NFL Quick Takes: Week 16
Thoughts on the top of my mind with two games left on the NFL regular-season schedule.
Sixteen weeks down, two to go in the 2022 NFL regular season. We’re in for a hell of a Week 17 as teams battle for their playoff lives. Here are the clinching scenarios this upcoming week for clubs still hoping to sneak in:
Miami Dolphins: Clinch playoff berth with win over Patriots AND Jets loss.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clinch NFC South title with win over Panthers.
New York Giants: Clinch playoff berth with win over Colts OR Commanders loss + Seahawks loss OR Commanders loss + Lions loss + Packers loss OR Lions loss + Seahawks loss + Packers loss.
Washington Commanders: Clinch playoff berth with win over Browns + Lions loss + Seahawks loss + Packers loss.
Get your popcorn ready.
Here are my NFL Quick Takes for Week 16. If you missed the Week 15 edition, you can check that out here. And of course, subscribe to the newsletter below to get them in your e-mail inbox as soon as they’re published each week.
Is Nathaniel Hackett just a scapegoat for Russell Wilson?
The Denver Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday, less than a year after hiring him. Not exactly a surprise considering the Broncos’ struggles. They have the worst offense in the NFL and fell to 4-11 on the season after an embarrassing Christmas Day loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The writing has been on the wall for a while.
I don’t expect the situation to improve under a new regime. The real problem, I believe, is behind center. The Russell Wilson trade and contract extension were an abomination.
Those numbers above aren’t a coaching problem. Wilson is cooked. Hackett was fired because parting ways with Wilson would cost a boatload of money. It’s that simple.
Good luck to whoever takes over in Denver.
The real Trevor Lawrence has arrived
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was set up for failure with Urban Meyer as his head coach as a rookie. That much has been made clear with Doug Pederson in his corner in Year 2.
Lawrence’s superstar potential has been on display over the last couple of months. Suddenly, he has the Jaguars in playoff contention with a three-game win streak and the first-place spot in the AFC South. A win over the Titans in Week 17 will clinch the division title.
This is the Trevor Lawrence the Jaguars believed they had when they drafted him No. 1 overall in 2021. Get used to it. He’s here to stay and will only get better from here.
The Dolphins have the worst medical staff of all time
Tua Tagovailoa is concussed again, and that’s kind of terrifying. There was the clear concussion in Week 3 that the team labeled as a back injury (it wasn’t), the scary concussion in Week 4 that led to him being stretchered off the field, and now this one in Week 16.
The NFLPA fired the doctor who cleared Tagovailoa during that Bills game, and they might have to investigate this incident too. Tagovailoa stayed in Sunday’s game vs. the Packers despite nailing his head on the ground again.
The Dolphins’ playoff lives are at stake, so it will be interesting to see how they approach this situation leading into their Week 17 matchup vs. the Patriots. I’d be stunned if Tagovailoa suits up. Miami would be wise to sit him for the rest of the year because another concussion could be catastrophic.
Next year is do-or-die for Mac Jones
I’m not high on Mac Jones going forward, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt given the circumstances in New England. For whatever reason, Bill Belichick went out of his way to sabotage his young quarterback after a solid rookie year. Matt Patricia should be replaced by a competent offensive coordinator in 2023 and Jones should have better weapons at his disposal than Nelson Agholor and an oft-injured DeVante Parker. Perhaps he’ll also have an offensive line that doesn’t look like they’re trying to get him killed every single week.
If those situations improve, next season will determine the future at the quarterback position in Foxboro. Jones has to prove his lackluster performance was the direct result of poor coaching. If he struggles out the gate in 2023, the chants for Bailey Zappe (or whoever the backup is at that point) will be deafening. They already were in the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Patience is wearing thin for Pats fans, but there’s also an understanding that Jones does not deserve the bulk of the blame.
I jinxed the Lions
Last week I wrote about the Lions being an absolute wagon. They thanked me for the compliment by allowing the Panthers to set a franchise record with 240 rushing yards in the first half and 320 overall. The result was a 37-23 loss, ending their miraculous hot streak and my chance of winning that 10-7 bet. I’m not salty about it at all, I swear…
Detroit will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Bears AND a Commanders win over the Browns. Regardless of what happens, this season was a major step in the right direction. I feel good about my preseason Lions optimism no matter how the bet turned out.
Good for JJ Watt
As I write this, JJ Watt just nonchalantly announced his retirement from the NFL on Twitter.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer and by all accounts, a terrific human being as well. Good for JJ. Judging by that photo (and the Cardinals’ performance), he’s retiring at the perfect time.
Watt will end his career with five Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, an NFL MVP runner-up finish, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Contenders vs. Pretenders
My updated list of contenders and pretenders among teams in the playoff picture after Week 16…
Contenders:
Eagles
Bills
Bengals
49ers
Cowboys
Chiefs
Pretenders:
Vikings
Jaguars
Ravens
Giants
Chargers
Dolphins
Buccaneers
Commanders
As always, let me know your own takes in the comments. And thanks for reading!