Football season is here!!!

[KarateKen]

Everything fell the Broncos way on Sunday which means they have a chance to lock up the #1 spot in the AFC this weekend.  If the Broncos win and the Chargers lose, Broncos win the west, if the Patriots and Bills also lose, Broncos will clinch the #1 position.  

Patriots and Bills are both at over 99% chance of making the playoffs, Jaguars 96%, Texans 94%, Chargers 92%, Steelers 62%, Ravens 39%, Colts 19%.  Everyone else in the AFC is eliminated.  The Patriots will clinch a playoff spot if they win against the Ravens on Sunday. In the fight for that #1 seed, Broncos have a 69% chance, Patriots 11% Jags 9% and Bills 6%

NFC odds break down like this with the Rams being the only team already in.  Eagles and Seahawks 99%, 49ers 98% Packers 87% Bucs 77%, Bears 71% Lions 44% Panthers 23% and Cowboys 1%. Rams have a 51% chance of getting the top seed, Seahawks are 31% 49ers are 14%, Bears 3% and Eagles 1%.

Some big matchups' this weekend for seeding like Thursday night between the Rams and Seahawks.  Also, the Panthers/Bucs, Patriots/Ravens on Sunday night, Jags/Broncos, Steelers/Lions, and 49ers/Colts on Monday night. 

[bushido_man96]

The Rams/Seahawks tilt should be a good one.  I believe its in Seattle, which gives the Seahawks a slight edge.  If they win that, they could take a big step towards that #1 seed.  The Buccaneers can right some wrongs by beating the Panthers twice.  If they pull that off, they should win their division and secure a home playoff game.

[bushido_man96]

On 12/15/2025 at 4:46 AM, DarthPenguin said:

Very true - this season might decide it! Shame about Mahomes injury too - hopefully he comes back at 100%. He is easily one of the best QBs i have ever seen tbh and will be deep in the GOAT conversation when he eventually retires i think.

For Allen, the key difference for me this season is Cook has been great. When the Bills had the better defences they always lacked a running game from anyone but Allen which hurt then in the playoffs etc i think. Now there is much better balance

I hope he recovers well and completely, and early!  It's very likely that the Chiefs open the 2026 season with Mahomes on IR, though.  That's a long recovery, and happening this late in the season doesn't help with the timing for next season.

Cook has been a great player for Buffalo, taking some of the weight off Allen's shoulders.  Maybe the Chiefs can get a chance to draft Love in the first round to shore up their running game.

[bushido_man96]

On 12/16/2025 at 3:00 AM, KarateKen said:

Looks like Pete Carroll could be one and done in Las Vegas.  Rumors swirling about the Raiders planning an exit strategy after the season.  At 2-12 the Raiders are one of the worst teams in the league and are having one of their worst seasons in franchise history.  They lost on Sunday 31-0 (the second time this year they lost by that score) and only had 75 yards of offense, the lowest yards total by any offense so far this season.  Carroll believes that his job is not on the line and he hopes to return next season saying that the rebuild was necessary but also expected the season to go better than it has.   After Sunday's loss some reporters had impaled that the team quit on Carroll, who was quick to deny and disagree with that. 

I guess it wouldn't surprise me if the Raiders did fire Carroll, but I think it would be a big mistake if they did.  But if they did fire him, then it would mean more instability for an organization that is KC's  arch rival, so if they do, then so be it.  If they struggle a few more years, all the better for KC.