With the festive season well and truly upon us, it’s out with Thursday & Monday Night Football, and in with a late-Saturday game. The Atlanta Falcons are the current NFC #1 seed, and can secure home-field advantage for the playoffs with a win against the 4-10 Detroit Lions (0130 Sun am – BBC). The Pittsburgh Steelers are still alive in the race for the playoffs, but it will only stay that way if they beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1800 – Sky Sports). A Bengals win will give them the final AFC spot, a Steelers win gives them the upper hand going into the final week. The defending Superbowl Champs the NY Giants are in a tough spot, tied at 8-6 with 4 other teams, so desperately need a win against the out-of-form Baltimore Ravens (2125 – Sky Sports). Finally we’ve the San Diego Chargers playing at the NY Jets (0120 – C4); these two teams have nothing left to play for this season, and will be already looking to 2013.

98 responses

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 12:06

    So... Because the Bolts-Jets game has no say in the playoff race, it's been moved earlier to 1800, and replaced with the SF 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks - they can now play in front of a primetime audience. Among the plethora of clinching scenarios the easiest for each team is that a Seahawks win guarantees them a berth, whereas a '9ers win gives them the division.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 18:07

    The 1800 games are underway :) and the Bolts are already ahead :O

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 18:26

    My Sky subscription is cancelled now, so I only have the non-Sky games.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 18:29

    Having said that, it doesn't look like any games are blacked out today

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 18:31

    I've just realised that my phone contact gives me an add-on which included SS :D

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 18:38

    Jags miss a field goal on a poor snap. Still up 10-3.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 18:40

    Jets' new QB McElory doing a good job, combined with some poor CB coverage.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 18:40

    Brady's been picked off twice in the first quarter.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 18:40

    Jets 14-7 currently.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 18:41

    The Jaguars are annihilating the Patriots right now.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 18:42

    The Jaguars are annihilating the Patriots right now.

    TeeHee - pretty sure the Pats will rebound, but this will help the Broncos seal a bye-week.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 19:26

    13-13 at half time in Jacksonville, Patriots will be the happier team with that scoreline I reckon.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 19:35

    The Chargers are trailing 14-10 at the half I think (their best stretch of play was the punt-return right at the start of the half. *grumbles*

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 20:05

    Jags sacked Brady, but penalised for roughing the passer. Bad call.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 20:05

    But they just sacked him again.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 20:07

    Is his OLine on holiday already?

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 20:07

    O-line has been bad today, d-line has created no pressure, Wilfork hasn't managed anything.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 20:16

    Jake Locker's first-half quarterback rating: 0.0.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 20:16

    It's been a while since I last saw that.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 20:56

    Cheung just got flagged 5 times on one play for mashing a defenseless receiver.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:01

    Can a play be reviewed if the offence have taken a spike?

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:05

    Pats win.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:10

    Switched to the Jets game. Looks ugly.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:14

    And that's just the coaching.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:16

    The Steelers have just received a ko and now have 3s for a Hail Mary!

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:21

    CIN D drop back into coverage, play breaks down. The Bengals are playoff bound.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:22

    I'm on Saints-Cowboys now. Just a PAT for OT now...

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:24

    That's where I am,... before the Ravens-Giants game.

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:26

    I have a stinking headache, hence lack of comments.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:31

    I have a stinking headache, hence lack of comments.

    I'm busy trying to finish our Christmas-y puzzle, that Mrs^ has given up on saying that we don't have enough time to finish it before Tuesday... #ChallengeAccepted

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:37

    23yd fumble to the 2 is a pretty good play.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 21:38

    Almost as good as a fwd pass

  • Noelinho23/12/2012 at 21:40

    that's a tough way to lose.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 22:05

    Looks like the Giants are not going to get rolled over after all

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 22:09

    Bye bye playoffs. And hello to some momentum for the Ravens

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 22:43

    Hi guys. :)

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 22:44

    Hi guys. :)

    Hello there.

  • Will^23/12/2012 at 22:44

    Hi guys. :)

    Evening.

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 22:45

    This game is interesting. I just got home and I saw about the last 15 minutes. What do you think?

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 22:46

    This game is interesting. I just got home and I saw about the last 15 minutes. What do you think?

    I haven't reaally been concentrating on it. I am watching a stream of the game and something entirely different on TV at the same time

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 22:50

    This game seems to be taking ages. I thought there was only a minute to go in the third quarter.

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 22:54

    This game seems to be taking ages. I thought there was only a minute to go in the third quarter.

    It does.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 22:56

    It does.

    Must be worse for you Giants fans

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 22:57

    Must be worse for you Giants fans

    They're kind of a mess and bumbling today.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:00

    They're kind of a mess and bumbling today.

    You just have to hope that the second half is better than the first

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:02

    You just have to hope that the second half is better than the first

    I have gluten free chocolate cake and a new phone that I'm setting up. Whatever the Giants do is fine with me today. Win or lose, whatevah.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:05

    I have gluten free chocolate cake and a new phone that I'm setting up. Whatever the Giants do is fine with me today. Win or lose, whatevah.

    Amazing how chocolate and gadgets take away all the worry of sportsfans about their team

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:08

    Amazing how chocolate and gadgets take away all the worry of sportsfans about their team

    on the continuum of fanage, from "Look at the cute boys in uniforms!" to "I just got a (your sports team here) tattoo", I'm somewhere slightly to the right of the middle. I'd like for the Giants to win, but if they mess it up, I have other teams I like that I can root for.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:10

    on the continuum of fanage, from "Look at the cute boys in uniforms!" to "I just got a (your sports team here) tattoo", I'm somewhere slightly to the right of the middle. I'd like for the Giants to win, but if they mess it up, I have other teams I like that I can root for.

    So more likely to have a picture card than a tattoo

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:11

    So more likely to have a picture card than a tattoo

    hehe. Yeah. And think about a jersey for a player I really admire, but never get one.

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:14

    I feel like I should share this cake with yo, Steven. It's a bit too chocolatey for me. I enjoy vanilla a bit more. It's chocolate ganache and it's a bit much. I'm struggling through alright, though. It's my birthday cake from yesterday. Add another year onto "27".

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:20

    I feel like I should share this cake with yo, Steven. It's a bit too chocolatey for me. I enjoy vanilla a bit more. It's chocolate ganache and it's a bit much. I'm struggling through alright, though. It's my birthday cake from yesterday. Add another year onto "27".

    The good thing about reaching 27 is that you know you are not going to get any older. If you can get chocolate cake here I am quite happy to sample it.

    Happy Birthday

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:29

    The good thing about reaching 27 is that you know you are not going to get any older. If you can get chocolate cake here I am quite happy to sample it.

    :) I may bump up my 27 to 32. I feel like I'm more 32 now than 27.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:31

    :) I may bump up my 27 to 32. I feel like I'm more 32 now than 27.

    Must have been a tough year if you went all the way from 27 to 32

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:32

    Must have been a tough year if you went all the way from 27 to 32

    It actually was, but I also feel more mature or something...but not too mature... so 32 seems about right.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:34

    It actually was, but I also feel more mature or something...but not too mature... so 32 seems about right.

    Another couple of years like that and you will be over 40.

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:35

    Another couple of years like that and you will be over 40.

    or maybe we need a symbol to represent being ageless and not hooked into time, like the age formerly known as 27.

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:35

    27-7 Ravens. Giants are being dominated.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:40

    or maybe we need a symbol to represent being ageless and not hooked into time, like the age formerly known as 27.

    I can't imagine what kind of symbol can replace 27

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:40

    NO 3rd down conversions all day for the Giants? Can't be right.

    Oh man, it was right! But they just got their first. Boy, that's bad.

  • Steven Roy23/12/2012 at 23:43

    NO 3rd down conversions all day for the Giants? Can't be right.

    That is pretty bad. Mind you I saw a comment earlier say Jake Locker's first half passer rating was 0.0

  • Kai23/12/2012 at 23:44

    Manning sacked.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:09

    Total yards

    Giants 121

    Raves 531

    A bit one sided

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 00:12

    A bit one sided

    I moved on to other shows. :)

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 00:14

    what's the deal with the Giants re: playoffs?

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:16

    what's the deal with the Giants re: playoffs?

    Redskins, Cowboys and Giants are all 8-6 at the top of their division so getting hammered today is very bad for the Giants

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:17

    I moved on to other shows. :)

    Shocking :)

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 00:18

    Redskins, Cowboys and Giants are all 8-6 at the top of their division so getting hammered today is very bad for the Giants

    Aren't Skins 9-6, Cowboys/Giants 8-7? Any idea who holds the tiebreaker at the moment?

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:19

    Aren't Skins 9-6, Cowboys/Giants 8-7? Any idea who holds the tiebreaker at the moment?

    Npt according to nfl.com but maybe today's results have not been added

    http://www.nfl.com/standings

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 00:19

    Shocking :)

    oh well. Giants screwed up. At this point in the year, you can't get rolled by anyone. They made their bed.

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 00:20

    oh well. Giants screwed up. At this point in the year, you can't get rolled by anyone. They made their bed.

    The Ravens are good, but the Giants looked terrrrrible.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:20

    The Ravens are good, but the Giants looked terrrrrible.

    You can tell the Giants are in trouble when Cruz only has 3 catches for 21 yards

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 00:23

    You can tell the Giants are in trouble when Cruz only has 3 catches for 21 yards

    They had no rhythm.

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 00:24

    Chicago just had a 20yd FG blocked and returned to the house.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:25

    They had no rhythm.

    They just got another touchdown. I am not sure that it is more than just a consolation

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 00:26

    Chicago just had a 20yd FG blocked and returned to the house.

    Ouch

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:12

    Anyone staying up for SNF?

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 01:15

    Anyone staying up for SNF?

    It's only 8pm here, but I'm watching a movie. Sorry. :(

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:17

    It's only 8pm here, but I'm watching a movie. Sorry. :(

    No worries, I only watch until I fall asleep anyway, in case anyone's ever wondered why I suddenly disappear :-) It's almost always because I fell asleep (during NFL threads anyway) - plus, I'm working tomorrow, so I have to be at least moderately awake.

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 01:18

    No worries, I only watch until I fall asleep anyway, in case anyone's ever wondered why I suddenly disappear :-) It's almost always because I fell asleep (during NFL threads anyway) - plus, I'm working tomorrow, so I have to be at least moderately awake.

    I hope what you see is good and work goes by quickly tomorrow. :)

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:21

    No worries, I only watch until I fall asleep anyway, in case anyone's ever wondered why I suddenly disappear :-) It's almost always because I fell asleep (during NFL threads anyway) - plus, I'm working tomorrow, so I have to be at least moderately awake.

    I have a habit of doing that too.

    I will watch the start of the 49ers - Seahawks game but I am not sure how much of it I will see

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:23

    I will watch the start of the 49ers - Seahawks game but I am not sure how much of it I will see

    Fair enough. My headache forced me to sleep through most of the Broncos game, so I can probably stay awake until 2am without too much trouble.

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:23

    Al Michaels is go on NBC,

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:23

    SNF definitely has the best music.

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:25

    and the best comms too, now I think of it.

  • Kai24/12/2012 at 01:29

    and the best comms too, now I think of it.

    I agree. They're very good.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:32

    I always love teams that go for a 90 yard pass on the first play of the game

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:33

    Seattle head coach says the key to winnign tonight is "taking care of the football". Americans aren't really good at game-time insight.

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:34

    Amazing that the 49ers have two QBs with a 104.x QB Rating.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:35

    Amazing that the 49ers have two QBs with a 104.x QB Rating.

    Must be hard to be dropped with a rating over a hundred

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:37

    Seahawks show what you should do with a first possesion

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 01:46

    Must be hard to be dropped with a rating over a hundred

    It's a pretty elite group, that one!

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:51

    Looks like there is a lot of rain in Seattle

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 01:58

    Looks like there is a lot of rain in Seattle

    And a lot of offence

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 02:18

    You know it is not the 49ers day when they have a field goal attempt blocked and returned for a TD

  • Mr C24/12/2012 at 03:50

    Anyone staying up for SNF?

    lordy i had no idea what day it was/is.

  • Steven Roy24/12/2012 at 04:08

    lordy i had no idea what it was/is.

    Sunday Night Football - On Channel 4.

    There is only 7 minutes left but since the Seahawks are leading the 49ers 42-6 it is safe to say the game is over

  • Noelinho24/12/2012 at 12:48

    Sorry I left, was still up at the end of the firt half, but my iPod is posting he mess of my flat and my Windows Phone just doesn't get on with Sidepodcast :-(