2024 Season Notes Wks 14 - 18

[Bob Gill]

How many wins would the Chiefs have if their record was reflective of their general performance?

Just going by the ratio of their points scored to points allowed, their expected winning percentage would be .641, which translates to a final record of 11-6.

[JameisBrownston]

Yeah, they should have 5 or 6 losses. They're not a below average team and have been improving all month, but I don't know why they are being compared to the '11 Packers, who were a badass team with a transcendent QB that won convincingly most of the year, much closer to the '07 Pats than this Chiefs team. Like the former, their loss to the Giants was because the Coughlin Giants just knew how to take far better teams out of the playoffs in that day. This Chiefs team is like last year's Eagles, on paper, and should fold to a meh team like the Eagles did to Tampa.

That said, yesterday showed that there's a possibility they have been holding back much of the year, knowing they could win without burning themselves out and saving everything they have for the playoffs. So we may be seeing the beginnings of a very different team. The roster still isn't elite on paper, though, so I'm not sure how much more they have in reserve and if it's enough to deal with the Bills, or the Ravens when they call the right plays, i.e. don't go down 3-0 and immediately abandon the run.

[Brian wolf]

Looks to me like the Chiefs are saving Hopkins for the playoffs. He hasnt done hardly anything the last several weeks and the team is still winning easily ...

[Brian wolf]

Exciting game in Cincinatti. Tee Higgins made a huge case for staying with the Bengals but Chase will get the huge contract over him. Denver played tough but couldnt get a drive going towards the end. Bettors on Denver had the game won if the Bengals kick the game winning FG in OT but instead, watch the miss, and the Bengals score a TD on their next opportunity.

[Brian wolf]

Let the Postseason begin ... for certain teams anyway.

--Regardless of the Lions-49ers outcome, the Lions-Vikings game will be for the bye week and home-field advantage. Can the Lions seal the deal or will Darnold continue his incredible, story-book season for Minnesota, by leading his team to a divisional title with 15 wins?

--For Miami, Cincy and Denver, the playoffs start this weekend. Denver gets in with a win over KC. If they lose and the Dolphins win, the Dolphins advance. I believe Tua will play. Cincy needs to win against Pitts and have the other two teams lose.

--Ravens should beat the Browns for the North.

--The Bucs beat the Saints, they are South champions.

--Seahawks could win 10 games and miss the postseason.

--Barkley could rest or set the rushing record? I predict he sits.

[Brian wolf]

Eagles make it official. Barkley will sit against the Giants. Probably one of the few times, a player or team, somewhat, disregards the perks of an expanded schedule, though teammates, fans and observers may disagree. I agree with the decision, because the playoffs need to be priority--after seeing what happened with Henry after the 2020 season--yet it has to be bittersweet for Barkley, knowing what he could do to his former team for the record.

Had the Giants given him priority over Buzz Lightyear after the 2022 season, he might have stayed with them.

[Brian wolf]

The Steelers losing streak continues. Butchered the clock after the two minute warning and never spiked it to regroup. The worst game I have ever seen Pickens play with drops galore. Time for the Steelers to start thinking about moving on from him. I would go for Higgins, Cooper or even-gulp-Diggs for next season. Will they keep Russell Wilson, who kept fighting tonight despite receivers dropping passes?

[Brian wolf]

After one season, the Patriots Kraft decided to hold the Mayo from getting a second season. When the news was announced on the radio broadcast of the Denver-KC game, one of the announcers mentioned "it was because he is black". He is probably right, but I still felt Mayo would get a second season.
After being snubbed for the Hall again and being criticized by the ESPN network, a difficult season for Kraft and Patriots fans.
Did winning this game against Buffalo and losing the 1st overrall pick, seal the deal?

It was surreal watching Mike Evans and the Bucs celebrating his 1000 yrd season, like they won the SB. This team played lousy and uninspired all day but like clockwork, put it together to win the game and the division. They better hope they can put it together next week against the Vikings or Lions.

The Titans, like the Giants, finally end one of the worst seasons in their history. They get the #1 overrall pick, which probably got Mayo fired in NE, but do they go for a talent like Travis Hunter, another QB like Cam Ward from Miami or trade down? Callahan will probably push the panic button and move on from Will Levis but with his arm and raw ability, hopefully, they can use him as a bargaining chip, if they take Hunter and go for a free agent QB?

Lets hope a lot of bettors didnt lose out of their shorts today because of lack of effort on the part of teams. Always the most difficult day to try to win a wager. I still cant believe the Ravens covered a 20 point spread last night.

Looks like the Broncos are easily in the playoffs with the Chiefs laying down today. Nobody wanted the Bengals anyway and as usual, the Softfins, will not challenge the Jets in a cold weather game. At least Rodgers will end a bad season with a win. Will he be back? I predict, yes ...

[JeffreyMiller]

The Steelers losing streak continues. Butchered the clock after the two minute warning and never spiked it to regroup. The worst game I have ever seen Pickens play with drops galore. Time for the Steelers to start thinking about moving on from him. I would go for Higgins, Cooper or even-gulp-Diggs for next season. Will they keep Russell Wilson, who kept fighting tonight despite receivers dropping passes?

Yes! By all means, take Diggs!

[Brian wolf]

Haha ... yeah, Tomlin probably wont grab Diggs with all the headache receivers he has had to deal with but somebody has to help out this team.

My bad, the Bucs get the third seed over the Rams. They will get the Commanders ... Rams will get Vikes-Lions loser.