NFL Snapshots: Week 18 (2023)

Just a few housekeeping items before we get to this week’s snapshots.

1. I will be doing playoff snapshots for the 14 teams that have made it. Of course, that number will dwindle as teams are eliminated.

2. I have another NFL post coming this week (hopefully). It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done and I’m very excited about it. Be on the lookout for that.

3. Thank you to the people who have read my weekly recaps all season! I appreciate it.

Arizona Cardinals (4-13)
The Cardinals finished the season with a loss and will have the 4th pick in the NFL Draft. Will Marvin Harrison Jr. still be on the board when they pick? It’s possible.

Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
The Falcons ended the season with a 48-17 loss to the Saints. Head Coach Arthur Smith has been let go. This team needs to find a starting quarterback. They will pick 8th in the NFL Draft for the third year in a row.

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) – AFC #1
Forgive the Ravens for losing their final game of the season, but the result didn’t matter as much as the health of their best players.

Buffalo Bills (11-6) – AFC #2
Going into their game against the Dolphins, the Bills knew they were in the playoffs, they just didn’t know what seed. As much as Josh Allen tried to throw the game away in the first half, the team rallied in the second half after a punt return touchdown from Deonte Harty. The Bills won five games in a row to close the season and win the AFC East.

Carolina Panthers (2-15)
I don’t say this to be mean, but how do the Panthers get better before next season? They don’t have their first round (first overall) pick, so are they hoping for Bryce Young to figure out how to be an effective starting quarterback in the NFL? Do they have any other choice? Maybe they can call up the Bears and ask for Justin Fields.

Chicago Bears (7-10)
Based on Justin Fields’ post-game press conference where he essentially said his thank yous and goodbyes, it sounds like the Bears are moving on and drafting a quarterback in the draft. I like Fields, but I think this is the right decision.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
The Bengals ended the season with a win over the Browns backups. Before the season, we thought the Bengals, Bills, and Chiefs were the top three teams in the AFC. They’ve all had their challenges this year.

Cleveland Browns (11-6) – AFC #5
A playoff game – albeit on the road in Houston – against a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach, is probably the best opponent the Browns could’ve asked for in the Wild Card round. The Texans are good, but the Browns defence has the edge here.

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) – NFC #2
The Cowboys are undefeated at home this season, so if that trend continues, they should find themselves in the NFC Championship game. These are the Cowboys, though. You have to be cautious before planning ahead.

Detroit Lions (12-5) – NFC #3
The Lions finish a fantastic year as the third seed in the NFC and what’s their reward? A home playoff game against their ex-starting quarterback. Oh no. I’ve been saying it for weeks and now it’s finally happening. Lions vs. Rams. Jared Goff vs. Matthew Stafford. There’s no way Stafford doesn’t throw for at least 350 yards, right?

Denver Broncos (8-9)
Russell Wilson has five more years left on his contract. His first two seasons in Denver haven’t gone well. What’s the solution?

Green Bay Packers (9-8) – NFC #7
The Packers are in the playoffs and will face the Dallas Cowboys. Is there a chance that Jordan Love can lead them to an upset win on the road? There’s always a chance. The Packers have nothing to lose.

Houston Texans (10-7) – AFC #4
It was either going to be the Texans or Jaguars who came away with the AFC South and in the end, it was the Texans. I’, happy for them. After the Deshaun Watson era and before the C.J. Stroud era, I wondered how long it would be before the Texans were likeable again. Well, they are officially likeable!

Indianapolis Colts (9-8)
Time to go to my phone for the specifics: Colts vs. Texans. Colts down 6 points with 1:43 left in the game. It’s 4th and 1 on the 15 yard line. They have all 3 timeouts left. What do they do? They let the clock tick down to 1:06 and call their first timeout. They then run a play where their third string running back drops a pass in the flat. He would’ve had the first down. Instead, it’s a turnover on downs and the Texans get the ball. The Colts don’t have enough timeouts to get the ball back. Game over. Texans win.

I know what the Colts were trying to do. They wanted to score a touchdown and run off into the tunnel. They didn’t want any time left on the clock for the Texans to go down field and kick a field goal. HOWEVER, the Colts assumed they were going to score. Why else would they use a timeout? Why else would they let 37 seconds run off the clock before running their 4th and 1 play?

If the Colts really wanted to keep all their options open, they would’ve hurried up to the line and run the 4th and 1 play before the clock got to 1:30. If they get the first down – great! They have the ball within the 15 yard line, over a minute left, and all three timeouts. You feel good.

If they don’t get it – it’s not the end of the game. You have your three timeouts and can, theoretically, get the ball back with around a minute to go. Sure, you would’ve had to drive the length of the field for a touchdown with no timeouts, but you wouldn’t be dead.

Instead, they killed the clock, took a timeout, and then made the 4th and 1 play a “do or die” play. I don’t know. Why are NFL teams so opposed to having a Plan B or Plan C these days? I’m a fan of keeping all options open/various paths to victory, until I’m forced to follow one.

Oh well. The Colts overachieved this year and missing the playoffs sets them up better for next season when Anthony Richardson will be back.

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
The Jaguars started the season 8-3 and were in the hunt for the top spot in the AFC. And then they closed the season 1-5 and didn’t even make the playoffs. All they had to do was beat a 5-11 Titans team yesterday and they couldn’t do it.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) – AFC #3
The Chiefs path to the Super Bowl is tougher this year and the road starts with a home date against their old friend, Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins are hurting right now, but this won’t be easy.

Las Vegas Raiders (8-9)
I’m not sold on Aidan O’Connell as the quarterback of the future. If the Raiders aren’t either, that means they could be in the market for someone like Justin Fields.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-12)
I probably shouldn’t mention that before the season started I said the Chargers had a chance at winning at the AFC West. Hey, the Chiefs were vulnerable this year but no one in the division could capitalize. I thought their offence was going to be unstoppable. It was good and healthy for a while, but it wasn’t enough. They were chasing their tail all year. They started 2-4, got back to 4-4, and then couldn’t keep the winning ways going.

Los Angeles Rams (10-7) – NFC #6
The Rams are running like it’s the last day of school and the final bell just went. They shouldn’t be afraid of anyone and although they have to travel to the East coast to face the Lions, it’s a Matthew Stafford homecoming game. I don’t even want to call it a revenge game. It’s not. They traded him and he won a Super Bowl. If anything, he can thank them in person now. It’s a revenge game for Jared Goff, maybe. But who knows him better than Sean McVay? You don’t think McVay will know how to mitigate his impact? This is going to be fun.

Miami Dolphins (11-6) – AFC #6
The Dolphins went from being the talk of the AFC, to having to go on the road to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs. Oh, how things change. They need to get Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Waddle back. They also need to get some important pieces back on defence. If they can enter the game “healthy enough”, then they can come away with a win. If someone is going to beat the Chiefs before the AFC Championship game/Super Bowl, this is the year to do it.

Minnesota Vikings (7-10)
Do the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins after he tore his achilles? Personally, I think they have to, if they have any intention of keeping Justin Jefferson long-term. You’re not going to pay Jefferson and then give him a second string quarterback as his starter. Bring back Cousins on a two-year deal and actively try and find his heir apparent during that time.

New England Patriots (4-13)
We’re all officially on Bill Belichick watch. Will he stay or will he go?

New Orleans Saints (9-8)
The Saints were up 41-17 against the Falcons and kneeling out the clock with the ball inside the 2-yard line. Jameis Winston and the players on the field decided to override the coach and hand the ball off to Jamaal Williams so he could get his first touchdown of the season, after leading the NFL last season with 17. Neither head coach was happy about the decision.

Personally, I get why the players did it. Williams is a good teammate and they felt bad he hadn’t gotten in the end zone all year. At the same time, if you’re going to run a play at that point in the game when the score is what it is, don’t even bother lining up as if you’re going to kneel down. They’re fortunate no one got hurt. The defence didn’t expect someone to be charging at them.

New York Giants (6-11)
The Giants will have the 6th pick in the NFL Draft after defeating the Eagles to end the season.

New York Jets (7-10)
If the Jets were a 7-10 team without Aaron Rodgers, what would their record have been had he played all 17 games? The phone lines are now open.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) – NFC #5
It’s not enough that the Eagles have lost 5 of their last 6 games and have to go on the road to Tampa Bay for a playoff game. But A.J. Brown hurt his knee, DeVonta Smith was already out, and Jalen Hurts’ middle finger on his throwing hand was shaped like an over-boiled hotdog after getting dislocated. I don’t see the Eagles as Super Bowl contenders. Their playoff exit is going to be a 20+ point blowout.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) – AFC #7
The Steelers are the inaugural winner of the Michael Myers award because they are the team that just wouldn’t die. They’re in the playoffs and now have to go on the road to Orchard Park and deal with Bills mafia. The Steelers don’t die though, so this will be interesting.

San Francisco 49ers (12-5) – NFC #1
The 49ers get to sit back with their feet up and wait for whoever their challenger will be in the Divisional round.

Seattle Seahawks (8-9)
I didn’t think the Seahawks would last as long as they did this season, but Pete Carroll is a guru.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) – NFC #4
The Buccaneers scored nine points against the Panthers, which was enough to win the game and the division. That may be the most fitting way for a team to win the NFC South, outside of maybe a coin flip tiebreaker.

Tennessee Titans (6-11)
The Titans played spoiler and defeated the Jaguars, thus eliminating them from playoff contention. Derrick Henry went out with 153 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.

Washington Commanders (4-13)
Ron Rivera is out as Head Coach and the Commanders have hired former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers to help advise in the search for Rivera’s replacement.