Two bans for the rest of the season have been upheld.
DK Metcalf's, obviously...
But Denzel Perryman of the Chargers has also been banned under the Road to Burfict Rule. A helmet-to-helmet foul on Dallas' Ryan Flournoy got him in person with the NFL, and he has been banned two games for a record of NFL violent disciplinary actions.
This is his second on-field suspension for helmet fouls, for which he has been fined or suspended six times in his 11-year NFL career.
DK Metcalf, who was suspended two games for an altercation with a fan he has historic beef with (and the non-zero chance the fan spewed racial slurs), has just, as a result of the suspension, had his entire contract guarantee voided: FORTY. MILLION. DOLLARS.
Before we do, though, some additions from tonight from the AFC side:
Indianapolis' loss means the two 11-win wildcard contenders (Buffalo and the Chargers) and the 11-win Jaguars join New England and Denver in the playoffs.
Meaning there's only two spots left in the AFC. One of them goes to the winner of the AFC North. The other goes to Houston unless they lose twice and Indy wins twice.
In the NFC:
Kayfabe:
All four division leaders are spaced out, no tiebreakers needed.
1) Seattle (12-3, IN)
Probably needs both wins for not only the #1 seed, but the NFC West as well.
2) Chicago (11-4, IN)
The win over the Packers ends the NFC North. Chicago will be the NFC North champions, barring two losses and two Packer wins, but who's going to be quarterbacking the Packers, some guy in the popcorn stand?
3) Philadelphia (10-5, CHAMPIONS OF THE NFC EAST)
Need a lot of help to improve their position, though.
4) Carolina (8-7)
Same situation in the NFC South as in the AFC North. Carolina goes to Tampa Week 18 in a game that might end up in the late window.
5) San Francisco (11-4, IN, divisional record tiebreaker over the Rams)
6) LA Rams (11-4, IN, loses divisional record tiebreaker to San Francisco)
Yes, this means, two weeks out, there are only four spots left for the playoffs. The two suck divisions and the two #7s.
7) Green Bay (9-5-1)
Something gives me the impression they might want Green Bay vs. Chicago again at some point in these playoffs, Jordan Love's health pending.
ON THE OUTSIDE:
Detroit at 8-7 for the #7.
Tampa Bay at 7-8 for the NFC South.
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Before we get to the NFC Politicals:
I usually do a nice rundown of how Goodell likes to make as many games relevant for Week 17 as he can.
He's got a MAJOR problem in that regard.
Ten of the fourteen playoff spots have already been clinched: Patriots, Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, and Chargers in the AFC, Eagles, Bears, Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams in the NFC.
Here's the fun part: The two #7's are both "one win and in" situations for the Texans in the AFC and the Packers in the NFC.
The Steelers are "one win and in" to win the AFC North.
Here's a scenario for you:
If all four of those conditions are met, the ONLY relevance to Week 18 will be seeding and placement. If I were a betting man, I'd be considering either Baltimore beating Green Bay (and then Detroit beating Minnesota) and Pittsburgh losing to Cleveland, if I were interested.
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NFC Politicals:
Yes, a new top dog in the political race in the NFC. There actually is, now, with some of the news coming out of the Bears, a possible angle for the NFL and Trump to actually want the Bears at least in the Super Bowl, if not winning it.
1) The Indiana Bears
Chicago is a very repulsive city to MAGA.
Trump carried Indiana by almost 20 points.
Do I think that's completely a factor in the Bears announcement of considering Indiana for their new stadium? Yes, but if and only if they've already been told that an improvement of their political situation with the power is required for them to win (or get to) a Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have just stated they are going to be playing in a stadium in suburban Kansas. Do I think that doesn't have some political possibility too? Probably. There's a lot of MAGA in the Chiefs, and they do need to get their mojo back after being completely exposed as rigged paper tigers, this year being the result, culminating in Mahomes' ACL and the possible retirement of Travis Kelce.
The other three of the four best teams in the NFC are all West Coast, and I can't see them not simply being served up to the AFC representative (barring a Super Bowl Week incident), especially if it's New England (Denver and Buffalo to a lesser extent -- call those "probablies").
Is it more likely that Seattle, San Francisco, or the Rams get to the Super Bowl? Yes.
But I think the only NFC team with a political chance to win right now is the Bears, and I do think the Indiana move is a large part of it.
DK Metcalf has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season for his altercation with a Detroit fan at Ford Field.
And the worse thing is this probably isn't the first time: The two apparently have beef and history.
That is Metcalf's EIGHTEENTH NFL fine/suspension infringement since his career began in 2019.
Final play of Steelers-Lions. Lions are down 4 and must get a touchdown to win, and they appear like they are going to do so, especially with two major Steeler penalties on the drive.
A pass is thrown near the end zone, but caught in the field of play, and the player is about to be stopped, but then laterals the ball to the Lions quarterback, who dives into the end zone for the winning score.
Or does he?
After significant discussion, a flag which had been thrown is revealed to be offensive pass interference, and the Lions fans are having a cow.
When you see this video and the blatant nature of the OPI, not only was it the correct call, but you have to believe Amon Ra-St. Brown was in on it.
Why? Who's the quarterback for the Steelers again?
Do YOU believe this was OPI on Amon-Ra St. Brown on the final play of the game? 🤔#OnePride pic.twitter.com/14w8mMFeck
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) December 22, 2025
Yes, Indianapolis plays tomorrow, and that's important for at least kayfabe, but the position is locked either way.
But we can do the AFC either way on Indianapolis (San Francisco, however, is a bit more complicated on both ends, so that has to wait until after MNF)...
Kayfabe:
New England and Denver are 12-3 and both IN THE PLAYOFFS.
1) Denver (12-3, IN, common game tiebreaker over New England)
It is beginning to look like Denver-Chargers is going to be the Week 18 finale. The Chargers can win the West with two wins. Denver MUST beat the Chargers or hope the Chargers lose next week. And that's just the division.
2) New England (12-3, IN, loses common game tiebreaker to Denver)
New England needs two wins and a Denver loss (either game) for the #1 seed. They split with the 11-4 Bills, so every win counts.
3) Jacksonville (11-4, IN if Indianapolis loses Monday night)
They have wins over the Chargers and Broncos. New England somewhat complicates things for them, but two wins would give Jacksonville a conference record tiebreaker over everybody not named the Chargers or Texans. They split with the 10-5 Texans, same drill as the Patriots.
4) Pittsburgh (9-6, WINS THE AFC NORTH with a win or a Baltimore loss, but is out if they lose twice and Baltimore wins twice)
And yes, Lions fans, that was Offensive Pass Interference on the final play there.
5) LA Chargers (11-4, wins conference record tiebreaker over Buffalo because Buffalo has one more conference loss in playing one more AFC game already (8-2 vs. 8-3), IN if Indianapolis loses Monday night)
The Jaguars won the meeting between the two, however. They need probably two wins, a New England loss, and a Jacksonville loss for the #1 seed.
Win next week, Chargers-Broncos is for the whole shooting match in the West no matter what the Broncos do next week.
6) Buffalo (11-4, loses conference record tiebreaker to the Chargers, IN if Indianapolis loses Monday night)
Split the Patriots, but lost another game in the division, so they need two wins and a Patriots loss to explore further tiebreakers in the East, which would be their only path to the #1 seed -- win that tiebreaker (which is too deep to look at, hope the Chargers win the West at 13-4, and survive the Chargers and maybe the Jaguars.
7) Houston (10-5)
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN:
Indianapolis (8-6, pretty much must win Monday Night, wild card only)
A loss would mean they would have to win next week, Houston would have to lose, and then Indy would have to beat Houston Week 18.
Baltimore (7-8, division only, must win twice and have Pittsburgh lose twice)
Political:
1) New England
2) Denver
Still have the Patriots a neck in front of the Broncos because of name and the fact that Drake Maye really DOES appear to be on the short list of a mega-push this year. MVP may come down to the two (White) quarterbacks.
3) Pittsburgh
As much as Jacksonville has two games on them and Pittsburgh is probably going to face a team with a better record than them at their home field on wild-card weekend, it can and will not be ignored that, for all intents and purposes, MAGA COVIDIOT-8 is going to be in the playoffs. Yes, I do believe, as a result of Aaron Rodgers' political beliefs, they've got a better shot than the Chargers.
Somehow. As UrinatingTree says, the bullshit IS real.
4) Buffalo
Very quiet 11-4, and it really does sound to me like they're being held in the back pocket, just in case. As much as Buffalo has made a lot of regular season noise, though, other teams have gotten more of a push.
Not considering:
LA Chargers due to LA, and the fact that their fanbase probably resembles Phoenix' the one year they made the Super Bowl.
Jacksonville because of a Black quarterback and several other more "patriotic" (read: White) alternatives. The geography fits and the league themselves have probably wanted to push Trevor Lawrence, but I don't think this one is in their hands at all.
Houston, about the same problem as Jacksonville, and about the only people who really know the Strouds are those who know Tom Grossi memes, such as myself.
Indianapolis has been pulled for some odd reason, and Baltimore is all but out.
ELIMINATED: Jets, Dolphins, Browns, Bengals, Titans, Chiefs, and Raiders.
Throw this cocksucker out of the league. (Not just for this one act. I think everyone knows he's got a record of this bullshit.)
And you mean to tell me the league can't review that? If not, change the damn rule!DK Metcalf appears to have an altercation with a Detroit fan pic.twitter.com/a478Zjg3tR
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 21, 2025
