Not each participant, coach and group can shine. With that in thoughts, let’s take a look at among the extra unremarkable moments and performances from Week 17 of the NFL season:
Detroit Lions followers: The Lions already had the NFC North locked up, however Brad Allen’s officiating crew and their inexplicable blown name on Detroit’s two-point conversion in Saturday’s 21-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys denied Lions followers a possible No. 1 seed, a first-round playoff bye and home-field benefit all through the playoffs – one thing that’s occurred simply as soon as because the merger.
Followers who’ve suffered via six straight years with out a playoff look and simply three seasons with a playoff recreation since 2000 had been robbed of probably internet hosting a number of playoff video games.
Arthur Smith, head coach, Atlanta Falcons: Whereas Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean has stated there’s an opportunity Smith may very well be again for his fourth season subsequent 12 months, Smith is on observe for his third straight 7-10 season following Sunday’s 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears and he made followers endure via 12 begins of Desmond Ridder this season.
If Clean severely needs to win, he can’t carry Smith again as his head coach subsequent season. The Falcons roster isn’t horrible they usually’re arguably one proper head coach-and-quarterback combo away from turning into a playoff contender in 2024.
Everybody, Philadelphia Eagles: Within the span of 5 weeks, the Eagles went from being on cruise management to locking up the NFC’s No. 1 seed to dropping 4 of 5 video games and in jeopardy of presumably not even successful their division. Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals was embarrassing and never indicative of a group anybody ought to worry within the postseason.
Philly’s passing recreation was out of types, the protection allowed James Conner to burn them for 128 yards and a landing they usually allowed Kyler Murray to log his first three-touchdown recreation since getting back from harm eight weeks in the past. The Eagles are a multitude they usually’re limping into the playoffs.
Antonio Pierce, head coach, Las Vegas Raiders: Whereas Raiders gamers need Pierce to be the group’s everlasting head coach, he seemingly wanted to win his remaining two video games and by some means sneak the group into the playoffs to also have a shot of constructing {that a} actuality. Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts dashed these goals.
Pierce’s 4-4 file regardless of having no prior head-coaching expertise and beginning rookie QB Aiden O’Connell for all eight video games is spectacular, all issues thought-about, however with the Raiders heading into a brand new period (and potential rebuild), proprietor Mark Davis will seemingly usher in a coach with extra expertise and better upside than Pierce.
Dalvin Prepare dinner, RB, New York Jets: Thursday’s 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns was the primary time in Prepare dinner’s profession that he performed zero offensive snaps. The 28-year-old working again has performed simply 21% of the Jets offensive snaps this season – a profession low, per Pro Football Reference – and he’s had double-digit carries simply as soon as this 12 months.
He hasn’t rushed for greater than 35 yards in any recreation and except he scores in Week 18, this would be the first time in Prepare dinner’s eight-year NFL profession by which he’ll fail to attain a single landing, which is considerably robust to consider contemplating he was coming off of 4 straight Professional Bowl seasons by which he rushed for 1,100 yards or extra in every of them.
David Tepper, proprietor, Carolina Panthers: Not solely did Tepper’s Panther endure their most lopsided lack of the 12 months (26-0) to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, however he made headlines after the sport for all of the improper causes. Video surfaced on social media exhibiting Tepper throwing a drink on a Jaguars fan earlier than storming out of his suite.
The NFL has acknowledged it’s conscious of the video and Tepper, who’s not making it simpler for himself to rent a official head coach to mentor Bryce Younger, may very well be topic to some kind of high quality or different disciplinary motion from the league.
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks: Whereas it was all the time unlikely that Smith at age 33 would replicate his magical 2022 season (4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 100.9 passer ranking), the Seahawks presumably anticipated extra out of him than the three,435 yards, 18 touchdowns and 9 interceptions he gave them in 14 video games this 12 months.
He did himself no favors in Seattle’s largest recreation of the 12 months towards the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, both. With playoff implications at stake, the Seahawks misplaced 30-23 and sealed a playoff berth for his or her division rival Rams. With Smith regressing this 12 months, don’t be stunned if the Seahawks draft Smith’s eventual substitute sooner or later within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans: Regardless of what some jaded Titans reporters have been writing on social media, beginning Levis in Sunday’s matchup with the Houston Texans – a recreation that meant actually nothing for the Titans – was the improper name. The group subjected him to a relentless Texans go rush that sacked him seven instances simply two weeks in the past and compelled him to play just some weeks faraway from an ankle sprain behind left deal with Andre Dillard, who’s surrendered a team-high 36 pressures, 10 sacks and 9 QB hits.
And as destiny would have it, Levis ended up getting injured once more. Levis accomplished simply 2-of-6 passes for 16 yards and was sacked as soon as earlier than having to exit the sport. For his sake, the Titans want to deal with the offensive line this offseason.
