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Tennessee 28, Jacksonville 20 – The Jaguars are eliminated from playoff contention. The Titans managed to stun the Dolphins a few weeks ago, and they played the role of spoiler again, this time against that other AFC Florida team. Jacksonville looked like a lock for the AFC South division title for most of the season, and even this weekend, it looked likely that they would emerge as the division champs. Instead, they have an unexpected early offseason to try and examine and fix their problems. My pick: Inaccurate
NY Jets 17, New England 3 – An ugly game in ugly weather. Usually, snow games are visually stimulating, even romantic. This one somehow was not, as the snow managed somehow to look blotchy, mixing with the mud. Or perhaps it was just that the play on the field was not magnificent, particularly the two offenses that seemed inapt for at least most of the game. Still, the Jets managed to win, and finally ending a 15-game losing streak to the Pats (the longest active such streak in the league before yesterday's game). They might have slammed the door hard on the Belichick era in New England by handing him and the Pats a humbling loss. The Gang Green defense was very good this season. Maybe not historically good, maybe not comparable to the '85 Bears or the 2000 Ravens, but they were good enough to make you wonder what might have been had Rodgers not gotten hurt, and the Jets offense looked more in tune than they did for most of the season. My pick: Inaccurate
Tampa Bay 9, Carolina 0 – The Bucs finally clinched the NFC South here with this win. They did not exactly light up the scoreboard. Placekicker Chase McLaughlin hit three field goals, including one from 57 yards out. Meanwhile, the Bucs defense played very well, shutting out the hapless Carolina Panthers, who won only two games this season, and yet will not even "earn" the first pick in the draft, having traded it to Chicago. My pick: Accurate
Detroit 30, Minnesota 20 – A back and forth game between division rivals. The Lions had a chance - not a big one, but a chance - at possibly moving up to the second seed. That did not happen, but they still nevertheless earned a solid win. They jumped out early, and then fought the Vikings off whenever Minnesota rally. It came at a cost, however, as the Lions suffered multiple injuries, which will likely have an impact in next week's Wildcard game, when Detroit hosts the Rams, and Matthew Stafford. Still should be a good one, although it makes you wonder if they should have simply sat their starters out for this game, since it was not essential. My pick: Inaccurate
New Orleans 48, Atlanta 17 – While the Saints will not advance to the postseason, they nevertheless were impressive late this season, and made a decent run to try and (almost) qualify. This was a solid and crushing win over their division rivals, who ended the season in exactly the opposite manner, looking embarrassingly inept. My pick: Accurate
Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 14 – The Bengals won this one, but it did not really matter. Understandably, the Browns were resting their starters, since they were locked into their playoff seed and could not move either up or down. So the Bengals took advantage and earned an impressive looking win, at least on paper. They jumped out ahead early and solidly, and cruised to a convincing and win for the home crowd in Cincy. My pick: Accurate
NY Giants 27, Philadelphia 20 – The Eagles are in trouble. They looked fantastic, and on the verge of being dominant, after almost winning the Super Bowl last season, then racing off to a 10-1 start this season. Yet Bill Parcells once warned about fast starts, saying that an NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. It seems like Philly has run out of gas at the end of the regular season. They got dismantled by the 49ers and the Cowboys on consecutive weeks, and just never looked the same. Following that awesome and impressive 10-1 start, they have gone 1-5 to finish this season 11-6. Yikes! They now travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs, while looking decidedly vulnerable. As for the Giants, they finally beat the Eagles for the first time in what feels like a very long time. However, they may have shot themselves in the foot by moving up in the draft order, which might prevent them from getting an elite quarterback in the draft. My pick: Inaccurate
Dallas 38, Washington 10 – The Cowboys had a chance to win the division title with a win, as they controlled their own destiny. And boy, they left no doubt, earning themselves a statement win on the road, dominating the Commanders in Washington. Now, the 'Boys have the NFC East title and earned the second seed in the NFC playoffs, and will host the Packers next weekend. As for Washington, this ended a miserable season that saw them lose their last eight straight games, far and away the longest active losing streak in the league at the end of this season. My pick: Accurate
Green Bay 17, Chicago 9 – The Packers did what they had to do to punch their ticket into the postseason. They got past the Bears in a low-scoring contest, and earned themselves a win, allowing them to travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in the Wildcard Game next weekend. As for Da Bears, this was a disappointment. Yet, the way that they ended the season was promising. My pick: Accurate
Seattle 21, Arizona 20 – The Seahawks won, although it was not quite enough to get them into the playoffs, since the Packers also won. Still, they finish the season on a high note, with a divisional win, and also earn a winning record. These are things that they can build on. As for the Cards, they played tough, but can take solace in the fact that they sure seemed to be playing much better towards the end of this season. My pick: Accurate
Las Vegas 27, Denver 14 – Neither team was going to reach the playoffs this year. Still, the Raiders played tough and earned a solid win over the Broncos, who will likely begin to build an identity post-Russell Wilson. The Raiders defense made some serious strides this season. As for Denver, they have their work cut out for them, but it should be an interesting offseason, to say the least. My pick: Accurate
LA Rams 21, San Francisco 20 – Both of these teams had already locked up playoff berths. But the game meant a bit of something for the Rams, who could still move up in seedings. So they earned a narrow win over the 49ers, a team that has absolutely had their number in recent years. My pick: Inaccurate
Kansas City 13, LA Chargers 12 – KC managed to earn a win in their finale, although that likely is more a sign of how bad and inept the Chargers seemed to be late this season, than how good the Chiefs were. The Chiefs, understandably, rested their starters for this one, since they were locked into the 3rd seed and would not move either up or down no matter the result of this particular game. Now they know that they will host the Dolphins next weekend. My pick: Inaccurate
Sunday Night Football: Buffalo 21, Miami 14 – This game felt symbolic of the way the season has gone for the Bills. Very exciting in the beginning, but then a long stretch where it felt like they just might blow it. Then towards the end, when it counted the most, the Bills finally pulled through and did just enough to secure the win. And with it, a fourth straight AFC East title, and for the third time in the past four seasons, the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. Really, that is an astonishing turnaround. It marks the second time in three seasons that the Bills recovered from two games down in the final weeks of the regular season, and recovered to win the AFC East crown. At one point in midseason, Buffalo was the 11th seed. Even entering this regular season finale weekend, the Bills had not yet clinched a playoff berth. Now, they are the number two, and will play in Buffalo for as long as they survive, or until they would have to travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, should both teams survive. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This was an impressive, albeit tough, win for them, and they now get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They get to host the Steelers next weekend, while the Dolphins, instead of hosting, will not travel to Arrowhead in Kansas City to take on the defending champion Chiefs. This was a very good, well-played game. My pick: Accurate
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