But I trusted Geno. I trusted Pete.
And I was right.
Now, they’re in the playoffs while also having the 5th overall pick and the best draft class they’ve had in recent memory will improve.
House money.
Commanders defeat Cowboys 26-6
A dominating win by the Commanders over the Cowboys means they are headed to the playoffs!
What’s that?
I’m being told that they are actually not going to the playoffs because they started Carson Wentz last week for some inexplicable reason.
Ah well. Nevertheless.
As for the Cowboys, we shouldn’t freak out. They are what they have been all year.
Sometimes they’re great. Sometimes they’re atrocious.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they won or lost by 20 against Tampa Bay next week.
Lions defeat Packers 20-16
For three years in a row, the Packers season has ended at home.
For three years in a row, it’s because Aaron Rodgers struggled.
Not saying it’s all his fault.
The Packers may win that game if Quay Walker doesn’t push an athletic trainer and get a penalty (which is a wild sentence to type).
Last year felt like the end of the book in Green Bay but it wasn’t.
This feels like it even more.
Will it be? I guess we’ll see.
