The Buffalo Bills ended their slim Playoff chances last Sunday in Oakland. The 26-24 lose to the Raiders eliminated the Bills. It’s been 15 straight years since the Bills made the Playoffs–a sign of the dysfunction of this team. Today’s game against the Patriots is practically a pre-season game. Fans on our local Sports Talk radio station are clamoring for the Bills to start last year’s Number One Draft Pick, E. J. Manuel. Manuel was benched after the fourth game this season in an ugly loss to the Houston Texans. Kyle Orton then became the QB with his usual mix of Good Games and Bad Games. Changes will be made, both coaches and players, in the off-season. Is your favorite NFL team headed for the Playoffs?
After last week’s loss to the Falcons (along with the Falcons and the Panthers winning), the 6-9 Saints lost their chance at a post-season berth. Today they journey to Tampa Bay to play a meaningless game against the 2-13 Bucs. The Saints must make some changes in the off-season, starting with the firing of defensive-coordinator, Rex Ryan, who’s been pretty much a bust. There’s a focus definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That’s Ryan: he calls the same plays over and over, even when the opposing teams is gaining huge yards on every play.
If you can’t tell, I’m kinda bummed about this season!
Deb, I can relate to your frustration. Like the Saints, the Bills had their chances to make the Playoffs…but stumbled. Changes are looming in the off-season for both teams.
Rex Ryan was bad in Dallas and now he’s bad in New Orleans. How does he keep getting hired?
The good ol’ boys network?
Naw, that would never happen!
Bill, I’ve never been a fan of any of the Ryans: Buddy, Rex, or Rob.
Ha! As if. At least the Giants have righted the ship and with Victor Cruz returning to play opposite Odell Beckham, Jr. next year should be better…barring another spate of injuries like this year. At least their schedule shouldn’t be as brutal, right? Or not. They’ll still have to face Dallas and Philadelphia twice each, but they will be playing the hapless Jets next year.
After Giants-Eagles and Jets-Dolphins we are getting the three games that mean the most today: Panthers-Falcons (sorry, Deb0, Lions-Packers and Steelers-Bengals.
So far it looks like we might see the first repeat Super Bowl winner in ten years. The Seahawks look nearly unbeatable.
Jeff, the Giants are only a couple players away from being a Playoff team again. I agree with you: the Seahawks look invincible.
Rex Ryan is the Jets coach. It’s his twin brother Rob in New Orleans.
Sorry–I get their names confused!
Rob is the one with grey hair, which he’s earned!
Sorry, Jeff, but the game that means the most today is Seattle – St. Louis, as it’s for home field all the way in the NFC. Okay, I’m biased. The Rams can produce upsets, so if the Seahawks let up the least bit it could get ugly. Still, they are in the playoffs regardless, in spite of being counted out six weeks ago. Their problem is that, doing so well these last few seasons, they never get the good draft picks, though they do a good job with the ones they do pick up.
Of the other games, the Packers – Lions is the one I want to see. I guess there’s no late game this week?
Rick, the “late” game is Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh. That game has Playoff implications, too.
8:30 ET is Pittsburgh-Cincinnati.
I meant “most important” as in “the difference between being in the playoffs or out” and “possible first round bye vs. wild card.” Otherwise you could say the Chargers, Ravens and Texans games are the most important…to their fans. I don’t think anyone things the Rams are going to win in Seattle, especially after what the Giants did to them at home last week.
Thanks, Jeff, the listing in the paper was incomplete. Yes, I see what you mean, and I guess they are all important to the fans of any particular team. I’m trying to figure out who the Seahawks might play next, assuming they win today. Would it be the NFC South winner?
Rick, if the Seahawks win today, they get a First Round Playoff bye. Then they would play the lowest ranked winner of the First Round games.
I knew how it would work, I was trying to figure out who would be the most likely opponent. Congrats on the win today, George.
What good does it do that the Bills are winning in New England now?
Hard to believe that San Diego could have that huge comeback win in San Francisco and blow it all by losing in Kansas City. If I’m correct that means Houston (if they hold on to their current lead) would make the playoffs instead, since Baltimore is losing.
Rick, it’s confusing. If Detroit wins in Green Bay (unlikely but possible) they would get a bye along with Seattle and Dallas plus the South winner (Carolina or Atlanta) would host the wild card games next week against Green Bay and Arizona. As George said, the lowest seed (i.e., NOT Dallas) would play in Seattle. In Green Bay wins today they get the #2 seed and week off. The same thing goes re Seattle and Dallas. Dallas as the #3 seed cannot play the #1 seed (Seattle, presumably) first no matter what. Of course if both win then they’d play in the NFC Championship game.
I think that’s right. George?
Now Baltimore has pulled ahead. If they win and San Diego loses, Baltimore is in no matter what Houston does.
…and San Diego has lost, so KC is in Meanwhile the Tampa Bay Bucs will have the first draft pick. Mariota, I guess.
Jeff, the Bills won a meaningless game in Foxboro. Tom Brady only played the first half. But, on the Plus Side the Bills finish 9-7, their first winning record in a decade. The Baltimore Ravens are in while the Chargers and the Chiefs are out. The later games will resolve the NFC Playoff picture.
See, I told you the Seahawks would win.
😉
Matthew Stafford is awful in Green Bay. Of course his receivers dropping the ball repeatedly doesn’t help. Carolina is making mincemeat out of the Falcons.
Jeff, the Lions haven’t won in Green Bay since 1991. The Carolina Panthers look very good. The Falcons could be a Dark Horse in the Playoffs. And, the Saints came back to win!
Oaky, now it’s figured out: Seattle, in 2 weeks, will play either Arizona, Detroit or Carolina. THAT’S what I was trying to figure out. They will not play Green Bay or Dallas even if those teams win. That was what I meant by figuring out who Seattle will play. I’m really afraid of Dallas this year. At least whoever it is will have to play in Seattle, which may help a little.
Rick, the Road to the Super Bowl goes through Seattle in the NFC. Dallas is 8-0 on the road this year. I wouldn’t want to face them if I were the Seahawks!