Just like that… there’s just one week left in the regular season. How? Why?
These are questions we ask out of sadness and to avoid putting away the Christmas decorations (when are you actually supposed to put them away anyway?). Football is so awesome and it always goes by so quickly, but at the very least we know that the coming month will feature incredible games and moments that will leave some fans ecstatic and a ton of fans devastated. Oh what fun.
As we wrap up the penultimate week of the regular season we need to take a look at the state of a few situations across the NFL. Thankfully here at The Skinny Post that is exactly what we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, do best.
How scary are the 49ers?
RJ:
Sunday night gave us one of the games of the year between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. It really is a shame that it had to end.
As a Dallas Cowboys fan I have learned firsthand just how devastating the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan can be. A popular take of mine over last offseason was that I felt the collective of football fans had forgotten how dominant they were because of their injury-filled 2024 season. They are back and they look better than ever.
At this moment I am having a hard time seeing how any NFC team outlasts San Francisco in a playoff game. It finally feels like their moment and there is no Patrick Mahomes on the AFC side of things to stop them in the Super Bowl.
Michael:
I did not think the 49ers were a scary team until the past few weeks where it looks like Brock Purdy has taken his game to a whole new level out of nowhere. San Francisco is scoring a ton of points and they’re getting the most out of their best players that have remained healthy.
The offense lost left tackle Trent Williams and the defense has been playing without All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, and yet they’re still winning and have a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
When teams are able to find it within themselves to play above their perceived limitations due to injuries or other circumstances, that’s when other squads should rightfully fear them.
Which NFL Playoffs team is the easiest draw?
Michael:
After watching how any team with a decent pass rush has used and abused the Chargers offensive line, it’s hard not to think it’s my Bolts.
The offense looks really bad against defenses that can create some modicum of pressure consistently and that means the defense – although one of the best in the NFL – simply CANNOT have a bad day at the office. The margin for error is so thin on that side of the ball and we saw against Houston just how fast it can nearly take the Chargers out of the game from the start.
I think the Chargers’ ability to overcome the losses of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt this year is incredible, but they have such glaring issues and shortcomings that opponents can exploit. With that in mind, it’s really hard to see them make it out of the wild card round yet again.
RJ:
It feels too easy to say that the NFC South winner or Green Bay Packers are the best draw to take in a playoff game right now. I refuse to go chalk.
Honestly I think the AFC North winner is going to be gettable in their home playoff game. The Ravens have been a massive mess all season long and the Steelers seem content to have simply avoided a losing season once more.
I’m excited to watch Baltimore and Pittsburgh duke it out, but I do think whoever wins will experience victory for the last time this season on Sunday night.
Tyler Shough, Offensive Rookie of the Year? Really?
RJ:
There is zero doubt that this is a weird year for OROTY and I see no reason why Tyler Shough shouldn’t win it. Voters have painted themselves into a bit of a corner with things like this to where certain seasons, like this one, make for an awkward result when there is no slam dunk inner.
Who is even a serious contender against Shough right now? No other rookie quarterback has had any kind of commendable year and we all know the boost that playing that position provides for these things.
Michael:
I have to agree here. It’s been such a weird year for OROTY because all the quarterbacks have underwhelmed while the top two running backs (Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton) were drafted to a horrible team and injured for a good chunk of the season, respectively.
With that in mind, it’s tough not to think Shough is the frontrunner. His per-game numbers are great when compared to Cam Ward and his win-loss record is also the best of all the rookie signalcallers. I think it’s very up for grabs, but the right decision, in my humble opinion, is Shough.
Predicting AFC and NFC Championship matchups
RJ:
Right now I think we are destined for a 49ers/Bears rematch in the title game on the NFC side and, assuming it works out, a Bills/Patriots tilt on the AFC side.
This would be theater and I would love it with all of my heart, so surely that means none of them will make it.
Michael:
On the NFC side, I foresee the Rams continuing their strong push this year and a matchup with either the 49ers or Bears in the NFC title game.
As for the AFC, I think the Patriots look very complete. They’ll make the AFC title game against the Broncos (seemingly the team of destiny this year) or the Jaguars who are arguably the hottest team as of late.
from SB Nation https://ift.tt/s1IHYfF
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