4:30 PM
Week 17 of the NFL season in 2020 featured a Bears' victory, a three-touchdown game by Ja'Marr Chase, a win by the Chiefs, and a comeback by the Bucs that saw Antonio Brown take off his uniform. You read that correctly.
In the 1 p.m. The Rams came back to beat the Ravens, the Bills used a stellar second half to stop the Falcons, the Raiders upset the Colts, and the Eagles topped Washington.
The reporters of the NFL Nation react to their questions. They look at the bigger picture with their current team confidence rating, a 0-10 grade of how they feel about a team's outlook coming out of the week. Let's get to it.
Jump to a match.
LAR- BAL and ATL- BUF are part of the same family.
The MIA-TEN and the TB-NYJ are both part of the LV-Ind.
JAX-NE, PHI-WSH, NYG-CHI are all part of the same family.
Cincinnati 34, Kansas City 31.
The Cincinnati Bengals.
The offensive showing in the last-second win against the Chiefs was the best of the season for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Baltimore defense was decimated by the Cincinnati offense as quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 525 yards. The Kansas City defense was playing like one of the best in the league. Ja'Marr Chase had a big day with 266 receiving yards and three touchdown. Cincinnati's offense is living up to the hype of being one of the most potent in the NFL after several inconsistent weeks throughout the season.
What is the biggest difference between the two? It has to be Burrow. The second-year quarterback has been great the past couple of weeks and made some big-time throws. He was able to make small gains to keep drives rolling. The No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft has been transformational.
The baby's confidence rating increased from 7.2 to 7.5. The most complete offensive showing of the season against a very solid Kansas City defense raises the ceiling for this team.
The next game is at Cleveland on Sunday. The time is later.
The Chiefs.
It's difficult to trust the Chiefs defensively. A lot of old problems came back after they played well during their eight-game winning streak. They missed tackles, committed penalties and broke down in coverage like they hadn't done in a while. Kansas City won't see a lot of opponents, but it takes one bad game in the playoffs to ruin a season.
The top seed in the playoffs has slipped away. It looks like that. The Broncos are next week's opponent and the Chiefs need to beat them. It's too much to expect Tennessee to lose to Houston. It's not to blame for the loss to the Bengals. The way the Chiefs played was the way they played most of the season.
Teicher's confidence rating was down from 9.6. The play of their defense against the Cincinnati team is a big concern.
The next game is at the Broncos. The time is later.
The N.Y. Jets were defeated by the Tampa Bay.
The team is called the Buccaneers.
They played down to their opponent in Week 10 at Washington and Week 15 against the Saints, and looked flat. The Jets' quarterback was not pressured by the Buccaneers' defense. There were many coverage busts and players out of their gaps. The loss of Antonio Brown was a factor in the comeback, but quarterback Tom Brady hit receiver Cyril Grayson for the winning touchdown with 22 seconds to go.
Did the Bucs do the right thing by cutting Brown? Brown ran across the field shirtless and went to the locker room in the third quarter after removing his jersey and pads. He said last week that he was not interested in drama, but he did create another spectacle. After a 101-yard performance last week, there's no denying how talented Brown is and his impact on the team. With the playoffs looming, it seems the Bucs are better off without him.
Laine's confidence rating was unchanged from last week. This may have been the ugliest win of the season, but it's a win.
The next game is against the Panthers. The time is later.
Play.
Antonio Brown threw his jersey into the crowd as the Jets and the Buccaneers lined up on the field.
The Jets.
Wilson did a lot of growing up in his best overall performance of the year, but he learned a hard lesson that many of his peers have experienced over the past two decades: You have to play 60 great minutes to beat Tom Brady. Wilson & Co. went cold, going without a point in the final four minutes. Wilson provided the best evidence yet that he can be a franchise quarterback. Wilson threw one touchdown and directed four long scoring drives against the defending Super Bowl champ. The offense entered the game without five starters and lost two more, including Michael Carter, in the game. Wilson played an intercept-free ball for the fourth straight game. It was good enough to quiet some skeptics, but not good enough to win.
How did the Jets lose to Tom Brady? The Jets took a 24-10 lead in the third quarter, but they collapsed in crunch time. The fourth-down decision by Robert Saleh was costly. A field goal would've given them a seven-point lead, but on a fourth-and-2 from the Bucs' 7, Saleh went for the win. The playcall was terrible. Who tries a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-2? The Bucs had no timeouts remaining, so he should've played it safe, even though he wanted to make a statement. Brady went 93 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Cimini's confidence rating increased from 4 to 5. The Jets played well for 59 minutes despite losing in crushing fashion.
The next game is at the Bills. The time is later.
Indianapolis 20, Las Vegas.
The Raiders.
The Raiders' 23-20 win at Indianapolis was a perfect example of how ugly and frustrating this season has been, with the quick start and 13-3 first-half lead before falling behind, and the fact that they still have a chance to make the playoffs. The only thing left is to beat the Los Angeles Clippers at home next week. We've been here before. The Raiders lost in Oakland to the Bolts in the finale of 2011. Stay informed.
Is the Raiders winning because of Carr, or in spite of him? Yes, yes. I've said for years that Carr is not the problem, but if you have to ask if he is the answer, you might actually have a problem. It was the 29th fourth-quarter comeback win for Carr. His two bad picks necessitated a victory. Such is life with Carr.
The confidence rating for Gutierrez was 7, up from 6. After blowing an early lead and surviving, confidence is growing with their third straight nail-biting win.
The next game is against the Chargers. The time is later.
The Colts.
The Colts' road to the playoffs now goes through a place where they haven't won since Andrew Luck was in his third season. The only time that the Jags have been to the playoffs was in 2008 and they are in a good position to get the top pick. The Colts haven't won in Jacksonville or London since the beginning of the year. The Colts needed to win on Sunday to make the playoffs for the third year in a row under Frank Reich. They have to handle their business against the Jags and possibly need other scenarios to happen in the AFC.
Can the Colts get to the playoffs and win it with Carson Wentz being inconsistent? The question will linger with Wentz as teams try to slow down Jonathan Taylor. The Colts have not been able to get a win this season because of the lack of a fourth-quarter performance by the quarterback.
The confidence rating of Wells was reduced from 7.5 to 0. The Colts had a chance to wrap up a playoff spot on their field. They are only to blame.
The next game is at the Jags on Sunday. The time is later.
The L.A. Rams defeated the Baltimore Ravens 20-19.
The Rams.
For the second game in a row, the Rams overcame three turnovers by Matthew Stafford to win. Stafford led his 42nd career game-winning drive by finding Beckham for a 7-yard touchdown with just over a minute to play. The Rams have 12 wins and will play the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday in the regular season finale.
How important is Cooper Kupp to the Rams? Kupp is making history this season by becoming the first fifth-year player to make the Pro Bowl. In the second quarter, Kupp caught an 18-yard pass for his 15th touchdown reception of the season, making him the fourth player in NFL history with 100 catches, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdown in a single season, joining Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice. In the fourth quarter, Kupp caught a 21-yard pass to set the Rams' single-season receiving yards record.
Thiry's confidence rating remained the same last week. The confidence rating can't move up despite a tough win on the road. The Rams must get better play out of Stafford, who has produced seven turnovers in three games, including back-to-back games with three turnovers each. They won't be able to overcome multiple turnovers in the playoffs.
The next game is against the 49ers. The time is later.
Play.
Matthew Stafford threw a costly pick-six to Chuck Clark as the Ravens took a 0-7 lead.
The Ravens.
The Ravens' inability to finish will keep them out of the playoffs. The Ravens' five-game losing streak was decided by a total of five points. The Ravens had a good chance of reaching the playoffs in Week 13 but their chances have gone down to 8%. Tyler Huntley, who replaced the injured Lamar Jackson, couldn't finish drives and Baltimore couldn't upset the Rams. The Ravens' offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time in three years, and they settled for four field goals from Tucker. The Baltimore defense couldn't make a stop late in the fourth quarter, allowing a nine-play, 75-yard game-winning drive.
Who will start at quarterback for the Ravens in the season finale? Jackson was still limping on the sideline during the game, so there might not be a decision here. Huntley was a more than capable replacement for Jackson, and he was able to total 248 yards. But he has trouble finishing drives. There is no quarterback controversy in Baltimore. Jackson is the starting quarterback when he is healthy. Huntley is Baltimore's best chance to win if he's not fully 888-548-5870 888-548-5870 888-548-5870 888-548-5870.
Hensley's confidence rating was 2, down from 4. The Ravens have lost five games in a row for the first time in Harbaugh's 14 seasons. Baltimore needs to beat the Pittsburgh in what looks to be Ben Roethlisberger's final game to avoid missing the playoffs.
The next game is against the Steelers on Sunday. The time is later.
Tennessee 34, Miami 3.
They are the TITANS.
The defense is working to become a championship-caliber unit. Tennessee held the Dolphins to three points and allowed Miami to convert on only three of 12 third-down opportunities. Kevin Byard emphasized the importance of the pass rush getting to the back end. That's what's happening in Tennessee. The team sacked Tua Tagovailoa four times and pressured him constantly. The coverage on the back end by Fulton helped out. The acquisition of a linebacker has sparked the defense.
Is there an identity for the Titans on offense? It is safe to say that Ryan Tannehill dropping back to pass 40 times isn't the formula for the win. D'Onta Foreman had 26 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown in the game against Miami. The play-action passing game opened up because of the success of the ground. The old-schoolgrind em out offense that wears down the opposition is still being used by the Titans. The return of Henry will make the offense even more potent.
Davenport's confidence rating went up. It's rare that a team can dominate on both sides of the ball. In their demolition of the Dolphins, the TITANS did that. Bud Dupree has returned and the pass rush is back. Dupree is back in the lineup, and David Long is coming back, as Tennessee has nine sacks in its last three games. The likelihood that Henry will return is more reason for optimism. The team is peaking at the right time.
The next game is at the Texans on Sunday. The time is later.
The Dolphins.
Tua Tagovailoa's play had been shaky for the past two weeks, and it came to a head against theTitans. The league's leader in completion percentage completed just 50% of his 30 passes for 186 yards with no touchdown and an interception, with at least three other passes slipping through the hands of the defenders. He put the ball on the grass three times, losing one deep in Miami territory. It was Tagovailoa's worst game of the season, and it would have been worse if the Dolphins had won their final two games. They need to beat New England in their season finale and get a lot of help in order to make the playoffs.
What needs to be changed on the offense of Miami? The Dolphins played in terrible conditions on Sunday, and one would expect a South Florida team to play in those conditions. Miami must improve its offensive line and add more players in order to succeed. Tennessee took Jaylen Waddle out of the game and Miami didn't know what to do about it. Tagovailoa was in a critical game. He is partly to blame for the offense's troubles.
Louis-Jacques' confidence rating went down. If Tagovailoa can't shake his slump, the Dolphins' offense doesn't stand a chance against the elite New England defense. If Miami's defense defends the run like it did today, the Pats will win easily.
The next game is against the Pats on Sunday. The time is later.
New England 50, Jacksonville 10.
They are the Pats.
The mission was accomplished by the Pats, who got Mac Jones back on track, a priority against the two-win Jags. Jones was coming off two of his worst performances of the season, and this should give him a boost as the Pats look ahead to the playoffs. Jones broke the franchise record for most touchdown passes by a rookies in a season, with 20 in his first year. The defense picked off Lawrence three times. As Jones got back on track, so did the defense for the Pats.
Can the Pats get back to their winning ways in Miami? The team is 2-7 against Miami in December/January games under the leadership of Bill Belichick. The "Miracle in Miami" is one of the strange things that have happened in those situations. Maybe the heat will be turned up in the fieldhouse this week to make players acclimatize to the change in temperature.
The confidence rating for Reiss was up from 6.8 to 7.1. They pounced on an inferior foe early and improved their all-around fundamental play. After back-to-back losses in which they didn't play their best football, showing they could do that was an important step.
The next game is at the Dolphins on Sunday. The time is later.
Play.
Harris scored two first half goals.
The Jaguars.
TheJaguars have a long way to go to be competitive. Not for a playoff spot or the South title, but to be competitive in games. This isn't a great team and they handed the Jags their worst loss in franchise history. Is it really important that the Jaguars were down five starters because of COVID-19? It's going to take a few years for the team to get to the point where it has a chance every week, regardless of who is hired as the new head coach.
Can the Jags continue their streak against the Colts? The Colts have lost to the Jags in Jacksonville six times, including the 2020 season opener that turned out to be their only victory. The Jags had the ball in Indianapolis territory and were going for a potential game-winning score, but the quarterback fumbled with less than a minute to play in the game. James Robinson was a running back for the Jags. A victory at home to close the season would be good for the franchise.
DiRocco's confidence rating was 0.2, down from 0.7. The Jags aren't putting up much of a fight against teams like the Texans, Jets, and better teams.
The next game is against the Colts. The time is later.
Philadelphia 20, Washington 16.
The Eagles.
The Eagles took a big step towards a playoff spot. They had a chance of making the playoffs with a win, but the odds would have dropped if they had lost. The defense pitched a shut out in the second half and Boston Scott scored a pair of second-half touchdown to help the comeback. The Eagles have 24 rushing touchdown this season, their most since 1949. Hurts appeared to be as healthy as he's ever been since he suffered a high ankle injury against the Giants. The Eagles have won six of seven, Hurts looks good, and their confidence is high.
Can they correct their slow starts? The Eagles have not scored in the first quarter in four of their past five games. They were down 35-7 in the opening frame. Philadelphia has won four in a row, but that was against Washington, the New York Giants and the New York Jets. They could face a quick exit if they start poorly against a good team.
McManus' confidence rating went up from 6 to 7. The Eagles have a chance to get to 10 wins in the first year of coach Nick Sirianni's tenure, which would make him the third Eagles head coach to reach the playoffs in his first season. They're not done yet because they have exceeded public expectations.
The next game is against the Cowboys. The time is later.
Washington.
Washington has enough players remaining to stay close to a team like Philadelphia, and it showed a lot of resilience after a loss. Washington doesn't have enough talent to beat a good team. Five defensive starters were missing on Sunday. The defense was not making enough big plays to be considered elite. That can't be ignored. Jamin Davis has been playing in certain packages. That's not good. Washington can say it has a weakened roster, but it can't just rely on the players returning to make a difference.
Is they in better shape than a year ago? Washington looked like a better team than it did in 2020 during its four-game win streak, in part because it was playing better teams and finally found an identity. The lack of production from key acquisitions such as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, receiver Dyami Brown, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been disappointing for Washington. Washington needs a quarterback. It didn't find an offensive identity. Washington has been treading water rather than building. They will have to do a better job of hitting on key pickups if they want to make the playoffs.
Keim's confidence rating was 4.3, down from 4.9. The reason the rating isn't lower is because of the final opponent, the New York Giants. Washington plays with a lot of heart, but doesn't have enough to win.
The next game is at the Giants on Sunday. The time is later.
Atlanta 15, Buffalo 29.
The Bills.
The Bills came away with a victory that was atypical for this team, with an offense that put together a season-best 233-yard rushing performance. The ground game was adapted by Brian Daboll to fit in with the passing offense that was struggling to get going. Buffalo had four rushing scores, two each from Allen and Singletary. The Bills' performance on Sunday is a good sign that the running game will be better in the playoffs.
What should the Bills do with the returner? The returner position is not right for the Bills. After a big turnover against the Indianapolis Colts, the job of running back was given to Marquez Stevenson. The Falcons had a safety because of a first-quarter fumbled ball. He was the returner for most of the game. Stevenson has shown enough as a returner that he should be a part of the offense as a receiver. Don't mess with it because of a bad mistake by the rookies.
Getzenberg's confidence rating was down from 8.4. There is little change here. The game wasn't the Bills' best, but they came away with a double-digit win at home.
The next game is against the Jets. The time is later.
The Falcons.
This felt like a lot of Atlanta Falcons games this season. The Falcons showed resilience, even though they were undermanned on Sunday due to COVID-19 issues. They put pressure on the Bills, but they couldn't win. The loss ended the Falcons' small playoff hopes, but also offered a glimpse of promise for the future. Atlanta kept it a one-possession game for most of the contest and picked off Josh Allen three times. The Falcons were in the playoffs in Week 17 of the first year under coach Arthur Smith. That is something to build on. The team is still a long way from competing with the better teams in the league.
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What should the Falcons do in the last week of the season? This is a question that could affect Kyle Pitts, the tight end who left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. Mike Ditka set the record for rookies receiving yards for a tight end in 1961. It wouldn't be wise to let him chase it if the injury is serious. There's also the question of playing some veterans or seeing what rookies can do with a full week of preparation.
The confidence rating of Rothstein was 3.8, up from 3.6. The season is over and Atlanta might have something going on under Smith.
The next game is against the Saints. The time is later.
The Giants were defeated by Chicago 29, N.Y.
The Bears.
The Bears played at a level they hadn't reached all season in Matt Nagy's final home game as coach. It helped playing the Giants with Mike Glennon at quarterback. The game was won in the opening minutes after a strip-sack by the Bears. They added two field goals and a safety in the final two minutes of the first half and went on to win their sixth game of the season. Richard Dent's franchise mark for a single season with 18 sacks was broken by Robert Quinn in the fourth quarter.
Should the Bears let Fields play in the season finale if he is healthy? If Fields is 100%, the answer is obvious, but there's a good chance he'll still be hurting from his ankle injury that has kept him out of action the last couple of weeks. If he struggles, the Bears could make a change. Nagy has made a point that one game of experience shouldn't affect his health.
Rogers' confidence rating increased from 3.0 to 3.5. The Bears showed up the same way they did last week in a win over Seattle.
The next game is at the Vikings on Sunday. The time is later.
The Giants.
Imagine playing in an NFL game and not being able to complete passes. That is where the Giants are now. Mike Glennon is behind the offensive line. In the first half, the Giants dropped back to pass four times. They had minus-16 yards and two turnovers. It never got better. Glennon was sacked four times and finished with 24 yards.
Did the Giants stop? I wouldn't say that. The quarterback fumbled and threw an pick-pocket that led to two Chicago touchdown in the first eight minutes of the game. The Giants couldn't throw a pass because of their offensive line. This isn't a matter of the players not knowing their assignments. The team is sinking because of this bad offense. New York's defense played hard to the end and allowed a lot of yards. It allowed seven points in the second half.
The confidence rating of Raanan was down from 1.2 to 0. It was not possible for the Giants' offense to get worse. They keep proving us wrong.
The next game is against Washington. The time is later.
