Ten Thoughts on the NFL

1) The Tennessee Titans upsetting the Baltimore Ravens 28 to 12 brings the rest vs, rust argument to light. The Ravens gave most of their starters the final week of the regular season off, plus they had the bye because they were the top seed in the AFC, while the Titans have been fighting to stay alive for several weeks now.

What do you think is the best way to go in those week 17 meaningless games; play your guys so they don’t get rusty or sit them in case of injury?

2) The Titans are definitely powered by running back Derek Henry’s 406 yards from scrimmage (plus a 3 yard TD pass) in their 2 playoff games, but the steady hand of quarterback Ryan Tannehill helped get them to the postseason. And even though his 2 game playoff numbers are very pedestrian (15 of 29 passing for 160 yards, 3 TDs, 1 int, with a rushing TD) he’s getting the free agent deal to be Tennessee's QB moving forward.

3) Even with Patrick Mahomes leading their explosive offense, I thought the game was over when the Kansas City Chiefs fell 24 points behind the Houston Texans in the second quarter. I even stepped away from the TV to do a few things, but then I peeked back to check the score and K.C. fought back to take the lead, 28-24, heading into the half.

I’m pulling for Andy Reid to get his first Super Bowl.

4) After the Seahawks lost to the Packers, Marshawn Lynch spread some wisdom.

It wasn’t the comeback Lynch had in mind when agreeing to un-retire, but in three games (week 17 and the two playoff games) Lynch rushed 30 times for 67 yards and 5 touchdowns.

5) It would be funny if it wasn’t always happening...

6) But with that being said, the Green Bay Packers do have a talented team and if their defense can slow down the 49ers running game, 36-year old Aaron Rodgers might find the magic needed to in the NFC Championship game to get them to the Super Bowl.

Anyone else feel sick to their stomach?

7) I’m intrigued by every possible Super Bowl match-up, but part of me would like to see the Packers win the NFC (again, that makes me nauseous to type), but hear me out...

Packers win the NFC and get crushed by either the Chiefs or Titans, and then they have the usual Super Bowl loser hangover season in 2020 and end up 4-12!

8) Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson is trying out with the XFL as a kicker with the hopes he can land a job and transition that to a gig in the NFL.

While this is probably 75% a publicity stunt, Johnson does have some kicking skills and I think it would be neat if he did it.

9) Joe Burrow’s 2019 season deserves to be mentioned with the greatest in NCAA history.

What makes it even more remarkable is that no one saw this kind of jump in productivity coming. In 2018 Burrow threw 16 TD passes and was the 64th rated passer in the country with a 133.2 passing efficiency, but this season he set an all-time record with 202.0.

The Cincinnati Bengals are getting a heck of a prospect.

10) Earlier this morning on Chicago’s 670am The Score, Brad Biggs said that the Chicago Bears had no interest in Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.

If I were a betting man, my best guess for the veteran QB that they go after to “compete” with Mitchell Trubisky are as follows.

1. If the Saints do allow Drew Brees to walk my money would be on Ryan Pace to get him.
2. If Alex Smith proves to be healthy, he’ll be able to run Matt Nagy’s offense to a T.
3. If options 1 and 2 aren’t viable, Andy Dalton has proven to be a competent NFL QB and would fit what Nagy and Pace are looking for.