bukie

Updated for the week 16 games thus far.

So, then the media spin here is that Griese was brought in due to an ineffective Grossman for the go-ahead drive... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=261224008 Seriously...that's just irresponsible.

Hey, I'm the only one 3-0 in Bowl Mania so far...although I really only had 3 points on Troy, so I'm still 3rd overall. :)

The Vikings have been eliminated from playoff contention with the 9-7 loss tonight, as the best they could do is tie for the 6 seed with the Packers and lose the tiebreaker. It is still possible for all NFC playoff spots to be clinched this weekend if: - Philadelphia defeats Dallas - NY Giants defeat New Orleans - Atlanta loses to Carolina - Seattle defeats San Diego OR San Francisco loses to Arizona

I - N - I ! I'm concerned that the supposed "senior leader" is the biggest offensive liability on the team. Good that he actually passed up shots today, though.

Not pretty, but it counts. Good to have Randle back.

So, the whole game, light contact is a foul, but right there, you can get run into twice for no call?

This is where it hurts to have your PG as a 60% FT shooter. Smith can actually hit FTs, but nobody else can.

Yay, one went in!

This team is so frustrating with their FTs.

Good lord, is everything a foul?

Free Throws, people. It's an uncontested, 15-foot shot from the same location every time. It shouldn't be this difficult.

Sure, drain the clock. But please, get a shot off!

That seemed like a crap call for a 4th foul on Randle.

Sigh...if you have a wide open jumper, and you are a jump shooter, take it! Also, how do you miss a 6 inch shot when you are 6'10"?

Sigh, Arnold is so bad. Illini just need to pick up the defensive intensity. Allowing too many open looks. Would also be nice if they could learn to make FTs.

Hey, it's Shaun Pruitt!

Shame Randle picked up the cheap blocking foul. Rebounding is an issue with him on the bench.

Continuing to foul Warren Carter is generally a good defensive strategy, as Illinois is going to keep getting 1 point every 2 shots.

St. Louis loses all tiebreakers except simple head-to-head against Green Bay. This is what you have to root for: San Francisco loses to either Arizona in week 16 or Denver in week 17 Carolina defeats Atlanta in week 16 New Orleans defeats NY Giants in week 16 St. Louis defeats Washington in week 16 Philadelphia defeats Atlanta in week 17 Washington defeats NY Giants in week 17 St. Louis defeats Minnesota in week 17 The Minnesota/Green Bay contest becomes meaningless then, because if Green Bay won out to go 8-8, St. Louis would win the head-to-head tiebreaker. If Minnesota won, St. Louis would still need to beat them week 17 to go to the playoffs anyway. If any of the above fails to happen, St. Louis is eliminated.

Some nice sites on the NFL playoff outlook and scenarios: NFL Playoff Status DVOA Playoff Odds Report

I wanted to start this last week, but it was all still too complicated and early. Now that things are starting to straighten out a bit (although there are still 24 teams (as of week 16) that have a shot at the playoffs), it's as good a time as any to take a look at the possibilities. First, the NFC (since I am a Bears homer): IN: 1.*yz-Chicago (13-2) 2. yz-New Orleans (10-6) 3. y-Philadelphia (10-6) 4. y-Seattle (8-7) 5. x-Dallas (9-7) 6. x-NY Giants (8-8) x-Clinched playoff berth; y-Clinched division title; z-Clinched first-round bye; *-Clinched home field advantage - First round playoff matchups: NY Giants at Philadelphia, Dallas at Seattle. ELIMINATED: Green Bay - WEEK 17, Carolina - WEEK 17, Atlanta - WEEK 17, St. Louis - WEEK 17, San Francisco - WEEK 16, Minnesota - WEEK 16, Washington - WEEK 14, Tampa Bay - WEEK 14, Arizona - WEEK 14, Detroit - WEEK 13 Now, the AFC: IN: 1. yz*-San Diego (14-2) 2. yz-Baltimore (13-3) 3. y-Indianapolis (12-4) 4. y-New England (12-4) 5. x-NY Jets (10-6) 6. x-Kansas City (9-7) y- Clinched division title; z-Clinched first round bye - Indianapolis is the 3 seed because of a head to head win over New England. ELIMINATED: Denver - WEEK 17, Tennessee - WEEK 17, Cincinnati - WEEK 17, Jacksonville - WEEK 17, Pittsburgh - WEEK 16, Buffalo - WEEK 16, Miami - WEEK 15, Houston - WEEK 14, Cleveland - WEEK 14, Oakland - WEEK 12 Playoff Matchups: NFC: NY Giants at Philadelphia, Seattle at Dallas AFC: Kansas City at Indianapolis, NY Jets at New England

Trib article stating Tank likely to get one more chance: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-061218haughtankjohnson,1,4786835.column?coll=cs-home-headlines

Not sure how the Bears are "running the best one out of town". Last I heard, Ian Scott was just fine. Plus, the Bears have been pretty patient with the Tank situation thus far. It's been the media pundits that have been calling for Tank to be run out of town.

I'm not saying there are more playoff-caliber teams in the AFC than the NFC. I do think the NFC gets often short-changed, though, on the whole. My point was simply that everyone struggles against opponents they have no business struggling against. Also, the NFC West is simply awful. Probably 4 of the 8 worst teams in the NFL. Unfortunately one of them has to make the playoffs. I do think the Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, and Saints can play with any of the AFC teams, though. I also think the Bears, Ravens, and Chargers are a clear step above everyone else at this point.