The NFL Sunday Review: Week 18

What a way to end the Regular Season. We had a change atop the Draft Order, we had a Division Title shootout, we had a 0 touchdown game that decided a playoff spot, AND an unbelievable SNF performance by a bitter team who said “if we ain’t going to playoffs, you ain’t either.” Lots of fun and drama, and it sets up one of the best weekends of the entire year – Super Wildcard Weekend – with a ton of tasty storylines. We’ll look at it all, starting with the race for the Final NFC Playoff Spot…

NFC #7 Seed:

It wasn’t the storybook ending the Detroit Lions were hoping for, but it wasn’t too far off. Dan Campbell’s plucky band of gritty men walked into Lambeau Field and struck down the Boogeyman who has haunted them for so long. The Lions were left to rue their week 16 loss to the Panthers, without which Detroit would be preparing for a trip to San Francisco this weekend. Instead… Geno Smith completes his probable Comeback Player of the Year season with a chance at a huge upset against the Niners. 

We’ll get to Lambeau in a second, but first let’s congratulate Pete Carroll and the Seahawks on a remarkable season that almost none of us saw coming. It took a Baker Mayfield INT to keep Seattle’s hopes alive in OT, but the Seahawks rode Kenneth Walker down the field and did just about enough to get Jason Myers (who had missed a game-winning FG attempt as regulation ended) a chance at redemption, which he duly took. The caveat of that Seahawks win, was that it eliminated the Lions from playoff contention, and yet the Seahawks NEEDED the Lions to beat the Packers to allow them into the Playoffs. Detroit duly delivered. Seattle are an intriguing matchup against the #2 seed San Francisco 49ers, as DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are dangerous enough to stress any defense. However, it feels like the entire game will come down to whether or not the Seahawks O-Line can contain the ferocious Niners pass rush, and give Geno enough time to operate. The NFC West always seems to play weird games, so I’m intrigued to see how this one plays out next Saturday. 

But – strangely – the biggest NFC headline is about two teams who are NOT in the playoffs. Is THIS the end for Aaron Rodgers? Jameson Williams asked for his jersey after last night’s game, and Rodgers responded “I think I’m gonna hold on to this one…” Cue all manner of internet speculation and another off season of chaos for the Packers. Green Bay were not at the races last night, and Dan Campbell’s men took full advantage. It would have been completely forgivable if the Lions had been so heartbroken by the Seahawks win ending their personal playoff dreams that they rolled over… but this is not the Lions of old. They came in with a ferocity and an attitude of “we’re gonna spoil your party,” and they damn sure did just that. Jamaal Williams broke Barry Sanders’ single season rushing TD record for the Lions with a pair of scores, and he had vaulted himself immediately to the top of the list of my favourite NFL players. What a character, and what a season for the former Packer, culminating in eliminating his exes from postseason contention. Simply amazing. This Lions team is so young, talented, and hungry for success. If I’m a Detroit fan, I’m gutted about missing the playoffs, but ecstatic about the progress of this team, and buzzing for the future. Jared Goff will surely return next year, and with a healthy Jameson Williams to add to Amon-Ra St. Brown, with Aidan Hutchinson up front in his sophomore season, and Mr “I just pick off Aaron Rodgers like it’s nothing” Kerby Joseph on the back end… the Lions have a squad to fear. The present hurts, but the future is bright. Dan Campbell should be in consideration for Coach of the Year.

AFC South & #7 Seed:

AP PHOTO/REBECCA BLACKWELL

On Saturday night, the AFC South was decided in favour of Trevor Lawrence, Doug Pederson, & Duuuuuuuuval, as the Jacksonville Jaguars completed a remarkable turnaround to claim a spot in the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans also completed a remarkable collapse, having been 7-3, and losing 7 straight to close out the year. Mike Vrabel’s team usually get stronger as the season rolls on, but this year it never really happened, and the injuries the Ryan Tannehill suffered pretty much put pay to the Titans hopes of another AFC Playoff appearance. Josh Dobbs battled admirably, but ultimately this Titans team was outmatched, and losing AJ Brown has not helped set them up for the future like they hoped it might. Treylon Burks will come good I’m sure, but when the team is still arguably over-reliant on Derrick Henry, and when the run game isn’t flowing, or they fall into a 2 score deficit, you never really believe the Titans will come back. If Vrabel had an elite QB… this team might be really dangerous. Conversely, the Jaguars are maybe the hottest team in the league, rolling off wins and heading to face the Chargers – who they’ve already beaten this season… Trevor Lawrence looks great and, with the weapons around him, this is not a team that Brandon Staley will be enjoying getting ready to face next weekend.

Moving on to the #7 seed… the Steelers beat the Browns, the Dolphins beat the Jets, & the Buffalo Bills defeated the New England Patriots to eliminate the Pats and hand the #7 – and a game in Buffalo – to Miami. We should note that the Steelers have shown some promise late in the year, with Pickett to Pickens looking like the new Big Ben to AB… and Mike Tomlin still has never had a losing season. Amazing. Pittsburgh has to rue the defeat to Miami on Sunday Night Football, without which they would somehow be in the Playoffs.

But… it’s the Dolphins who benefited from the Bills’ win. Skylar Thompson… Welcome to the dance, son. It was far from a classic, with an 11-6 scoreline that amazingly WASN’T a Scorigami, but it was just enough for the Miami Dolphins and Mike McDaniel. I’m obviously somewhat biased, but I firmly believe the Dolphins have been one of the 7 best AFC teams this season, and at their peak could be a Top 5 team. Obviously, the health of Tua Tagovailoa is going to be the main storyline all week long, because even the most optimistic of Miami fans would be hard pushed to believe Thompson can win in Buffalo, especially given the exceptionally emotionally charged feeling in western New York right now. Miami are still dangerous – that WR tandem and McDaniel’s run game ensure that – and have a defense that has played the Bills VERY well twice this year. Is a miracle win and run off the table!?

Probably. The Bills have huge “Team of Destiny” vibes right now. The noise that Bills Mafia made in Orchard Park when Nyheim Hines took that opening kickoff against the Patriots back for a touchdown sent a chill down my spine in the best way possible. After a week of pain and stress and unknowns surrounding Damar Hamlin, the cathartic nature of that moment was clear for all to see. The Bills have been – quietly – screwed out of the #1 seed based on the impossibility of concluding the Bengals game from last Monday, handing the Chiefs the bye that really should have allowed Josh Allen’s men an extra week of rest and recovery. Right now, it feels like we’re headed for a Bills Chiefs AFC Title game, but the Bengals will surely have something to say about that first.

Quick Hits

  • JJ Watt has played his final NFL game, and what a career it was too. Amazing from start to finish, and he will absolutely be a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer. Congratulations JJ, & thank you for the years of entertainment.
  • Black Monday has started. As I wrote this article, Kliff Kingsbury & Steve Keim were both let go by the Arizona Cardinals. It’s hard to be surprised by that considering the 4-13 season, but I maintain the Cardinals were incredibly unfortunate and snake-bitten by injuries this year, plus the Hard Knocks: In Season curse has now stopped two teams in two years from making the playoffs. Arizona have a good roster, when healthy, and will be a very attractive landing spot for potential Head Coaching candidates.
  • We should also note that Jalen Hurts returned for the Eagles to stop the rot and secure the NFC’s #1 seed. Thoroughly deserved from a Philly team who have impressed mightily this year having been eliminated in the Wildcard round last year. The Dallas Cowboys stumbled into the playoffs following a hugely underwhelming loss to Sam Howell (who played well!) and the Washington Commanders. Dallas has to refocus quickly to try and defeat arch-nemesis Tom Brady for the first time in his career.
  • There was #1 Pick Drama as the Chicago Bears lost to the Vikings, whilst the Houston Texans defeated the hapless Indianapolis Colts. Seems pretty safe to say Jeff Saturday won’t be the Colts’ Head Coach next year, but with Jim Irsay, who knows. Chicago celebrates, and surely they will look to trade back and stockpile additional assets? Justin Fields is their guy, and there are a NUMBER of teams who are desperate to trade up and get their QB of the future…
  • Lovie Smith lost his job because he won a game. Let that sink in. Wild. The Texans will pick 2nd as of now, and surely take a QB. A new era in Houston. 

Wildcard Weekend Predictions:

Will Newton/Getty Images

And so, the postseason begins! After a tumultuous season, filled with twists and turns, we now finally have our bracket set, and can start hypothesising all the potential outcomes as we head towards the SuperBowl in mid-February. The most intriguing aspect of this slate of games, is that ALL of them are regular season rematches, which is quite remarkable.

We start in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, as Brock Purdy’s hotly-tipped Niners host Geno Smith’s plucky Seahawks. The 49ers have continued steamrolling their way through the NFC, and it would be a surprise if they didn’t win this one.

Saturday night gives us the Jaguars hosting the Chargers, in a battle of long-haired QBs, Lawrence vs Herbert. 

Sunday’s triple-header kicks off with (maybe Tua?) the Dolphins returning to Buffalo to face the Bills, before the Giants head to Minnesota to face Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. Sunday Night gives us the Bengals hosting the Ravens in the contentious AFC North clash. 

Monday Night PrimeTime on ESPN is bound to be the 2nd most watched game this season, as the Dallas Cowboys head to Tampa to take on the Bucs and TB12. A week 1 rematch, and what a game it should be too,

Predictions? I’m going: 49ers, Chargers, Bills, Giants, Bengals, Cowboys.

As always, thanks for spending part of your week with us. I’m @CallumJDSquires on Twitter and Instagram if you want to say hi, or discuss any of your NFL opinions. Enjoy your week, and see you here for Wildcard Recap next week! Cheers.

feature image credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Callum Squires

NFL/CFB ANALYST

CALLUM IS FROM LONDON, BUT PLAYED COLLEGE SOCCER AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. CALLUM IS A LONG-SUFFERING DOLPHINS FAN WHO BELIEVES THE TUA HYPE. NOW BACK STATESIDE, HIT HIM UP ON TWITTER @CALLUMJDSQUIRES!

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