Macca

Strange isn't it? ... the chatter and rumour has been there all season. Where there's smoke there's fire I suppose - Harbaugh is certainly an intense character but they can all be like that. As you said, 3 x NFC Championship games in a row and the main talk is about him going back to college (Michigan?) The money is there too but it does seem quite odd. For whatever reason they're just not the same team.

Baltimore and Pittsburgh winning changes things somewhat in the AFC ... otherwise, no huge surprises from today apart from the 49ers losing a game they couldn't afford to lose (San Francisco also cost most of us in the comp) Oh, and Carolina smash the Saints - who knew? Leaderboard in the comp 4 - Dappa Dan 3 - JV7, Go the Biff, Georgiou R. R. Martin 2 - pantaloons, Macca 1 - cowboy_from_hell, Gorgoroth Week 15 games Some other observations ... Seattle loom large New England way too strong for San Diego and look set to get the 1 seed (next 3 ... vs Miami, @ Jets, vs Bills) Arizona win a close one and still lead the NFC West by 1 win. More joy for Rams & Vikes fans The AFC North is probably now down to 3 teams whilst the NFC South is there for whoever wants to take it. Atlanta @ Green Bay tomorrow ... may the better team win 'JV7'

Monday 5.00am - 11.30am RedZone (ESPN) 5.00am Pittsburgh 7/5 at Cincinnati 8/3/1 (7mate) 8.25am Seattle 8/4 at Philadelphia 9/3 (7mate) 12.30pm New England 9/3 at San Diego 8/4 (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Atlanta 5/7 at Green Bay 9/3 (ESPN) All the week 14 games Bill Simmons' column

You're probably right but there's nearly always a twist in December in the NFL ... one upset loss can change everything for any of those 7 aforementioned teams. It's almost certain that a team will miss due to the tiebreak rules only. In 2008 the Pats missed the playoffs after finishing 11/5 ... there's an outside chance that might happen again in the NFC. What a way to miss ... Denver & New England the only teams to miss the playoffs with an 11/5 record

The Cowboys won well in the end - Murray was immense. I suppose that puts them right back into contention So ... we've got the following teams fighting for 5 spots in the NFC (the other spot goes to the winner of the NFC South) Green Bay 9/3 Philadelphia 9/3 Arizona 9/3 Dallas 9/4 Detroit 8/4 Seattle 8/4 San Francisco 7/5 The 49ers can make it but they're going to have to make it to 11/5 you'd reckon.

San Francisco Houston Indianapolis

Friday 12.30pm Dallas 8/4 at Chicago 5/7 (ESPN) Monday 5.00am - 11.30am RedZone (ESPN) 5.00am Pittsburgh 7/5 at Cincinnati 8/3/1 (7mate) 8.25am Seattle 8/4 at Philadelphia 9/3 (7mate) 12.30pm New England 9/3 at San Diego 8/4 (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Atlanta 5/7 at Green Bay 9/3 (ESPN) All the week 14 games & BS Report I'll post up the 'Elo' ratings & playoff chances link when it's available

I'll post up the TV games tomorrow night but Friday's game is Dallas @ Chicago. The early game on Monday (7mate) is the Steelers @ Cinci and ... the late game on 7mate is the big one ... Seattle @ Philadelphia. SNF is the Pats @ San Diego whilst MNF is Atlanta @ Green Bay

Yep, the playoffs virtually start this week ... to add further to your points, titan ... Dallas have to win given their schedule (@ Chicago) Pittsburgh lose and they're possibly out (at Cinci) Same for Baltimore or Miami who play each other Cleveland almost certainly need to win vs Indi Houston win at the Jags and they keep their slim hopes alive (they'd need to win out you'd reckon) Buffalo will need to win at Denver given they also have to play the Packers KC also have to win at Arizona but the Cards lose this game and they could endanger their whole playoff chances (given their schedule) Seattle @ Philadelphia has all sorts of implications New England can't afford to lose at San Diego and the Chargers can't afford to lose either San Francisco should win comfortably at Oakland but they'll almost certainly need to win out and get to 11 wins Mad Monday ... NFL style!

There are 2 on the footy boards that I know of ... prominent posters too I'm not going to give them up though

To be honest, I wasn't taking a lot of notice of the quality of the game when watching it live ... just wanted to win Watched the highlights and summary of the game etc and then I realised how good a game it was. Again, at the time you get too immersed in the winning ... same thing happens with Demon games only on a larger scale. Just win! Fair enough ... If we don't win the NFC I'm gonna blame you Dappa haha ... in all seriousness, I'm taking it one game at a time! Gotta say I'm happy to beat the Pats ... just to see the Brady reaction near the end was gold. He's a champ but beating him is certainly an achievement. Order restored in the tipping comp ... no points earned! Leaderboard 4 - Dappa Dan 3 - JV7, Go the Biff, Georgiou R. R. Martin 2 - pantaloons, Macca 1 - cowboy_from_hell, Gorgoroth Week 14 games ... 2 big points on offer this week (week 15 - 1 point, week 16 - 1 point, week 17 - 3 points)

There's a few things that can impact negatively even if the Packers win out and get the 1 seed. We all saw what happened in 2011/12 ... 15/1 and knocked out in their first playoff game ... what I do know is that we haven't been a team that needs time away from exercising our game plan. Rodgers is a deep ball thrower and what destroyed the team in 2011/12 was him not throwing for 3 weeks (he was rested in week 17 of that year and we didn't play on wild-card weekend) Seattle are a real danger if they win the NFC West. Your blokes at home are a different proposition as well. Detroit should win their next 3 so that week 17 game against the Packers could decide the NFC North. It ain't over till it's over.

Some other observations .. San Diego & Buffalo won't go away ... 10 wins probably gets a wild-card in the AFC & both teams can get there. The Giants and Panthers are terrible Cinci just don't lose games (8/3/1) and their week 16 game vs Denver looms as a season definer Some joy to be had for Vikings & Rams fans - especially the St Louis win - a rout. Packers hold out New England and get a vital win - defense stood up but we should have scored more heavily - missed a number of 7 point opportunities Belichick gives a bit of credit - what gives? More mind games? All done in typical monotone style

You're hanging in there ...

Next Monday night at Lambeau for your blokes ... might be a 'trap' game for the Packers after today It's now out of the Falcons & Saints for the division you'd reckon. Excellent win against a good opponent - a game you had to win. Although a game behind the Eagles and Green Bay, Seattle will almost certainly hold the tie break against those 2 teams if they draw level on wins (and win the NFC West) It's conceivable that the Seahawks could have home field advantage right through to the Super Bowl if they win the NFC West. Next weeks Seahawks @ Eagles game holds the key to the NFC I believe.

Monday 5.00am - 11.30am RedZone (ESPN) 5.00am San Diego 7/4 at Baltimore 7/4 (7mate) 8.25am New England 9/2 at Green Bay 8/3 (7mate) 12.30pm Denver 8/3 at Kansas City 7/4 (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Miami 6/5 at NY Jets 2/9 (ESPN) All the week 13 games & BS Report Bill Simmons' column

From a neutral perspective, I'm not so sure that Dallas will win next week - the Bears are capable and their coach (Trestman) will need to get some wins to keep his job. The match is line ball in my eyes. As for the Seahawks, their weakness all year has been their passing offense (currently 30th) Stats are stats but in this sport, they really do tell a story. However, I'm worried about them because they're strong in nearly all the other facets of the game ... so, I'm hoping like hell your blokes can knock them off. If you kick 2 games clear in the NFC East it's then only a matter of the seedings - the division will be yours.

It is still quite possible that Dallas could end up at 8/8 By the time they get to their last game (@ Washington) they might be out of the running already ... their next 3 are @ Chicago, @ Eagles and vs Indi. If they lose to the Bears the "meltdown" will be in full swing.

Yeah, you're right about that ... I had a quick look at the stats but didn't notice the attempts ... I did notice during the game that Forte was not making any sort of impression when he often does make an impression. I guess we can say that Detroits run defense was so intimidating that Chicago didn't even bother That's my excuse anyway. The Lions have had a decent year so credit where it's due I reckon. The Pats @ Packers has all sorts of intriguing match-ups ... our run defense is our weakness and of late, they've been quite strong in that area ... Belichick is the master coach and it's him who I'm concerned about as well. I'm just glad the game is at Lambeau. I'll take any sort of win. I'm not sure that the 49ers are done with yet but I feel they're going to have to win their last 4 games - that includes a trip to Seattle. I think a wild-card team in the NFC will need to win 11 games ... 10 wins might get it done but there will need to at least be tie-break advantages involved.

Eagles, Seahawks & Detroit all looked good ... their opponents just didn't come to play. Could have done with 1 close game but the victors won't be thinking that way. Line ball on who looked the most impressive ... Eagles or Seattle - the truth is that both were very impressive. The Eagles because they blew the Cowboys off the park (Sanchez had a good game) and the Seahawks because of their fantastic defense (especially Sherman) Romo & Kaepernick both had games they'd rather forget. The Lions won as expected with Stafford posting excellent numbers ... Tate has really added to their offense but it's their rushing defense that was the standout feature (again) ... they lead the league in that area.

Yeah, I'm with you Gorgoroth ... Bengals Miami Giants

Possibly the best line-up of TV games I've come across ... Friday 4.30am Chicago 5/6 at Detroit 7/4 (7mate & ESPN) 8.30am Philadelphia 8/3 at Dallas 8/3 (7mate) 12.30pm Seattle 7/4 at San Francisco 7/4 (7mate) Monday 5.00am - 11.30am RedZone (ESPN) 5.00am San Diego 7/4 at Baltimore 7/4 (7mate) 8.25am New England 9/2 at Green Bay 8/3 (7mate) 12.30pm Denver 8/3 at Kansas City 7/4 (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Miami 6/5 at NY Jets 2/9 (ESPN) All the week 13 games & BS Report 'Elo' ratings and playoff chances

A terrible tragedy and to be taken so young is difficult to understand. I feel deep sympathy for his family and teammates. RIP Phillip

Looks like Washington have run out of patience with RGIII ... The end is near for RG III, Redskins

Wishing Phillip a full and speedy recovery ... my thoughts and prayers are for him and his family. Just like you Smithy, I felt quite ill when hearing the news.