NFL Week 17 Sunday Reviews

**Colts vs. Giants**

The NFL strongly condemns teams that tank or purposely lose for better draft pick odds. A few years ago, the Dolphins were fined and docked a first-round pick for a scheme to intentionally lose games. The Giants entered Week 17 in the driver's seat for the number one overall pick and only needed a nod to dive against the Colts, who had the best playoff odds of the three teams waiting for the Broncos to potentially fall. The Giants' offense could have opted to punt, but when Joe Flacco throws you the game with three turnovers, their chances dwindled. The Colts' defense struggled to tackle Malik Nabers, leading the Giants to an incredibly poor first home win in history.

Flacco finished the game with 330 yards and two touchdowns, including a massive 49-yard bomb that set up a Colts score. However, Drew Lock and the Giants proved to be too much. Lock went 17 of 23 for 309 passing yards with five total touchdowns—four through the air and one on the ground—boasting a passer rating of 155.3 with some big-time throws. Giants rookie Malik Nabers exploded with 7 catches for 171 yards, showcasing an average of 17.6 yards after catch per reception. This win drops the Giants to the sixth-best odds in the draft. Many expected them to draft their future quarterback number one overall, but they are not completely out of the quarterback race, as New England assumes the number one spot. The Giants may not like any of the quarterbacks in this draft and might focus on improving their horrendous offensive line once again.

The Colts may not draft a quarterback, but they do have a decision to make. Anthony Richardson, who didn’t play in this game, has struggled as a passer, and with injuries, Joe Flacco cannot serve as a bridge quarterback either, as he would likely doom Indy’s season. Shane Steichen may have ended his run as the Colts’ coach after giving up 45 points to the Giants’ offense, which had been at the bottom of the league, averaging only 16.3 points per game.

Two seasons ago, I stood first in line ahead of last year's draft to champion Anthony Richardson as the best quarterback in the draft. The Florida product lacked experience and had obvious accuracy and mechanical issues, but his talent jumped off the film. New Colts head coach Shane Steichen, known as a quarterback guru, started Richardson right away. Yes, Richardson showed promise, but his inefficiencies also progressed as he needed time to develop.

Steichen and the Colts should have implemented a development plan similar to the one Green Bay used for Jordan Love, even though the Colts didn’t have a four-time MVP like Aaron Rodgers to guide him as the established starter. At one point, Colts head coach Shane Steichen told fans that Joe Flacco gave the team a better chance to win than Anthony Richardson. Of course, that statement proved to be incorrect, especially as Flacco's propensity for turnovers put the Colts in a hole early. Flacco attempted to dig the Colts out of the grave he had created with two second-half touchdowns, in addition to a touchdown from Jonathan Taylor. However, the explosive plays couldn’t overshadow the clouded vision of Flacco’s poor performance. The Colts would end the game with two more turnovers: a wayward interception and a sack fumble that effectively ended their playoff chances.

**Buccaneers vs. Panthers**

The Buccaneers, led by Baker Mayfield, responded to the pressure of their precarious playoff position by dominating the Panthers 48-14. The Bucs pulled their starters midway through the fourth quarter, but not before generating 551 offensive yards, including 202 rushing yards—113 of which came from Bucky Irving, who also added four catches for 77 yards through the air. Mike Evans fell just 15 yards short of his coveted 11th straight 1,000-yard season. While either Ja'Marr Chase or Joe Burrow will likely win Offensive Player of the Year, Baker Mayfield deserves some recognition, having reached 4,000 passing yards for the second consecutive season. He completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns, achieving a passer rating of 153.0. This was easily Mayfield’s best outing of the season and a near-perfect response to the disappointing end of Week 16. The Bucs' offense scored on all but two drives in the game, with both drives occurring at the end of each quarter.

Bryce Young’s reclamation season slowed down, as he completed 15 of 28 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns, and five sacks, resulting in a passer rating of 100.7. He will have one more game against the Falcons to solidify his case to remain the team’s starter. While I expect the Panthers to retain Young, they will need to bring in legitimate competition.

The Bucs once controlled their playoff fate—at least, that’s what we like to say—but no one team controls its playoff destiny; a thousand variables play a role. Even the forecast impacted their fate. With one of the easiest remaining schedules in football, the Bucs needed to beat a couple of under-.500 teams to win the NFC South. After a careless game against the Cowboys, the Bucs suffered two fourth-quarter turnovers, opening the door for the Falcons to take over the South like crunk music in the 2000s. The Buccaneers’ offense started hot with a 6-play, 70-yard drive, capped off by a 31-yard pass.

**Dolphins vs. Browns**

Amid all the hype surrounding the Bengals' victory over the Broncos and their playoff hopes, the Dolphins quietly enter Week 18 with better odds than the Bengals based on conference record. A 20-3 win against the Browns leveled the Dolphins at 8-8, achieving a .500 record for the first time since Week 2. Without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins rallied behind Tyler Huntley and Tyreek Hill to secure their eighth win, marking their sixth in the last eight games.

Tyreek Hill, who hadn't approached his league-leading receiving yard totals in the final weeks, finished the game with nine receptions for 105 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season. Tyler Huntley completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 111.5. The health of the Dolphins will be a point of concern heading into Week 18, but head coach Mike McDaniel is likely eager to win this game to secure a winning season. Questions about McDaniel's credibility arose earlier in the season, but an injury-ravaged Dolphins team has responded well to reach .500.

**Jaguars vs. Titans**

The Jaguars redeemed themselves after last week's disappointing loss to the Raiders by defeating the Titans 20-13. The Jaguars jumped out to an early 13-3 lead and maintained it throughout the game. Mac Jones completed 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 122. Jaguars rookie receiver Brian Thomas had an impressive game with seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

For both the Jaguars and Titans, this late-season matchup held little significance, but it did improve the Titans' draft odds. A top-three quarterback may be in order for the Titans, while their quarterback, Mason Rudolph, completed 19 of 31 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and was sacked three times, suggesting that bolstering the offensive line should be a top priority.

**Jets vs. Bills**

In the wake of the collapsing Patriots dynasty in 2019, the rest of the AFC East seized an opportunity for competitiveness. No longer would one team or one player dominate; each team adapted to claim their shot at glory. The Bills have now taken over the Patriots’ former role as the unquestioned power in the division. The Jets hoped that the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers, coupled with Stefon Diggs' departure and the decline of the Bills' defense, would level the playing field. However, the Bills continued to dominate, defeating the Jets 40-14, with Josh Allen delivering another MVP-caliber performance, completing 16 of 27 passes for 182 yards, along with two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Aaron Rodgers' tenure with the Jets may have effectively ended during this game; he threw two interceptions and failed to score, completing 12 of 18 passes for 112 yards before being benched with the Jets trailing by 40 points. Tyrod Taylor came in and threw two touchdowns for cosmetic purposes. The Bills sacked Rodgers four times, while Garrett Wilson, amidst the pre-offseason trade rumors, led the Jets in receiving with 66 yards on seven receptions.

What once seemed promising for the Jets has now devolved into disappointment with regression in their defense and star player Breece Hall. The Jets remain one of the few NFL teams that have failed to make significant progress since the late 2010s. While Josh Allen's performance may not have been ground-breaking, he did make impressive plays as the Bills wrapped up the second seed in the playoffs.**Dolphins vs. Browns**

Amid all the hype surrounding the Bengals' victory over the Broncos and their playoff hopes, the Dolphins quietly enter Week 18 with better odds than the Bengals based on conference record. A 20-3 win against the Browns leveled the Dolphins at 8-8, achieving a .500 record for the first time since Week 2. Without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins rallied behind Tyler Huntley and Tyreek Hill to secure their eighth win, marking their sixth in the last eight games.

Tyreek Hill, who hadn't approached his league-leading receiving yard totals in the final weeks, finished the game with nine receptions for 105 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season. Tyler Huntley completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 111.5. The health of the Dolphins will be a point of concern heading into Week 18, but head coach Mike McDaniel is likely eager to win this game to secure a winning season. Questions about McDaniel's credibility arose earlier in the season, but an injury-ravaged Dolphins team has responded well to reach .500.

**Jaguars vs. Titans**

The Jaguars redeemed themselves after last week's disappointing loss to the Raiders by defeating the Titans 20-13. The Jaguars jumped out to an early 13-3 lead and maintained it throughout the game. Mac Jones completed 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 122. Jaguars rookie receiver Brian Thomas had an impressive game with seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

For both the Jaguars and Titans, this late-season matchup held little significance, but it did improve the Titans' draft odds. A top-three quarterback may be in order for the Titans, while their quarterback, Mason Rudolph, completed 19 of 31 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and was sacked three times, suggesting that bolstering the offensive line should be a top priority.

**Jets vs. Bills**

In the wake of the collapsing Patriots dynasty in 2019, the rest of the AFC East seized an opportunity for competitiveness. No longer would one team or one player dominate; each team adapted to claim their shot at glory. The Bills have now taken over the Patriots’ former role as the unquestioned power in the division. The Jets hoped that the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers, coupled with Stefon Diggs' departure and the decline of the Bills' defense, would level the playing field. However, the Bills continued to dominate, defeating the Jets 40-14, with Josh Allen delivering another MVP-caliber performance, completing 16 of 27 passes for 182 yards, along with two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Aaron Rodgers' tenure with the Jets may have effectively ended during this game; he threw two interceptions and failed to score, completing 12 of 18 passes for 112 yards before being benched with the Jets trailing by 40 points. Tyrod Taylor came in and threw two touchdowns for cosmetic purposes. The Bills sacked Rodgers four times, while Garrett Wilson, amidst the pre-offseason trade rumors, led the Jets in receiving with 66 yards on seven receptions.

What once seemed promising for the Jets has now devolved into disappointment with regression in their defense and star player Breece Hall. The Jets remain one of the few NFL teams that have failed to make significant progress since the late 2010s. While Josh Allen's performance may not have been ground-breaking, he did make impressive plays as the Bills wrapped up the second seed in the playoffs.

**Eagles vs. Cowboys**

The Eagles lost backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who started in place of Jalen Hurts due to an injury in the third quarter. At that point, Philadelphia had already built a comfortable lead of 27-7. Tanner McKee stepped in to help Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown finish off the game. The defense forced four turnovers to secure the NFC East title for the third straight season. Saquon Barkley continued his rush toward history; after a slow start, he became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards as he inched closer to the record. Barkley had 31 carries for 167 yards, leaving him just a hundred yards short of the milestone, with the Eagles having nothing to play for in the next week.

With Jalen Hurts sidelined, the Cowboys knew the Eagles’ offense would rely heavily on Saquon Barkley and the running game. However, predicting the offensive strategy and stopping it are two different challenges. In the battle of backups, Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush tossed an interception on the first drive while the Cowboys were in Eagles territory. The Eagles' defense showcased their skills with Chauncey Gardner-Johnson picking off Rush and returning the ball 70 yards to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. The Eagles' offense initially struggled, registering only 12 yards. However, under Kenny Pickett, they made significant progress. Pickett led a 10-play, 81-yard drive, highlighted by a spectacular 34-yard catch by tight end Grant Calcaterra, which set up a 22-yard touchdown catch by DeVonta Smith on a corner route. The Cowboys faced turnover issues again when tight end Jake Ferguson fumbled, giving the Eagles a short field and setting up a field goal, making the score 17-7, with 10 points generated from turnovers. Although Cooper Rush played better than anyone had expected in recent weeks, he threw his second interception of the game to Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Pickett then connected with DeVonta Smith for 49 yards, setting up his quarterback sneak for a 24-7 lead, which was later extended to 27-7. The Cowboys’ downfall continued late in the third quarter. Although the Eagles lost quarterback Kenny Pickett to injury, second-year quarterback Tanner McKee connected with A.J. Brown twice, including a mesmerizing one-handed catch that didn’t count but dazzled viewers, and a 20-yard conversion that put the Eagles up 34-7.

**Packers vs. Vikings**

The Packers remain a team capable of thrashing opponents but struggle against the top contenders in their division, akin to a low-tier character in Naruto. They have lost twice to the Lions and once to the Vikings, missing another opportunity for a significant upset. Their first touchdown came in the third quarter after a Sam Darnold interception and return that put the Packers in the red zone, where Josh Jacobs scored. This cut the Vikings' lead from 20-3 to 20-10. The Vikings missed two field goals but still held a 27-10 lead following a missed 43-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Love, who struggled for most of the game, managed to orchestrate two final drives: one consisting of 9 plays for 67 yards, with a rushing score from Emanuel Wilson, and a second drive after a Vikings punt that went 9 plays for 62 yards. This time, Love connected with Malik Heath for a quick three-yard touchdown. Unfortunately, the Packers’ comeback attempt fell short. Sam Darnold converted two first downs on the final drive, including an incredible catch by Cam Akers on a crucial 3rd-and-2, exhausting Green Bay’s timeouts and sealing the victory for the Vikings. This game highlighted that while the Packers can compete with any team in the NFC, their lack of elite talent at the wide receiver position limits their potential. Players like Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs stepped up late, making significant catches to contribute to the Packers' touchdown. However, they had a generally quiet first half.

Jordan Love finished the game with 19 completions on 30 attempts for 185 passing yards, one touchdown, a passer rating of 91.7, and three sacks. In contrast, Sam Darnold more than doubled Love's production, throwing for 377 yards on 33 of 43 attempts with three touchdowns and one interception, achieving a passer rating of 116.1 while passing for 20 first downs. Darnold completed four passes of over 20 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown to Jalen Nailor and a 37-yard catch to Justin Jefferson, who had 8 catches for 92 yards. Jalen Nailor contributed 5 catches for 81 yards. The Vikings secured their 14th straight victory, with their last loss coming against the Eagles. They are now set for a matchup against the Lions if Detroit can get past the 49ers. Ultimately, I still have more faith in the Lions than the Vikings in that contest.