We are back after a week break, now let us enjoy a football filled week and weekend.
This week we are getting football from Thursday all the way to Monday, including college. As the college playoffs begin, NFL teams are still fighting for the playoffs or playoff positionings. This week, we will be diving into a rookie quarterback making a late-season debut and an NFC East showdown that has major playoff implications.
Pick eight overall from the 2024 NFL Draft makes his debut in Falcons throwback uniforms
On Dec. 18, 2024, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris made this announcement: “After review, we have made the decision Micheal Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward. This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
The Falcons had benched veteran QB Kirk Cousins in exchange for Micheal Penix Jr. to start. What makes this move so interesting is Cousins was just paid this offseason: a four year, 180 million dollar contract with 100 million of that guaranteed. This easily makes Cousins the most expensive backup QB, maybe player, in NFL history. With all of that being said, I think that this is the right move for the future. But, it might not be the best decision for a team pushing for the playoffs though.
The Falcons offense has not been playing great, with Cousins being a major part of that, but you do not just bench a guy like that with how much money you have invested into him and this late into the season. Penix is left handed, which means this offense is going to be changed. Your right tackle is now your blindside, you will need to flip designed strength plays for Penix’s arm, and some other changes may be needed. Again though, I think this is the right move, and I could not be more excited to see Penix in this offense.
They have the pieces; they just need a flow to get going and maybe the Falcons can continue that playoff push. The Falcons have this game, will play at the Commanders next week and finish the season hosting the Panthers. You win out and you have a great shot at the playoffs. I would discuss the Giants here, but I am just gonna cut it how it is.
They suck and will be drafting a QB come April. They are a two win team, and looking at their schedule they may not win another game this season. With that being said, Penix is making his first start against a pretty good front seven which could give him some trouble. I expect the Falcons to win but the Giants to be “in it” only because this is Penix’s first start.
Final Score: Giants 14 – Falcons 24
The Eagles head over to Maryland in hopes of completing a sweep over the Commanders and win division
The Eagles might be the hottest team in football right now. They are on a 10 game winning streak and seemed to have gotten their passing game groove back last week against the Steelers where both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown apiece. Now they head to Washington in hopes of finishing the Commanders off and winning the NFC East.
Last time around, one could argue the Eagles dominated the Commanders. The score may not show it, but the Eagles put up 20 points in the fourth quarter of that game. A major part in that win was OPOY front-runner Saquon Barkley, who had 146 rushing yards and two rushing TDs. Barkley will be looking to repeat that performance and backbounce from his “weak” game versus the Steelers last week. A new piece of the Commanders, though, may put a stop to some of the Eagles’ great offensive play.
Back in week nine of the season, the trade deadline was right after those slate of games on the Tuesday of that week. The Commanders had been struggling against the pass all season and needed some help. They ended up trading some draft picks away for superstar cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore has been one of the best CBs in the NFL since entering the league in 2017. He has yet to play for the Commanders though due to injury. It is expected he will be making his debut this Sunday. Funny enough, this will be the second go-around Lattimore will have against the Eagles, as back in week four he and the Saints played them and barely lost.
This game should be fun, but I am not expecting anything high scoring just like last time. Expect a defensive showdown in the end with a few explosive plays here and there.
Final Score: Eagles 20 – Commanders 23
Remaining Games and Predictions:
TNF Broncos at Chargers: Game was already played. Actual Final Score: Broncos 27 – Chargers 34
Saturday, Texans at Chiefs: The Texans go into Kansas City and help the Bills out some. Final Score: Texans 27 – Chiefs 17
Saturday, Steelers at Ravens: The Ravens keep AFC North crown hopes alive with a nail biting win. Final Score: Steelers 22 – Ravens 23
Lions at Bears: The Bears offense shows some life but the Lions bounce back after last week’s loss. Lions 35 – Bears 31
Cardinals at Panthers: The Panthers crumble pretty much any dreams the Cardinals had at making the playoffs with a major upset. Final Score: Cardinals 20 – Panthers 30
Rams at Jets: The Rams keep on pushing for a season turnaround after a blowout win against the Jets. Rams 35 – Jets 13
Browns at Bengals: The Bengals keep slim playoff hopes alive in completing a sweep over the Browns. Final Score: Browns 10 – Bengals 24
Titans at Colts: The Titans end the Colts’ playoff chances with an upset win. Final Score: Titans 20 – Colts 14 OT
Vikings at Seahawks: The Seahawks fight and fight, but it is not enough to overcome the Vikings’ stout defense. Final Score: Vikings 20 – Seahawks 19
Patriots at Bills: The Bills do Bills things and drop 50 points on the Patriots. Final Score: Patriots 21 – Bills 52
Jaguars at Raiders: The Jaguars win a meaningless game, or so they think. Final Score: Jaguars 25 – Raiders 10
49ers at Dolphins: The Dolphins put the nail in the coffin for the 49ers playoff hopes. Final Score: 49ers 17 – Dolphins 30
SNF Buccaneers at Cowboys: The Buccaneers put up 40+ points in back to back weeks. Final Score: Buccaneers 42 – Cowboys 28
MNF Saints at Packers: The Saints almost pull off the upset, but the cold weather Packers hold off. Final Score: Saints 17 – Packers 24
Standings:
Guild:
Y = clinched division | X = clinched playoffs | Z = clinched first round bye | E = eliminated | ED = eliminated from winning division but still chance at wild card
AFC East
Bills (Y) 11-3 3-0 | Dolphins 6-8 3-2 | Jets (E) 4-10 1-3 | Patriots (E) 3-11 1-3
AFC West
Chiefs (Y) 13-1 5-0 | Broncos (ED) 9-5 2-2 | Chargers (ED) 8-6 2-2 | Raiders (E) 2-12 0-5
AFC North
Steelers (X) 10-4 3-1 | Ravens 9-5 2-2 | Bengals (ED) 6-8 1-3 | Browns (E) 3-11 2-2
AFC South
Texans (Y) 9-5 4-1 | Colts (ED) 6-8 1-3 | Jaguars (E) 3-11 2-2 | Titans (E) 3-11 1-2
NFC East
Eagles (X) 12-2 3-0 | Commanders 9-5 2-2 | Cowboys (ED) 6-8 3-1 | Giants (E) 2-12 0-5
NFC West
Rams 8-6 3-1 | Seahawks 8-6 3-2 | Cardinals 7-7 2-2 | 49ers 6-8 1-4
NFC North
Lions (X) 12-2 4-0 | Vikings (X) 12-2 3-1 | Packers 10-4 1-3 | Bears (E) 4-10 0-4
NFC South
Buccaneers 8-6 2-2 | Falcons 7-7 4-1 | Saints 5-9 2-3 | Panthers (E) 3-11 1-3
Playoff Bracket:
AFC: Division Leaders
1 Chiefs 100% | 2 Bills 100% | 3 Steelers 100% | 4 Texans 100%
AFC: Wild Card Teams
5 Ravens 99% | 6 Broncos 89% | 7 Chargers 98%
AFC: In the Hunt (within two games or less out of the playoffs)
Six win teams: 8 Colts 8% | 9 Dolphins 4% | 10 Bengals 3%
AFC: Outside of the Hunt (within three games or more out of the playoffs)
N/A
AFC: Eliminated Teams (eliminated from the playoffs)
Four win team: 11 Jets 0%
Three win teams: 12 Browns 0% | 13 Jaguars 0% | 14 Titans 0% | 15 Patriots 0%
Two win team: 16 Raiders 0%
NFC: Division Leaders
1 Lions 100% | 2 Eagles 100% | 3 Buccaneers 86% | 4 Rams 59%
NFC: Wild Card Teams
5 Vikings 100% | 6 Packers >99% | 7 Commanders 73%
NFC: In the Hunt
Eight win team: 8 Seahawks 30%
Seven win teams: 9 Falcons 39% | 10 Cardinals 14%
NFC: Outside of the Hunt
Six win teams: 11 49ers <1% | 12 Cowboys <1%
Five win team: 13 Saints <1%
NFC: Eliminated Teams
Four win team: 14 Bears 0%
Three win team: 15 Panthers 0%
Two win team: 16 Giants 0%
Teams that could clinch a playoff spot this week:
Steelers can clinch their division with…
- Steelers win
Ravens clinch playoff spot with…
- Ravens win
- Colts loss/tie + Dolphins loss/tie
Broncos clinch playoff spot with…
- Broncos win
- Colts loss/tie + Dolphins loss/tie + Bengals loss/tie
Chargers clinch playoff spot with…
- Chargers win + Colts loss/tie + Dolphins loss/tie + Bengals loss/tie
Eagles clinch division with…
- Eagles win/tie
Packers clinch playoff spot with…
- Packers win
Teams that could be eliminated from the playoffs this week:
Dolphins can be eliminated with…
- Dolphins loss/tie
Bengals can be eliminated with…
- Bengals loss/tie
Colts can be eliminated with…
- Colts loss/tie
Cowboys can be eliminated with…
- Cowboys loss/tie
- Commanders win/tie
49ers can be eliminated with…
- 49ers loss/tie
- Commanders win/tie
Cardinals can be eliminated with…
- Cardinals loss + Seahawks win + Rams win + Commanders win
Saints can be eliminated with…
- Saints loss/tie
- Buccaneers win/tie
