Key events
It’s GOOD! Browns 10-3 Steelers 14:55, 2nd quarter
The Steelers appear to be seriously struggling to move the ball without the threat of DK Metcalf. Logical but still frustrating for Pittsburgh fans who will not want a playoff with the Ravens next week for the AFC North.
Panthers 0-3 Seahawks 0:56, 1st quarter
Seattle are out on offense again after a Carolina punt. Rashid Shaheed picks up eight yards but looks to have picked up an injury after the catch.
TOUCHDOWN! Colts 10-0 Jaguars 12:49, 2nd quarter
Another upset is in the works!
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 13-0 Cardinals 14:48, 2nd quarter
Excellent news for my fantasy football team as my opponent has Chase Brown! Big smiles in the Chinchillas locker room as Perine rumbles in.
Browns 10-0 Steelers 1:15, 1st quarter
At midfield the big tight end Darnell Washington brings the Steelers to 3rd and short. They get tricksy on the next play as Connor Heward gets the direct snap. He finds the edge and rips off 29 yards.
Browns 10-0 Steelers 3:49, 1st quarter
Tony Romo is calling out the refs for a bad call after an offensive pass interference call wipes out a long gain for Pittsburgh. On the resulting 3rd and 16 the Steelers pick up 11 yards and should be punting … BUT … the Browns are dinged for taunting. 1st down Pittsburgh. Very silly.
It’s GOOD! Panthers 0-3 Seahawks 3:23, 1st quarter
Seattle on 3rd and long finds Smith-Njigba but its well short of the sticks. A welcome spark on the scoreboard after four punts to start this one.
Panthers 0-0 Seahawks 5:23, 1st quarter
Seattle are across midfield and on 3rd and short Carolina get in a muddle and cough up a 1st down on an encroachment penalty. Sam Darnold drops back and has a running back open in the middle of the field but he throws it into a defender’s helmet. This is already getting tense.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-14 Patriots 5:06, 1st quarter
Yikes.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 7-7 Buccaneers 4:29, 1st quarter
Play of the day? Maybe. Game on? Yes, sir.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 10-0 Steelers 5:11, 1st quarter
Wow. Fantastic deep arcing throw finds the tight end in space and he beats the defender on the inside and rolls into the end zone for the score. Cleveland’s home hold over Pittsburgh appears to be holding as they take a commanding early lead.
Panthers 0-0 Seahawks 8:38, 1st quarter
Carolina need five yards on 3rd down and call a swing pass to Chuba Hubbard. The conservative play gets what it deserves with the running back brought down sharply. Punt again. Boooo.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 0-7 Buccaneers 5:28, 1st quarter
Panthers 0-0 Seahawks 10:40, 1st quarter
Darnold puts Seattle way behind the sticks with an intentional grounding penalty and the Seahawks have to punt. Carolina pressure forces the mistake from the sometimes nervy QB.
Browns 3-0 Steelers 8:32, 1st quarter
Omens are good so far for the Browns to pick up a fourth after forcing an easy three and out. Pittsburgh punt it away.
Browns 3-0 Steelers 9:13, 1st quarter
Aaron Rodgers has trotted out on to the field and he tosses to Jaylen Warren who fumbles!!! Thankfully a teammate dives on to it. Meanwhile Tony Romo in the booth dishes out the nugget that Pittsburgh have lost their last three in Cleveland. Surprising.
TOUCHDOWN! Bengals 7-0 Cardinals 9:17, 1st quarter
Panthers 0-0 Seahawks 12:51, 1st quarter
After a Carolina punt they almost pick off Sam Darnold on their first play then the QB throws one in the dirt. On 3 & 10 the crowd get loud but Darnold hits his favourite target Jaxson Smith-Njigba for 13 yards and the 1st down. Phew.
It’s GOOD! Browns 3-0 Steelers 10:48, 1st quarter
Cleveland on the board after some decent play by Shadeur Sanders to move them into range.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-7 Patriots 10:42, 1st quarter
The beginning of what could be a very long day for New York.
Panthers 0-0 Seahawks 14:47, 1st quarter
Rough start for the Panthers as the tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is injured on the opening play. Looks like a serious one to a knee. Might be done for the day.
The Panthers are taking over on offense in Charlotte while Cleveland are doing the same in Ohio. Hereeeeeee … we .. go!
Is anybody else still tucking into Christmas leftovers? In a bit of shameless cross-promotion I am just chowing down on Felicity Cloake’s perfect turkey curry and it is absolutely delicious. Exactly what I need to spice up seven hours of raw, uncut NFL action. Cheers, Felicity!
Some other encounters that should provide some sparks are rivalry games between the Jets and Patriots and Colts and Jaguars. The 44-year-old Philip Rivers is aiming for a first win against Jacksonville after two defeats to keep Indy’s playoff hopes on life support. It might be tough going against Trevor Lawrence’s team that are thriving on a six-game winning streak. Oliver Connolly has more here …
Then the Patriots need to beat the Jets to keep pace with the Broncos at the top of the AFC and can clinch the AFC East if they are victorious and the Bills lose to the Eagles later.
And now we return to the eternal question: is there anything more boring than talking about your own fantasy football team? It is certainly right up there and yet here we go. The Chinchillas have made it to the championship game and the head coach (Me) needs your help. I have been playing in this dynasty league for nine seasons and I even beat my own brother to get to a first final. Massive. So what do you think I should do? Go ahead with the set lineup or bin off Rashid Shaheed for Juwan Johnson? Or something else that’ll win me the strap? Help me football world, you’re my only hope.
Elsewhere, we have a battle with playoff dreams on the line between the Seahawks and Panthers. The Seahawks need to win to stay ahead of the 49ers at the top of the NFC while the Panthers can clinch the NFC South with a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins. If Miami’s horrific 45-21 loss to Cincinnati last week is anything to go by then Tampa Bay should return to winning ways and force a title decider against Carolina next week regardless of the result in Charlotte.
The big injury news comes from Seattle who will be without two key pieces. Starting left tackle Charles Cross and safety Coby Bryant miss out. Josh Jones stays in for Cross after performing well and not allowing a sack last week against the Rams. Ty Okada replaces Byrant in the secondary who also did well in the second half against the Rams. Okada did well earlier in the season replacing Julian Love when he snagged his first career interception against the Commanders.
Preamble
Hello and happy holidays! I hope you all had a merry Christmas and are looking forward to a happy new year. Not to bring you all down to Earth with an almighty bump but after this week 17 slate we have but one more regular season Sunday left to savour. But what a year we have had full of upsets, fallen giants, rising stars and that epic Bills/Bengals blizzard game. Hopefully we still have some twists and turns left today with Pittsburgh aiming to seal a playoff spot with a win over Cleveland, Seattle trying to move closer to locking up the NFC’s No 1 seed and more in seven matches starting at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(8-7) Carolina Panthers v Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
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(5-10) Cincinnati Bengals v Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
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(3-12) Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
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(8-7) Indianapolis Colts v Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
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(6-9) Miami Dolphins v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
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(3-12) New York Jets v New England Patriots (12-3)
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(3-12) Tennessee Titans v New Orleans Saints (5-10)
Can Cleveland stop division rivals Pittsburgh sealing the AFC North? They are going to be up against it considering their offense is 31st in EPA per play and averages one measly passing touchdown per game. The Steelers may not be spectacular in stopping an opponent but the experience of veterans such as Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward should cause rookie quarterback Shadeur Sanders an almighty headache. Meanwhile the Browns are also without their impressive rookie running back Quinshon Judkins who has been sent to injured reserve after having surgery to repair a dislocated right ankle and fractured right fibula. Pittsburgh have a big miss of their own in star receiver DK Metcalf out through suspension after throwing a punch at a Lions fan last week.
When it rains it pours in Ohio. However, Myles Garrett still leads Cleveland’s defense and needs a single sack to break the regular season record of 22.5. Entering the history books by taking down future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers could just give Garrett and the Browns the vengeful juice they need to finish another bitterly painful season on a high.
