Category: Game Analysis

Sunday Game Snippets: Week 5

Week 5 of the NFL season gets a fantasy take on every game.

There were plenty of lower-scoring games in Week 5 with about half producing 22 points or fewer. But there were a few big games and the Texans finally got off the losing track with their first win. The Eagles remain the last unbeaten team and will wear that target on their jersey this week against the Cowboys and every week until someone beats them.

Sunday Snippets – Week 1

Sunday game reviews from a fantasy perspective

Taking a quick rundown of the Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

NO 27, ATL 26
The Falcons held a 26-10 lead in the fourth quarter but let the Saints reel off 17 points to steal the win with 19 seconds left when Will Lutz kicked a 51-yard field goal. Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 120 yards and a score on 22 carries while the rookie Tyler Allgeier was inactive. Marcus Mariota threw for 215 yards and added 72 yards and a score on 12 runs. Drake London (5-74) opened his NFL career with a solid effort but Kyle Pitts was held to only two catches for 19 yards. The Falcons seemingly had this game won, but the Saints got hot at the end, and they could not stop them when it counted most.

Jameis Winston finished with 269 yards and two scores but a huge chunk of that came in the fourth quarter, including both scores to Michael Thomas (5-57, 2 TD). Jarvis Landry (7-114) led the team while the rookie Chris Olave was held to three receptions for 41 yards. Taysom Hill ran for 81 yards and a score on four rushes that included a 57 yard jaunt in the first quarter. The biggest disappointment was Alvin Kamara running for only 39 yards on nine carries and adding just seven yards on three receptions. It all came together late in the game and in the nick of time. The Saints rush defense under performed and the offense sputtered for much of the game.

CLE 26, CAR 24
The Panthers took a 24-23 lead with only 1:13 left to play but couldn’t keep the Browns from kicking a 58-yard field goal with eight seconds left to win the game. Jacoby Brissett only passed for 147 yards and one score. Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-60) dominated the targets while Amari Cooper was held to just three catches for 17 yards.  Nick Chubb ran for 141 yards on 22 carries, but Kareem Hunt was the player of the game with 11 runs for 46 yards and a touchdown, plus four catches for 24 yards and the other score. The Panthers gave them plenty to worry about, but in the end, they couldn’t stop their march down the field or their rookie kicker with a big leg.

The Panthers didn’t get much from Christian McCaffrey who ran for only 33 yards on ten rushes and caught four passes for 24 yards though he notched one touchdown run. Baker Mayfield’s chance to get back at his old team fell short. He threw for 235 yards and one score but only thanks to a 75-yard bomb that hit a wide-open Robbie Anderson (5-102, TD). D.J. Moore was limited to three catches for 43 yards. It was a disappointing debut for Mayfield who salvaged a bad performance with one long touchdown pass.

SF 10, CHI 19
They played in driving rain at times and the field was sloppy. Even factoring in the field conditions, the start of the Trey Lance era wasn’t pretty. Lance passed for only 164 yards and one interception. Jauan Jennings (4-62) and Brandon Aiyuk (2-40) were the top receivers, while Deebo Samuel only caught two passes for 14 yards but he ran for 52 yards and a score on eight runs. Elijah Mitchell only made it six carries for 41 yards before leaving with an injured knee. Lance was the top runner with 54 yards on 13 rushes, but it wasn’t nearly as encouraging of a debut as hoped. The rain and wet field was a definite factor.

Justin Fields was no better, throwing for only 121 yards and two scores, with one interception. The scores came on the only completions to Dante Pettis (1-51, TD) and Equanimeous St. Brown (1-18, TD). David Montgomery (17-26) was the primary runner and caught three passes for 24 yards, but Khalil Herbert (9-45, TD) was more effective. It was a sloppy game and the only takeaway was that Montgomery handled 2:1 carries to Herbert, despite the disparity in yards per rush (1.5 vs. 5.0).

PIT 23, CIN 20 OT

The Bengals lost after tying the score with two seconds left in regulation. Evan McPherson was one of the best kickers last year, but he missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in overtime, thanks to a bad snap. Joe Burrow had a slow start but ended with 53 passes and 338 passing yards that scored twice.  Ja’Marr Chase (10-129, TD) and Joe Mixon (7-63) were the top receivers. Tyler Boyd (4-33, TD) handled the other touchdown while Tee Higgins left with a possible concussion.  Mixon ran 27 times for 82 yards. The biggest factor in the loss was Burrow throwing four interceptions.

The Steelers didn’t do anything special other than not throw four interceptions. Najee Harris ran for only 23 yards on ten carries and hurt his foot. He added just three yards on two catches but one scored the only offensive touchdown. Mitchell Trubisky passed for 194 yards and one score with Pat Freiermuth as the top receiver with 75 yards on five catches. Diontae Johnson led with seven catches but only gained 55 yards. Chase Claypool saw expanded use, catching four passes for 18 yards and rushing for a team-high 36 yards on six carries. There’s a lot to be said for an offense that doesn’t make a mistake while their defense keeps getting turnovers.

IND 20, HOU 20 OT
Nothing like starting the year with a game that no one won. The Colts scored 17 fourth-quarter points to tie the game, but Rodrigo Blankenship missed a 42-yard field goal with two minutes in overtime to secure the not-win. In fantasy terms, this was a good effort with Matt Ryan passing for 352 yards and one score and yet only Michael Pittman (9-121, TD) was successful as a receiver, and Jonathan Taylor (31-161, TD) had a predictably monster performance. No on else did much, though Nyheim Hines (6-50) did see more targets than he did last year.

Davis Mills threw for 240 yards and two scores that both ended with the hot tight end free agent this week – O.J. Howard (2-38, 2 TD). Brandin Cooks (7-82) was the only other receiver with more than 31 yards since nine players recorded at least one catch.  Nico Collins (2-26) was not much help and the biggest surprise, at least to Dameon Pierce fans, was that the rookie only rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries while Rex Burkhead was better with 14 runs for 40 yards. The Texans looked better than last year but are still mostly limited to Brandin Cooks for an offensive weapon.

NE 7, MIA 20
The offense that no longer has Josh McDaniels remains a concern. Mac Jones passed for just 213 yards and one score failed to connect with any receiver for more than the 55 yards by Jakobi Meyers. Rhamondre Stevenson wasn’t the replacement for James White since he only caught two passes for two yards, while Damien Harris (2-10) and Ty Montgomery (3-15, TD) were also involved as receivers. Harris ran for 48 yards on nine runs while Stevenson gained just 25 yards on his eight carries. The offense was lethargic and involved nine receivers and four different rushers. There just wasn’t enough production to be so split up.

Tua Tagovailoa started slowly, but ended with 270 yards and one touchdown to Jaylen Waddle (4-69, TD) who scored on a 42-yard catch. Tyreek Hill’s debut provided a team-high eight catches for 94 yards and the two starting wideouts accounted for 17 of the 33 passes thrown. Chase Edmonds caught four passes for 40 yards but was the lead runner with just 25 yards on 12 rushes. The Fins’ rushing offense was anemic at best but faced an always-tough Patriots defense. The Fins didn’t have to do much to beat the punchless Patriots offense.

BAL 24, NYJ 9
The Ravens were without J.K. Dobbins, and Kenyan Drake (11-31) and Mike Davis (2-11) were little help. Drake added one catch for 15 yards but the backfield wasn’t effective. Lamar Jackson rushed for only 17 yards on six runs but threw three touchdowns during his 213 passing yards. Rashod Bateman (2-59, TD) and Devin Duvernay (4-54, 2 TD) handled the scoring while Mark Anderson (5-52) turned in a moderate showing. The Ravens won this one with ease, thanks to a defense that looks very much back to health.

Joe Flacco ended with 307 passing yards and one score, but could never consistently move the ball. Corey Davis (6-77) and the rookie Garrett Wilson (4-52) were the leading receivers and Elijah Mitchell (5-49) pitched in as well. True to their word, Michael Carter was the primary back with ten runs for 60 yards and a team-high seven catches for 40 yards. The rookie Breece Hall ran for 23 yards on six carries and caught six passes for 38 yards. The Jets trailed throughout and just didn’t look sharp.  Flacco rarely had much time to throw the ball.

JAC 22, WAS 28
The Jaguars led 22-14 in the fourth quarter but the Commanders managed two scores to end the game with a win. Carson Wentz passed for 313 yards and four touchdowns between Jahan Dotson (3-40, 2 TD), Curtis Samuel (8-55, TD), and Terry McLaurin (2-58) who was almost blanked but his fourth-quarter catches included the 49-yard touchdown. Antonio Gibson rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries as the workhorse of the backfield. He added a team-high seven catches for 72 yards. J.D. McKissic caught three passes for 20 yards but wasn’t as involved as expected.

Trevor Lawrence opened the year with 275 passing yards and one score to James Robinson who had a big game adding a second touchdown on his 11 runs for 66 yards. The debut of Travis Etienne had him with just four runs for 47 yards and just two catches for 18 yards. Christian Kirk (6-117) and Zay Jones (6-65) were productive in their first game as a Jag. The game was still promising for the Jags but a disappointment for Travis Etienne.

KC 44, ARI 21
Well. Tyreek who? The Chiefs had no problem laying a beatdown on the Cardinals in their stadium. Patrick Mahomes jump started his 2022 season with 360 passing yards and five touchdowns. Travis Kelce (8-121, TD). Clyde Edwards-Helaire (3-32, 2 TD), and Mecole Hardman (3-16, TD) all scored and JuJu Smith-Schuster (6-79) churned out fantasy value. Edwards-Helaire also ran for 42 yards on seven carries. Even Isiah Pacheco ran for 62 yards and a score while mopping up at the end of the matchup. The Chiefs’ offense looked just as dangerous even without Tyreek Hill.

The Cardinals’ score was only that high because they reached the endzone twice in the fourth quarter after the Chiefs had scored 37 points. Kyler Murray only passed for 193 yards and two scores and ran for 29 yards. Marquise Brown (4-43, TD) and Zach Ertz (2-14, TD) both scored but had minimal production otherwise. James Conner ran for 26 yards and a score on ten carries but the Cardinals never had a chance to establish the run since they trailed throughout the game. The Cardinals’ offense was sluggish in their home opener, but their defense put them in a bad situation.

LV 19, LAC 24
The debut of Davante Adams wasn’t enough to get the win, but he did his part with ten catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. David Carr passed for 295 yards and two scores, but also three interceptions. Darren Waller (4-79) and Hunter Renfrow (3-21) were the next best receivers, but as he did as a Packer, Adams was a target sponge. He was thrown 17 passes, no one else had more than six targets. Josh Jacobs (10-57) was effective rushing the ball, but the Raiders were forced to throw to stay in the game.

The Chargers won but didn’t score for the final 18 minutes of playing time, and no one had more than a moderate showing other than Justin Herbert, who threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns, Keenan Allen (4-66) led the receivers but left with a hamstring injury. DeAndre Carter (3-64, TD), Gerald Everett (3-54, TD) and Austin Ekeler (4-36) were the best producers, but Ekeler only added 36 yards on 14 carries for a lackluster first game. No Charger produced high fantasy points and 11 different receivers were used. But they outlasted the Raiders for an important divisional win.

GB 7, MIN 23
The Packers were the No. 1 seed in the NFC last year, but they opened their season with a 38-3 loss at the Saints. This time, it was losing to the Vikings. The first game of 2021 was meaningless and this one could be as well. But it was the first without Davante Adams, so it is notable. Aaron Rodgers only passed for 195 yards and one interception. AJ Dillon was the top receiver with five catches for 46 yards and no one else gained more than 37 yards. Dillion ran in the lone touchdown with his ten carries for 45 yards. Aaron Jones gained 49 yards on his five rushes and only caught three passes for 27 yards. It was oddly like last year’s opener, but Week 2 will show if they can bounce back.

The new offense in Minnesota looks great so far. Kirk Cousins passed for 277 yards and two scores that both went to Justin Jefferson (9-184, 2 TD). No other receiver caught more than three passes or gained over 36 yards.  Dalvin Cook ran for 90 yards on 20 carries but only caught three passes for 36 yards. The success of Justin Jefferson with CB Jaire Alexander playing was a surprise, but a positive sign for the new offense.

NYG 21, TEN 20
Another upset for Week 1. The Giants won the game thanks to Sterling Shepard catching a 65-yard touchdown and Saquon Barkley, who rekindled his bruising form from a few years back. He ran for 164 yards and one score on 18 carries and added six catches for 30 yards as everything that his drafters hoped to get (for the last three years).  Daniel Jones threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns but only thanks to the long catch by Shepard. The Giants played better than they have in years, almost entirely thanks to the impact that Barkley made in the game.

The Titans were in position for a walk-off winning field goal, but Randy Bullock could not make the 47-yard attempt at time expired. Derrick Henry ran for 82 yards on 21 attempts but missed his only target. Ryan Tannehill passed for 266 yards and two scores that both went to Dontrell Hilliard (3-61, 2 TD). The rookie Kyle Phillips (6-66) led the team in receiving while Treylon Burks settled for three catches for 55 yards. The Titans should have won this game but struggled to stop Saquon Barkley. It still came down to the field goal attempt that would have usually been successful.

TB 19, DAL 3

This matchup scored 60 total points in Week 1 of last year. This season, it was the lowest-scoring game in the entire NFL and properly capped off an opening week that saw nearly no big scores compared to previous seasons. Tom Brady passed for 212 yards and one score to Mike Evans (5-71, TD), but they lost Chris Godwin to a hamstring injury and Julio Jones was the only other receiver that stepped up. He caught three passes for 69 yards thanks to a 48-yard reception, and he added two runs for 17 yards. Leonard Fournette looked plenty in shape, gaining 127 yards on 20 carries but Rachaad White (6-14) was little help.

The Cowboys’ offense was sluggish and could not get going.  Dak Prescott threw for only 134 yards and one interception before leaving late in the game with a thumb injury that will need surgery.  Cooper Rush stepped in but was no better. Noah Brown (5-68) and Dalton Schultz (7-62) were the top receivers, while CeeDee Lamb was limited to only two catches for 29 yards despite getting a team-high 11 targets. Ezekiel Elliott ran well enough, gaining 52 yards on ten runs but wasn’t used much as a receiver and shared the carries with Tony Pollard (6-8) even though Pollard offered nearly nothing as a runner. It was already disappointing and concerning, and then they lost Dak Prescott.

 

The Game-o-the-Week

Eagles 38, Lions 35
The Eagles won as expected, but the Lions mounted a comeback after trailing 14-31 midway through the third quarter. They drew to within three points but the Eagles held the ball for the final four minutes to secure the win. Jalen Hurts only threw for 243 yards and no scores, but ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on his 17 rushes. A.J. Brown’s first game as an Eagle couldn’t have gone better, gaining 155 yards on ten catches, Dallas Goedert turned in 60 yards on three receptions, but no other receivers topped 12 yards.

The Eagles were free to run the ball once they had a sizable lead. Miles Sanders gained 96 yards on 13 rushes and a score. Kenneth Gainwell (5-20, TD) and Boston Scott (4-10, TD) also scored. The Eagles thought they were cruising to a win but had to hold while the Lions made it interesting.

Jared Goff threw for 215 yards and two scores, but it almost entirely happened in the fourth quarter after the Eagles dropped back in the prevent defense. Amon-Ra St. Brown (8-64, TD) and D.J. Chark (4-52, TD) were the only notable receivers, while T.J. Hockenson managed just four catches for 38 yards.  D’Andre Swift opened his year with 144 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, plus three receptions for 31 yards.

Overall, the scoring seems low for an opening weekend. The only teams with more than 31 points were the Chiefs and these two teams. There were nine teams with over 31 points in Week 1 last season. There were seven in 2020 with COVID raging. Could it be that no one takes the preseason seriously anymore? They are just not as sharp entering the season.

NFL playoff winners: home vs. visitor from 2011 to 2020

For the last 10 years, there are patterns for whether a playoff game was won by the home (H) or the visiting (V) teams:

For the last 10 years, there are patterns for whether a playoff game was won by the home (H) or the visiting (V) teams:

Wildcard Rounds

It has been five years since the last time that there were more home wins than road wins. This is the round that has the most visitors win and the last three years saw more visitors than home teams win. And yet – all of the home teams are favored this year and in almost every year.

Adding an additional wild card team (No. 7 seed) would seem to make it more likely that home teams would win more, but not so. There were ten road teams and only four home teams that won in the last three seasons. By this point, it would be a major surprise that all home teams won, regardless what the betting lines are.

  • 2011 Winners
    H – Cincinnati 10, Houston 31
    H – Detroit 28, New Orleans 45
    H – Atlanta 2, New York Giants 24
    H – Pittsburgh 23, Denver 29
  • 2012 Winners
    H – Indianapolis 9, Baltimore 24
    H – Cincinnati 13, Houston 19
    H – Minnesota 10, Green Bay 24
    V – Seattle 24, Washington 14
  • 2013 Winners
    H – Kansas City 44, Indianapolis 45
    V – San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20
    V – New Orleans 26, Philadelphia 24
    V – San Diego 27, Cincinnati 10
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Arizona 16, Panthers 27
    V – Baltimore 30, Steelers 17
    H – Bengals 10, Colts 26
    H – Lions 20, Cowboys 24
  • 2015 Winners
    V – Chiefs 30, Texans 0
    V – Steelers 18, Bengals 16
    V – Seahawks 10, Vikings 9
    V – Packers 35, Redskins 18
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Raiders 14, Texans 27
    H – Lions 6, Seahawks 26
    H – Dolphins 12, Steelers 30
    H – Giants 13, Packers 38
  • 2017 Winners
    V – Titans 22, Chiefs 21
    V – Falcons 26, Rams 13
    H – Bills 3, Jaguars 10
    H – Panthers 26, Saints 31
  • 2018 Winners
    V – Colts 21, Texans 7
    H – Seahawks 22, Cowboys 24
    V – Chargers 23, Ravens 17
    V – Eagles 16, Bears 15
  • 2019 Winners
    H – Bills 19, Texans 22 OT
    V – Titans 20, Patriots 13
    V – Vikings 26, Saints 20 OT
    V – Seahawks 17, Eagles 9
  • 2020 Winners
    H – Colts 24, Bills 27
    V – Rams 30, Seahawks 20
    V – Buccaneers 31, Washington Football Team 23
    V – Ravens 20, Titans 13
    H – Bears 9, Saints 21
    V – Browns 48, Steelers 37

Divisional Rounds

The divisional round rarely contains more than one road winner. nine of the last ten years saw at least three home teams win and twice it was all home teams. The most common is one road winner. Over the last ten years, the 40 games have seen 31 home winners and 9 road winners. So road winners are only 23%.

  • 2011 Winners
    H – New Orleans 32, San Francisco 36
    H – Denver 10, New England 45
    H – Houston 13, Baltimore 20
    V – NY Giants 37, Green Bay 20
  • 2012 Winners
    V – Baltimore 38, Denver 35
    H – Houston 28, New England 41
    H – Seattle 28, Atlanta 30
    H – Green Bay 31, San Francisco 45
  • 2013 Winners
    H – New Orleans 15, Seattle 23
    H – Indianapolis 22, New England 43
    V – San Francisco 23, Carolina 10
    H – San Diego 17, Denver 24
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Ravens 31, Patriots 35
    H – Panthers 17, Seahawks 31
    H – Cowboys 21, Packers 26
    V – Colts 24, Broncos 13
  • 2015 Winners
    H – Chiefs 20, Patriots 27
    H – Packers 20, Cardinals 26
    H – Seahawks 24, Panthers 31
    H – Steelers 16, Broncos 23
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Seahawks 20, Falcons 36
    H – Texans 16, Patriots 34
    V – Packers 34, Cowboys 31
    V – Steelers 18, Chiefs 16
  • 2017 Winners
    H – Falcons 10, Eagles 15
    H – Titans 14, Patriots 35
    H – Saints 24, Vikings 29
    V – Jaguars 45, Steelers 42
  • 2018 Winners
    H – Chargers 22, Patriots 41
    H – Colts 13, Chiefs 31
    H – Cowboys 22, Rams 30
    H – Eagles 14, Saints 20
  • 2019 Winners
    V – Titans 28, Ravens 12
    H – Vikings 10, 49ers 27
    H – Seahawks 23, Packers 28
    H – Texans 31, Chiefs 51
  • 2020 Winners
    H – Rams 18, Packers 32
    H – Ravens 3, Bills 17
    H – Browns 17, Chiefs 22
    V – Buccaneers 30, Saints 20

Championship Rounds

This is why home field is so important.  The trend is strongly both home teams win and this is why that homefield advantage and the No. 1 seed is so important. Six of the last seven years saw both home teams win, broken up only by the shocker of 2018 when both road teams won in overtime, including the contested win by the Rams over the Saints. When it comes to betting, the home team wins about 70% of the time in the last decade

  • 2011 Winners
    H – Baltimore 20, New England 23
    V – NY Giants 20, San Francisco 17
  • 2012 Winners
    V – 49ers 28, Falcons 24
    V – Ravens 28, Patriots 13
  • 2013 Winners
    H – New England 16, Denver 26
    H – San Francisco 17, Seattle 23
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Packers 22, Seahawks 28
    H – Colts 7, Patriots 45
  • 2015 Winners
    H – Patriots 18, Broncos 20
    H – Cardinals 15, Panthers 49
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Packers 21, Falcons 44
    H – Steelers 17, Patriots 36
  • 2017 Winners
    H – Jaguars 20, Patriots 24
    H – Vikings 7, Eagles 38
  • 2018 Winners
    V – Rams 26, Saints 23 OT
    V – Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 OT
  • 2019 Winners
    H – Titans 24, Chiefs 35
    H – Packers 20, 49ers 37
  • 2020 Winners
    V – Buccaneers 31, Packers 26
    H – Bills 24, Chiefs 38

Sunday Snippets – Week 18

Sunday game reviews from a fantasy perspective

Taking a quick rundown of the Week 18 Sunday NFL games with a fantasy perspective.

KC 28, DEN 24
The Chiefs had more trouble winning this than expected, but they woke up at the end of the second quarter and  played the Broncos evenly, until late in the fourth quarter when the Chiefs’ defense returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown to make the difference. Patrick Mahomes threw for 270 yards and two scores but relied on Mecole Hardman (8-103). Tyreek Hill (1-2) made a cameo, and Travis Kelce (4-34, TD) was the first scorer in the game. Derrick Gore (7-30), Darrel Williams (7-17), and Jerick  McKinnon (5-24) all shared the backfield but McKinnon added three catches for 26 yards and one score as the most productive running backs. The Chiefs end 12-5 on the season and are the No. 2 seed.

The Broncos stayed in the game most thanks to their backfield. Melvin Gordon (12-110, TD) and Javonte Williams (12-46) handled the rushing with Williams adding two catches for 18 yards. Drew Lock only threw for 162 yards and no scores but had no turnovers. Tim Patrick (6-95) was the only receiver with more than 30 yards and Lock both missed several throws and had other passes dropped. The Broncos’ defense helped keep the game close. Denver ends with a 7-10 record.

DAL 51, PHI 26
The Eagles missed numerous players due to a COVID outbreak, including all the starting running backs and much of the defense. The big win is no surprise even though it was 17-17 in the second quarter before it all unraveled for the Eagles. Dak Prescott tossed five touchdowns along with  295 passing yards. Cedrick Wilson (5-119, 2 TD) enjoyed a career-best performance while Amari Cooper (5-79) and CeeDee Lamb (2-45) all combined for the best receivers. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries to log his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season.  The Cowboys finished the game inserting all their running back depth for a couple of rushing scores. The Cowboys end with a 12-5 record and become the No. 3 seed.

The Eagles were stripped of players on both sides of the ball and yet put up an admirable fight for the first half. Gardner Minshew threw for 186 yards and two scores between Quez Watkins (5-84, TD) and Tyree Jackson (3-22, TD). DeVonta Smith ended with three catches for 41 yards and ended his rookie year with 96 yards. The backfield saw surprising success while down to only Kenneth Gainwell (12-78, TD) and Jason Huntley (13-51).  The Eagles gave it a solid effort with second and third-string players in many spots. Philadelphia finished at 9-8.

PIT 16, BAL 13 OT
There weren’t a lot of fantasy points here and the 29 total points says all you need to know. This plays out well for Steeler fans wanting to see Big Ben one more time. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 244 yards and one score to Chase Claypool (5-37, TD), who was also the leading rusher with 33 yards on three runs. Diontae Johnson (7-51) and Pat Freiermuth (6-53) stayed close to the line of scrimmage so that the passes could reach them. Najee Harris only gained 28 yards on 11 carries and went for 27 yards on his four receptions. The win lifts the Steelers to 9-7-1 and they squeak into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.

The Ravens had minimal offensive punch in this home game. Latavius Murray ran for 150 yards on 16 carries with a score that was roughly equal to his last eight games combined. Devonta Freeman gained just 21 yards on five carries and left with a rib injury. But Tyler Huntley was held to only 141 passing yards and two interceptions. Mark Andrews (8-85) ends on a high note but none of  the other receivers gained more than 28 yards. The Ravens sent the game into overtime with a field goal at 1:13 left to play but they let the Steelers march down the field and win with a 36-yard field goal. The Ravens end at 8-9 and miss the playoffs.

CIN 16, CLE 21
The Bengals already won the AFC North and let Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon sit. Trayveon Williams (9-38) and Chris Evans (7-35) handled the backfield. Brandon Allen threw for just 136 yards and one score to Evans (4-24, TD). Ja’Marr Chase (2-26) played just long enough to get 1,000 yards while Tee Higgins was inactive. This is exactly why fantasy leagues need to end one week before the season does. The Bengals end 10-7 and put their hands in the air like they just didn’t care. They are still the No. 4 seed.

The Browns only ran Nick Chubb nine times for 58 yards and his rib injury from last week was either worse than let on or he aggravated it. He only had one rush after the first quarter and it gained 35 yards at the end of the third quarter. D’Ernest Johnson ended with 25 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Case Keenum only passed for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Jarvis Landry (6-75, TD) was the only receiver that gained more than 38 yards. The Browns had the benefit of the Bengals sitting the best players and finish the year at 8-9.

GB 30, DET 37
The Packers had nothing to win but played most of the starters through the half. Aaron Jones was inactive and AJ Dillon ran for 63 yards on 14 carries. Aaron Rodgers passed for 138 yards and two scores, then handed off to Jordan Love who threw for 134 yards and one score with two interceptions. Alan Lazard ended with a great game of 75 yards and two scores on five catches while Davante Adams (6-55) hit the bench in the second half.  The Packers end up 13-4 while the entire team gets time off next week as the No. 1 seed.

They had the benefit of the Packers leaving the stadium at halftime, but a win is a win, and with only two of them this year, anything is welcome. Jared Goff ended with 238 pass yards and two scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown puts his final mark on a tremendous rookie campaign with eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Kalif Raymond (4-101, TD) also had a big game that opened with a 75-yard touchdown catch on a trick play thrown by wideout Tom Kennedy. Regardless that they were playing Packers-B, the win felt good and let them wrap up at 3-13-1.

TEN 28, HOU 25
The Titans lock down the No. 1 seed with this win, but do they deserve it? They just beat a 4-13 team by three points. D’Onta Foreman ran for 69 yards on 21 carries and the fans are ready for Derrick Henry to return. Ryan Tannehill passed for 287 yards and four scores but the Titans led 21-0 and let the Texans roar back. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (4-78, TD), A.J. Brown (4-68, TD), Julio Jones (5-58, TD) and Anthony Firkser (4-56, TD) all had about the same production. The Titans get to kick back this week and take comfort in knowing that they lost their best player at midseason and yet still feasted on the cakewalk schedule  managed to produce a 12-5 record as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

The Texans never had much rushing success after churning through the league’s  has-beens. David Johnson (5-28) was the top rusher while Rex Burkhead (12-24) rewarded the Texans for that contract extension. Davis Mills continues to be the best quarterback no one ever talks about and he passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns with no run support, no Brandin Cooks for most of the game, and marginal receivers. Danny Amendola (7-113, 2 TD) almost doubled his season total (136 yards) and scored twice. Nico Collins (3-67) ends his rookie year on a high note. The Texans end 4-13 with no offensive line or backfield, but Davis Mills and Brandin Cooks as two worth bringing back.

IND 11, JAX 26
Look, there are just some things we are not supposed to understand. We just have to be at peace with ourselves in the chaos. The Colts had everything to win in this game. The Jaguars don’t even have a coach. Jonathan Taylor ran for 145 yards and two scores in Week 6 versus the Jaguars. Now that it really mattered, he only gained 77 yards on 15 rushes and caught three passes for 18 yards. Carson Wentz only threw for 185 yards and one score and was outplayed by Trevor Lawrence. Michael Pittman (6-64, TD) finishes as the only receiver Wentz ever noticed. The disappointing end to the season leaves the Colts at home with a 9-8 record.

This was like shooting an eagle on the 18th hole after hitting the century mark back on the 14th hole. Trevor Lawrence only totaled two scores over the previous nine games and yet passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns with a 111.8 QB rating. Ryquell Armstead (9-52) and Dare Ogunbowale (11-30) led the backfield which alone indicates the sort of season the Jags had.  Marvin Jones (7-88, TD), Laviska Shenault (5-62) and Laquon Treadwell (3-24, TD) all contributed to the surprising win.  The Jaguars are still just 3-14 but saved their best game for Week 18.

CHI 17, MIN 31
The Bears end their disappointing season with a whimper and expect a new head coach to complain about next year. Andy Dalton took the start and threw for 325 yards and one score, but also two interceptions. Darnell Mooney (12-126) continues to be the little engine that could while Allen Robinson (2-22) continues to be the highly paid… decoy?  David Montgomery ends with 72 yards on 20 carries but the Bears gave up the ball twice and Dalton was sacked seven times.  The Matt Nagy era ends with a 6-11 season.

The Vikings trailed 14-0 in the second quarter but the Bears ran off and the Vikes controlled the rest of the game. Kirk Cousins threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, with Justin Jefferson (5-105, TD), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (3-103, TD), and K.J. Osborn (1-21, TD) all scored. Dalvin Cook ran for 79 yards on 14 rushes but the passing offense was enough to take this win. The Vikes end with an 8-9 record and a speculated coaching change to come.

WAS 22, NYG 7
The Giants appear to have just given up. They’ve been non-competitive for the last three weeks versus each NFC East rival. Jake Fromm only threw for 103 yards and one score with two interceptions and a lost fumble. Darrius Slayton (2-29, TD) was the only receiver with more than 22 yards. The Running-Back-Formerly-Known-As Saquon Barkley only gained 30 yards on 11 rushes. The Giants end at 4-13 and is arguably the weakest team in the NFL.

The Washington To-Be-Named-Later won the game mostly with Antonio Gibson rushing for 146 yards and one score on 21 carries.  Taylor Heinicke only threw for 120 yards and Terry McLaurin (4-93) was the only receiver with more than 14 yards.  This matchup was like two brothers forced to play together by their parents, but at least Washington was the older brother. The Washington Admirals? Cougars? Space Invaders? The No-Names end with a 7-10 record.

SEA 38, ARI 30
Hard to say which teams are good anymore. The Cardinals once looked so dominant but Kyler Murray never really returned from his earlier injury  and DeAndre Hopkins never returned at all. Murray threw for 240 yards and one score while Zach Ertz (7-84) and Christian Kirk (2-43) were the best receivers. James Conner ran for 52 yards and a score on 15 carries, plus caught six passes for 41 yards and a second touchdown. The Cardinals opened the game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown but struggled to move the ball against the visiting Seahawks. They end 11-6 on the year and take the No. 5 seed.

The Seahawks end on a high note, winning at the Cardinals with a solid offensive performance, unlike most of their previous games. Russell Wilson threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushed a score as well. Tyler Lockett (5-98, 2 TD) and DK Metcalf (5-58) were the top receivers. Rashaad Penny continues his shocking final stretch of the last four years season, running for 190 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The Seahawks finish too little, too late at 7-10.

NO 30, ATL 20
The Saints finally got a monster rushing game from Alvin Kamara (30-146)   but lost Taysom Hill midway through and Trevor Siemian had to finish. Fortunately, it was only the Falcons and they combined for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Tre’Quan Smith (5-76, TD) was the only receiver with more than 26 yards. This was the  Kamara show and they only threw 24 passes. The Saints miss the playoffs at 9-8.

The Falcons fade continues with only 41 rushing yards between Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson. Qadree Ollison ran in a 19-yard touchdown on his only touch in the game. Matt Ryan threw for just 216 yards and one score to Russell Gage (9-126, TD) while no other receivers scored or gained more than 47 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson started out as a secret weapon but ended with only one catch for one yard and 11 yards on four rushes. The Falcons settle for a 7-10 season.

NYJ 10, BUF 27
This was the game that neither wanted to play. The Jets turned in one of their worst efforts with Michael Carter (9-19) as the top rusher. Zack Wilson threw for just 87 yards and one score. The touchdown was on a 40-yard pass to Keelan Cole and accounted for almost half of the passing yardage in the game. The Jets  could not get the offense into gear and the season ends with a 4-13 record while the rookie Wilson gave little reason to expect a leap in Year 2.

The Bills led 13-10 in the fourth  quarter and finally went to the bother of winning the game. Josh Allen threw for 239 yards and two scores. He also ran for 63 yards on just five rushes. Stefon Diggs (9-81, TD) and Dawson Knox (3-49) were the only receivers with more than 39 yards. Devin Singletary ran for 88 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and added two catches for 24 yards and a second score. Zack Moss (5-8) is a nonfactor while Singletary is playing the best of his career. The Bills end with an 11-6 record and remain the No. 3 seed.

SF 27, LA 24 OT
The Rams once again struggled against a good team they should have beaten.  They led 17-0 in the second quarter but the 49ers for hot and the Rams only managed one touchdown in the second half versus 24 points for the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 316 yards and one score but with two interceptions. Brandon Aiyuk led the receivers with six catches for 107 yards while Deebo Samuel caught four passes for 95 yards, ran eight times for 45 yards and a score, and even threw a 24-yard touchdown. Assumedly, he is also the backup kicker. Jauan Jennings had a career game with six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Mitchell ran for 85 yards on 21 carries but had no catches. The 49ers end with a 10-7 record and earned the No. 6 seed.

Matt Stafford threw for 238 yards and three scores with two interceptions. Cooper Kupp ended with seven catches for 118 yards and a score while Tyler Higbee reeled in six passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns. No other receivers gained more than 31 yards. Cam Akers was active but only ran for three yards on five carries and caught three passes for ten yards. Sony Michael gained 43 yards on 21 rushes.  The Rams at home could not hold off the 49ers who owned the second half. The 12-5 Rams won the NFC West but drop to the No. 4 seed.

NE 24, MIA 33
The Dolphins have an odd advantage when they match up with the Patriots who scored twice in the final six minutes to draw within 24-27 with 2:53 let to play but Jakobi Meyers lost a fumble in the endzone on the final play in the game. Mac Jones threw for 261 yards and one score, with the top receivers of Hunter Henry (5-86) and Meyers (4-70). Damien Harris (11-37, TD) and Rhamondre Stevenson (4-34) shared the backfield with Brandon Bolden running for a team-high 46 yards and a score on seven rushes and adding two catches for 20 yards and a second score. The loss drops the Pats to 10-7 and gives them the No. 6 seed.

The Dolphins scored on an interception and a fumble recovery to make the difference. Tua Tagovailoa only passed for 109 yards and one score with 38 yards as a rusher. Jaylen Waddle (5-27, TD) was the only notable receiver while Duke Johnson ran for 117 yards and score on 25 rushes to help control the ball. He was the only Dolphin with more than minimal receiving yardage and they won the game on defense. That gave them a winning record at 9-8.

CAR 17, TB 41
No surprises other than the Panthers scored two touchdowns. Sam Darnold passed for 219 yards and both scores with D.J. Moore (7-87) and Ameer Abdullah (9-56) were the top receivers but even Robby Anderson scored on his seven catches for 50 yards.  Chuba Hubbard ran for 48 yards on nine carries and caught a two-yard touchdown to open the scoring.  Darnold never had a completion longer than 20 yards and every receiver averaged under ten yards. The loss drops them to 5-12.

The Buccaneers took the lead in the second half and never looked back. They scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to slant the scoreboard. Tom Brady passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns with Rob Gronkowski (7-137) and Mike Evans (6-89, 2 TD) taking care of the biggest chunk of the offense. Ke’Shawn Vaughn (10-29, TD) and Le’Veon Bell (3-14) shared the backfield though Bell scored on a one-yard catch. Scotty Miller also ran in a 33-yard touchdown for the final score in the game. The win makes the 13-4 Buccaneers the No. 2 seed.

The Game-o-the-Week

LAC 32, LV 35 OT

The Raiders led 29-14 midway in the fourth quarter but Justin Herbert mounted a comeback with two touchdowns to tie the game and send it into overtime. It was one of those games where any play could have swung it to either team. In overtime, the Raiders stalled at the LAC 22-yard line and kicked a field goal. The Chargers got their possession and drove to the LV 23-yard line and kicked their field goal to extend overtime. But the Raiders went from their own 25-yard line to the Chargers’ 29 yard line and kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal as time expired.

The wild part was that if they had tied, both would go to the playoffs as the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds. But if either team lost, they would be replaced by the Steelers. And the Raiders had the ball and could have knelt on it, risked nothing like a turnover or blocked kick and had their ticket punched regardless. But they didn’t. They went for the field goal anyway and sent the Chargers home.

Justin Herbert passed for 383 yards and three touchdowns with Mike Williams (9-119, TD) and Jared Cook (4-80) as the top receivers while Keenan Allen was held to six catches for 52 yards. Austin Ekeler ran for 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and also scored on his five catches for 35 yards.  It was a classic last-second loss that the Chargers so often experience. They end above .500 with a 9-8 record but miss the playoffs.

Derek Carr threw for 186 yards and two scores to Hunter Renfrow (4-13, 2 TD) while Bryan Edwards (4-63) and Frank Moreau (2-50) led the receivers. Darren Waller’s return only accounted for two receptions for 22 yards. Josh Jacobs was the best player when he rushed for 132 yards and a score on 26 carries. The Raiders had no turnovers and squeaked out a win that made them 10-7 as the No. 5 seed.