NFL (2025 Season)

[webny99]

Aside from the Bills, that's probably the most vested interest I'd had in a game all season. Not just because the Lions are more the more likable team, but because them winning would have evened the records and been *way* better for the playoff picture in both conferences. Instead, there's little intrigue left to the NFC playoff picture, the Steelers win makes the AFC North race a likely dud, plus we're stuck for another season with the awful "Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record" narrative that needs to be fired into the atmosphere.

For the Lions that's as brutal a regular season loss as I can remember, and there are some truly awful contenders...

[thspfc]

For the Lions that's as brutal a regular season loss as I can remember, and there are some truly awful contenders...

Funnily, it's the second time in the last four seasons the Lions have dug their grave for the season by letting a supremely mediocre offense run and throw circles around them in week 16. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401437919/lions-panthers

[jmacswimmer]

As far as I can figure, there are two games at this point with possible playoff implications that would qualify as a Week 18 SNF game.... #5 LA Chargers @ #1 Denver Broncos and #1 Seattle @ #6 San Francisco.

Also Bucs-Panthers, Steelers-Ravens, Colts-Texans, and Bears-Lions.

Not all of those are guaranteed to set up as playoff clinching scenarios, but the path exists where they could.

Bears-Lions can almost certainly be scratched off the list now after this weekend. Since the Lions only remaining path to a wildcard is to win out + Packers lose out, the NFL would presumably want this game synced up with the Vikings-Packers game (whether at 1:00 or 4:25) should the Lions remain alive after next weekend.

[webny99]

^ Plus the Bears have already clinched a playoff berth. That game would have been ideal for SNF if it was Bears vs. Lions for the final wild card spot, which seemed plausible just a few short weeks ago...

The other 5 options remain in play, though some of them will likely be eliminated in Week 17.

[NWI_Irish96]

As far as I can figure, there are two games at this point with possible playoff implications that would qualify as a Week 18 SNF game.... #5 LA Chargers @ #1 Denver Broncos and #1 Seattle @ #6 San Francisco.

Also Bucs-Panthers, Steelers-Ravens, Colts-Texans, and Bears-Lions.

Not all of those are guaranteed to set up as playoff clinching scenarios, but the path exists where they could.

Bears-Lions can almost certainly be scratched off the list now after this weekend. Since the Lions only remaining path to a wildcard is to win out + Packers lose out, the NFL would presumably want this game synced up with the Vikings-Packers game (whether at 1:00 or 4:25) should the Lions remain alive after next weekend.

If the Bears beat SF next Monday, they'll still be in play for the #1 seed in the NFC, so I'd expect to see Bears-Lions go off at 4:25 with the two NFC West games. If Detroit is still in play for a spot, then Vikings-Packers also goes to 4:25, if not then at 1:00.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Christmas NFL song, to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

5 bored fanbases
4 eliminated teams
3 backup QBs
2 douchebag fanbases
And an Andy Reid wishing he was at the buffet

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Chiefs reach an agreement to move to the Kansas side of the market.

https://fox4kc.com/sports/chiefs/kansas-city-chiefs-will-leave-missouri-for-new-stadium-in-kansas/

[NWI_Irish96]

Chiefs reach an agreement to move to the Kansas side of the market.

https://fox4kc.com/sports/chiefs/kansas-city-chiefs-will-leave-missouri-for-new-stadium-in-kansas/

Bears are frustrated with progress in Illinois and have expanded their area of consideration to northwest Indiana.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

And now the Steelers won't have DK Metcalf for the rest of the regular season as he has been suspended after he had a physical confrontation with a Lions fan at yesterday's game. If the Steelers make the playoffs he can return then.

https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-wr-dk-metcalf-suspended-two-games-for-physically-confronting-fan-in-win-over-lions

[thenetwork]

Chiefs reach an agreement to move to the Kansas side of the market.

https://fox4kc.com/sports/chiefs/kansas-city-chiefs-will-leave-missouri-for-new-stadium-in-kansas/

And the Kansas City Royals are likely following suit.

[Henry]

Chiefs reach an agreement to move to the Kansas side of the market.

https://fox4kc.com/sports/chiefs/kansas-city-chiefs-will-leave-missouri-for-new-stadium-in-kansas/

Bears are frustrated with progress in Illinois and have expanded their area of consideration to northwest Indiana.

Then they can't be called the Chicago Bears anymore...oh wait, the Giants and Jets play in NJ and still claim to be from New York, but still, would the Colts really want to share their home state with the (erstwhile) Monsters of the Midway?

[jgb191]

but still, would the Colts really want to share their home state with the (erstwhile) Monsters of the Midway?

Which brings me to a perfectly questionable question: Those that live in Northwest Indiana -- Hammond, Gary, S. Bend, etc -- are those fans more likely Chicago sports fans or Indianapolis sports fans? 

I know of a life-long Indiana-resident was born and raised not too far from someplace called Valparaiso University (which he tells me is a lot closer to the Windy City than it is to Indianapolis) yet he's Pacers and Colts fan all the way but will support Chicago teams as long as their not playing against his home-state teams.  He also tells me that his town is a mix of both city's fanbases.

[NWI_Irish96]

but still, would the Colts really want to share their home state with the (erstwhile) Monsters of the Midway?

Which brings me to a perfectly questionable question: Those that live in Northwest Indiana -- Hammond, Gary, S. Bend, etc -- are those fans more likely Chicago sports fans or Indianapolis sports fans? 

I know of a life-long Indiana-resident was born and raised not too far from someplace called Valparaiso University (which he tells me is a lot closer to the Windy City than it is to Indianapolis) yet he's Pacers and Colts fan all the way but will support Chicago teams as long as their not playing against his home-state teams.  He also tells me that his town is a mix of both city's fanbases.

Northwest Indiana (Hammond/Gary/Valparaiso/Chesterton) are overwhelmingly Chicago sports fans, though you see more of a split among younger people.

South Bend and Lafayette get more of a mix.

[webny99]

... yet Wisconsin seems like a bright line. I suppose there is also the longstanding division rivalry at play there, and Milwaukee is big enough in its own right (having its own NBA and MLB teams) that there's a city vs. city dynamic that doesn't exist with anything in NW Indiana.

[ET21]

Bears back into 1st in the NFC North thanks to a Packers loss in Denver. The revenge game on Saturday likely seals the division.

Wouldn't say likely just yet. Two tough games after that still. Bears could end up 11-6 and not in the playoffs. Rams, Seahawks and Niners could all end up with 12+ wins and Lions at 11-6 would own tiebreaker on Bears.

Not anymore with Bears clinching thanks to a Det loss 

[webny99]

The overall playoff race actually looks pretty similar in each conference right now:

This continues to be the case.

Five teams clinched in each conference, four teams alive but unclinched with just one division and one wild card slot up for grabs, but each having a clear favorite*.

*Except for the NFC South, which will be decided by a coin flip, as always.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

... yet Wisconsin seems like a bright line. I suppose there is also the longstanding division rivalry at play there, and Milwaukee is big enough in its own right (having its own NBA and MLB teams) that there's a city vs. city dynamic that doesn't exist with anything in NW Indiana.

I don't hold back my deep dislike for the Packers, but there's really nothing like them in any American sport. No other state or fanbase so closely identifies with a team.

[webny99]

... yet Wisconsin seems like a bright line. I suppose there is also the longstanding division rivalry at play there, and Milwaukee is big enough in its own right (having its own NBA and MLB teams) that there's a city vs. city dynamic that doesn't exist with anything in NW Indiana.

I don't hold back my deep dislike for the Packers, but there's really nothing like them in any American sport. No other state or fanbase so closely identifies with a team.

State, perhaps. But for a fanbase [webny99 enters caricature mode], the Bills are right there if not more so a part of western New York culture. The difference is that the Bills are only part of the broader upstate/downstate division that unlike Wisconsin (or other states strongly associated with a team) doesn't have clear cut lines. But west of I-81, the cultural identification is absolutely as strong or stronger despite being blurred to outsiders by the shiny object of NYC in the same state.

[Henry]

but still, would the Colts really want to share their home state with the (erstwhile) Monsters of the Midway?

Which brings me to a perfectly questionable question: Those that live in Northwest Indiana -- Hammond, Gary, S. Bend, etc -- are those fans more likely Chicago sports fans or Indianapolis sports fans? 

I know of a life-long Indiana-resident was born and raised not too far from someplace called Valparaiso University (which he tells me is a lot closer to the Windy City than it is to Indianapolis) yet he's Pacers and Colts fan all the way but will support Chicago teams as long as their not playing against his home-state teams.  He also tells me that his town is a mix of both city's fanbases.

Northwest Indiana (Hammond/Gary/Valparaiso/Chesterton) are overwhelmingly Chicago sports fans, though you see more of a split among younger people.

South Bend and Lafayette get more of a mix.

Then maybe it won't be too bad, although it may be simply weird instead.

[NWI_Irish96]

but still, would the Colts really want to share their home state with the (erstwhile) Monsters of the Midway?

Which brings me to a perfectly questionable question: Those that live in Northwest Indiana -- Hammond, Gary, S. Bend, etc -- are those fans more likely Chicago sports fans or Indianapolis sports fans? 

I know of a life-long Indiana-resident was born and raised not too far from someplace called Valparaiso University (which he tells me is a lot closer to the Windy City than it is to Indianapolis) yet he's Pacers and Colts fan all the way but will support Chicago teams as long as their not playing against his home-state teams.  He also tells me that his town is a mix of both city's fanbases.

Northwest Indiana (Hammond/Gary/Valparaiso/Chesterton) are overwhelmingly Chicago sports fans, though you see more of a split among younger people.

South Bend and Lafayette get more of a mix.

Then maybe it won't be too bad, although it may be simply weird instead.

It's 32 miles from Soldier Field to the Arlington Heights site.

It's 30 miles from Soldier Field to the most likely site in NW Indiana (by Hard Rock casino).

[mgk920]

... yet Wisconsin seems like a bright line. I suppose there is also the longstanding division rivalry at play there, and Milwaukee is big enough in its own right (having its own NBA and MLB teams) that there's a city vs. city dynamic that doesn't exist with anything in NW Indiana.

I don't hold back my deep dislike for the Packers, but there's really nothing like them in any American sport. No other state or fanbase so closely identifies with a team.

State, perhaps. But for a fanbase [webny99 enters caricature mode], the Bills are right there if not more so a part of western New York culture. The difference is that the Bills are only part of the broader upstate/downstate division that unlike Wisconsin (or other states strongly associated with a team) doesn't have clear cut lines. But west of I-81, the cultural identification is absolutely as strong or stronger despite being blurred to outsiders by the shiny object of NYC in the same state.

The Bills are the only NFL team that actually plays their home games in NEW YORK, too.

The Packers are also a very strong nationwide ratings draw on TV, That's why they always seem to be getting the primo time slots, like this weekend's Ravens @ Packers game.

Mike

[Great Lakes Roads]

Week 17 update-

AFC East- Patriots
AFC West- Broncos
AFC North- Steelers
AFC South- Jags

NFC East- Eagles
NFC West- Seahawks
NFC North- Bears
NFC South- Panthers

AFC Wildcards- Bills, Texans, Chargers
NFC Wildcards- Packers, 49ers, Rams

Eliminated AFC teams: TEN, NYJ, MIA, CLE, LAS, CIN, IND, KC, BAL
Eliminated NFC teams: NO, NYG, ARI, WAS, MIN, ATL, DAL, TB, DET

[Great Lakes Roads]

Week 17 update-

The AFC:

Clinched a playoff spot: Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Chargers, Bills, Texans
In the hunt: Steelers
On the bubble: Ravens

The NFC:

Clinched a playoff spot: Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Packers
In the hunt: Panthers
On the bubble: Buccaneers

[TheHighwayMan3561]

So despite the odds with three teams playing backup QBs, all three games today ended up very competitive.

[mgk920]

Week 17 update-

The AFC:

Clinched a playoff spot: Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Chargers, Bills
In the hunt: Steelers, Texans
On the bubble: Colts, Ravens

The NFC:

Clinched a playoff spot: Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Packers
In the hunt: Panthers
On the bubble: Buccaneers

So then if the Packers win tomorrow, the Ravens are out of the playoffs.

Mike