NFL Week 17 - Welker hurt, Giants suck and some other stuff
 

As a Lions fan no week in the NFL is worse then Week 17. We have a blacked out game that doesn't matter. Our rookie QB is out so we can't even watch him play. All my FF leagues are over (for nearly everyone else I'd assume too) and this year the one game that means anything will end up a sham as the Jets will play a Bengals team most likely headed up by JT O'Sullivan.

Oh well. At least I can hold out hope that the Rams accidentally beat SF and the Lions lose.

I remain surprised that Dallas/Philadelphia wasn't flexed to Sunday night instead of Jets/Bengals for this reason. Once Dallas beat Washington last Sunday, Dallas/Philly was the only game in the league that could be played after all the other games and be guaranteed to still have meaning for both teams. Unless, of course, there's a rule about the same team appearing on Sunday night two weeks in a row, in which case that's a shitty rule to have for week 17!

If I pay attention to football at all this weekend it will because I'm in a fantasy football championship with about $150 on the line.

The Colts sucked out all of my NFL enthusiasm.

DeTox. I think it's safe to assume that regardless of whether the Rams have the first, second, or third pick of the draft, that they'll be taking either Clausen or McCoy. That should leave at least 2-3 top flight receivers for the Lions to choose from.

They said the reason they did it was because at the end of this TV contract cycle, an equal number of Fox games and CBS games must be flexed. Currently, Fox has lost five more games than CBS has and they took the game to start to try and balance it out.

I will laugh if Denver loses and they don't make the playoffs.

You'd only miss him throw a few picks anyways.

I bet it is likely that Denver will win and not make the playoffs.

What sucks is we actually need WR badly :(

Really? I'd think the Lions have much bigger needs than WR, with Megatron on the roster. I'm thinking...any position on defense.

I don't mean in the draft. Just that our WR's outside Megatron are an abortion despite all the picks used on them in the past.

Speaking of, we haven't had a good argument about how great and underrated Denver is and what a good hire Josh McDaniels was for a while. I guess going 2-7 over the last 9 games will do that.

You actually want the #1 pick again?

Not sure about back-to-back appearances, but I think there is a rule about how many times you can appear on primetime and use flex. I think Dallas has been on prime time too many times.

9 times out of 10 I would say no but I am that high on Suh. He is someone who can turn a D around in a hurry.

The one time this year I'll be rooting for the Giants and they have absolutely nothing to play for. And, of course, I'm sure the last thing they want to do is help the Cowboys (or Eagles) out...

Yeah I can't even sell my Colts vs Bills Tickets for $30 less than face value for the 2.

I'd buy them for dollar but my wife doesnt wanna give up the suite

Suh is no doubt the guy in this draft but I don't think Eric Berry would be a bad consolation prize.

Lamarr Woodley agrees with you.

Woodley predicts Bengals, Patriots to 'lay down' to keep Steelers out

Yeah, everyone's afraid of the big bad "can't stop shit in the 4th quarter" fucking squealers.

Yep, fucking PANIC stricken.

Woodley is such a lame ass. The only team People are less worried about right now would be...Miami or maybe Jacksonville. The Jets, Broncos and Ravens are all better than shitsburgh.

No beer but you get a nice towel
 

Jets to hold halftime Giants Stadium celebration - NFL - SI.com

We get it already. You don't like Pittsburgh. It's old.

not week 17 related,but was just watching a micd up video on Brett Favre earlier this year against the lions. It's Awesome and I'm not even too much of a Favre fan. you guys should check it out:

hxxp://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Sound-FX---Brett-Favre-Just-A-Big-Kid/5710a3de-a55a-4b08-ba98-8a45e4319627

Dola, I love these vids, this is one of Stafford when he lead the come back against the browns. and he was hurt the last couple plays of the game, pure guts. Kids got em.

hxxp://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-sound-efx/09000d5d8147c551/Sound-FX-Matthew-Stafford-mic-d-up

Surprised this wasn't posted yet.

Broncos bench Brandon Marshall Sunday. Also benching Tony Scheffler.

Josh McDaniels benches Brandon Marshall for Broncos finale - NFL - SI.com

To answer the titular question:

History suggests that the Bills will still get rolled in week 17 by a playoff team's b squad. See 2003, when the bills had a playoff birth on the line, and got stomped by a Steelers team featuring Brian St Pierre and Willie Parker(before he was a starter)

This has to be the last time I'll see good ole TC23 on the outer frames of a play, chasing down the guy he was supposed to cover? Right SR? Hopefully him and Tank can hang out a lot next season, Tank should be out of prison soon.

I read an article in the Trib today that blew my mind.

Discussion of who, should the Steelers choose to, would get the franchise tag after the season. Mentioned Hampton, Clark, Parker and Reed as the main UFAs.

And all I could think is WHERE THE FUCK IS THE SUPPORT FOR THE BEST DREADS IN PITSBURGH!?

DOLA

NFL to ask competition committee to look again at game, competitive balance - ESPN

Not really sure how this gets enforced

Boy this will be an interesting decision should the Broncos not make the playoffs now. C'mon Chiefs! :)

Going to the Browns-Jags game tomorrow in Cleveland, yay fun

Supposed to be strong winds. Derek Anderson might wish for the days of 2-17 for 23 yards.

Yeah how can you force some team to play its starters when they have everything locked up? I can see it now, if this would ever become a rule (it won't) and a key player gets hurt in one of these meaningless games, there would be organizations up in arms.

Not sure exactly how either, but it definitely needs to be addressed. The Colts did nothing short of throwing a game last week & since it had definite impact on the playoff possibilities of other teams, that's a pretty grave issue.

What they can do is not expand the playoffs further (which would create more meaningless regular reason games). Though I'm resigned to the fact that they're going to do that soon anyway.

Nothing can be done though, about the Colts being too afraid to enter the playoffs undefeated.

Even if forced to dress and use players a minimum number of snaps, it would be a bunch of dive plays. Manning takes the snap, hands to Addai, 1 yard gain. Does this twice more. Punt.

Next series...three more of the same.

If they do anything, I imagine it'll be some sort of fine that some organizations will cheerfully pay anyway.

Blizzard like conditions here in Buffalo, I doubt you see the starters for the colts play more than a quarter.

Pains me to say this, but "Let's go Giants, beat those Vikings so my Cards still have a shot at the #2 seed!" :)

Fixed

You are such a homer Jeebs. ;)

Oh shit, welker possibly injured (looks like a knee)

Now I'm going to have to listen to jackasses and morons all offseason on how they should have sat Welker.

Wonderful.

freak injury, that could happen in Practice, he was basically untouched when it occured (I'd say sprained knee, don't think it's ACL/MCL related)

I think you lose more in routine and edge in NOT playing your starters then you do in risking injury.

That's the correct answer. But you know the Boston sports scene.

I'd say the fact that Welker was crying for five minutes and then carted off means it probably is worse then a Sprain. These guys know when something is really wrong and I think this is really wrong.

I don't think any significant number of people will really be pissed about him playing in the 1st quarter. This is the way Bellichick has done it since he's been here. And as Bellichik likes to point out - it's not like you have an unlimited roster, it's technically impossible to sit out all of your starters. Every team today is going to have their starters playing at least some of the game.

Welker doesn't stay down, ever. I knew it was over after 10 seconds.

Let's see what Edelman does in the post season. He could shine or he could disappoint.

I dunno how people can be pissed? This is no different then Week 1, 5 or 10. It's not like BB is defying logic and being a wildcard who is playing his guys when no one else does. Just bad luck.