We made it through the regular season! The fun is just getting started though, as this weekend we have our first ever Super Wild Card Weekend, as the new expanded playoff format will give us 3 games on both Saturday and Sunday. For this episode of Til The Whistle Blows, Sam and I do a complete analysis of every team out of the playoff, what to take away from their season, and what to expect from them in the draft. We also briefly recap the Week 17 games and preview the upcoming playoff matchups. As always, there’s a ton to cover, so be sure to tune in! I first come on at the 8:38 mark. Featured on this episode:
- The Doug Pederson tank job: Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson benches QB Jalen Hurts to play backup Nate Sudfeld in a primetime season finale against division rival Washington, therefore ensuring the loss. Why this was a sad, pathetic, disrespectful, and awful move on top of an already awful season by a coach who is officially a loser.
- The Dolphins defense collapses in a blowout loss to the Bills, and the Dolphins miss the playoffs. Calls to draft another QB are way too premature, but how will the Dolphins handle Fitz and Tua heading into the offseason and next year?
- Can the Falcons shed their choking reputation and give Matt Ryan some team to work with before he retires?
- How are things looking for Trevor Lawrence on the Jaguars?
- How the hiring of Adam Gase ruined the Jets and Sam Darnold.
- The Patriots finish at a respectable 7-9 for a rebuild year. What’s next for them, and is this it for Cam Newton?
- The 49ers competed hard despite their record, and they should be back on track next year with a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo and co.
- Another late season defense collapse sees Jon Gruden’s Raiders finish 8-8 and outside of the playoffs.
- It’s rebuild time for the Lions. Will Stafford stick around?
- The Cowboys look to bounce back next year with a healthy Dak, hopefully on a long term contract. But the same organizational problems remain.
- What will Matt Rhule do at QB next year for the Panthers?
- The Browns just slip past the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger, but they now have to face them again, this time without their own head coach.
- Zac Taylor is sticking around. Fingers crossed for Joe Burrow.
- The Seahawks win due to some late Russell Wilson magic, but what on earth has happened to this offense?
- Which teams are in the mix for Justin Fields?
- Deshaun Watson just had a phenomenal year on an awful team and leads the league in passing.
- The Packers wrap up the 1 seed in the NFC, but Mahomes is still more deserving of MVP honors, and the Packers need to prove they can get it done in the playoffs.
- The Eagles head into an incredibly long and complicated offseason. What on Earth are they going to do with their QBs?
- Why is there a playoff game on Nickelodeon?
All that and much more, so be sure to tune in!
Til The Whistle Blows is available wherever you listen to podcasts, including on Apple. Have fun watching the games this weekend, and be sure to check back next week for more in depth analysis!
Cary Krongard's Football Blog 