Every Snap Counts Down the Final Stretch
As Coach Bill Belichick once said: “The season only starts after Thanksgiving.”
After a Turkey filled Tripleheader last Thursday which saw the Packers sweep the Lions, Cowboys corral Chiefs and Bengals bury the Ravens along with a Black Friday bonus broadcast on Amazon Prime where Chicago upset Philadelphia by running the ball down their throats, the proverbial Rubicon has been crossed and now there’s no going back.
The die has been cast, teams aren’t going to evolve or improve much further, and every game counts.
We are officially into the final third of the NFL regular season, and what a wild ride it has been. I can confidently state that this has been one of the most explosive and unexpectedly thrilling NFL seasons that we’ve experienced in recent years. If you had told me back in September that the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots would be on course for a potential clash in the AFC Championship game, I probably would have laughed. Such was the improbability of Daniel “Indiana” Jones getting his team into this position. But Indy’s fate is far from sealed with the Jaguars and Texans hot on their heels in the AFC South.
It would also be highly remiss of me to discount the Denver Broncos who currently sit at 9-2 ahead of the final weekend of November football. Sean Payton’s outfit haven’t performed consistently, but have won tight games when it mattered most, including narrow victories over the Chiefs and Giants. From here on out however, the top teams in the conference all need to win their remaining games if they want to ascertain their dominant positions and secure post season action. Kansas City in particular are in peril of their 10 season consecutive season playoff run coming to an end, and with a 6-6 record going into December, things are not looking good for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
The NFC race is somewhat more clear cut, with Matt Stafford reeling back the years and looking far younger than a grizzly 37 in Los Angeles. The Rams are currently the number one seed in the NFL with a 9-2 record, and a Santa Clara showdown with the New England Patriots is looking progressively more likely. This would be a Super Bowl 53 rematch, a contest the Rams narrowly won by 10 points. Both Stafford and Patriots signal caller Drake Maye are in contention for League MVP, and if these two were to meet in the big game, we’d be in for a truly electric performance. Los Angeles most recently lifted the Lombardi back in 2022, defeating the Joe Burrow led Bengals by a single field goal. And if they continue on course, they could well hoist him again come February.
While LA’s path back to the dance may seem clear, there are still a few teams waiting in the long grass to trip them up in the post season. Friday’s blockbuster Black Friday clash between the Eagles and Bears was for all intents and purposes an NFC playoff preview, with whoever emerged victorious most likely to challenge the conference crown. Ultimately, that was Chicago, who now sit just one game behind the Rams going into Week 13’s slate . With the way that Caleb Williams and Co. have played so far this season, it’s not a stretch to picture them on the away team sideline of SoFi come January.
Seattle and Tampa Bay too seemed like early season contenders and could still squeak into a wildcard slot. Baker Mayfield’s side cannot afford any further losses though, with the 49ers sitting at 10 – 4 and Brock Purdy back at the helm. For the Seahawks, it all comes down to Quarterback Sam Darnold. He’s been in this position before with the Vikings, on the cusp of a deep playoff run before suffering a disastrous run of form and effectively ending their chances. He’ll face his former team on Sunday before two crucial fixtures against Los Angeles and San Francisco. If Darnold can play clean football and avoid a meltdown, Seattle could well earn the 4th or 5th seed in the NFC.
The business end of the NFL season has arrived, and there’s no more wiggle room when it comes to wins and losses. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for football fans, so enjoy it while you can and hopefully your team makes the playoffs!