NFL 2021: The Week 17 thread

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Christmas was Saturday, and Santa delivered: BIG MAN TOUCHDOWNS. Four of 'em!

Will Richardson Jr. (Jags) recovered a fumble in the end zone. Conor McDermott (Jets), Lane Johnson (Eagles) and Terence Steele (Cowboys) each caught TD passes. You can watch all four plays here.

According to The Ringer:

So far as I can tell, this was NFL history. There have now been 75 receiving touchdowns by offensive linemen since 1950, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Never before have there been three on one day. There were two linemen receiving touchdowns on December 12, 2010, but that was the previous record. There had been only two receiving touchdowns by offensive linemen this season, and there were only two all of last season. Then we got three in one day.

Why now? Why, all of a sudden, did three teams realize that giving the ball to their biggest players could have a big payoff? I have a theory. Big Man Touchdowns are skewed toward the end of the season. Of the 28 offensive linemen making touchdown receptions since 2008, two were in September, three were in October, 11 were in November, and 12 have been in December. This checks out from a strategic perspective. You can’t run this play twice in a season—it’s very easy to defend if anybody actually defends the lineman—so I’m guessing teams get to the end of the season and realize they can either use it or lose it. Either that, or offensive linemen are simply more capable of surviving in lower temperatures because their excess blubber insulates them from colder weather.

Speaking of The Ringer, you should probably be reading its Winners/Losers column that runs every Monday during the season. Good stuff.

And speaking of the Jags, here's a nice shot of Richardson's fumble recovery. Let me know what else you notice in that photo.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/ooYDezi.jpg)

BEST PRESSER OF THE WEEK

Joe Burrow says things after coming in at No. 4 on the NFL single-game passing yards leaderboard:

Q: Did you see (Ravens defensive coordinator) Wink Martindale's comments about not giving out gold jackets just yet?

Burrow: Yeah, I did.

Q: Did that mean anything or resonate to you at all?

Burrow: I think it was an unnecessary comment. I wouldn't say I was offended by it. I'm in year two. Who knows what's going to happen down the road? I didn't think it was a necessary comment.

Q: Was it on your mind as you were throwing for 525 yards?

Burrow:

IMAGE(https://media.giphy.com/media/1HAtZdE4vLyrnCKLph/giphy.gif)

One of these days the Ravens will get healthy and it'll be RIP Joe Burrow. Or maybe he'll throw for 600. Either way, I can't wait. The AFC North rules.

PLAYOFFS WATCH

Congrats to the Chiefs, Cowboys, Rams, Bucs and Cards, who clinched playoff spots in Week 15.

And congrats to the fans of the Jags, Lions, Texans, Giants, Jets, Seahawks, Bears and Panthers, who can stop pretending that they have a shot at the playoffs because their teams are toast.

If the playoffs started today:
* = clinched; **= division winner

AFC seeds (1-7): Chiefs** (11-4), Titans (10-5), Bengals (9-6), Bills (9-6), Colts (9-6), McCorkles, Dolphins (8-7)

AFC bubble teams: Chargers, Raiders, Ravens (all 8-7)

NFC seeds: Packers** (12-3), Cowboys** (11-4), Rams* (11-4), Bucs** (11-4), Cardinals* (10-5), Niners (8-7), Eagles (8-7)

NFC bubble teams: Vikings, Falcons, Saints (all 7-8)

POWER RANKINGS

Via NFL.com:

1. Packers (1 last week)
2. Chiefs (2)
3. Rams (4)
4. Bucs (3)
5. Colts (6)

Biggest gainer: Raiders (+5 to 16th)

Biggest loser: Cardinals (-5 to 10th)

MVP WATCH

Oh lord it's going to Aaron Rodgers isn't it. I'm sure Jake from State Farm will be happy for him.

PANTHERS MEDIA OF THE WEEK

This is a real quote from the Panthers HC:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/R3f9Njn.png)

My reaction:

IMAGE(https://media.giphy.com/media/LVJp7KDLg1jr6NdL7O/giphy.gif)

Here's the guy the Panthers will start at QB this week:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/3Fa57GJ.jpg)

I'm done with this team for this season. They're bad, boring and unwatchable. When Pat McAfee of all people calls the Panthers a high school program, it's time to watch something else on Sunday afternoons.

PS: A Charlotte radio guy asked for rap names for Matt Rhule. The best: Zero Cents, Sir Lose A Lot, Lil Process and Ja Rhule.

WEEK 17 SCHEDULE

(here are your coverage maps)

No Thursday or Saturday games this week, boo.

Sunday early: Eagles at Footbrawlers, *Rams at Ravens*, Bucs at Jets, Dolphins at Titans, Jags at Patriots, *Raiders at Colts*, *Chiefs at Bengals*, Giants at Bears, Falcons at Bills

Sunday late: Texans at Niners, Broncos at chargers, Lions at Seahawks, **Cardinals at Cowboys** (GOTW), The Thousand Percenters at Saints

Sunday night: Vikings at Packers

Monday night: Browns at Steelers (with ManningCast!)

BEFORE WE GO

Gridiron Heights has some thoughts on the MVP race:

I'm taking the red ball.

Speaking of the probable MVP, friend speaks my mind:

An excerpt of the 30 Rock "Bubble" episode.

Enix wrote:

And speaking of the Jags, here's a nice shot of Richardson's fumble recovery. Let me know what else you notice in that photo.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/ooYDezi.jpg)

A distinct lack of Urban Meyer?

Manning Cast! Hell yes.

Come on Ravens.

Fox's All Madden documentary that they originally broadcast on Christmas should now be available on Peacock, Hulu, and one more streaming service who's name escapes me. Watching the end definitely lands differently now that he's gone.

Paleocon wrote:

JT breaking down what is wrong with Baker

That first play was almost like they were doing the ol punting by QB INT, except it was 1st down. That okay was so QB 101 I have no idea why he threw it to the covered guy when the other WR was wide open. That's two simple reads in the middle of the field when your OL osngivjg you protection.

Baker was always overrated coming out of college and has never seemed comfortable since he lost the ability to bail out of the pocket to the right.

Enix wrote:

Speaking of the probable MVP, friend speaks my mind:

An excerpt of the 30 Rock "Bubble" episode.

Finally got around to watching this. Brilliant.

Rodgers is the heavy MVP favorite now and honestly shouldn't be. I still actually believe if any other player can put up the stats to challenge him the voters will happily not give it to Rodgers.

Funny part is LaFleur is also now betting favorite for coach of the year. He also has his warts if you break down games but he's no where the odds on favorite like Rodgers is. LaFleur probably deserves it for just managing to put up with Rodgers and if the team finishes the year with the best record.

15 finalists for the Hall of Fame announced.

IT'S TIME, MAKE IT HAPPEN, NFL.

BY MAKE IT HAPPEN I MEAN WHY WON'T YOU BASTARDS LET ME EMBED RONDE BURNING THE VET TO THE GROUND.

Jared Allen, eh? He had a few good seasons there but I'd put Torry Holt in way before JA.

And, yeah, maybe even Ronde Barber before JA.

Tony Boselli over all other O-linemen.

Pat Willis over all other linebackers.

I pretty much won't quarrel with any other picks. Ronde, Torry, sure.

Glad to see Sam Mills on the list. Sorry to see that Steve Smith didn't make the cut this year.

Enix wrote:

Glad to see Sam Mills on the list. Sorry to see that Steve Smith didn't make the cut this year.

I hope he goes into the Hall as a member of the Philadelphia Stars.

Rat Boy wrote:

Fox's All Madden documentary that they originally broadcast on Christmas should now be available on Peacock, Hulu, and one more streaming service who's name escapes me. Watching the end definitely lands differently now that he's gone.

I just watched this and totally agree. It's also on ESPN+, which may be the streaming service you were missing. Definitely worth a watch.

While in the process of conducting his research, Kirk Cousins contracted COVID, and will miss Sunday's critical playoff-push game vs. the Packers.

According to Schefty, he is experiencing symptoms.

Did his glass cage spring a leak?

Is Hester worthy of the hall?

Not a first ballot, but since kickers and punters are in there I'm okay with him. The dude is legit the best returner of all time and leads the league in return TDs, among other records.

And that's with folks trying to avoid kicking to him.

*Legion* wrote:

While in the process of conducting his research, Kirk Cousins contracted COVID, and will miss Sunday's critical playoff-push game vs. the Packers.

Of course he will, which means we get to watch someone named Sean Mannion start for the Vikings in the Sunday night game. Which I'll probably skip because it's not an actual game if only one team is playing.

Enix wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

While in the process of conducting his research, Kirk Cousins contracted COVID, and will miss Sunday's critical playoff-push game vs. the Packers.

Of course he will, which means we get to watch someone named Sean Mannion start for the Vikings in the Sunday night game.

That really much of a downgrade?

Dezlen wrote:

Is Hester worthy of the hall?

Any argument for inducting Devin Hester has to account for why Eric Metcalf isn't in.

If you're arguing 19 return TDs plus 17 offensive TDs belongs in the Hall but 12 return TDs plus 41 offensive TDs does not, you're gonna have to come up with a compelling argument why.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:
Enix wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

While in the process of conducting his research, Kirk Cousins contracted COVID, and will miss Sunday's critical playoff-push game vs. the Packers.

Of course he will, which means we get to watch someone named Sean Mannion start for the Vikings in the Sunday night game.

That really much of a downgrade?

Well, that may not be it...

As things currently stand, only Kellen Mond and Kyle Sloter are available on the Vikings’ 53-man roster. Sean Mannion is also on the COVID-19 list at the moment.

Might as well get a good look at Mond. I'd put the odds of the Vikings ditching Cousins this offseason at about 80%.

I really hope they start Mond so I can start my 5th fantasy QB of the year. Can't be worse than that week I started Tim Boyle.

iaintgotnopants wrote:

I really hope they start Mond so I can start my 5th fantasy QB of the year. Can't be worse than that week I started Tim Boyle.

Then you'd be tied with me. I started 5 this year too, haha.

Pink Stripes wrote:
UpToIsomorphism wrote:
Enix wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

While in the process of conducting his research, Kirk Cousins contracted COVID, and will miss Sunday's critical playoff-push game vs. the Packers.

Of course he will, which means we get to watch someone named Sean Mannion start for the Vikings in the Sunday night game.

That really much of a downgrade?

Well, that may not be it...

As things currently stand, only Kellen Mond and Kyle Sloter are available on the Vikings’ 53-man roster. Sean Mannion is also on the COVID-19 list at the moment.

ELLLLLLLLLL OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

ukickmydog wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

I really hope they start Mond so I can start my 5th fantasy QB of the year. Can't be worse than that week I started Tim Boyle.

Then you'd be tied with me. I started 5 this year too, haha.

I miscounted, I've actually started 6 this year. Forgot about Jameis...

ukickmydog wrote:

Forgot about Jameis...

Lucky you; I've been trying to do that for two years.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:
ukickmydog wrote:

Forgot about Jameis...

Lucky you; I've been trying to do that for A LIFETIME.

FTFY

I was gonna make a "Forget about Freeman" Half-Life reference, but we know Milkman will never forget Freeman. He just takes up too much space... in Milkman's mind I mean.

IMAGE(https://u.cubeupload.com/MilkmanDanimal/Urban.jpg)

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