Four Down Territory: NFL Week 17

First Down

Marvin Lewis

Adam Gase

Vance Joseph

Steve Wilks

Todd Bowles

Dirk Koetter

All the names above suffered the fate of black Monday, also known as, the darkest day of the NFL season. NFL teams waste no time transitioning to a new regime and this year is no different. Throw in Mike McCarthy and Hue Jackson and that makes eight teams looking for head coaches.

That’s 1/4 of the league for all the math addicts.

Most of these are understandable. Marvin Lewis has been at the helm for over fifteen years and has never won a playoff game. Adam Gase, who was heralded as an offensive guru, led Miami to a 23-25 record.

The only surprising firing is Steve Wilks. We talked last week about it made zero sense for the Cardinals to fire a man who they just hired a year ago for a total rebuild. Has he had problems building his staff? No doubt but what message does that send to the incoming hire? Will management give a more recognizable name, say like Jim Caldwell, more of a leash?

I get it, Josh Rosen‘s development is top priority, as it should be, but you knew you were drafting a quarterback when you were hiring a coach last year. Why not get someone who has worked with quarterbacks or get a list of people he was considering to bring on his staff?

There’s also a deeper conversation that needs to be had about the fact that five out of the seven fired coaches were people of color and how Gruden, and other organizations, are making a mockery of the Rooney rule. That’s a talk for another time.

Second Down

Another bowl season, another wave of uproars about players sitting out of games.

Ed Oliver, Bryce Love, Rashan Gary, Noah Fant, N’Keal Harry, Greedy Williams, and Will Grier are a few big names that won’t participate in their respective bowl games to prepare for the NFL draft.

Enter fans, and coaches, giving their two cents about how this is betrayal to the team and how they should see their commitment through.

Dabo Swinney, always the one to make players feel bad for thinking about their future, weighed in:

Dabo on skipping bowls: "You have different influences. Everybody kind of lives their life in fear. Anybody can get hurt in any game. Why play your senior year at all?
"I personally don’t live my live that way — wrap yourself in bubble wrap. You can get hurt doing anything."

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 18, 2018

Real easy to say for a man making well over six million per year.

Everyone seems to forget that Jaylon Smith had the Dabo philosophy and tore his knee up and lost an estimated $19 million. It also cost him almost two years of his career. It’s bad enough the NCAA exploits these young men and women for profit so spare me when they flex the little bit of leverage they have to save their bodies for the next level.

Dabo, and anyone who agrees with him, should pipe down.

Third Down 

The playoff bracket is set.

The #NFLPlayoffs are SET! pic.twitter.com/O7ytoh8Tl9

— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2018

The times this weekend are as followed.

The NFL Playoff 📺 schedule pic.twitter.com/C34uPhtgUf

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2018

 

You can scribble in that the Colts will be traveling to Houston for that first game. Let’s do some predictions.

Colts (6) @ Texans (3) Saturday 4:35: AFC South foes face off in Houston in a game that could possibly steal the show this weekend. Andrew Luck has returned to form thanks to Frank Reich and Colts have won four straight. Is that enough to beat a Texans team led by Watson and Nuke? They split their regular season series; the home team won both times by three points. I think that trend continues and Houston walks away with a win.

Prediction: Houston 27, Colts 24

Chargers (5) @ Ravens (4) Sunday 1:05: The Chargers have a better record but lost the division to the chiefs. That means they have to fly across the country for a 1:00 kickoff. Historically west coast teams that play in the 1:00 slot on the east coast don’t do well. The Chargers are getting screwed from a system that should favor teams with better records, not divisional crowns. The Ravens demolished the Chargers in LA before Christmas and I expect them to win again. The Ravens aren’t a better team; they’re just fortunate that jetlag is a think.

Prediction: Ravens 20, Chargers 14

Seahawks (5) @ Cowboys (4) Saturday 8:15: The Cowboys return to the playoffs with a prime time Saturday night game. Both teams are mirror images of each other; run the ball and play great defense. Amari has meant the world to Dak since the trade and that’s going to have to be the key if the Cowboys will win. In times like this, when teams are similar, it’s usually wise to go with the better quarterback. Russell is a Super Bowl champion and has done this dance a few times. If I need a play I trust Wilson over Dak.

Prediction: Seahawks 21, Cowboys 17

Eagles (6) @ Bears (4) Sunday 4:40: The defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles wrap up wild card weekend with a trip to Chicago. The Bears defense is ranked top three in the league and are 7-1 at home this season. The Eagles have won three straight with victories over the Rams and Texans. Nick Foles is playing great but has bruised ribs. Chicago are six point favorites and all signs point to the Bears advancing.

That’s why I’m picking the Eagles; they thrive in the underdog role and now they’re wearing ski masks, too.

Prediction: Eagles 20, Bears 13

Fourth Down 

Antonio Brown is causing quite the stir…

Sources said the Steelers’ decision to not play Antonio Brown against the Bengals had nothing to do with any type of knee injury.

Rather, Antonio Brown threw a football in anger at one of his teammates and chose not to practice the rest of the week. https://t.co/ElPDaI6hsp

— Post-Gazette Sports (@PGSportsNow) December 31, 2018

First of all; this is the most AB story of all time.

As more details have emerged it appears that AB is forcing his way out of Pittsburgh. Which was made clear when he, you know, asked for a trade.

https://twitter.com/BIeacherRaport/status/1079852285608505344

If that wasn’t clear how about AB getting on the Intagram (I sound like my dad)  live with Mike Tomlin’s biggest critic not named Terry Bradshaw.

Antonio Brown about to have an "exclusive interview" with former #Steelers LB James Harrison. [Via Instagram]

James Harrison has been highly critical of Mike Tomlin.pic.twitter.com/uZhLDXliHr

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 2, 2019

AB has gone full heel. I’m talking about Hogan joining the NWO status.

The Steelers don’t have a choice; you have to trade him and hope you can find something reasonable in return. The only team that even has something worth offering is the 49ers and maybe the Cardinals.

Brown’s attitude and maturity should be questioned but don’t start acting like Ben is some sort of role model. He’s the worse of them all.

Extra Points

This is the best thing the NFL season gave us this year.

Bill Belichick pulling up to Antonio Brown’s house after hearing he wants a trade https://t.co/yqs0xrEZHX

— Noah / The Hawks………are a basketball team (@PrimeNoah24) January 1, 2019

Long live Yahoo Sports for this one.

So that's what started all this Steelers drama… 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qQL60NpWkC

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 2, 2019

After seventeen weeks of complaining ESPN makes the right call and disassembles the boogermobile.

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1080550545679634432

Who knows, maybe having him in the booth means less Jason Witten. Sounds good to me.

@ me: madads14 

As always, thanks for reading.

 

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