Lance's 2021 Week 17 Recap
Reminder that I'm not doing any fantasy waiver wire targets or starts and sits this week. I wish you luck if you have week 18 fantasy games...lots and lots of luck.
-I’ve seen several reports that the Giants’ owner wants to stick with Joe Judge. After back to back blowout losses where their team scored just 13 points total, and with the most recent one coming against the lowly Bears, I think he should reconsider that position. Clean house, start new, and make sure your new GM and your new Head Coach are on the same page.
-Two things from the Ravens-Rams game: First, these Tyler Huntley led Ravens are the fun underdogs you want to root for and with the questions surrounding this year’s draft class, I’ll be very disappointed if someone doesn’t at least try and trade for Huntley this offseason. Second, the way the Rams have played the last two weeks doesn’t scream Super Bowl team. They have both been wins, but Stafford has thrown 3 touchdowns to 5 picks, and they had to cling to their lead in one of those games and pull out a late game touchdown in the other, both against teams that won’t be making the playoffs. It’s not a promising finish to the season as they head to the playoffs.
-Talk about poor play closing out the season, what is going on with the Bucs? And why does it feel like no one is acknowledging it? They lost an ugly game to the Saints three weeks ago in which they got blanked 9-0. And this week they were losing to the Jets the entire game, they didn’t hold the lead until they scored that final touchdown with 21 seconds left. Meanwhile, everyone is out there going “Brady did it again, he led a 2 minute drill with no timeout to win the game.” IT WAS AGAINST THE JETS. I feel like I’m losing my mind.
-Burrow and the Bengals did it again. This team looks scarier with each passing week. This was their first of what I’m sure will be several AFC North titles to come, but even more importantly this won’t be the last time we hear their name mentioned as the potential one seed for the AFC. Unfortunately, with the Titans playing Houston and K.C. playing Denver in week 18, I don’t think they’re going to get it this year.
-The Raiders came to play. The last two years they started off the season well and seemed to give up by the end. But this game was different. They actually look like they want to get into the playoffs and they believe that they can. Winning the game of course sent the right message, but I’m specifically referring to the effort they gave from start to finish.
-Congrats to Philly. I don’t know if there were very many analysts (if any) out there that were giving them a shot at making the playoffs, but it’s January and they’ve locked up a spot. Hurts hasn’t been a world beater, but he seems to have calmed down and really taken control of his role. They could put one of the top seeds on upset watch in the first-round of the playoffs, especially with Tampa and LAR playing questionable football lately.
-Say what you will about the opponent, but this was not the same Trey Lance we saw back at the beginning of the year. He was smarter with the ball, threw with better accuracy and timing (for the most part) and looked more comfortable. I believe the Niners are in good hands heading into next year. I also think they should roll into the playoffs with Garoppolo under Center if he’s healthy. That’s not a knock against Lance, more a comment on Garoppolo’s experience.
-Arizona and Dallas put on a show, Arizona for the first three quarters and Dallas for the fourth quarter, but at least they combined for a complete game. Part of me is hoping the Rams win week 18 so we get this rematch on wildcard weekend.
-For those wondering what Kirk Cousins has meant to Minnesota this year, you should go back and watch the Vikings first game against Green Bay and then watch what happened this past Sunday. It’s night and day.
