Every coach, player, and squad can’t always be great. In light of this, let’s examine a some of the less noteworthy incidents and performances from Week 17 of the NFL season:
Detroit Lions fans: The Lions already owned the NFC North, but they were denied a chance to be the top seed, a first-round playoff bye, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs—something that has only happened once since the merger—by Brad Allen’s officiating staff and their inexplicable blown call on Detroit’s two-point conversion in Saturday’s 21-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The opportunity to host several playoff games was taken away from the supporters who endured suffering through six consecutive years without a postseason berth and just three seasons with a playoff game since 2000.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith: After Sunday’s 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, Smith is headed for his third straight 7-10 season, while Falcons owner Arthur Blank has hinted that he may return for a fourth season next year. Smith also caused fans to suffer through 12 starts of Desmond Ridder this season.
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If Blank seriously wants to win, he can’t bring Smith back as his head coach next season. The Falcons roster isn’t terrible and they’re arguably one right head coach-and-quarterback combo away from becoming a playoff contender in 2024.
All of you, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles went from being in complete control to securing the top seed in the NFC in just five weeks, to dropping four out of five games and maybe missing out on winning their division. The ugly 35-31 loss on Sunday against the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals does not point to a club that anybody should be afraid of in the postseason.
The passing game for Philly was out of control; James Conner scorched them for 128 yards and a touchdown, and Kyler Murray recorded his first three-touchdown performance since his injury came back eight weeks ago. The Eagles are in disarray and are stumbling into the postseason.
Head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Antonio Pierce: Raiders fans want Pierce to lead the club permanently, but in order for that to happen, he probably needed to win his last two games and find a way to get the team into the playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts’ 23-20 victory on Sunday crushed any hopes.
Considering that Pierce has no prior head coaching experience and has started rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell for all eight games, his 4-4 record is impressive. However, owner Mark Davis will probably hire a coach with more experience and higher upside than Pierce because the Raiders are about to enter a new era that may involve a rebuild.
New York Jets running back Dalvin Cook: Cook played zero offensive snaps for the first time in his career on Thursday in the 37-20 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. According to Pro Football Reference, the 28-year-old running back has only played 21% of the Jets’ offensive snaps this season, which is a career low. He has only had double-digit carries once.
It’s hard to believe that Cook, who had just finished four straight Pro Bowl seasons in which he had rushed for at least 1,100 yards per game, will not score a single touchdown for the first time in his eight-year NFL career unless he scores in Week 18. Cook hasn’t rushed for more than 35 yards in any game.
David Tepper, owner, Carolina Panthers: Not only did Tepper’s Panther suffer their most lopsided loss of the year (26-0) to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but he made headlines after the game for all the wrong reasons. Video surfaced on social media showing Tepper throwing a drink on a Jaguars fan before storming out of his suite.
The NFL has stated that it is aware of the video, and Tepper, who is making it difficult for himself to hire a genuine head coach to train Bryce Young, may face a fine or other disciplinary action from the league.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith: While it was always unlikely that Smith, at the age of 33, would be able to replicate his magical 2022 season (4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 100.9 passer rating), the Seahawks presumably expected more from him than the 3,435 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions he gave them in 14 games this year.
He didn’t help himself in Seattle’s biggest game of the year against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. With playoff implications on the line, the Seahawks were defeated 30-23, ensuring a postseason berth for their division foe Rams. Given Smith’s regression this season, don’t be shocked if the Seahawks pick Smith’s ultimate replacement in the 2024 NFL pick.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis: Despite what some jaded Titans writers have been posting on social media, starting Levis against the Houston Texans on Sunday – a game that meant nothing to the Titans – was the incorrect move. The Texans sacked him seven times only two weeks ago and forced him to play just a few weeks removed from an ankle sprain behind left tackle Andre Dillard, who has yielded a team-high 36 pressures, 10 sacks, and nine QB hits.
And, as luck would have it, Levis was hurt again. Levis completed only two of six passes for 16 yards and was sacked once before being forced to leave the game. The Titans must improve the offensive line this offseason for his sake.
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