I was wrong about Chicago, but that now means...

... the league has no Plan B to satisfy the Orange Fatfuck.

It's New England, and the whole riot yesterday was to place New England as the babyfaces in next Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Well well... Is CJ Stroud taking care of business?

(Writing this partially just after halftime.  If the Texans win this, you never see it...)

Well, do we have our answer as to how Patriots Are Champions (even if they beat the shit out of their girlfriends like Donald Trump does his wife Ivanka).

CJ Stroud has thrown four interceptions in the first half of a 21-10 halftime deficit for his Texans to the Patriots.

Let's pull up the video, courtesy NFL Interceptions:

Here's the first one.  Threw it only where the defender could get it.

Stroud with an overthrow. Great play by Carlton Davis pic.twitter.com/dxfmpO46Aa

— NFL Interceptions (@interceptnfl) January 18, 2026

Second one's a Pick Six and it's blatant:

Stroud just throws it up while under pressure. Sometimes it’s better to take the sack, here’s a perfect example of that.

Leads to a Pats pick-6 pic.twitter.com/1UT2yZsEvp

— NFL Interceptions (@interceptnfl) January 18, 2026

Third one is an overthrow through the hands, so it looks like the receiver probably "helped" on this one:

This one is not Stroud’s fault. Hutchinson has to catch this, he had two hands on it.

Regardless, this is Stroud’s 3rd interception of the first half. Oof. pic.twitter.com/qXPUBLQKdM

— NFL Interceptions (@interceptnfl) January 18, 2026

With a side of ejection-level spearing on the hit.

And here's the fourth -- covered man, never should've thrown the ball, and he's lucky that wasn't caught in stride or that's a Pick Six too:

CJ Stroud with a full on disaster performance. His 4th interception of the first half. (3 his fault, 1 not his fault).

Carlton Davis gets his 2nd interception here pic.twitter.com/iaES1bXTw9

— NFL Interceptions (@interceptnfl) January 18, 2026

And yep, in the rain, the second half was never an issue.  Patriots win, 28-16.

CJ Stroud threw the game, probably because they couldn't go through with another obvious officiating problem with the league rapidly running out of options.   

Another one from the Bills game that has people talking:

I think I now know why I couldn't embed those:  Account was suspended for saying the ICE shooter shouldn't get the Medal of Honor, but a noose around his neck instead.

Anyway, upon reinstatement after another week off, ANOTHER PLAY from the Bills-Broncos farce.

This is the play which ended Buffalo's one overtime possession.  Watch carefully.

I still think the Bills got screwed on this call.

At worst, it’s a simultaneous catch, which = Bills completion.

There’s no way this should have been a Broncos interception. He didn’t even have possession until the Bills receiver hit the ground

pic.twitter.com/OZtBrCgWk7

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 18, 2026

Here's the worst part of this whole exercise:  There's a good chance, under the wording of The Catch Rule, that the call IS correct.

Now, we know the reality of The Catch Rule:  A catch is a play result which will benefit the team the NFL wants to win.

But, under "Survive The Ground", he does not survive the ground with the ball -- the Broncos defender does.

But there's the classic "but to the but":  Cooks is down by contact with the ball and rolls over before McMillan takes the ball out.

Under "Survive The Ground", he is down by contact with possession but no catch. 

So what then?  Incomplete?

Well, I think it's now almost clear it's New England in the AFC...

After the game today, announced that Bo Nix is out for the playoffs with an ankle.

After Further Review: Bills Get Out Of The Way

People are talking about how bad the calls were to get the Broncos the win over the Bills today.

The Bills threw the game to get out of the way -- the only remaining question in my mind is whether it was out of the way of Denver or of New England.

This was the first call.  Note:  There was also a correct Roughing The Passer call declined on the same play.  At best, this was a blatant defensive hold on the Bills as well, no matter what Bills fans or others are saying.  (Can't embed this for some reason.  Here's the link to the video.) 

This was the second.  And if you want to talk consistency, the question then comes down to ensuring the game is scripted for overtime and then a Denver win -- which it was.

And then a flagrant ejectable unsportsmanlike conduct on top of it. 

And then watch the play on the right here.  That was to deny a DPI which would've set the Bills up for a winning touchdown. 

Rigged, Scripted, Thrown.  Thank you for watching another NFL Scripted Playoff Production. 

It's legal when the leagues do it -- it's not legal when the players do it...

And the players, even current ones, are too stupid to see this.

20 players in the last three seasons (including four that have played in the last WEEK!) are among almost 40 people indicted today in Federal court on sports bribery and match fixing.

The four include the preseason Conference USA player of the year -- the player forecast to be the best player in the conference THIS SEASON, Keenesaw State's Simeon Cottle, who has been thrown off the team.

None of the alleged incidents involve games of this college basketball season, but at least 20 players are said to have thrown games in the last two before it. 

The price is alleged to be $10,000-$30,000 per game to throw the games. 

More NFL scripting...

28 in the fourth, again.  Buffalo wins 27-24.

Three games, all at least 28 in the fourth. 

Anybody still wanna believe these games aren't scripted?

TWENTY-FIVE IN THE FOURTH for the Bears to beat the Packers.

I told you about three or four weeks ago -- if there's a political angle, and it's the only one the NFC has left now (with the three liberal West Coast cities -- after another scripted game to keep Carolina close against the Rams earlier, plus Philadelphia), it's Chicago to move the stadium into conservative Indiana. 

Wild Card Weekend Political Matchups

Gonna do the Politicals a little differently this week.

I'm going to take the six matchups and give who I think the NFL wants to win.

Saturday:

Rams-Carolina:

There is little doubt that the three best teams in the NFC this year are all in the same division.

They also all have the same problem politically:  West Coast, too liberal for the likings of the decision-makers. 

The problem with this game is that Carolina, at 8-9, has no business in the playoffs.  I would not be 100% surprised if Carolina wins it -- and it would show that the NFL does not want a Liberal West Coast city team in the Super Bowl -- but I'm 55-45 it'll be LA on the basis of "They Just Can't..."

Green Bay-Chicago:

They manipulated this matchup nicely, and The Oldest Rivalry in the NFL gets renewed in the playoffs again.

I do think Chicago is the NFC political choice.  Largely because of the desire to move the stadium to more-conservative Indiana.  As a result, I think they put the Packers out of their misery here -- and five losses in a row to end the season is going to raise some very real questions in Packer Country.  Probably not on the quarterback or huge acquisition (both went down with injuries late in the season).

This one goes to the Bears, who still suck.  Sorry, Tom Grossi.

Sunday:

Buffalo-Jacksonville:

I have invoked the Race Card a number of times in this political season.  I do believe the NFL wants a White quarterback to lead a Patriotic victory (be it the Patriots or not) for the Super Bowl, especially if Bad Bunny gets arrested or shot at halftime!

The only thing I think Jacksonville has going for it is being in Florida.  Other than that, this looks to be one for the road team here.  I'll take Buffalo politically.

49ers-Philadelphia:

Another manipulated matchup with Philadelphia's refusal to understand reality in Week 18.

That said, I don't think the NFL really cares which team wins this game.  Both are highly politically flawed, it is a great marquee matchup for the Sunday mid-afternoon slot...  But I don't think the NFL really cares which team wins.

LA Chargers-New England:

Easiest call of the weekend.  Patriots.

Monday:

Houston-Pittsburgh:

Look for Refball for COVIDIOT-8, one of the loudest MAGA voices in the league.  Pittsburgh.  The Bullshit won't be that Real, but I do see them winning this one.

Had a feeling the Justin Tucker thing would rear it's ugly head...

Just didn't think it would do it so obviously.

This set up right like the old NFL script:

• A listless 13-10 after three quarters -- 27 in the fourth.
• Touchdown passes of 50 and 64 yards for Lamar Jackson put the Steelers behind the 8-ball twice.  Never mind that Jackson only had about 120 yards passing otherwise.
• Steelers get the ball back, down four, so they must score a touchdown in 2:20 with no timeouts.
• They do so -- BUT they miss the extra point, so a Ravens field goal wins the game, not ties it.

The NFL is the new WWE. Zero wind on this kick (Orange flags still as can be) and the kick goes that right??? Hmmm 🤔 #Rigged #Ravens #Steelers https://t.co/k6ZHXKOOPo

— Love! (@Sixth_Paths) January 5, 2026

• And wouldn't you know it...  Last play of the regular season is for the division title from 44 yards (never mind that they had the timeouts to manipulate the clock for at least one shot at the end zone, or for Derrick Henry to take a few yards off the kick).
• This was the result, from Justin Tucker's replacement, Tyler Loop...

And the Ravens kicker, Tyler Loop, misses the game winning field goal in the same end zone the priest was seen blessing with holy water. The @Steelers are AFC North Champs pic.twitter.com/vrBVBohGA7

— SFI (@SFI412724) January 5, 2026

He Vanderjagts it.  And just as intentionally.

And Sunday of Week 18...

• The Packers were taking no chances.  Third quarterback Clayton Tune did the honors today, and the Packers fell 13-3 to Minnesota, but, even with four losses in a row, they're in the playoffs as the 7.
• Jacksonville now gets to wait for Denver and New England.  They routed Tennessee 41-7.
• Houston holds it's position in the wild-card chase with a 38-30 win over Indianapolis.
• And Carolina is back in the playoffs at 8-9, winning the three-way tiebreaker after Atlanta joined it with a 19-17 win over New Orleans, a Saints turnover with about three minutes left dooming Tampa Bay. 

And now at halftime... 

• Detroit is leading Chicago 13-0.
• Washington is leading Philadelphia 10-7 -- both on the road.  Scores hold, it'll be as if Chicago had won -- Chicago the 2, Philly the 3, Chicago faces the Packers.   
• Rams are up 16-6 on the Cardinals. Rams get the #5 if they win, the #6 to San Francisco's #5 if they lose.   
• Denver is up 10-3 on the Chargers.  Denver gets the #1 if they win.   
• New England is 17-10 up on Miami.
• Buffalo is 21-0 up on the Jets.  Scores hold, it's Houston, then Buffalo, then the Chargers for the three AFC wildcards.

And here are the results...  Yeah, it's a liveblog no one will read, but...

• Chicago loses to Detroit, 19-16, on a last-minute field goal.  After, in rapid succession, going from 16-0 down 16-16 in the fourth quarter.
• Rams win 37-20.  They're the #5, San Francisco the #6 -- The Rams go to Carolina next week.  
• New England destroys Miami.
• Buffalo destroys the Jets.
• But I think we have a live one here in Philadelphia.  So you either get to face a badly-undermanned Green Bay team, or you face (The Rams, at the beginning of the day, or) San Francisco.
• So you start Tanner McKee as your quarterback at home against the Commanders, and you lose 24-17.
• That means Philadelphia gets San Francisco and the Bears get Green Bay -- two wildly superior matchups to the NFL than if you invert the wildcard teams.
• And Denver basically neuters San Diego. 

So:

Denver and Seattle are the #1s.

NFC:

Green Bay at Chicago

San Francisco at Philadelphia

LA Rams at Carolina

AFC:

LA Chargers at New England

Buffalo at Jacksonville

Houston at the Pittsburgh/Baltimore winner tonight 

2025 NFL Week 16 and 17 Discipline Blotter

Didn't get around to Gameday Accountability last week, so scroll to the proper week if you see this before next season.

Week 16:

• 27 fines, along with the two suspensions.
• Tyler Steen of the Eagles got dinged twice, once for striking/kicking/kneeing, and the second for throwing a punch.  Both during a fourth-quarter brawl after an Eagles touchdown.
• Javon Kinlaw was one of four Commanders to get fined for the same incident.  Steen and Kinlaw were both ejected for the incident.  Being his fourth unsportsmanlike conduct foul in a year or so, and six weeks after getting dinged almost $30,000 for contact with an official, Kinlaw drew the largest fine of the incident, $20,288.
• Quan Martin was also ejected and fined.
• Will Harris and Mike Sainristil for the Commanders were also fined for the same incident.  All those fines have to be matched by the team at this point.
• Alex Singleton of the Broncos, however, drew the largest fine -- helmet foul, $23,186.
• Seven unsportsmanlike conduct fines.
• Austin Booker of the Bears was fined, but only $5,818, for taking out Jordan Love.  He was actually fined twice for roughing Love, both for the same amount.  His fines are that low because his declared salary was about three-quarters of a million dollars this season. 

Week 17:

• 25 fines.
• Azeez Al-Shaair got $23,186 for a helmet foul.
• So did Alontae Taylor of the Saints -- those were the two largest fines of the week. 
• Five conduct fouls, including one for a vulgar act in a celebration.  That drew Tyler Nubin of the Giants slightly more than a $10,000 fine.

NFL stuff after Saturday's games...

• NFC South:  Well, a quirk has happened.  First off, 8-9 is going to win the division.  Hopefully this will motivate a change -- that an extra wildcard goes in (if they're over .500) if a division winner is under .500.
• The problem is that, with that, Atlanta enters into the equation, kind of...  Atlanta and New Orleans play on Sunday.  A game which was supposed to be irrelevant, so it's in the early slot.  But if Atlanta wins, then Carolina, due to a three-way tiebreaker, still wins the playoff spot.  A Saints win, and Tampa does.

And then there's the #1 seed...

• Seattle.  Dominant win over the 49ers tonight in the rain and muck.  So they are the #1.
• The Rams can now be the #5 with a win over Arizona.

So here's how the NFC stands:

1. Seattle, NFC WEST CHAMPIONS, HOME-FIELD THROUGHOUT THE NFC PLAYOFFS, POSITION LOCKED.
2. Chicago, NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS.  Win, and they lock the #2 and a date with Green Bay.
3. Philadelphia, NFC EAST CHAMPIONS.  Win and Chicago loses, they host Green Bay.  I don't count on it, I think the league wants a third Bears-Packers game. 
4. See above for the NFC South.  Carolina if Atlanta wins, Tampa Bay if New Orleans does.
5. San Francisco.  Gets the #5 if the Rams lose.
6. LA Rams.  Gets the #5 if they win.
7. Green Bay, POSITION LOCKED.  Will face either Chicago or Philadelphia.

And the AFC:

1. Denver.  AFC WEST CHAMPIONS.  Win, and they are the #1.  Lose, and then definitely New England and Jacksonville need to as well. 
2. New England.  AFC EAST CHAMPIONS.  Win and Denver loses, they are the #1.  They cannot be the #1 if they lose.  Denver is in front of them in line.
3. Jacksonville.  A loss and a Houston win and Houston wins the division.  A win and losses by Denver and New England, and the AFC road goes through Jacksonville.
4. The Pittsburgh-Baltimore winner Sunday night is the AFC North Champion and slots here.
5. Houston, by HTH sweep.  A win and a Jacksonville loss, and they are AFC South Champions and the #3.  Probably have to win, though, because of the other two 11-5s.
6. LA Chargers, common games situation over Buffalo.  Must win and have Houston lose to improve position.
7. Buffalo.  Loses both tiebreakers, so must win and have at least one of the Chargers and Texans lose to improve position.