The problem with scenarios like this is that they don't just require all of those other things to happen, they require them to happen earlier that same day, after the league has already committed to broadcasting KC-Den in prime time. Imagine a situation where every single thing falls into place, but then Miami blows the Jets game and suddenly Denver clinches and their KC matchup becomes meaningless?IF Pittsburgh manages to beat KC and Buffalo takes care of business versus the Jets and the Bengals manage to beat the Broncos I can very easily see them making the final game KC vs Denver.
A slim chance the game counts for nothing but more likely at least 1 of:
Buffalo beats NE again to make KC need the game for the bye.
Indy, Miami, and/or the Bengals have a chance to get to 9 wins which would force Denver to win to make it.
A lot has to fall in place of course but I think NBC would want that game if KC and/or Denver probably need it.
-QG
They did in 2017Um no, NBC isn’t just gonna punt on having a week 18 Sunday night game. They’d show SF-AZ before they’d let that happen.
Week 17 on December 31 had a full Sunday schedule of games, with the Sunday night game slot originally left blank as has been done the previous nine seasons. After all of the Week 16 Sunday games were played, the NFL determined that many of the teams with playoff implications would have been affected by the results of other football games, and moving a single game to the Sunday night slot impacted competitive balance (along with the possibility of that game having little to no effect on playoff positioning at all, in addition to negative impacts on rating as a result of the game ending close to the stroke of midnight for the New Year for the Eastern time zone). As a result, the NFL decided to instead set up a schedule for that year's Week 17 where all games would be played at 1 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET time-slots between CBS and Fox (equivalent to soccer's English Premier League scheduling their last week's matches in the same manner), and no Sunday Night Football game would be played for the first time since 2009
It’s actually even easier than that: If Minnesota wins on Sunday, the Week 18 matchup is for all the marbles regardless of what happens the following night in Detroit-SFI think the last game will be Detroit/Minnesota. If both of these teams win in week 17 which could happen, this match up could be lined to see who ends up with the #1 Seed in the NFC Playoffs and is probably the best game in Week 18.
Bengals would still need Denver to lose in Week 18, no?If the Bengals win today then the Week 18 Steelers/Bengals game could be flexed since the Bengals would need the win for a playoff spot and the Steelers would likely be playing for the 5th seed
It would have been Rams vs Seahawks if the Cardinals had won that one.
Now I think that Rams vs Seahawks will be the first Saturday game if the Rams do not clinch things with the strength of victory tiebreaker. They will put that game first if it still is possible for Seattle to make the playoffs.
-QG
If the Bengals win today then the Week 18 Steelers/Bengals game could be flexed since the Bengals would need the win for a playoff spot and the Steelers would likely be playing for the 5th seed
Yeah they just showed what the Rams need tomorrow/Monday to clinch the division: three of Bills, Browns, Vikings, Commanders and 49ers winning. Of those, Bills are heavy favorites, Commanders are slight favs, Vikings are weirdly underdogs and Browns are dogs but it’s hard to say given that we don’t know who either team will be rolling out at QB. But it’s by no means guaranteed that three of them will win.It would have been Rams vs Seahawks if the Cardinals had won that one.
Now I think that Rams vs Seahawks will be the first Saturday game if the Rams do not clinch things with the strength of victory tiebreaker. They will put that game first if it still is possible for Seattle to make the playoffs.
-QG
OK you’re starting to convince me that AFC Wildcard scenarios are too complex to put two games on Saturday (unless the situation resolves itself more tomorrow). But what games does that leave for Saturday? Rams-Seahawks if it matters (and assuming Lions-Vikes is SNF). But what’s the other one? Maybe they just go all NFC South if that’s not clinched? Even there, it can’t be a situation where one team gets an advantage by going secondI think it's highly highly unlikely Denver plays Saturday. They'll play last.
Okay so looking at things.
Bengals win a 2-way tie with Denver
Miami wins a 2-way tie with Denver
Denver wins a 2-way tie with Indianapolis
Miami wins a 3-way tie with Denver and Cincinnati
Indianapolis wins a 3-way tie with Denver and Miami
Indianapolis wins a 3-way tie with Denver and Cincinnati
Indianapolis wins a 4-way tie with Denver, Cincinnati and Miami
Put another way if all 4 are alive next week. Indianapolis actually needs Miami or Cincinnati to win. If both lose, they are out no matter what.
Conversely if Indianapolis wins Denver (and Cincinnati of course) are out.
The Bengals game by itself doesn't decide anything.
So in this case you probably get Pit/Cin and Bal/Cle in the 1pm Sunday window. And Mia, Denver and Indy all in the 4pm Sunday window.
If the Colts lose I can see Pit/Cin and Bal/Cle in the 1pm Sunday winod with Mia and Denver in the 4pm Sunday window.
If the Dolphins lose that might put all 4 games of Pit/Cin, Bal/Cle, Ind/Jac and KC/Den all into the same window - that's the only way that there's definitely something at stake for all 5 concerned.
Finally if somehow the Colts and Dolphins delight me and both lose this week I think all 3 games are in the 4pm window.
We'll see what they do and how firmly they stick to the idea that maximizes teams needing to be in a position where the game matters at kickoff.
League definitely rooting against the Packers that's for sure lol.
-QG
Okay so what do we got in week 18....
Beefalo vs New England. This game no longer matters.
Miami vs Jets. Matters if the Dolphins wins this week with the 3 teams going for 1 spot in the AFC. Meaningless if the Fins lose this week.
Bengals vs Steelers. Bengals are in the 3-team for one spot deal. Steelers game matters for the division (3 seed possible) and for the 5/6 seed vs Chargers.
Ravens vs Browns. Game matters for division title. Baltimore definitely is the #3 with a win or Steelers loss. #5 with a loss and Steelers win.
Texans vs Titans. Meaningless.
Colts vs Jaguars. Meaningless
Chargers vs Raiders. Chargers can still get the #5 if they win and the Steelers lose.
Chiefs vs Broncos. The most important game in the 3-team for one spot deal. They will play at the same time or later than Bengals and if applicable Broncos.
Eagles vs Giants. Matters for the #1 seed if the Lions and Vikings both lose. Otherwise it doesn't matter. If it does matter I can very much see this being played on Saturday as they will still have a shot at #1 at that time but if they win it changes nothing for Detroit vs Minnesota.
Commanders vs Cowboys. If they lose they can still miss the playoffs. In this case I can see this game being on Saturday as they can have a win and in scenario that doesn't totally eliminate the team chasing them (Tampa). If they win the game will matter for the #6 seed..
Packers vs Bears. Packers are only playing for seed in any scenario. If they win this week they'll have a shot at the 5. If they lose then could possibly fall to the 7. Technically this game will matter in that sense - but the stakes are such that the most it could possibly be is Saturday fodder if they can't put anything else as a standalone b/c of contingencies.
Vikings vs Lions. Could be for #1 or #5 seed (in that case hello Sunday night!). Could be much more modest with just stakes for the Vikings of being #5 or #6.
Panthers vs Buccaneers. This game matters for the division and possibly the wildcard. It probably will be the same time as the Falcons game no matter the outcome of the Atlanta game.
Falcons vs Saints. As state above, they probably play the same time as Tampa does.
49ers vs Cardinals. Means nothing
Seahawks vs Rams. This game will matter for the division if the strength of victory tiebreaker isn't settled this week. If it isn't I totally see this being the lead-off Saturday game (or in the 2nd slot if the other game doesn't affect the strength of victory) - since that's the only way the Rams will not know for sure they have the division. If the Falcons and or Buccaneers win then this game will matter for whether the Rams are the 3rd or 4th seed. 4pm Sunday note. It matters if at least 3 of Cleveland, Minnesota, Washington and San Francisco lose.
So that's the latest.
Biggest change from 1:00 games is that Colts are eliminated after losing to GiantsOkay so what do we got in week 18....
Beefalo vs New England. This game no longer matters.
Miami vs Jets. Matters if the Dolphins wins this week with the 3 teams going for 1 spot in the AFC. Meaningless if the Fins lose this week.
Bengals vs Steelers. Bengals are in the 3-team for one spot deal. Steelers game matters for the division (3 seed possible) and for the 5/6 seed vs Chargers.
Ravens vs Browns. Game matters for division title. Baltimore definitely is the #3 with a win or Steelers loss. #5 with a loss and Steelers win.
Texans vs Titans. Meaningless.
Colts vs Jaguars. Meaningless
Chargers vs Raiders. Chargers can still get the #5 if they win and the Steelers lose.
Chiefs vs Broncos. The most important game in the 3-team for one spot deal. They will play at the same time or later than Bengals and if applicable Broncos.
Eagles vs Giants. Matters for the #1 seed if the Lions and Vikings both lose. Otherwise it doesn't matter. If it does matter I can very much see this being played on Saturday as they will still have a shot at #1 at that time but if they win it changes nothing for Detroit vs Minnesota.
Commanders vs Cowboys. If they lose they can still miss the playoffs. In this case I can see this game being on Saturday as they can have a win and in scenario that doesn't totally eliminate the team chasing them (Tampa). If they win the game will matter for the #6 seed..
Packers vs Bears. Packers are only playing for seed in any scenario. If they win this week they'll have a shot at the 5. If they lose then could possibly fall to the 7. Technically this game will matter in that sense - but the stakes are such that the most it could possibly be is Saturday fodder if they can't put anything else as a standalone b/c of contingencies.
Vikings vs Lions. Could be for #1 or #5 seed (in that case hello Sunday night!). Could be much more modest with just stakes for the Vikings of being #5 or #6.
Panthers vs Buccaneers. This game matters for the division and possibly the wildcard. It probably will be the same time as the Falcons game no matter the outcome of the Atlanta game.
Falcons vs Saints. As state above, they probably play the same time as Tampa does.
49ers vs Cardinals. Means nothing
Seahawks vs Rams. This game will matter for the division if the strength of victory tiebreaker isn't settled this week. If it isn't I totally see this being the lead-off Saturday game (or in the 2nd slot if the other game doesn't affect the strength of victory) - since that's the only way the Rams will not know for sure they have the division. If the Falcons and or Buccaneers win then this game will matter for whether the Rams are the 3rd or 4th seed. 4pm Sunday note. It matters if at least 3 of Cleveland, Minnesota, Washington and San Francisco lose.
So that's the latest.
Updated the above with the 1pm results. Things a little clearer.
-QG
Not sure what you mean. If Minnesota wins, next week’s game is for the 1 seed. Only way the game is meaningless is if Minny loses and Detroit wins tomorrowUnless both Detroit and Vikes lose I'm not sure there's a single game worthy of the spot.
Unless both Detroit and Vikes lose I'm not sure there's a single game worthy of the spot.
That happened to Cleveland a long time ago when they were not flexing the games in and out it was Indy already wrapped up sat their players and we had to watch them lose and let another team in.Feel like Detroit-Minnesota has to be it
Maybe Denver-KC will be a win and in game for Denver, but NFL isn’t going to want to showcase their league’s best team tanking a game and gifting their division rival a playoff spot while fans in Miami or Cincy fume as their team is eliminated
See, this is why I think LA-Seattle won’t be on Saturday. You can’t wait until midnight Monday to tell a team they have to play a day earlier than usualDetroit/Minnesota will be the SNF game but the league probably waits til whether the Rams officially clinch or not to announce things
If Washington wins tonight that clinches the Rams playoff spot so it is possible/probably they announce the schedule tonight.
If Atlanta wins tonight they wait til the end of the Detroit/SF game (an SF win also puts the Rams into the playoffs).
The delay all has to with Saturday.
-QG
Is that a prediction or an announcement?Bengals Steelers and Gaints Eagles on Saturday.
prediction.Is that a prediction or an announcement?Bengals Steelers and Gaints Eagles on Saturday.
See, this is why I think LA-Seattle won’t be on Saturday. You can’t wait until midnight Monday to tell a team they have to play a day earlier than usualDetroit/Minnesota will be the SNF game but the league probably waits til whether the Rams officially clinch or not to announce things
If Washington wins tonight that clinches the Rams playoff spot so it is possible/probably they announce the schedule tonight.
If Atlanta wins tonight they wait til the end of the Detroit/SF game (an SF win also puts the Rams into the playoffs).
The delay all has to with Saturday.
-QG
Weirdest thing is if they put it on Saturday, Seattle couldn't actually clinch with a win. They would have to wait for other results on Sunday to know for sure (and from what I understand Rams are very likely to get the results they need to get the tiebreaker).See, this is why I think LA-Seattle won’t be on Saturday. You can’t wait until midnight Monday to tell a team they have to play a day earlier than usualDetroit/Minnesota will be the SNF game but the league probably waits til whether the Rams officially clinch or not to announce things
If Washington wins tonight that clinches the Rams playoff spot so it is possible/probably they announce the schedule tonight.
If Atlanta wins tonight they wait til the end of the Detroit/SF game (an SF win also puts the Rams into the playoffs).
The delay all has to with Saturday.
-QG
Or they say the heck with it and set it tonight and gamble.
-QG
Weirdest thing is if they put it on Saturday, Seattle couldn't actually clinch with a win. They would have to wait for other results on Sunday to know for sure (and from what I understand Rams are very likely to get the results they need to get the tiebreaker).See, this is why I think LA-Seattle won’t be on Saturday. You can’t wait until midnight Monday to tell a team they have to play a day earlier than usualDetroit/Minnesota will be the SNF game but the league probably waits til whether the Rams officially clinch or not to announce things
If Washington wins tonight that clinches the Rams playoff spot so it is possible/probably they announce the schedule tonight.
If Atlanta wins tonight they wait til the end of the Detroit/SF game (an SF win also puts the Rams into the playoffs).
The delay all has to with Saturday.
-QG
Or they say the heck with it and set it tonight and gamble.
-QG
On the other hand, it might make sense to put it on Saturday in order to ensure both teams would go all out, especially since if they wait until Sunday it would need to be a 4:00 game