5 months ago
The Las Vegas Raiders made waves this week by putting its two, and only, stars connected injured reserve up of nan last 2 games that will determine nan 2026 NFL draught order. Tight extremity Brock Bowers and separator rusher Maxx Crosby were unopen down from a consequential conflict for nan apical draught prime against nan Giants and a Week 18 crippled against Kansas City owed to nagging knee injuries. Bowers had scored 4 touchdowns complete nan past 5 weeks for a squad that doesn’t people galore points. Crosby is simply a quality wrecking shot who has amassed 28 tackles for nonaccomplishment this season. He’s nan subordinate that causes opponents to suffer sleep. Both Bowers and Crosby were precocious named to nan Pro Bowl contempt their nagging injuries. Bowers stepped distant quietly. Crosby did not.
A fuming Crosby near nan Raiders installation Friday. The adjacent time he sent a connection to nan organization by posting videos of himself playing hoops pinch his young daughter. He did not look peculiarly injured.
Earlier successful nan week, erstwhile reporters asked Crosby astir nan stakes of nan upcoming conflict betwixt nan 2-14 Raiders and 2-14 Giants, his consequence was nary surprise.
“I don’t springiness a fuck astir nan pick, I don’t play for that,” Crosby said. “That’s not my job. My occupation is to beryllium nan champion protect extremity successful nan world, and that’s what I attraction connected each day. And being a awesome leader and being an power and being that feline connected a accordant ground for my team.”
Crosby didn’t attraction that nan crippled was a joke among nan shot zeitgeist, immoderate dubbing it The Toilet Bowl aliases The Tank Bowl. He conscionable wanted to do Maxx Crosby things.
There is nary charismatic measurement to corroborate whether nan Raiders are trying to tank. Crosby’s saga doesn’t thief nan organization’s case. Though it’s not for illustration Crosby is nan only competitor. A 74-year-old Pete Carroll isn’t location to unafraid nan Raiders future. These are master shot players. Maybe Crosby wants it nan most, but they want it too. Even journeyman Geno Smith seemingly wants to win.
All nan Raiders won successful an embarrassing 34-10 nonaccomplishment to nan Giants is rod position successful nan NFL Draft. For many, that’s a thrilling win. But stepping into Allegiant Stadium pinch nary Crosby and Bowers and exiting pinch nan apical prime successful nan draught only fueled nan vessel conspiracy theorists.
The violative statement was terrible. Special teams was terrible, and seemingly dormant connected a Giants 95-yard kickoff return that beautiful overmuch sealed nan crippled for New York. Geno Smith was terrible, tossing 2 interceptions. The defense was terrible, aliases depending connected afloat your solid is, nan Giants’ play calling was effective and executed by imaginable franchise backmost Jaxson Dart.
The Raiders and Giants did not look for illustration teams pinch nan aforesaid grounds who were playing pinch nan aforesaid intensity. Simply put, nan Raiders were outcoached and outplayed.
Perhaps having Crosby would person helped a bit. A protect leader who plays pinch a unsocial level of bosom is surely a awesome add.
But nan problem pinch nan Raiders and nan full vessel mentation is nan squad and statement is atrocious. Even pinch Crosby and Bowers, this is simply a squad that has won 2 games. Two. They are presently connected a 10-game losing streak. You can’t triumph a shot crippled pinch 1 elite subordinate connected some broadside of nan ball. What astir nan different 10 players? In existent Raiders fashion, nan only different discourtesy subordinate contending for elite position plays nan aforesaid position arsenic Bowers, Michael Mayer.
There is conscionable truthful small to beryllium excited astir successful this loop of nan Raiders. Carroll’s coaching has been uninspired. Knowing he has a backup to Ben Johnson, who number proprietor Tom Brady grounded to secure, is moreover much frustrating. Firing Chip Kelly did thing to spark nan offense. Despite his talent and evident upside, drafting Ashton Jeanty successful nan first information erstwhile nan remainder of your roster is truthful devoid of talent has only added to nan heap of problems.
And now, nan Raiders person stoked nan beast that is Crosby. Quality organizations grip these discussions privately and somehow, immoderate measurement coming a agreed beforehand pinch their prima player.
Because nan inept Raiders grounded to do so, nary 1 would beryllium amazed if Crosby demands a waste and acquisition successful nan offseason. Then separator rusher would beryllium yet different spread this squad needs.
Tank aliases terrible? Does it really matter?
MVP of nan week
Yeah, nan Pats were facing nan hapless Jets. Yeah, nan Jets defense is historically bad (still zero picks connected nan season). But nan Jets are still technically a master shot squad playing astatine home, and nan Pats had immoderate business to be to. Clinch nan AFC East pinch a triumph and Bills loss. Stay successful contention for nan AFC’s No 1 seed. Check and check, acknowledgment to an out-of-this-world time by Drake Maye.
Maye led nan Pats violative onslaught, throwing for 256 yards and 5 touchdowns to 5 different receivers, while completing, get this, 90% of his passes. One of those completed passes was a masterclass successful mossing by Stefon Diggs, who besides had a sensational time and helped Maye group an NFL record. He became nan first subordinate successful NFL history to apical 250 yards and a 90% completion complaint while throwing 5 touchdowns. Maye besides surpassed 4,000 passing yards connected nan play and remained undefeated connected nan road. Beautiful heavy balls, veins of ice, shrewd determination making, only 23-years-old. Perhaps this is conscionable nan opening of different Patriots dynasty. But for now, tin you perceive those M-V-P chants?
Video(s) of nan week
Buffalo were connected nan brink of losing, until they were connected nan brink of winning (or astatine slightest tying).
The Eagles did their accustomed Jekyll and Hyde act, roaring retired to a 13-0 lead successful nan first half earlier lying dormant successful nan second. Philly’s defense dominated early, forcing a first-half fumble that resulted successful a Jalen Hurts touchdown pass. They besides stopped Josh Allen connected a fourth-and-goal effort early successful nan second. But nan Bills crept backmost successful nan 2nd and successful nan game’ last thrust pulled wrong 1 aft a Josh Allen tush push. Yes, nan aforesaid tush push nan Bills voted to prohibition past offseason. Despite nan Bills owning momentum connected some sides of nan shot – Jalen Hurts had not completed a second-half walk - Sean McDermott decided to spell for two. Vic Fangio’s defense brought nan pressure, forcing Allen into an errant propulsion and incompletion. a 13-12 Eagles win, handing nan Patriots nan AFC East.
Stat of nan week
The Steelers stay winless successful Cleveland since 2003 pinch quarterbacks not named Ben Roethlisberger.
Add Aaron Rodgers to nan list. The Browns sewage disconnected to a accelerated commencement 10-0 acknowledgment to a chucked up Shedeur Sanders walk caught by Harold Fannin that nan information oddly didn’t effort to track. Rodgers, nether unit each day, struggled to make overmuch discourtesy successful a 13-6 nonaccomplishment that could person clinched nan AFC North for nan Steelers.
The Steelers had plentifulness of chances successful nan 4th fourth but grounded to people connected 5 consecutive drives (including a missed section extremity aft an 8:07 drive). Rodgers was intelligibly missing nan suspended DK Metcalf. On nan Steelers last drive, Marquez Valdes-Scantling could not haul successful 3 consecutive throws successful nan extremity area connected 2nd and extremity from nan 7-yard line.
Sanders was sensational astatine times, again proving that immoderate nepo babies belong, though he needs to activity connected eliminating nan desperation heaves. Myles Garrett did not break nan sack record, though according to NextGen States chipped successful connected 41% of walk unreserved attempts.
Pittsburgh’s nonaccomplishment intends renewed dream for nan Baltimore Ravens who destroyed nan Packers 41-24 acknowledgment to Derrick Henry’s 216-yard, four-touchdown onslaught.
The NFL gets its wish: a Ravens-Steelers Week 18 conflict for nan division.
Elsewhere astir nan league
Carolina v Seattle was a classical protect struggle, astatine slightest for a half. The teams went into nan break tied 3-3 earlier nan Seahawks blew nan crippled unfastened by capitalising connected 2 consecutive Panthers turnovers. Seattle’s punishing defense, led by Demarcus Lawrence – who forced and recovered a cardinal fumble – smothered Carolina, which grounded to nutrient a azygous play longer than 11 yards each afternoon.
The consequence was a decisive 24-10 roadworthy triumph that keeps Seattle atop nan NFC title for nan No 1 seed. The Seahawks recreation to San Francisco adjacent week, wherever nan victor takes nan apical seed. The Panthers, meanwhile, caput to Tampa Bay successful Week 18 pinch nan NFC South title connected nan line. Win and they are successful nan postseason. Lose and nan play is over.
The Houston Texans proceed to look for illustration nan squad cipher wants to look successful January. After starting 0-3, Houston person now won 8 consecutive and clinched a playoff spot pinch a gritty 20-16 roadworthy triumph complete nan Chargers. The league’s top-rated defense erstwhile again group nan tone, pressuring Justin Herbert connected 38% of his dropbacks and signaling 5 sacks.
CJ Stroud and nan discourtesy began accelerated pinch 2 heavy touchdown strikes earlier slipping backmost into inconsistency, but 3 important first downs connected nan last possession – aided by a protect punishment – sealed nan win. As has truthful often been nan lawsuit during this streak, nan crippled shot belonged to nan defense.
It was another locker-room ceremony successful Jacksonville aft nan Jaguars edged nan Colts 23-17 successful an disfigured but compelling contest. The Jags leaned connected toughness and Trevor Lawrence’s legs successful nan reddish area to grind retired nan result, winning their 12th crippled of nan play – a people they had not reached successful 20 years. One much triumph will unafraid nan AFC South title, and connected existent form, Jacksonville look for illustration different playoff force champion avoided.
Elsewhere, it appears nan cheese-grater chapeau is nary longer nan exclusive spot of nan Chicago Bears. A week aft DJ Moore donned 1 to observe a triumph complete Green Bay, respective Ravens players followed suit aft trolling nan Packers successful nan aftermath of their ain ascendant victory. It has been a memorable vacation play for Foam Party Hats, nan improbable beneficiaries of NFL pettiness.
