KarateKen

This was my first though. I think the rest of your points are well stated.

Chargers defeated the Chiefs on Sunday and Mahomes suffered a knee injury. With KC now eliminated from the playoffs Mahomes might sit the rest of the season, though we do not know the extent of the injury at the time I am writing his. KC drops to 6-8 and will miss the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes career. The Bills will remain the only team to play in the Super Bowl four years in a row. It just was not the Chiefs year from the start. They began 0-2, then 2-3, and were trying to play catch up all season. The run of three Super Bowls in a row and five of the last six likely took a physical toll on many of the key players who have been there. They basically have played seven seasons over the last six years because of all the playoff games. KC might need to do some rebuilding in the offseason. Kelcie is in the final year of his contract and will likely retire. They still have an elite coach/QB combo, so I expect they will bounce back next year. Rivers started the game for the Colts and threw a TD pass for the first time in five years! Unfortunately for the Colts it was not enough as they lost to Seattle 18-16. Some other teams that lost on Sunday were the Jets, Giants, Browns, Raiders, Panthers, Lions, Cardinals, Bengals, Titans, and Patriots. The Broncos Packers game is in the 4th; Denver has 34-26 lead. Edit: The Broncos beat the Packers and with that win the Broncos are now in the playoffs. Rams also clinched a playoff spot when they beat the Lions. In the Sunday Night game, the Vikings beat the Cowboys 34-26, making the Cowboys playoff chances very slim.

Problem is that KC does not control their own destiny. Even if they run the table, that would not be enough, they need some other things to fall into place.

Todd Bowles had an f-bomb explosive post-game press conference after Tampa's loss to Atlanta on Thursday. The Bucs started 6-2 but have fallen to 7-7, going only 1-5 since their bye week and the loss on Thursday set off the head coach. Despite having a franchise record 19 penalties the Falcons still won the game 29-28. The Bucs blew a 14-point 4th quarter lead. The Falcons had previously been 0-104-1 in their past 105 games when they had trailed by 14 or more in the 4th quarter. It was the first time the Falcons won a game when down by 14 or more in the 4th since 1993. It is not all bad for Tampa, they still have a 53% chance of making the playoffs. Two of their final three games will be against the Panthers which will decide who wins the division. Dec. 21 in Carolina and Jan. 4 in Tampa.

Rivers has been singed to the Colts practice squad. He was a 2026 Hall of Fame semifinalist but if he joins the active roster, I guess that means he has to wait another five years before being HOF eligible again. Wild. Their game in Seattle on Sunday is big for both teams; it would be crazy if he were to play. Several other games this week that are big for both teams including Lions/Rams, Packers/Broncos, Chargers/Chiefs, and Dolphins/Steelers. Dolphins and Chiefs need to win, or they will be eliminated. Dolphins at a 1% chance of making the playoffs, Chiefs at 11%. Other teams just hanging on are the Cowboys at 10% Bengals at 3% and the Vikings at 1%. The following teams are eliminated: Browns, Titans, Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Commanders, Giants, Saints, and Falcons. Tis the season.

The Colts are going to work out.... wait for it.... keep waiting.... little longer.... Phillip Rivers!! Yes, after Daniel Jones had a season ending injury on Sunday, the Colts have decided to bring in the retired, 44-year-old Rivers for a workout. Rivers last played in the 2020 season, that was also for the Colts, and he could be their starting QB on Sunday when they host the Seahawks. After an 8-2 start the Colts have lost three in a row and their chances of winning the division now have dropped down to only 7%. Could the former Colts QB who has not played in almost five years be their saving grace?? Just when you think you have seen it all, the crazy side of the NFL strikes again!!

I've had it with Dan Campbell and this stupid 4th down garbage. Kick the field goal.

Turkey Day football kicks off in less than 24 hours. Here are the matchups for this year. Green Bay at Detroit - 1pm eastern on FOX Kansas City at Dallas -4:30pm eastern on CBS and Paramount + Baltimore at Cincinnati - 5:20pm eastern on NBC Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble

Tuesdays with Morrie was a short read, did it in two sittings. What to read next....

Raiders fired OC Chip Kelly on Monday following yet another lackluster performance on Sunday when they lost to the Browns. Pete Carroll said "I think we can do better," while Max Crosby said "it was time for a change." Raiders are on a five-game losing streak and are 2-9. They have a chance to get a win on Sunday when the visit the Chargers. I know it is unlikely, but how unlikely was it for the Cowboys to beat the Eagles?

Josh Allen was sacked eight times in the Bills loss to the Texans on Thursday. The team looked frustrated as they have a losing road record (2-3) including losses to the Falcons and dreadful Dolphins. If the Patriots beat the struggling Bengals on Sunday, it would put them 2 1/2 games up on the Bills after 12 weeks. Who would have predicted that back in September?

Some winners from Tuesday were the Jets, Lightning, Sabers, Ducks, Red Wings, and Hurricanes with several games going on right now. Knights, Blackhawks, Islanders, and Sharks all have the lead.

He was born in the Dominican Republic and I think spends at least part of the offseason there.

Full meltdown by Raiders fans after the ugly blowout loss to the Cowboys. It is an embarassing night on Monday for the Raiders who were defeated at home 33-16 against a Cowboys team that has struggled badly and has the worst run defense in the NFL. The Raiders only ran their rookie RB, their top pick, six times. After the game Pete Carrol was asked about giving more playing time to the young guys and said, "I don't know how to coach that way, we are trying to win games." It has been a miserable season for the Raiders with many fans saying the team looks uninspired and not prepared. Is Pete Carroll on the hot seat? Is it time to move on from Carroll and find someone new after only one season? It might be. The Raiders are 2-9, have lost four in a row, and are one of the worst teams in the league. Coach Carroll has a chance to end the losing streak on Sunday when the Raiders host the dreadful Cleveland Browns.

Alright, let's break it down. We are 11 weeks into the season and here are the current seedings. I've added a number in parentheses that is the statistical probability that team will make the playoffs. NFC. 1. Eagles (99%) 2. Rams (99%) 3. Bears (69%) 4. Bucs (85%) 5. Seahawks (91%) 6. Packers (73%) 7. 49ers (85%) and there are two teams on the bubble Lions (74%) and Panthers (21%) AFC 1. Broncos (96%) 2. Patriots (97%) 3. Colts (90%) 4. Steelers (39%) 5. Bills (93%) 6. Chargers (60%) 7. Jaguars (64%) and the teams on the bubble Texans (30%) Chiefs (52%) Ravens (77%) While no team is mathematically eliminated of yet, if your team is not listed the chances of them making the playoffs are very low. Of the teams not listed, the two NFC teams with the best chance of making the playoffs are the Cowboys (6%) and the Vikings (5%). In the AFC it is the Dolphins (1%). The Titans have the lowest chance of making it, under 1%, and if they lose on Sunday they will be eliminated. Remember that the % is to make the playoffs, not to keep the current seeding.

Cleveland pitcher Emmanual Clase, who is being investigated for rigging bets, has made a public statement defending himself. Clase has plead not guilty and argues that the text messages the FBI we misinterpreted and are not about illegal sports betting. What were the messages about? Rooster fighting. Clase claims that the messages were about rooster fighting, something he does as a side hustle. That is not his legal defense, that is just his public statement. Glad Mr. Clase has cleared that up for everyone. Sheesh.

Another crazy story, it has been one after another. New York Jets defensive back Kris Boyd was shot on the lung on Sunday morning in Manhattan. He is currently in the hospital and in critical condition. Evidently Boyd got into an argument with another person outside a restaurant that got heated and lead to the shooting. The suspect remains at large.

It won't get any easier this week, they play the 8-2 Colts on Sunday who are coming off a bye week. Then the play the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, so that one will be easier. Also, they will get another shot at the Broncos on Christmas Day. If KC can get in, they will have a chance to get back to the Super Bowl, though they might have to win three on the road in the playoffs. A few teams have done it, and those teams also had great QBs. The Packers did it when Rodgers was there, I think in 2010, they were a wild card and won the title. Then in 2020 the Bucs did it with Tom Brady, three on the road and won a home Super Bowl. It's rare but it has happened. With the talent, experience, and coaching that KC has they might be one of the few teams in history that can pull it off.

Soon I am going to start Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It has been on my book self about six months, which might seem like a long time to get to a book, but for me it is not at all. I've got many books that have been on myself for well over a decade that have never been opened. There will always be more books than time to read them. Thus is life.

They beat the struggling Blues but today they lost to the struggling Wild. Minnesota has 22 points, fifth in their division, and gets the OT win against Vegas 3-2. Both teams seemed unhappy with the officiating. Hey, at least Vegas won the Cup a few years ago, this is season 25 for the Wild and they have never been to the SC Finals. Slow start for both teams to this season.

Well Live by the Sword Die by the Sword. Dan Campbell and the Lions went 0-5 on 4th down attempts Sunday night against the Eagles. The aggressive style has been his approach to coaching the team since he took over in 2021, and often times with great results. Not this game. Eagles win it 16-9 and improve to 8-2. Philly looked good on defense, pressuring Goff the whole game, deflecting several passes, forcing an INT, and getting the stops. They also looked sharp on special teams coverage. Lions drop to 6-4, putting them in third place in the division behind the Bears and Packers. We now have the Eagles, Rams, and Colts all at 8-2, and the Patriots and Broncos at 9-2. Other division leaders are the Steelers (6-4) Bucs (6-4) and Bears (7-3).

Tough loss for the Vikings today as they drop to 4-6 after a 19-17 home loss to the Bears, losing on a FG as time expired. Chicago is kind of a quiet 7-3, a big improvement over where they were a year ago. They are winning some of these close games, five of their seven wins are by less than six points. Last year they found crazy ways to lose those games. The Bills bounce back after a blowout loss to the Dolphins; they win at home against Tampa. The struggle continues for the Falcons, Giants, Cardinals, Commanders, Titans, and Bengals, all who lost again this afternoon. Jacksonville got a big blowout win against the LA Chargers and are 6-4, Chargers are 7-4. Right now, the 7-2 Seahawks and 7-2 Rams are in a tight game, Rams lead 14-12 in the 4th. The Broncos and Chiefs are in the third quarter, tied at 13. Big game tonight between the Eagles and Lions in Philly. This is the time of year the contenders start to separate from the pretenders. Let's Go! Edit: The Rams have defeated the Seahawks 21-19, Chiefs and Broncos now tied at 19-19 in the 4th. The number 19 is showing up in a lot of scores today, that is unusual. 2nd edit: Broncos have defeated the Chiefs 22-19. Another close win for Denver, moving them to 9-2, tied with the Patriots for best record in the NFL.

More sad news connected to game sport of football. Laney College coach John Beam, known for his role in the Netflix series Last Chance U, was shot on the college campus Thursday, and died the following day. The Las Vegas Raiders released a statement on their website showing support for coach Beam, who has been coaching football in Oakland for decades.

The Patriots are red hot, winners of eight in a row, longest in the NFL this year, and are a league best 9-2 after beating the Jets on Thursday. Drake Maye is the front runner for MVP right now and Mike Vrabel deserves a lot of consideration for coach of the year. They have won more games this season than the previous two years combined, and it is only mid-November. After finishing with a losing record the last three years, nine wins assures that the Patriots will have a winning record this season. The Jets fall 2-8.

Former Steelers, Patriots, Raiders, and Bucs WR Antonio Brown has plead not guilty to attempted murder and posted $25k to get out on bail. Brown will be under house arrest and is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor while awaiting trial. He was also required to give up his passport. No trial date has been set yet.