STAT OF THE NIGHT

The Steelers and Ravens are the first pair of teams to meet in three primetime games in the same season.

Week 2 Thursday night
Week 9 Sunday night
Week 18 Saturday night

NFC #LETME Week 17

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 ET, Fox: Sam Rosen, Kirk Morrison, and Donovan McNabb)
The Saints are a bad team. No more excuses Buccaneers 20, Saints 17

7. Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Kristina Pink)
At least it's not a couple of days from now, when the high will be 7. Vikings 14, Bears 7

6. Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa) Sunset at 4:36.
The Eagles needed a miracle last week on that Hail Mary from Sanchez, and didn't get it. Maybe they'll get one at the Meadowlands. Giants 27, Eagles 13

5. Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin) Sunset at 4:57.
Presumably Harbaugh's last game as coach of the 49ers Cardinals 23, 49ers 10

4. St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Gus Johnson, Charles Davis, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and Molly McGrath) Sunset at 4:24.
Rams 13, Seahawks 10

3. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver) Sunset at 4:53.
This is the last regular season game sideline-reported by the great Pam Oliver. The only thing the Cowboys have to play for in this game is homefield advantage throughout the playoffs if they hope for a DET/GB tie. While this is a rare occurrence, it would be ridiculous to rest starters, lose the game, see DET/GB tie, and know they could have had the first seed. This is why I expect they will play their starters. Also, Fox must think so as well since they've sent Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver to Landover. Finally, the reason the Cowboys have nothing to play for regarding getting a first round bye if both Seattle and Arizona lose is that if both Seattle and Arizona lose, the Cowboys will get the first round bye anyway, even if they also lose to the Redskins! With this win, the Cowboys can complete a perfect 8-0 season on the road. Cowboys 31, Redskins 24

2. Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 5:36.
Many thought this game would be flexed to Sunday Night Football since it is the only true playoff game (win-and-you're-in, lose-and-you're-out) in Week 17, citing the example of St. Louis at Seattle in 2010. This was the year when the Seahawks won the division at 7-9 and went on to upset the defending champion Saints in the Wild Card Round on the earthquake Beast Mode run. This is a bad example as that year, St. Louis at Seattle was the only divisional championship game in Week 17 whereas this year there are two others: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, and Detroit at Green Bay: America's Game of the Week. Both of the last two meetings between these two teams, including a Week 17 showdown last year at the Georgia Dome, had a final margin of victory of fewer than 3 points. No team has ever won the NFC South in consecutive years, and the Panthers won it last year (clinching it with that victory at the Georgia Dome). Panthers 22, Falcons 21

1. Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:19.
AMERICA'S GAME OF THE WEEK as for the third straight year, the Week 17 Fox late game features the Packers. Last year it was another divisional championship game, at the Bears, and the previous year it was at the Vikings when the Packers needed to win to clinch a first round bye, and the Vikings needed to win to clinch a playoff spot. Adrian Peterson fell nine yards short, but perhaps had Blair Walsh missed the field goal, AD could have broken the record in overtime. Packers 45, Lions 38

AFC #LETME Week 17

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots) Sunset at 4:20.
The Pats claim the #8 spot on the list for the first and only time this season by resting their starters. Bills 38, Patriots 7

7. New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker)
The other AFC East game rounds out the bottom two. Jets 17, Dolphins 14

6. Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta)
If the Colts win, they can clinch the 3rd seed if CIN/PIT tie. Therefore, they do have something to play for. They would avoid PIT who already whooped them and would host one of the four teams struggling to stay alive this year, playing a tough game this week and perhaps being drained for next week. Titans 18, Colts 15

5. Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox; Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale)
It is unfortunate to Texans fans outside Houston, Beaumont, and Victoria that they won't get to see their favorite team in a playoff implication game, but to even the crossflexes following CAR-ATL, the NFL couldn't cross-flex BUF-NE since NE-BUF was already crossed, SD-KC not to screw over CBS, NYJ-MIA since the Giants are on Fox, or CLE-BAL since CLE has already crossed twice this season. Out of the two remaining options, the NFL chose the game with playoff implications. Texans 28, Jaguars 14

4. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (1 ET, CBS: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon) Sunset at 4:50.
Connor Shaw is starting, making Columbia the only disjoint market receiving this game. Ravens 28, Browns 17

3. San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell)
Many questioned why this game wasn't flexed to 3;25, and it's because it must take place simultaneously as the other AFC wild card implication games since both teams are wild card contenders. Chiefs 31, Chargers 28 (OT)

2. Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (2:25 MT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 4:42.
Peyton Manning looked weak Monday night, and is coming off a short week. Broncos 48, Raiders 28

1. Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
It's possible the flexing of this game was done with the thought the Bengals would likely lose to the Broncos, but nevertheless this game matters as the teams will be fighting to host the weakling wild card that will come off a victory this week, giving it their all. Steelers 38, Bengals 35

Week 17 Scenarios

All times Eastern.

AFC

NEW ENGLAND (12-3, vs. Buffalo, 1:00)

New England has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC East division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

New England can clinch
they've already clinched everything

DENVER (11-4, vs. Oakland, 4:25)

Denver has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC West division title

Denver can clinch
a first round bye in the playoffs

Denver can clinch a first round bye with:
1) DEN win
2) DEN tie + CIN loss or tie
3) CIN loss
4) CIN tie + IND win

INDIANAPOLIS (10-5, at Tennessee, 1:00)

Indianapolis has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC South division title

Indianapolis can clinch
nothing more (IND is locked into the 4th seed barring a CIN/PIT tie (then IND could get 3 seed with a win))

CINCINNATI (10-4-1, at Pittsburgh, 8:30)

Cincinnati has already clinched
a playoff spot

Cincinnati can clinch
AFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs

Cincinnati can clinch the division with:
1) CIN win
2) CIN tie

Cincinnati can clinch a first round bye with:
1) CIN win + DEN loss or tie
2) CIN tie + DEN loss + IND loss or tie

PITTSBURGH (10-5, vs. Cincinnati, 8:30)

Pittsburgh has already clinched
a playoff spot

Pittsburgh can clinch
AFC North division title

Pittsburgh can clinch the division with:
1) PIT win

SAN DIEGO (9-6, at Kansas City, 1:00)

San Diego has already clinched
nothing

San Diego can clinch
a playoff spot

San Diego can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) SD win
2) SD tie + BAL loss or tie

BALTIMORE (9-6, vs. Cleveland, 1:00)

Baltimore has already clinched
nothing

Baltimore can clinch
a playoff spot

Baltimore can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + SD loss or tie
2) BAL tie + SD loss

HOUSTON (8-7, vs. Jacksonville, 1:00)

Houston has already clinched
nothing

Houston can clinch
a playoff spot

Houston can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) HOU win + SD loss + BAL loss

KANSAS CITY (8-7, vs. San Diego, 1:00)

Kansas City has already clinched
nothing

Kansas City can clinch
a playoff spot

Kansas City can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) KC win + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie

Detroit hasn't won at Green Bay since 1991.

NFC

DALLAS (11-4, at Washington, 1:00)

Dallas has already clinched
a playoff spot
NFC East division title

Dallas can clinch
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Dallas can clinch a first round bye with:
1) SEA loss + ARZ loss
2) DAL win + SEA loss or tie + ARZ loss or tie
3) DAL win + DET/GB tie
4) DAL tie + SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB result

Dallas can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) DAL win + SEA win + DET/GB tie
2) DAL win + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB tie

DETROIT (11-4, at Green Bay, 4:25)

Detroit has already clinched
a playoff spot

Detroit can clinch
NFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Detroit can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) DET tie

Detroit can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) DET win
2) DET tie + DAL loss or tie
3) DET tie + SEA loss + ARZ loss

Detroit can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) DET win + SEA loss or tie + ARZ loss or tie
2) DET tie + SEA loss + ARZ loss + DAL loss or tie

GREEN BAY (11-4, vs. Detroit, 4:25)

Green Bay has already clinched
a playoff spot

Green Bay can clinch
NFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Green Bay can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) GB win

Green Bay can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) GB win + SEA loss or tie

SEATTLE (11-4, vs. St. Louis, 4:25)

Seattle has already clinched
a playoff spot

Seattle can clinch
NFC West division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Seattle can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) ARZ loss
2) SEA tie + ARZ tie

Seattle can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) SEA win
2) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DAL loss
3) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB tie

Seattle can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win + DET/GB result
2) SEA win + DAL loss or tie
3) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DAL loss or tie + DET/GB tie

ARIZONA (11-4, at San Francisco, 4:25)

Arizona has already clinched
a playoff spot

Arizona can clinch
NFC West division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage through the Super Bowl

Arizona can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) ARZ tie + SEA loss

Arizona can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) ARZ win + SEA loss or tie
2) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie
3) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DET/GB tie

Arizona can clinch homefield advantage through the Super Bowl with:
1) ARZ win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie
2) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie + DET/GB tie

CAROLINA (6-8-1, at Atlanta, 4:25)

Carolina has already clinched:
nothing

Carolina can clinch:
a playoff spot
NFC South division title

Carolina can clinch a playoff spot and the division with:
1) CAR win
2) CAR tie

ATLANTA (6-9, vs. Carolina, 4:25)

Atlanta has already clinched:
nothing

Atlanta can clinch:
a playoff spot
NFC South division title

Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot and the division with:
1) ATL win

Projected Week 17 schedule based on Week 16 results

The official Week 17 schedule will be announced after Monday night's game.
Below, all times Eastern.

1:00
All games that are not listed below
(+BUF-NE at 1:00 if CIN beats DEN)

4:25
DET-GB
OAK-DEN
(BUF-NE at 4:25 if DEN beats CIN)
STL-SEA
ARZ-SF

8:30

CIN-PIT

Clinching Scenarios and Other Scenarios

Things that can be clinched in Week 16 (from ESPN):

New England:

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with: 

1) NE win + DEN loss 

New England clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) NE win OR 

2) NE tie + IND loss or tie OR 

3) IND loss + CIN loss or tie + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie 

Denver:

Denver clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) DEN win OR 

2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie 

Cincinnati:

Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with: 

1) CIN win + PIT loss + BAL loss or tie 

Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) CIN win OR 

2) CIN tie + BAL loss OR 

3) CIN tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR 

4) KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie 

Pittsburgh:

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) PIT win 

Baltimore:

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) BAL win + PIT loss + CIN loss OR 

2) BAL win + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR 

3) BAL tie + KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie 

Arizona:

Arizona clinches NFC West division, first round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs with: 

1) ARI win 

Detroit:

Detroit clinches NFC North division with: 

1) DET win + GB loss 

Detroit clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) DET win + GB loss + DAL loss 

Detroit clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) DET win OR 

2) DET tie + PHI loss or tie OR 

3) PHI loss 

Dallas:

Dallas clinches NFC East division with: 

1) DAL win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) DAL tie + PHI loss 

Dallas clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) DAL win + GB loss or tie + DET loss or tie as long as both don't tie 

Seattle:

Seattle clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) SEA win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) SEA win + DET loss or tie OR 

3) SEA win + GB loss or tie OR 

4) SEA tie + PHI loss OR 

5) SEA tie + DET loss + GB loss OR 

6) PHI loss + DAL win or tie 

Green Bay:

Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) GB win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) GB win + DAL win or tie OR 

3) GB tie + PHI loss OR 

4) GB tie + PHI tie + DAL win or tie OR 

5) PHI loss + DAL win or tie 

New Orleans:

New Orleans clinches NFC South division with: 

1) NO win + CAR loss

How the AFC North teams could all easily clinch this week (with no one any closer to clinching the division)

If the three of them win and SD loses, all three AFC North contenders clinch the three remaining AFC playoff spots!

It all comes down to Week 17 again...

...in the NFC East...as long as Philadelphia beats Washington today. Things could get interesting if they lose (DAL can clinch tomorrow).

Arizona could clinch everything tomorrow

With a win, the Cardinals would clinch homefield advantage all the way through the Super Bowl.

Dallas's win at Seattle won't help them get a first round bye

If Seattle and Dallas both win out, one might expect the Cowboys to clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their win at Seattle being the tiebreaker. The problem is that most likely, either Green Bay or Detroit will also end up 12-4, and the three-way tiebreak would toss the Cowboys down to the third seed, having to play in the first round, likely hosting the loser of Green Bay and Detroit!

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record DAL already has 4 conference losses, while SEA and either GB or DET will have fewer conference losses

The Packers could miss the playoffs quite easily

The Packers miss the playoffs if Detroit and Philadelphia win out, Seattle beats St. Louis, and the Cowboys lose to the Colts. They would then miss the playoffs regardless of what happened in either of Arizona's games. It may be counterintuitive that a competitor (Dallas) has to lose for Green Bay to miss the playoffs, but it is necessary as Dallas must become a wild card contender by losing the division to Philadelphia before Dallas can eliminate Green Bay on tiebreakers (If Philadelphia lost the division, Green Bay would beat Philadelphia on tiebreakers as they won at Philadelphia.)

There are three scenarios within the above scenario that result in a Green Bay elimination:
Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 12-4
Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 11-5
Arizona winning the division

Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 12-4
If Seattle wins the division and Arizona finishes 12-4, there would be a two-way tie between the Cowboys and Packers at 11-5 for the 6th seed.

Two-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Head-to-head Doesn't apply
2. Conference record Both would be 8-4
3. Record against common opponents, minimum of four:
The Cowboys' and Packers' common opponents this season were the Bears, Eagles, Saints, and Seahawks, against whom the Packers were 3-2, but the Cowboys were 4-1. DAL wins tiebreak, eliminating GB

Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 11-5
If Seattle wins the division and Arizona finishes 11-5, there would be a three-way tie among the Cardinals, Cowboys, and Packers at 11-5 for the 5th seed.

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record All three teams would be 8-4
4. Record against common opponents, minimum of four: ARZ, DAL, GB lack 4 common opponents
5. Strength of victory (combined records of all teams beaten): Due to such quality wins as DET, PHI, and DAL, Cardinals win the tiebreak here for the fifth seed.

Next, the remaining two teams revert back to the top of the two-way tiebreaker format to see who gets the sixth seed, and DAL beats out GB for reasons already clarified in the previous scenario.

Arizona winning the division
There would be a three-way tie among the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Packers at 11-5 for the fifth seed.

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record Seattle would be 9-3, winning the tiebreak over the two 8-4 teams.

DAL then wins the two-way tiebreak over GB.

The three games that could still be divisional championship games in Week 17
1. DET-GB
2. CIN-PIT
3. CAR-ATL

1. DET-GB
As long as the Packers win tomorrow, regardless of what the Lions do, this is a divisional championship game (If the Packers lose, the Lions could clinch with a win tomorrow.).

2. CIN-PIT
As long as both these teams win in Week 16, this will be a divisional championship game. Here's the reason: Even if BAL is 10-5 after this week, a CIN win in Week 17 would keep them ahead of BAL, since they're already a half game ahead, and a PIT win would at worst tie them with BAL, and PIT owns the tiebreaker over BAL since they split but PIT would have a better division record (4-2 over 3-3).
A CIN-PIT tie and BAL win in Week 17 would still hand the division to CIN. 10-4-2 is an equivalent record to 11-5, and CIN swept BAL.

3. CAR-ATL
This is a divisional championship game if both these teams win tomorrow. Even though the Saints would still be tied with ATL and only a half game behind CAR, a CAR win in Week 17 would keep them ahead of the Saints (since they're already a half game ahead), and an ATL win would at worst tie them with NO (and ATL would have swept NO in this scenario).
A CAR-ATL tie would tie CAR and NO at 6-8-2 and 7-9, and they split, but CAR would have a better division record of 3-2-1 over NO's 3-3.

Projected Week 17 Schedule based on Week 15 results

1:00
AFC South
NYJ-MIA
SD-KC
CHI-MIN
NFC South

4:25
AFC North
BUF-NE
OAK-DEN
NFC East
NFC West

8:30
DET-GB

I think that if the Cowboys clinch in Week 16, then the NFC East and South will switch (as long as the Saints don't clinch this week of course) (NFC East at 1:00 and NFC South at 4:25)

NFC #LETME Week 16

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

9. New York Giants at St. Louis Rams (3:05 CT, 4:05 ET, Fox: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin) Sunset at 4:42.
Maybe 13 or 14 years ago this would have been a #1 game. Rams 29, Giants 7

8. Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:21.
Why Fox's #1 team is doing this game is beyond me since Jimmy Clausen is being thrown to the Lions. Lions 40, Bears 9

7. Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale) Sunset at 5:26.
GB: 0-6 all-time at Buffalo. Aaron Rodgers: 0-2 all-time at Tampa Bay. Packers 26, Buccaneers 21

6. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (4:25 ET Saturday, NFL Network: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon) Sunset at 4:48.
While Game #5 is a more exciting game due to a closer matchup, I bet had NFL Network known weeks ago when they flexed these two Saturday games that San Francisco would be eliminated before Week 16, then this game would have been the night game instead. Eagles 27, Redskins 20

5. San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers (Saturday: 5:25 PT, 8;25 ET, CBS, NFL Network: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell) Sunset at 4:53.
Just a few weeks ago, this could have been a Super Bowl preview... Chargers 20, 49ers 17

4. Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta) Sunset at 5:14.
Matchup of the Heismans, just as we will see on January 1 (5 ET, ESPN) Panthers 17, Browns 9

3. Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver)
Finally we reach our first game on this list that features two playoff contenders. The Falcons have never swept the Saints since Drew Brees joined the team, and the Falcons won the Week 1 matchup the #lasttimetheymet Falcons 25, Saints 23

2. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (6:30 MT, 8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya) Sunset at 5:23.
The Cardinals can clinch the division, a first round bye, and homefield advantage through the Super Bowl with a win here! Seahawks 16, Cardinals 11

1. Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 5:23.
Skip Bayless calls AT&T Stadium a neutral site. Colts 37, Cowboys 34

AFC #LETME Week 16

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

7. Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (8:25 ET Thursday, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The worst primetime game of all time. Jaguars 17, Titans 10

6. New England Patriots at New York Jets (1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes at Solomon Wilcots) Sunset at 4:31.
At Foxborough, the Jets only lost on a missed FG. Patriots 38, Jets 3

5. Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
The Dolphins still have slim playoff hopes, but the Vikings last week were eliminated. Dolphins 24, Vikings 23

4. Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker)
A commenter on the506.com said Baltimore at Houston should have been flexed to Fox due to Fox's weak slate. I think that Atlanta at New Orleans holds up Fox's slate and that it should have been the main game. Ravens 31, Texans 24

3. Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Brian Anderson and Chris Simms) Sunset at 4:53.
Teams that beat the 49ers and Packers Bills 25, Raiders 23

2. Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 4:56.
Pittsburgh needs to win to guarantee keeping its AFC North hopes alive. Steelers 31, Chiefs 21

1. Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (8:30 ET Monday, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
The Monday Night Football season finale is a really good game. Broncos 45, Bengals 34

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Grizzlies: first team since 2000-01 Bucks (beat Jazz and Lakers) to beat the team with the best record in the NBA and the defending champion on back-to-back nights

First Take Live Blog December 17, 2014

11:58 Brian Cashman: I can't expect [A-Rod] to be anything.

11:50 Stephen A.: I would be far more worried were it Wiggins (like if it were LeBron), but because he's a good shooter like Melo, he'll be fine.

11:47 Topic 8: How will Jabari's injury affect his future?

11:42 Stephen A.: Woody Johnson has been a bane in the existence of the New York market for years.

11:40 Stephen A.: The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen, and the Jets are an accident that has already happened.

11:37 Topic 7: Did Woody Johnson accidentally favorite the tweet saying he should fire John Idzik?

11:30 Skip says Durant needs to learn to step back and play behind Westbrook.

11:27 Skip is reserving judgment due to their upcoming tough schedule. If you force him in this moment to say right now, he says OKC are the best team in the West.

11:24 Topic 6: OKC 9-1 in last 10 games but not in the playoff standings yet

11:23 First take on the road at Dallas January 5-13 (doors open 7:30 AM CT)

11:13 Stephen A.: The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen, and the fact that this DeMarco Murray issue is an issue at all, and that they're talking about it almost as a preemptive excuse for a potential loss, shows that they are too scared!

11:08 The Colts have only won two games against teams over .500, and so they will lose to the Cowboys.

11:05 Topic 5: How will Murray's injury affect his game?
Murray says he talked to Emmitt Smith about it.

10:59 Skip says when he's rooting against Peyton he wants him to be throwing the ball less not more!

10:54 Stephen A.: C.J. Anderson has been bad the past two games (less than 3 yards per carry). Unless something's wrong with Peyton, they wouldn't be running the ball this much.

10:52 Jeff Saturday says he thinks Peyton Manning is old and getting sick, but the building of the run game with C.J. Anderson is good for a potential AFC Championship rematch at New England.

10:50 Topic 4: What has happened to Peyton Manning? In the last 3 games, he has thrown for under 20 completions, only the 2nd time in his career for three straight games.

10:42 Skip says when Steph Curry's 3 is not going, they're going to lose, and so it's not a "exposed".
Nick Young: "I knew it was cash money."

10:39 Z-Bo will just lean on you for no reason, and it wears on you by the 4th quarter. Other teams can't do this. Only Spurs and MEM can beat Warriors under these current strategies of the "exposed"

10:38 MEM: 20-0 run to open 2nd quarter (Curry on bench)

10:37 "I thought I was your partner in crime."
"When it come to the NBA!"

10:36 Stephen A. is calling Andrew Bogut bogus, and says Bogut called him a wonker, and says he has been on a New Zealand radio show frequently.

10:34 Avery Johnson says yes, Tim Legler says that unless the personnel like Z-Bo is available for a Warrior opponent, the Warriors weren't exposed last night.

10:33 Topic 3: Did the Warriors get exposed last night?

Wow, that was a long A Block.

10:26 Wow, why is Skip making fun of Stephen A.'s accent?

10:25 After this draft, the Redskins have to decide whether to pick up the option on RGIII's contract after 2015 for $18,000,000.

10:23 Cari: I don't think Jay is equal opportunity blamer. There is something extremely dismissive when he talks about RGIII.
Stephen A.: I don't get that vibe, Cari. He's dismissive to everybody.

10:23 Stephen A.: "What is there for YOU to talk about off of a 3-13 season!"

10:22 Who are you doing favors by signing off social media with two weeks left!

10:21 Jon Gruden signed through 2021!

10:20 I agree with Stephen A. that Jay is not being prejudiced against RGIII on purpose. Jay admitted Colt stunk up the joint against Indianapolis.

10:16 Skip thinks RGIII is doing this to concede to Jay Gruden. He also thinks that when the sack went down with 1:24 left this past game, Jay Gruden should have called a timeout and was disrespecting RGIII.

10:15 RGIII is leaving social media.

10:11 Stephen A.: When Washington State battered Mariota and that's why they lost to Arizona, that's going to happen to Mariota everyday in the NFL.

10:09 Skip keeps correcting Stephen A.'s pronunciation of "Mario"-ta.

10:08 "He's got the Floyd Mayweather record."

10:08 The clutch factor does exist.

10:07 Marcus Mariota: 2-3 in games decided by less than 7 points
Jameis: undefeated

10:07 I agree with Skip that Oregon's being a 9-point favorite over Florida State is too much.

10:04 Stephen A. would take Jameis over Mariota

AFC #LETME Week 15

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (3:05 CT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, and Steve Beuerlein)
Chattanooga got switched from this game to PIT-ATL because its fans called into the station! Titans 14, Jets 13

7. Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens (1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta)
The Jags are fighting the Raiders for the first overall pick after the Raiders choked it away by beating the 49ers. Ravens 25, Jaguars 13

6. Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots)
Don't be surprised if you see the sweep. Raiders 17, Chiefs 14

5. Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (1 ET, CBS: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon)
HOU: 0-12 all-time at IND Texans 12, Colts 0

4. Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (1 ET, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell)
The Dolphins beat the Patriots in Week 1. Dolphins 21, Patriots 20

3. Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills (1 ET, Fox: Justin Kutcher, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin)
This was originally going to be shown to 61% of the country until Johnny Football Fever hit the nation. Bills 21, Packers 17

2. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver)
Manziel Mania! Browns 27, Bengals 26

1. Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (1:05 PT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
Jim, Phil, and Tracy are working a singleheader day for the first time this season! Chargers 23, Broncos 14

My Projected Week 17 schedule

All times Eastern.

1:00

CHI-MIN

AFC South

NFC South

NYJ-MIA

BUF-NE will be at 1:00 if the AFC East is still in contention with MIA still having a chance
SD-KC will be at 1:00 if the AFC West has already been won.

4:25

AFC North

NFC East

NFC West
OAK-DEN

BUF-NE will be at 4:25 if NE has already clinched division and is battling DEN for 1st seed
SD-KC will be at 4:25 if either SD or KC has a chance to win the division away from DEN

8:30

DET-GB

NFC #LETME Week 15

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. Washington Redskins at New York Giants (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
Rare for a divisional rivalry game to be at the bottom of the barrel, especially this one. Giants 25, Redskins 0

7. New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (Monday: 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
Chicago's had 11 days to prepare Bears 11, Saints 8

6. Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons (1 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn)
Pittsburgh is the only AFC North team to have lost to an NFC South team this year (1-2). Steelers 28, Falcons 24

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Kristina Pink)
Derek Anderson is starting Panthers 20, Buccaneers 13

4. Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams (Thursday: 7:25 CT, 8:25 ET, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The Rams have already beaten both of their other divisional rivals this year Rams 34, Cardinals 17

3. Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (4:25 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale)
The Vikings have not yet been eliminated! Lions 38, Vikings 35

2. San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews)
19-3. Seahawks 19, 49ers 3

1. Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
44-6. Eagles 44, Cowboys 6

First Take A Block Live Blog: December 8, 2014

10:23 It's all NFL the rest of the day. Peace

10:22 BRILES should be upset.

10:21 Skip is using Minnesota as a common opponent.
Stephen A.: Did you see that weather!

10:15 Skip: Did you watch TCU Iowa State?
Stephen A.: No, why would I watch that game? My rankings were Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, Baylor
Skip: What about Florida State?
Stephen A.: What do you mean what about 'em? They are the defending national champions, undefeated for two years, and haven't lost a game. How can you leave them out?
Skip: Oklahoma State, it went down the wire, Clemson, without Jameis, barely won at home, Notre Dame, controversial call. Miami, Boston College, I don't know how they won those games. Florida, some random interception the other way. TCU would beat them.
Stephen A.: Florida State would win. TCU lost up 21 points in the 4th!
Skip: That's the point. They were the better team, but Bryce Petty just got hot at home.
Stephen A. Baylor stopped you! You had four possessions in the fourth quarter and didn't score! That's not Bryce Petty!

10:14 Last week, you said on national TV if Ohio State rocks with a thirdstring quarterback Wisconsin, you will reconsider. Hypocrite.

10:11 Stephen A.: I'm stepping back before saying this. I don't care two cents about what Mr. Bowlsby has to say. He is on the record in August as saying, "we will defer to our tiebreaker if there is a tie. Head-to-head" and recently said he MISSPOKE. Hypocrite.

10:11 Don't throw ESPN into this equation!

10:10 Ignore the SEC East! You're a hypocrite!

10:09 Stephen A.: NUMBER ONE It was less than two weeks ago you said three or four teams from the SEC should be in. Hypocrite.

10:07 Skip: SWC to WAC to Conference USA to Big East to 10-team Big 12. No one knows who they are, and that's why they didn't get in.

10:06 Skip: The BCS computers still have TCU ranked fourth.

10:05 Skip: TCU got all-time rocked, burned, ....(he is at a loss for words)
Skip: I'm going to run you into the rug on this one.
Stephen A.: (laughing)
Skip: This is all about sex appeal and TV ratings.

10:04 Skip: ESPN's FPI on Friday said Big 12, SEC, Pac-12, Big 10, ACC

10:03 Cari: Did the committee get a break with Ohio State's blowout win on Saturday night?

10:01 Okay College Football Playoff. I was wrong on the A Block topic.

10:01 Stephen A. is claiming he's a prophet due to his "correctness" in feeling what was going down with the Playoff.

10:00 the open is back to normal

Prediction of A Block Topic: Seahawks at Eagles

NFC #LETME Week 14

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots)
Both the New York teams are playing at the same time, a rarity. Vikings 34, Jets 17

7. St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins (1 ET, Fox: Sam Rosen, Kirk Morrison, and Kristina Pink) Sunset at 4:45.
This is the only other game on the NFC slate this week that is not between two playoff contenders. Rams 39, Redskins 36

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Charissa Thompson) Sunset at 4:59.
The Lions control their own destiny to win the NFC North. Lions 41, Buccaneers 9

5. Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
Nothing close to the epic Panthers/Saints games of Week 14 and 16 a year ago for the division. Panthers 17, Saints 12

4. Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers (Monday: 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
Monday night games are frequently closer than they're "supposed" to be Packers 38, Falcons 34

3. Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears (Thursday: 7:25 CT, 8:25 ET, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The Cowboys already have their allotted 8 wins. Bears 23, Cowboys 20

2. Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals (2:05 MT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 5:20.
Can the Cardinals bounce back, or are they doomed to losing out because of their quarterback? Cardinals 14, Chiefs 7

1. Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:35.
Both coming off 10 day rests and massive Thanksgiving blowouts, Eagles 41, Seahawks 34

STATS OF THE WEEK: NFL Week 13

• This was the first time all 3 Thanksgiving games were divisional rivalries.
• Cowboys/Eagles and Seahawks/49ers not only met on Thanksgiving but also in Week 15, both meetings just 17 days later.
• Cowboys/Bears meet this week on Thursday, meaning that for once a Thursday game is not a short week for either team, as both played on Thanksgiving and had a full 7-day week.
• Rodgers: 1-0 all-time against Brady
• The Dolphins were closer to beating the Packers than the Patriots were, losing only due to Aaron Rodgers's fake spike play, whereas the Patriots were behind the whole time.
• This was only the 2nd time in the last 50 times they were down on the road in the 4th quarter that the Dolphins came back to win the game.
• Ryan Tannehill has now had 5 straight games with his completion percentage above 70%, something Drew Brees, Dan Marino, Steve Young, and Tom Brady have never done.

The most controversial scenario possible

If Arizona, Baylor, and TCU win, and exactly one of Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida State loses, then the three teams guaranteed to be in would be the two who didn't lose of those three, and one Big 12 team. Who should get the fourth spot? A second Big 12 team (one-loss) or Arizona (two losses but beat Oregon twice)? The committee has shown great willingness to rank one-loss teams above undefeated Florida State but not once has ranked a one-loss team below a two-loss team (amongst the Power Five conferences).

First Take A Block Live Blog December 1, 2014

10:17 Stephen A.: The only team that can beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field in the playoffs is the Dallas Cowboys.

10:17 I agree with Skip that Green Bay does very poorly on the road and needs to have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to make the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl year was a fluke of road brilliance.

10:16 The only play Darrelle Revis made a mistake on doesn't matter. He lost.

10:15 I can agree with Skip that the Jordy slant route crossing route play was the play that in many ways was the play of the game.

10:14 Stephen A.: no

10:13 Skip: Belichick complimenting coach and quarterback was trying to butter them up for the potential Super Bowl rematch that we're going to talk about later.

10:12 Stephen A.: New England's defense held up in the red zone. They didn't play poorly.

10:11 Stephen A.: I don't view it that way Skip Bayless. In this game, you could not have afforded not to respect your opponent.

10:11 Skip: Too often, Belichick played not to lose instead of going for the jugular.

10:10 On the 3rd and 4 play, "Aaron Rodgers had enough to call Olivia Munn and make postgame plans."

10:10 Skip doesn't know Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix's name. Apparently neither does Stephen A.

10:09 Skip is saying Belichick should have challenged the Gronk non-TD with 3:31 left.

10:08 Skip: Chandler Jones's being unable to play is the reason they lost.

10:08 Tom Brady: 4 for 12 on 3rd downs

10:07 Stephen A.: Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL.
Skip: Congratulations to the Packers for beating the best quarterback in the NFL,

10:05 Stephen A. is just ranting about that baaaaaaaaaaad man.

10:03 Stephen A.: We learned that Green Bay's defense has the ability to step up.
Here's my question: Could they do it outside Lambeau?

Prediction of A Block topic: New England at Green Bay

NFC #LETME Week 13

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. Oakland Raiders at St. Louis Rams (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker)
Will Oakland beat its second straight Missouri opponent? Rams 28, Raiders 17

7. Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale)
The Panthers are only a game behind! Panthers 28, Vikings 27

6. Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots)
The Bucs are only two games behind! Bengals 38, Buccaneers 31

5. Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (4:05 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver) Sunset at 5:29.
Because of this game, folks in Atlanta will be the only ones in the country unable to see America's Game of the Week. Arizona 21, Atlanta 7

4. Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (12:30 ET Thursday, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
CBS's ability to cross-flex means that for the first time EVER, there will three divisional rivalry games on Thanksgiving. Lions 31, Bears 21

3. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (Thursday: 5:30 PT, 8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya) Sunset at 4:51.
Seattle: 0-5 in last 5 games at SF 49ers 24, Seahawks 22

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday: 3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 5:20.
A meaningful game between the Eagles and Cowboys on Thanksgiving is much welcomed. Eagles 37, Cowboys 33

1. New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 4:15.
Jim Nantz and Phil Simms are doing their Thanksgiving weekend unusual and calling a game on Sunday too! To be fair, this season they have called two games a week on doubleheader weeks. And Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are actually not calling a Sunday game on Thanksgiving weekend, their Thanksgiving weekend unusual as well.

First Take A Block Live Blog: November 25, 2014

wow a short A Block. peace

10:14 "If you think you get to touch me, that's a problem." -Stephen A.

10:12 "I haven't heard of an incident in which Stephen A. struck a man who rolled up on him. Why couldn't Johnny avoid fisticuffs here? I need the Browns to get rid of Johnny so that he can have a fresh start with another team who truly wants him to be their quarterback."

10:11 Skip is assuming things whereas Stephen A. just wants to wait for all the facts.

10:10 "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it ain't a damn mongoose."

10:08 "I'm the biggest Browns fan ever. I want to give you a hug."
"One of the brothers?! You think you can roll up on somebody and give them a hug?!"

10:08 "This wasn't a nightclub; he wasn't inebriated."

10:07 "I don't believe the alleged victim in this at all." -Stephen A.

10:06 I agree with Stephen A. that things from his true freshman year at Texas A&M are being brought up. They are completely irrelevant to this situation.

10:06 I don't think Johnny's mom and roommate constitute an entourage.

10:06 "There was no entourage!" -Johnny's agent

10:03 I think this is being blown out of proportion, especially because Johnny is not listed as a suspect on the police report. Also, Johnny didn't break any team curfew rules. This is a story because it is Johnny Manziel, and ESPN is making it a story.

10:03 "And here we go again. *sigh*" -Skip Bayless

10:02 Well, I guess I was wrong. Manziel is the A Block topic. Should have realized that, but with that news coming out yesterday afternoon and two Monday night games following that, I actually forget about this story.

10:01 Benched by Rex Ryan? I thought Vick got injured on the tackle after his INT.

Prediction of A Block Topic: Baltimore at New Orleans

NFL games of the week, Week 12

2. Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (1:05 PT, 4:05 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver) Sunset at 4:24.
I agree with the decision not to make this Fox's #1 game because this is a four-loss team against a one-loss team, as opposed to the actual game of the week, which is a two-loss team against a three-loss team. Cardinals 17, Seahawks 10

1. Detroit Lions at New England Patriots (1 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:18.
If the Patriots don't lose this week, they will next week. Patriots 35, Lions 3

SEC games of the week, Week 13

3. #8 Ole Miss at Arkansas (2:30 CT, CBS: Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson) Sunset at 5:05.
CBS made a mistake in choosing this game as it is the only one with no playoff implications.

2. Vanderbilt at #4 Mississippi State (6:30 CT, SEC Network, ESPN3: Tom Hart and Matt Stinchcomb)
If Mississippi State loses to the cupcake of the SEC, they will be eliminated! Let's see whether they can rebound from last week's loss.

1. #20 Missouri at Tennessee (7:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3: Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit)
If Tennessee pulls the upset, which is not unlikely, Georgia clinches the SEC East!

My Top 25

1. Florida State
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Baylor
6. TCU

7. Mississippi State
8. Georgia
9. Michigan State
10. Kansas State
11. UCLA
12. Arizona State
13. Wisconsin
14. Arizona
15. Georgia Tech
16. Missouri
17. Duke
18. Nebraska
19. Ole Miss
20. Utah
21. Notre Dame
22. Oklahoma
23. Clemson
24. USC
25. Auburn

College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings Reveals Show (7 ET, ESPN2)

STAT OF THE NIGHT

The Patriots have never won at Lucas Oil Stadium.

NFC #LETME Week 12

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins (1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Kirk Morrison, and Kristina Pink) Sunset at 4:53.
The Redskins really should start McCoy. Buccaneers 20, Redskins 7

7. Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon) Sunset at 4:29.
I don't fully understand how cross-flexing works. I know that by bringing Philadelphia at Green Bay to 3:25, Fox was forced to give Minnesota at Chicago to CBS, but is this just because it was scheduled for 3:25, or because it is a "good" game? Because it's not. Bears 7, Vikings 6

6. Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (1 ET, Fox: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin) Sunset at 5:16.
Both teams could still easily win the division! Panthers 27, Falcons 23

5. San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants (1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver) Sunset at 4:37.
The Giants have no right to host Sunday Night Football next week. 49ers 49, Giants 23

4. Denver Broncos at St. Louis Rams (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell)
The Rams may have beaten the 49ers and Seahawks, but the transitive property doesn't hold in the NFL. Broncos 38, Rams 31

3. Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn)
Every team in the AFC North has a winning record, every team in the NFC South has a losing record, and the divisions are facing each other this year. Bengals 28, Saints 23

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:23.
I ranted about this earlier in the week. Wrong commentator team and distribution percentages by Fox. Packers 45, Eagles 38

1. Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals (2:25 MT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale) Sunset at 5:25.
game of the year Lions 41, Cardinals 35

AFC #LETME Week 11

After an unfortunate break for three weeks, I have time again this week. I should take the time sometime to compile all my picks for the season, and see how I'm doing.

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

6. Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers (1:05 PT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots) Sunset at 4:47.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Raiders finally win a game. Raiders 30, Chargers 20

5. Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans (Monday: 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
The Steelers get back up to form. Zach Mettenberger isn't Michael Vick. Steelers 40, Titans 20

4. Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns (1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, and Steve Beuerlein) Sunset at 5:06.
Joe Haden will intercept Ryan Mallett three times, as DeAngelo Hall once did to Jay Cutler. Browns 31, Texans 10

3. Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (8:25 ET Thursday, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
Because the Patriots have seven losable games remaining, the winner of tonight's game will be in prime position to steal away the division. Dolphins 24, Bills 19

2. Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
These two stadiums keep taking each other's titles as the loudest in the NFL. Chiefs 23, Seahawks 20

1. New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
Brady will be 3-0 against Luck after Sunday night. Patriots 38, Colts 24

Fox's obsession with the NFC East

the506.com does an amazing job each week of meticulously looking at TV guides across the country to figure out which NFL games will be aired in which locations across the nation on Sunday mornings, afternoons, and evenings.

When I saw this most recent map for Week 11, I was appalled.

Detroit at Arizona is not only the game of the week, it is the game of the year, featuring the top two teams in the NFL. It is a shame and an embarrassment that it gets covered up by Philadelphia at Green Bay, which is not a shabby game, mind you, as New York at Seattle was, but has no right to cover up Detroit at Arizona. Fox appears to be obsessed with in general placing NFC East games in higher priority positions, and especially with giving Troy Aikman NFC East games. I say "Troy Aikman" rather than including Joe Buck and Erin Andrews as well since they are replaced with Thom Brennaman and Charissa Thompson during the MLB postseason. Troy Aikman has commentated an NFC East game every week this season with the two exceptions of Arizona at Denver and Detroit/Arizona. Detroit/Arizona being in London, Fox had no choice. So in only one out of 10 weeks so far with a choice has Fox placed Troy Aikman on a non-NFC East game.

Let's take a look at these games and whether they were the "game of the week" or whether Fox simply placed Troy Aikman on these games due to NFC Eastness.

Week 1: San Francisco at Dallas. Correct decision. No better game on Fox.

Week 2: Dallas at Tennessee. ONLY because of the NFC East. Seattle at San Diego was on Fox in Week 2. Read here

Week 3: Washington at Philadelphia. ONLY because of the NFC East. Green Bay at Detroit and San Francisco at Arizona were on Fox in Week 3. Read here

Week 4: Philadelphia at San Francisco. Correct decision. No better game on Fox.

Week 5: Arizona at Denver. Correct decision, but this wasn't NFC East anyway.

Week 6: Dallas at Seattle. Correct decision. No better game on Fox.

Week 7: New York at Dallas. Correct decision. No better game on Fox.

Week 8: Detroit/Atlanta. London game. Troy Aikman was going there regardless of how good the teams were at this point in the season.

Week 9: Arizona at Dallas. Correct decision. No better game on Fox.

Week 10: New York at Seattle. ONLY because of the NFC East. St. Louis at Arizona was another 4:25 game, and San Francisco at New Orleans was also an option if Fox would consider placing Troy Aikman on a 1:00 game even on doubleheader week.

Week 11: Philadelphia at Green Bay. ONLY because of the NFC East. While Philadelphia at Green Bay is game of the week caliber in any other week, Detroit at Arizona is between the top two teams in the country. This is the NFL equivalent of LSU at Alabama 2011 not being nationally broadcast.

Week 12: Fortunately, Fox isn't airing any NFC East games. The Cowboys and Giants are playing on NBC, and the Redskins and Eagles are playing on CBS. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call either Detroit at New England or Arizona at Seattle, and I'm sure it'll be based on how those four teams (who all have tough Week 11 games) do this week. Either way, I'm sure it'll be the correct decision.

So as we can see, it's only in 4 of the 10 weeks that Fox has actually made the decision based on prioritizing the NFC East over the game of the week, HOWEVER this is almost half the weeks and is unacceptable.

Let's now look at when Fox has the doubleheader, and which 1:00 game is prioritized.
Week 1: New Orleans at Atlanta. Correct decision.
Week 4: Green Bay at Chicago. Correct decision.
Week 6: Green Bay at Miami. Correct decision.
Week 7: Carolina at Green Bay. Correct decision.
Week 10: San Francisco at New Orleans. Correct decision, and I am so happy Fox didn't show Dallas/Jacksonville with the London excuse.
Week 11: This is the first time we see Fox prioritizing an NFC East game not called by Troy Aikman. Seattle at Kansas City should be the #1 1:00 game not San Francisco at New York! Classic NFC East bias.

Overall, by analyzing the season as a whole instead of just thinking about recent happenings, the problem is not as prevalent as I thought, but it is still clearly present in Fox's selections of announcers and how much of the country is going to get certain games.

First Take A&B Blocks Live Blog: November 10, 2014

10:37 Jay Cutler has only beaten the Packers once now. What kind of rivalry is that?

10:33 Skip Bayless admits that he no longer loves Jay Cutler, even though he went to Vanderbilt.

10:30 According to Trent Dilfer, the Bears were playing three different defenses on the same play, throughout the game.

10:27 "I would not have allowed Marc Trestman to leave the building last night as an employee. I would not have allowed him on the team plane."

10:27 "I would fire everybody."

10:26 "He's a bad man."

10:21 Okay, Cari just said they will talk about Chicago at Green Bay in the B Block. I guess I was wrong about that topic being tackled in the A Block. Because I want to hear this discussion, I will live-blog the B Block as well.

10:20 Now Skip is trying to argue that the Browns' loss to the Jaguars indicates that the Cowboys would have lost with Brandon Weeden....

10:19 "To the Giants! To the Redskins! And last year to the Philadelphia Eagles! Not only have they lost the division! They've lost it to everybody in the division!"

10:16 Stephen A. is throwing out negative stats about the Jags to show how pathetic it is to praise the Cowboys for yesterday's victory.

10:15 "MegaDez," "angry," and "possessed" are words being tossed out by Skip.

10:15 100% I would not be surprised if the Cowboys lose to the Giants and Eagles in their next two games, in a five-day span.

10:14 I suppose it is due to Skip's obsession with Tony Romo.

10:13 The second game they are talking about is Dallas vs. Jacksonville. I am surprised given Stephen A. Smith's obsession with Aaron Rodgers that they have not yet mentioned Chicago at Green Bay.

10:12 Skip is arguing that Jimmy Graham is a soft tight end, and that's why he couldn't have committed this penalty.

10:11 "If I can't hit you, let me act like you hit me!" -Stephen A. Smith

10:09 I agree with Stephen A. Smith that in an era in which defensive players are penalized so much, it was nice to see an offensive player get called on the carpet.

10:08 I agree with Stephen A. Smith that Skip is being hypocritical as he normally calls for refs to ref things by the letter of the law.

10:07 Skip is saying that Jimmy Graham did not push off.

10:06 Wow was I wrong, they are talking about SF@NO.

10:05 Skip talks about the Cowboys before thanking them.

10:04 Stephen A. Smith thanks the servicemen and servicewomen for being there and for having them there.

Prediction of A Block topic: Chicago at Green Bay

Cleveland at Cincinnati, game of the week

If the Browns win this game, they will not be in first place in the division even though they recently beat the Steelers, because many forget they also lost to the Steelers in Week 1. The second tiebreaker is division record, which would also be tied at 2-2 for both teams, and the third tiebreaker is common opponents. The three common opponents the Browns and Steelers have had so far are the Ravens, Buccaneers, and Jaguars, against whom the Browns are 1-2 and the Steelers are 2-2, so the Steelers would take the divisional lead if the Browns won tonight, but the Browns would be a close second, leapfrogging the Bengals and sending them all the way to third.

NFL games of the week

Unfortunately, I did not have time this week (or last) to do my full NFL "#LETME give you my predictions," but I thought I'd discuss the three big games of the day.

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews)
Joe Buck returns to action after calling the World Series, and he's back for a good one. After years of Fox putting its #1 team on Cowboys games frequently even when it doesn't make sense to, this year it certainly does make sense as this is the NFC game of the week. Cardinals 38, Cowboys 34

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots (4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 4:37.
For folks who wonder why Denver would play at New England two straight years, it's because it's a three-year rotation. Last year the Broncos and Patriots played as a virtue of both winning their divisions the previous season. This year their playing because the AFC East is playing the AFC West, so going back three years to 2011 the last time the AFC East played the AFC West, we can see that that year the Patriots played at the Broncos. Broncos 38, Patriots 24

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
One of the last decade's great rivalries resumes, with Baltimore already having walloped Pittsburgh at Baltimore earlier this season. I don't know why these teams never play in Week 17. How epic would that be? Steelers 21, Ravens 19

How the SEC's TV contracts work

A frequently asked question to me: "Why are we in the midst of a three-week span in which the SEC's best game is at night, if the SEC game of the week is supposed to be at 3:30?"

Here's how the SEC's contract with CBS works. All times Eastern even though the majority of SEC teams play in the Central Time Zone. CBS is required to show the Arkansas/Texas A&M and Florida/Georgia neutral site games, both at 3:30. Arkansas/Texas A&M takes place early in the season, and Florida/Georgia is four Saturdays before Thanksgiving. CBS airs regular season games from Week 3 to Thanksgiving Saturday.

On most weeks, CBS gets the first pick of games and airs it at 3:30, and ESPN gets all the remaining SEC games. They can put up to 3 on SEC Network, which must be at the times of noon, 4, and 7:30. Any games on any ESPN network besides SEC Network can't have start times between noon and 7. A noon game or a 7:00 game is fine. ABC may never air an SEC game.

On one Saturday early in the season, either in late September or early October, CBS airs a noon and 3:30 doubleheader. The noon game is the third choice of games, after ESPN gets to choose the second choice of games to put at any time they please, after CBS gets their normal first choice of games at 3:30.

Three Saturdays before Thanksgiving, CBS airs a 3:30 and 8 doubleheader, with both the first and second choice of games. Because this has so frequently been Alabama/LSU, it is thought Alabama/LSU is always a night game, but this is not the case. In fact, earlier in the season when Alabama and LSU had both lost and Auburn was still undefeated, I thought Texas A&M at Auburn would certainly be chosen for the night game with Alabama at LSU at 3:30.

On Black Friday, CBS airs a game at 2:30. This is Arkansas at Missouri in even-numbered years and Texas A&M at LSU in odd-numbered years. Thanksgiving Saturday is once again just one 3:30 game with the first choice of games for CBS.

On the first Saturday in December, CBS airs the SEC Championship at 4.

Now let's take a look at why we are in the midst of a three-week span in which the SEC game of the week is not at 3:30. Last week, CBS simply made the decision to choose Mississippi State at Kentucky instead of Ole Miss at LSU. Not necessarily a mistake.

This week, CBS is required to show Florida/Georgia, which means they don't have a choice and can't choose Auburn at Ole Miss.

Next week, CBS has the doubleheader and so has placed Alabama at LSU at 8.

How the SEC might end up with no teams in the playoffs

If all have two losses which could happen if:
Auburn beats Ole Miss,
LSU beats Alabama,
Alabama beats Mississippi State,
Auburn beats Georgia,
Alabama beats Auburn, and
Ole Miss beats Mississippi State.

If this happens, here is the five-way tiebreaker with two losses:
A. Combined head-to-head record among the tied teams.
Alabama: 2-2
Auburn: 2-2
Ole Miss: 2-2
Mississippi State: 2-2
LSU: 2-2
B. Division record. (SEC West)
Alabama: 4-2
Auburn: 4-2
Ole Miss: 4-2
Mississippi State: 4-2
LSU: 4-2
C. Head-to-head against the team within the division with the best conference record.
same as tiebreaker A.
D. Overall conference record against the other division.
Alabama: 2-0
Auburn: 2-0
Ole Miss: 2-0
Mississippi State: 2-0
LSU: 2-0
E. Combined record against all common non-divisional teams
There are none.
F. Record against the best (conf record) common non-divisional team
There is not one.
G. Combined SEC record of the team's cross-divisional opponents.
This is based on my predictions of all future SEC East games:
Because one of Auburn's cross-divisional opponents is Georgia, Auburn would win the SEC West in a five-way tiebreaker with two losses. This could result in a rematch in the SEC Championship.

How Missouri might be a 3-loss SEC champion

If Georgia lose to Florida and Auburn, then even if Missouri lose to Texas A&M, they will win the SEC East with three losses because only two of their losses would have been SEC.

Watch out for Georgia to win the SEC!

Even if Georgia loses to Auburn, as long as Texas A&M beats Missouri, Georgia will win the SEC East by virtue of their 34-0 victory at Missouri earlier in the season. In the SEC Championship, Georgia will be coming off an easy victory over Georgia Tech whereas the SEC West champion will be coming off a tough game in either the Iron or Egg Bowl. The SEC Championship will also be practically a home game for Georgia since it is played in the Georgia Dome. Don't be surprised if Georgia wins the SEC. Their only loss came at South Carolina in controversial fashion and after a missed field goal.

Major League Baseball Postseason Day 29 TV Schedule

the first day of the NBA season!
College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings Reveals Show (7:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs (8 ET, TNT)
San Francisco Giants at Kansas City Royals Game 6 (8:07 ET, Fox, Fox Sports GO)
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 ET, TNT)