:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65964997/579753410.jpg.0.jpg)
1) Marshawn Lynch hasn't played in an NFL game since October 14, 2018, but the 33-year old signed with the Seattle Seahawks late last night. I’m not sure what he has left, but the time away could have done his body well and for a few game playoff stretch he could be just what the Seahawks need to help them in a wide open NFC. First up however, a showdown with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football with the NFC West title on the line.
2) But over in the AFC, it looks like the Baltimore Ravens are the team to beat after they picked up their eleventh straight win on Sunday with a 31-15 beat-down of the Cleveland Browns. I didn’t realize that 2019 is the first time they’ve ever had home field clinched through out the playoffs. In their two Super Bowl titles they started their run on wildcard weekend.
The luxury of earning the bye allows then to rest several starters.
Ravens will not play Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, Earl Thomas, Marshal Yanda and Brandon Williams against the Steelers on Sunday. Time to get ready for Divisional Round.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2019
3) It’s ridiculous how New Orleans Saints wide out Micheal Thomas can get so open all the damn time when everyone knows the ball is going his way. He’s the most complete receiver in the game today.
Prepare for the wildest Michael Thomas stat you've seen yet...
— Heath Cummings (@heathcummingssr) December 23, 2019
Most receptions, first 5 years of a career:
Jarvis Landry 481
Michael Thomas* 466
Larry Fitzgerald 426
Torry Holt 423
A.J. Green 415
Julio Jones 414
Randy Moss 414
*Thomas has one game left in his FOURTH SEASON
4) New York Jets head coach Adam Gase has an eye for talent.
2019 Comeback Player(s) of the Year:
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 23, 2019
Ryan Tannehill
Minkah Fitzpatrick
DeVante Parker
Kenyon Drake
Adam Gase will be accepting the award on their behalf.
If you don’t get the joke, you can Google it.
5) Chandler Jones is up to 19 sacks for the Arizona Cardinals this season and is at 96 for his eight year career.
And I know this pisses off 99% of all Chicago Bears’ fans.
6) The Tennessee Titans control their chance at the 6th seed against the Houston Texans on Sunday, and with Houston locked into the playoffs as the AFC South Champs (albeit their seed is up for grabs) I could see Tennessee having the motivation to win on the road.
7) Kirk Cousins went full Kirk Cousins on Monday Night Football, but it was Green Bay running back Aaron Jones that dominated the night with 154 yards on the ground and 2 TDs for the Packers offense, and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith’s 3.5 sacks that did it for their defense.
8) New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones went off in his return to the lineup with 352 yards passing, five touchdowns and no interceptions in their 41-35 overtime victory at Washington.
Rookies with 300 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT in a game in NFL history:
— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) December 22, 2019
Marcus Mariota at 2015 NO
Daniel Jones at 2019 DET
Daniel Jones at 2019 NYJ
Daniel Jones at 2019 WAS
Yes, Jones has 3/4 of them.
9) This postseason nugget from the NFL is crazy to me.
The BUFFALO BILLS, GREEN BAY PACKERS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have each qualified for the postseason after missing the playoffs last season. From 1990-2019 – a streak of 30 consecutive years – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
I wonder which 4 teams are going to the playoffs in 2020 after missing it this year?
10) Most disappointing season ever.
With one game remaining, the Bears are averaging 17.3 points per game in 2019. That ranks ahead of only the Redskins and Bengals.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) December 23, 2019
The Bears' offense has managed 4.7 yards per play this season, ahead of just the Jets.