Ten Thoughts on the NFL

1) The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense might be championship caliber, but they’ll need their offense to show up if they have a chance to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Then again... DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!

2) I’m picking the Steelers in that game, even though the Jags beat them way back in week five, 30-9. It was a dominant performance, but one that I believe caught the Steelers off guard.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger started the trash talking early last week when he said he hoped they would play the Jags in the divisional round. Jacksonville corner A.J. Bouye said “Be careful what you wish for,” via The Florida Times-Union. “This is what he wanted, so this is what he is going to get.”

I’m expecting a tough and physical game.

3) One more Jags thought...

At this point it’s a foregone conclusion that they’ll work something out to get Eli Manning at quarterback for next year right?

4) Speaking of quarterbacks changing teams, the Buffalo Bills are done with Tyrod Taylor now aren’t they? I don’t think he’s a bad quarterback, I just think at some point a team has to have a clear direction at that position. They benched him earlier this season, so the head coach wants a change. I don’t think they can go into 2018 with Nate Peterman as the #1QB, so they may be in the market for a new signal caller too.

5) Speaking of the Bills... The Bills Mafia members that break flaming tables in a “Jackass” manner are just a bunch of drunken jackasses right?

Do people still find amusement in these types of stunts?

6) The 6th seeded Atlanta Falcons are favored against the top seeded Philadelphia Eagles. This is the first time that has ever happened, but these Eagles are not the same Eagles that earned the number one seed in the NFC. Everything changed for them when they lost quarterback Carson Wentz.

7) I’m really excited to see the Minnesota Vikings host the New Orleans Saints. The Saints’ offense is a fun one to watch, but the Vikings defense has been historically good this year. I know I picked the Vikings to win the NFC, but it would not surprise me to see the Saints pull off the win.

8) Is anyone giving the Tennessee Titans a chance against the New England Patriots?

I wonder if there will be any lingering affects from that ESPN article that claimed there was dysfunction among the Pats. I think it’s more likely that article will piss them off, and they come out as focused as ever and win 44-10.

9) I know a lot of people are assuming that the Raiders made a dumb move in naming Jon Gruden their new head coach, but he has a brilliant football mind. He may be 10 years removed from coaching, but he’s been around the game plenty in his role on Monday Night Football.

I predict Gruden has the Raiders in the playoffs next season.

10) ESPN recently published their biggest need for each team and they have it like this for the Chicago Bears.

Fill roster holes, especially at cornerback

Now that the Bears have hired Matt Nagy to be their next head coach, Chicago can turn its attention to filling roster holes, notably at cornerback. The Bears are in a tough spot with starters Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara both headed to free agency. They could re-sign one of them, but the Bears have depth issues at the position after former free-agent acquisition Marcus Cooper and former fourth-round pick Deiondre’ Hall (now a safety) turned out to be busts. The Bears also have to find another starting outside linebacker to play opposite Leonard Floyd and increase the talent level at wide receiver. -- Jeff Dickerson

I think filling roster holes is a great idea...

10a) Another ESPN Insider article is predicting the Bears will be the second most overhauled team in the 2018 season.

Indicators: new head coach; team is all-in on a second-year QB; fourth-year GM has new contract but must rally from 14-34 record

The Bears need an offensive overhaul, particularly at wide receiver, as they build around quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. They have a new, offensive-minded head coach in Matt Nagy. They could also have a new scheme on the defensive side of the ball. We’ll know more as the offseason progresses, but for now, Chicago is high on the list. The Bears need to make up for a string of high draft choices who might not pan out (Kevin White has been hurt, Leonard Floyd is hurt and Trubisky might or might not be what the Bears need him to be). That could be a recipe for moving aggressively. The question is whether the Bears agree.

That’s a lot of Insider Bears’ stuff to chew on.