Coaches are fired, players retire, and RG3 finds a way to lose twice. All befitting an NFL Week 17 Recap.
Giants 19
Redskins 10
Straight up — if the Redskins get outrushed 161-38, lose the turnover battle 3-0, and get Kirk Cousins sacked four times at home in a win-and-in playoff scenario — they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Giants enter the postseason having won nine of their last 11 games and sporting a 5-0 road playoff record since 2007. Forget the Patriots … nobody wants to see New York right now.
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Packers 31
Lions 24
I’ll never doubt Aaron Rodgers again. He said Green Bay would run the table to win their fifth NFC North title in six years and they did. He’s the first Packer QB to lead the NFL in TD passes since Brett Favre in 2003. However, I have a hard time seeing his Packers — 5-5 in their last 10 home playoff games — surviving another visit from Big Blue.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Saints 32
Falcons 38
We’re in for a treat if we see this Atlanta offense against the Giants defense in the playoffs …
Speaking of treats, Drew Brees has been an absolute joy to watch. There have been nine 5,000-yard seasons in NFL history … and Brees has five of them. It’s a shame New Orleans couldn’t put a better team around him.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Image s)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Seahawks 25
49ers 23
The only thing notable about San Francisco this season: Chip Kelly ends 2016 with as many wins as contract buyouts .
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Raiders 6
Broncos 24
It looks like the end for Gary Kubiak , and he’s had a helluva run in Denver. Three rings as a coach and a 9-year career as John Elway’s backup make him a Bronco fan favorite.
Oh, and remember what I said about Matt McGloin ? Nevermind .
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Chiefs 37
Chargers 27
Tyreek Hill joins former Chief Dante Hall as the only players since 1970 to score a 60 yard TD in four straight games. Can we start calling him the Human Joystick 2.0?
There’s no joy in San Diego … Mike McCoy loses his job and the city might lose the team altogether. I’ll bet they miss Marty Schottenheimer now …
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Cardinals 44
Rams 6
How bad is the QB situation in Los Angeles? Their punter is their best passer . Perhaps Sean Payton can do something about that …
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Browns 24
Steelers 27 (OT)
Cleveland is on the clock and RGIII is out of the record books . I can’t wait for his ESPN 30-for-30.
And Terrelle Pryor should be an intriguing free agent; Sunday he became just the second player in NFL history with 1,000 receiving yards in one season and 1,000 passing yards in another. Just don’t count on him staying in Cleveland.
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Cowboys 13
Eagles 27
Considering what Carson Wentz buys his blockers , what does he give Darren Sproles for a retirement gift ?
Speaking of retirement, Tony Romo’s has been postponed. His first TD pass since November 2015 ensured Dallas will have the phones ringing off the hook this offseason.
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Ravens 10
Bengals 27
Baltimore surely won’t miss Cincinnati after a fifth straight loss there, but they’ll certainly miss Steve Smith. His goodbye was everything we’d expect from one of the best receivers — and best quotes — of all time. Canton won’t be complete without his Hall-of-Fame bust.
(Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images
Patriots 35
Dolphins 14
The last three times New England took their talents to South Beach, they lost. This time, they overcame hardship to clinch their sixth No. 1 seed. Considering, they’ve reached the Super Bowl on four of the last five such occasions, I like my chances to salvage my AFC Super Bowl pick.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Bills 10
Jets 30
If you think Rex Ryan had a bad year in Buffalo, just look what Reggie Bush did . And Mike Gillislee . Perhaps the Bills should take Marv Levy up on his offer …
(Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
Bears 10
Vikings 38
Well, Minnesota, at least you didn’t totally waste that first round pick on Sam Bradford .
And I don’t know what John Fox is seeing but it certainly wasn’t progress .
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Jaguars 20
Colts 24
It was a celebration of old guys in Indianapolis: Robert Mathis registered a strip sack in his final game end his underrated career with 123 sacks in 14 seasons; and Frank Gore became the first Colt to rush for 1,000 yards in nearly a decade and the first player in 32 years to do so at age 33 or older. As amazing as that is, Indy really needs to get a lot younger in 2017.
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Panthers 16
Bucs 17
That weird noise in Tampa was the sound of all the things the Bucs needed to happen to make the playoffs not happening.
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
VIDEO
WASHINGTON — Coaches are fired, players retire, and RG3 finds a way to lose twice.
Here is WTOP’s Rob Woodfork’s NFL Week 17 Recap.