NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Week 18)

A Saturday doubleheader followed by 14 games on Sunday. It’s been a year of streaks all around the National Football League and several clubs could be playoff-bound after rough starts. The top seeds in each conference are still up for grabs. It makes for a fascinating two-day stretch.

Saturday, Jan. 7

Kansas City (13-3) at Las Vegas (6-10): Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes has put up tremendous numbers vs. the Silver and Black. He’s thrown more touchdown passes against the Raiders (26) than any other team and he’s done it in only nine games. Mahomes has also run for two scores while being picked off only three times.

Tennessee (7-9) at Jacksonville (8-8): The Titans are in the midst of their first losing season since finishing 3-13 in 2015. Mike Vrabel’s club can still capture its third straight AFC South title with a victory. A win by the Jaguars, who finished in last place each of the previous four years, would give the franchise its first division title since 2017.

Sunday, Jan. 8

Tampa Bay (8-8) at Atlanta (6-10): The Buccaneers have already wrapped up the NFC South for the second straight year. What’s somewhat interesting is that a victory by Todd Bowles’ club would give Tampa its first three-game winning streak of the season. The Falcons are looking to avoid being swept by the Bucs for the third straight year.

New England (8-8) at Buffalo (12-3): A win by the Patriots puts Bill Belichick’s club back in the playoffs. The club has had recent problems matching up with the Bills. From 2000-19, New England owned a 35-5 mark in this series. Including a 2021 playoff triumph and this year’s 24-10 win at Foxborough, Buffalo is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

Minnesota (12-4) at Chicago (3-13): Thanks to a 29-22 win back in Week 5 at Minnesota, the NFC North champions can sweep the Bears for the second straight year. Chicago (43) has nine fewer wins than the Vikings (411). However, it’s astonishing to think that these clubs have allowed the most and second-most points in the league, respectively.

Baltimore (10-6) at Cincinnati (11-4): Both of these teams are headed to the playoffs. But the AFC North title is still up for grabs. The Bengals have won seven straight games following a rough 4-4 start. The Ravens have won seven of their last 10 contests after opening 3-3. Baltimore has been limited to 17 points or less in five straight outings.

Houston (2-13-1) at Indianapolis (4-11-1): In Week 1, these teams settle for a 20-20 overtime tie. The Colts (31) and Texans (25) have committed the most and second-most turnovers in the league. While Houston owns a 3-17 lifetime record at Indianapolis, both of the team’s wins this season have come on the road vs. divisional rivals.

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N.Y. Jets (7-9) at Miami (8-8): When these teams met in Week 5 at MetLife Stadium, the Jets snapped a four-game skid in the series with a 40-17 victory. Both clubs have used three different starting quarterbacks this season. Each of these teams are currently riding five-game losing streaks. The Dolphins still have a shot at the playoffs.

Carolina (6-10) at New Orleans (7-9): You have to go back to the Panthers’ last Super Bowl season in 2015 to find the last time the franchise swept the Saints. After winning four straight NFC South titles, New Orleans missed the playoffs in 2021. The Saints will suffer their first losing campaign since finishing the 2016 season with a 7-9 record.

Cleveland (7-9) at Pittsburgh (8-8): Thanks to a 29-17 Thursday night victory back in Week 3 at Cleveland, the Browns are in position to sweep the Steelers for the first time since 1988. Mike Tomlin’s club has rushed for 140-plus yards in six of its last nine games. Pittsburgh ran for fewer than 100 yards in five of their first seven outings.

L.A. Chargers (10-6) at Denver (4-12): The Chargers are headed to the postseason for the first time since 2018. They already own a victory over the Broncos this season via a 19-16 Monday night OT win in Week 6. However, the Bolts haven’t swept this AFC West rival since 2010. Denver owns a 2-15 record in divisional games dating back to 2020.

N.Y. Giants (9-6-1) at Philadelphia (13-3): Regardless of who the Eagles have had at quarterback in the last month or so, the team has not taken care of the football as well as it did earlier in the season. The Birds have coughed up the football 15 times in their last eight games (5-3) after committing only three turnovers during their 8-0 start.

Arizona (4-12) at San Francisco (12-4): A year after posting an 11-6 record and reaching the playoffs, the Cardinals have four victories and will not win back-to-back games in 2022. The 49ers have allowed a league-low 264 points. The last time the franchise gave up the fewest points in the NFL was in 1984, its Super Bowl XIX title campaign.

L.A. Rams (5-11) at Seattle (8-8): The 2013 season concluded with a Seahawks’ victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. That was also the last time Pete Carroll’s club came up with a sweep of the Rams. Since then and including the playoffs, Pete Carroll’s club owns a 6-12 record in this rivalry. Seattle came up with a 27-23 win at Los Angeles in Week 13.

Dallas (12-4) at Washington (7-8-1): The Cowboys own a 10-1 record vs. NFC East teams dating back to 2021, with three wins over Washington. The Commanders have dropped three straight games and are the only NFC East team not going to the playoffs. Rookie Sam Howell will be Ron Rivera’s third different starting quarterback this season.

Detroit (8-8) at Green Bay (8-8): The last time the Lions swept the season series from the Packers was 2018. The big turnaround for Green Bay during their four-game winning streak has been the defense. The club has limited its last four opponents to a combined 68 points. The Pack has given up just seven offensive TDs in those contests.