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School’s Out: Let’s sign some proverbial yearbooks
Allow me to start the week with a brief bit of anxiety. The last weekend of the NFL regular season feels like finals week. Before everyone goes their separate ways, there is so much in the air, so much to be decided, no matter if you’re the 15-2 Chiefs or the 3-14 Tennessee Titans.
So today, there is a mountain of stuff to sort. The uncool thing I’d advise any graduate to do in this situation: make a checklist. Thus, your NFL Week 18 checklist with everything you need to know below (and first things first, here are the final playoff field’s Super Bowl projections and the official draft order):
âś… Playoff seedingÂ
We only had a few items to finalize here this weekend, but they were doozies. Detroit (15-2) is our big winner after last night’s 31-9 blowout over the division-rival Vikings. The Lions earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a bye, crucial for one of the league’s most-injured teams. Despite being 14-3, Minnesota visits the 10-7 Rams in the wild-card round.
- Other winners: The Buccaneers tried to lose to the Saints, but won the NFC South anyway (and got Mike Evans his record-tying 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season on the actual last play of the game). The Broncos also squeaked in with a 38-0 win against the Chiefs’ backups. Sorry to the Bengals and Dolphins.
🎠Coaching carousel
The motor is already whirring underneath us, as the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo shortly after New England’s win over the backup Bills, which gave Tennessee the No. 1 pick. The Pats are already expected to target former Titans coach and Patriots player Mike Vrabel. Two other notes:
- Colts owner Jim Irsay said he is sticking with general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen for next season. Indianapolis missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
- The Dolphins are also sticking with coach Mike McDaniel, though star wide receiver Tyreek Hill wants a trade: “I’m out, bro.” That’s definitive.
Today is Black Monday. We have a live blog for up-to-the-minute coaching news.
đź‘‹ Goodbyes
Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns, including the 500th of his career, in what could be his final NFL game — a 32-20 win that eliminated Miami from the postseason. What a strange chapter for the 41-year-old. I’m betting he’s not done yet.
- Geno Smith threw four touchdowns of his own in a meaningless game for the Seahawks, but his performance in the 30-25 win over the Rams meant something, as he hit three $2 million incentives (for throwing at least 4,282 yards and completing at least 69.8 percent, plus Seattle winning 10 games). A $6 million consolation for not making the playoffs.
- Kyler Murray was also brilliant in a similarly inconsequential win over the 49ers, but for the Cardinals (8-9), it shows the foundation of their offseason questions. It starts with Murray, as Doug Haller writes.
We’ll have plenty more on the playoffs this week. Here’s the full TV schedule for next weekend.
Onward:
News to Know
Matsuyama sets a record
Hideki Matsuyama finished 35-under at The Sentry tournament yesterday, earning a win and the PGA Tour record for lowest score to par in a 72-hole tournament. As Brody Miller writes, though Matsuyama can be … opaque to most, he is absolutely one of the Tour’s best players. Imagine being Collin Morikawa, shooting a 32-under and finishing second. Woof.
USA wins World Juniors
The United States won its second straight IIHF World Junior Championship gold last night with a 4-3 overtime win over Finland, completing an impressive run. It’s the first time the Americans have repeated as champions of this tournament. Cole Hutson, a Capitals draftee, led the team in points, but it was Zeev Buium (Minnesota) who impressed Corey Pronman most this tournament.
More news:Â
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Feedback Loop: Josh Allen (2-0)
Maybe I should take a hint. Most of you are clearly smitten with Josh Allen, and I should stop asking why. You can see the results from yesterday’s MVP poll above. Two thoughts:Â
- I think this is probably in line with how voters think, too. Lamar Jackson has done a lot over the last couple months to bolster his case, both in your eyes and everyone else’s. But Allen has reached a final form this season, and maybe that does warrant the MVP. The clincher really might be the Bills losing to one of the NFL’s worst teams without him yesterday.
- I don’t know what more Jackson can do to win a third MVP, though. He finished this season with 5,087 total yards, good for the No. 8 on the all-time single-season yardage list.
We’ll have to wait a few weeks for clarity on the winner. Thank you, as always, for voting.
Watch, Play and Listen
đź“ş CFB: No. 1 Montana State vs. No. 2 North Dakota State
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
We shouldn’t forget the other part of Division I has been doing a full-blown playoff for decades. In this FCS championship, Montana State is undefeated and has not won a championship since 1984, while NDSU is 13-2 but has won nine titles since 2011. This should be a close game.
đź“ş NHL: Panthers at Avalanche
9 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Both of these teams have had nice years, but it’s Colorado with the hot hand lately, while the defending champs have just been steadily elite. Both teams also landed in the B range in our midseason report card.Â
Get tickets to games like these here.
🎧 “The Athletic Football Show” puts a bow on the NFL regular season and looks ahead to the playoffs. Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Pulse Picks
Lakers coach JJ Redick was ecstatic about his top two hires, Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, when filling out his coaching staff this offseason. Then he learned the two had famous beef. Make time for this fantastic — and often hilarious — story today.Â
Jim Bowden predicted where the top 15 remaining MLB free agents will sign. Everyone’s waiting on Roki Sasaki.Â
The Mississippi Valley State men’s basketball team is paid to lose. Sam Blum has an enlightening look at arguably the worst DI basketball team, which relies on “guarantee games” to keep the program afloat.Â
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Dan Shanoff’s review of the Jason Kelce late-night show.Â
Most-read on the website yesterday: Ken Rosenthal explained why the Orioles’ lackluster offseason puts them well behind the Yankees in the AL. Brutal.
(Top photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)
