The Cowboys came into the game with a 6-7 record, but totally annihilated the Rams, who were fighting for a playoff spot which, while not now mathematically impossible, seems to have been put out of realistic reach by this loss. In order for the Rams to earn a playoff spot, they need to win the last two games while the Vikings lose both of theirs. That gives them an estimated 2% chance to make it. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, despite their 7-7 record, can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Eagles next week. The oddsmakers calculate about a 67% chance to make the post season.
The 49ers suffered a surprising home loss to the otherwise undistinguished Falcons. That was costly. After spending most of the season as the NFL’s best team, he 49ers are now in second place in their own division and face the prospect of entering the playoffs as a wild card team. (They can still win the division back. They will go head-to-head against the Seahawks in their final game.) There is some good news for the Niners: they, like the Seahawks, have clinched a post-season slot, so the only question is “Which slot?”
The Raiders lost their last-ever home game before moving to Las Vegas. That’s truly the end of an era and a tradition. The Oakland Raiders were a founding franchise of the old AFL. Their first stint in Oakland was memorable, including two Super Bowl wins. They were arguably the best team in football in the 1967-1980 era. Their best season in that epoch was 1976, when they went 13-1 in the regular season, then won the Super Bowl under John Madden. Their return to Oakland has not been so impressive, marked by declining attendance and poor performance on the field. (Only one of their last 17 seasons has been above .500.)
The Bengals unwisely showed up for their game against the Patriots. I guess it would have been difficult to claim they got lost on their way to a home game. Before finally losing by a zillion, they actually held a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. They will be telling their grandchildren about that. “I remember when we had ol’ Tom Brady down, but just couldn’t hold it.”
The Bills beat the Steelers, meaning that the Bills are in the playoffs and the Steelers are still battling to hang in there, with about a 30% chance to make-the post season.
Jameis Winston became the first player in NFL history to throw for 450 or more yards in consecutive games. He finished the first half with 308 yards. That was the 7th consecutive loss for the Lions.
The Ravens look great. The only potential weakness is that Lamar hasn’t yet proven himself in the playoffs, but if he carries it over, tthey could romp to the title. They’ve got the best offense/defense combo, and also the best FG kicker in the game.
and My Baltimore Ravens, now have the league best record, won the last 10 games, clinched their division, beat both the Patriots and 49ers who were at the time undefeated.
There is your Superbowl champs for 2020
oh and I live in Philly, so you would think that makes me an Eagles fan, but i left that team when they hired Rich Kotite to coach it back in the 90’s
Roger that. They do look like Super Bowl champs, and Vegas agrees.
In that streak they’ve beaten the best teams (Seahawks, 49ers, Patriots) and absolutely slaughtered the above-average ones (41-7 against the Texans, 45-6 against the Rams.)