2022 outlook going into Wk#13's NO@TB MNF matchup

[74_75_78_79_]

FIRST thing that sticks out - Jimmy G out for the year! Yes, its defense first in San Fran, and then the run-game! But QB play comes in third; even if he's asked to simply not screw things up. I thought Jimmy G was good enough to complement SF to a SB this February. But now you have this year's 'Mr Irrelevant' under center. KEEP him there! He's already been working in the system under Kyle. Bringing in Baker Mayfield, and catching him up to the playbook and reps, so doesn't feel like the answer. I'm STILL going to stick with San Fran getting themselves into the SB along with STILL picking Miami to beat them in that very game! And this even if Miami loses to Buffalo which I think they'll likely do (and it should, in that event, be their very final defeat; unless they lose their finale because their playoff-positioning already set-in-stone).

Eagles 11-1 as they were in both '80 & '04. Clearly no paper tiger even if they end up, like those very two, not winning-it-all. They made that even more-so the case yesterday by dismantling a solid Titans team, further solidifying their #1 regular season Power Rankings form!

Chiefs are likely a bit better than Cincy; but Bengals definitely have their #! As has been the case thus far in the Mahomes era, Chiefs have an Achilles heel. It didn't stop them from winning the SB anyway three years back. But it has the two previous seasons; and not only will it this year as well, but they again won't win the AFC this year either. If not Miami, then Cincy themselves or Buffalo can push them out the way. Take your pick.

Don't look now, but looking at 5-7 Steelers' remaining schedule (Balt, @Car, Raiders, @Balt, Cle), 9-8 or even 10-7 is not an impossibility! Such an accomplishment, in 'Year One' after Ben, can only further strengthen Tomlin's Historic stock, and make '89 look ho-hum (well not really, it'll still take quite more to supplant that very special Noll's-last-hurrah campaign)! And in the other conference, if Campbell's Lions can just get past Minn and then at NYJ...the same 9-8 or 10-7 finish may apply to them as well! Those close losses early on now turning into 'W's, this past Sunday being a convincer! And against a team who apparently declared respectability last week vs the Ravens!

Commanders/Giants tie yesterday just shows that they are 'tied' for 'last' in their all-winners division. And with that, tonight's division game between a 4-8 and a 5-7 team has...playoff implications! Sad. As painful as it would be for a losing team to not only make the playoffs, not only win a playoff game ('10 Hawks), but go all the way to the Super Bowl (a la '59 Lakers/'81 Rockets to the NBA Finals), would actually be WORTH it if only meaning (especially if it hurts the ratings) that the league finally does something to rectify the situation?? For the trillionth time from Yours Truly...bring each conference back to THREE divisions! And with a preferred back to 6 playoff teams per if not even less than that. Bring Seattle back to the AFC! Yes, more success since joining the NFC. And, yes, they have created significant rivalries with each team in their 'new' division. But, to me, not as big as the ones with Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders. Bring the Colts back into the AFC East and bring back the AFC 'Central' along with bringing back in the Jags & Titans. I loved that BIG six-team division it was from '99-thru-'01 (many rivalries, old and new, crammed in there)! NFC 'Central' as well as bringing back in Tampa Bay! No true rivalries the last time they were there, but have been a relative-contender since so they should fit back into the black-and-blue better than before - Florida team or not! Bring Carolina back to the NFC West and bring the Texans into the NFC East! Think about it, being in the same division with DALLAS ('Battle of Texas' twice a year) along with other big market teams can only add more security to the franchise's survival! Cardinals? Either keep them in the West with their newer rivals making that the conference's 6-team division, or bring them back to the East with their old foes making it the sixer. Take your pick.

Okay, already off-subject so now get off-soapbox as well.

[Brian wolf]

The real question is, who is willing to pay Mayfield 800,000 a game to complete the season ?
The Niners, Seahawks, Titans, Giants and Jets could consider him possible playoff insurance but he has to learn their system while adapting to teammates quickly. The Niners make the most sense but Purdy may stay relevant after all and the Giants might snatch him quicker.

The Titans and Bucs will win their weak divisions but need to utilize their best players smartly. The Bucs like to throw and the Titans need to work on their passing game as well because if either QB loses in the wild card rounds, they both may be gone next year. Best to have a fresh Fournette and Henry to carry the load in the playoffs ...

I still believe the Patriots and Jones could get in the postseason as well, where hopefully their running game can take the pressure off Mac and the defense.

[Citizen]

I was struck to learn that only one team in each conference has been eliminated from playoff contention (Chicago and Houston). Nine teams with at least eight losses are still hanging around. I guess the NFL has finally reached parity heaven.

[Brian wolf]

Rams got Baker Mayfield cheaper than I expected. Could these last games be enough of an audition for the Rams to try and keep him next year or another team to gamble and sign him as a starter?
Texans should have gotten him and tried to see if he wants to stay there ...

[JWL]

And in the other conference, if Campbell's Lions can just get past Minn and then at NYJ...the same 9-8 or 10-7 finish may apply to them as well! Those close losses early on now turning into 'W's, this past Sunday being a convincer! And against a team who apparently declared respectability last week vs the Ravens!

You still don't think much of the Jets, huh?

Your only mention of them was negative, that they are potential cannon fodder for a below .500 team.

[74_75_78_79_]

And in the other conference, if Campbell's Lions can just get past Minn and then at NYJ...the same 9-8 or 10-7 finish may apply to them as well! Those close losses early on now turning into 'W's, this past Sunday being a convincer! And against a team who apparently declared respectability last week vs the Ravens!

You still don't think much of the Jets, huh?

Your only mention of them was negative, that they are potential cannon fodder for a below .500 team.

That wasn't a slight on the Jets at all. In fact, the other way around. I acknowledged both Minn and NYJ as if to say that those are quality opponents ahead for Detroit; and if they can just get past them (win both those games), the rest of schedule would be relatively easy.

Now the pre-season pick I made having Jets at 4-13? Yes, terrible call. I clearly won't predict such a thing of them next pre-season. But if you look back, I realized right before opening kickoff that 4-13 was too harsh. But I still thought they'd finish in 4th due to feeling the Buffalo's regular season would be what everyone else expected, me thinking Dolphins woild win-it-all, and the other team being HC'd by...Belichick!

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

And somehow Brady is leading the NFL in completions and leads the NFC in passing yards. Hard to really count him out until Tampa is actually knocked out of the playoffs. Remember, it was a long pass and last-second fg that knocked him out last year - in a game that looked like it was over long before it was. I'm not a Brady rooter but he is probably not going to go down easily.

[racepug]

I was waiting until about a ¼ of the regular season was left to weigh in on this. I think by now it should be pretty clear who the contenders, pretenders, and also-rans are in the league this year. So I'll get right to it with my current rankings for the top teams in each conference:

AFC: 1) BUF, 2) CIN, 3) K.C., 4) MIA, 5) TEN/BAL, 6) BAL/TEN

NFC: 1) PHI, 2) SFO, 3) the team based in TX, 4) MIN, 5) DET, 6) T.B., 7) WAS, 8) SEA/NYG, 9) NYG/SEA

Obviously the playoffs can spring surprises on us all but at this point I honestly don't see any of the teams further down than 3rd on either of those lists as being true contenders for the Lombardi Trophy this year. We'll see!

[racepug]

And somehow Brady is leading the NFL in completions and leads the NFC in passing yards. Hard to really count him out until Tampa is actually knocked out of the playoffs. Remember, it was a long pass and last-second fg that knocked him out last year - in a game that looked like it was over long before it was. I'm not a Brady rooter but he is probably not going to go down easily.

Funny you should mention that because in a write-up I saw of T.B.s one-sided loss to SFO was this: "And Tom Brady at times looked - dare I say it? - like somebody who shouldn't contemplate coming back in 2023."

[racepug]

You still don't think much of the Jets, huh?

FWIW I think it's entirely possible that the Jets beat SEA in Week 17 no matter what their (the Jets') QB situation is at that time. The Seahawks had a 4-week stretch where they looked like a true playoff contender. Outside of that they've pretty much sucked (especially on "D" which is what Coach Carroll prides himself on) this season.