PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 18: Playoff Picture Set, Jags Collapse, and the Bears Pain
Week 18 is officially in the books, and while the playoff bracket is set, the vibes in the studio are a mix of absolute euphoria and deep, dark Chicago-style depression. Big Cat is currently staring into the abyss after the Bears once again failed to solve the Green Bay riddle, while PFT is already tracking private jets for the upcoming coaching search. Before we look ahead to Super Wild Card Weekend, we have to address the fact that the NFL is trying to force us all onto the cock.
Big CatI hate watching playoff football on an app like Peacock
I hate the experience of watching a game on an app as opposed to watching on TV, where you can easily and elegantly and seamlessly flip back and forth and show off your skills going back to the game right as it's about to snap again... it's a playoff game and it stinks.
The Steelers Sneak In and the Jags Slide Out
Mike Tomlin has done it again. The man simply refuses to have a losing season, dragging a team that looked dead in the water at 7-7 into a playoff spot. Even with TJ Watt getting banged up, the Steelers found a way to win in the Baltimore rain. Big Cat is officially ready to give Tomlin his flowers for navigating a season that featured a "Mickey Mouse" start and a mid-season collapse.
Big CatThis might be Mike Tomlin's best coaching job ever
This might be Mike Tomlin's best coaching job ever. And it's crazy when they were 7-4, they were also like the most Mickey Mouse 7-4 of all time. But that's because Mike Tomlin is a pretty damn good coach. And so he was able to win all those games when they were getting outgained back to back to back.
On the flip side, God Hates Jags remains the truest law of the universe. Jacksonville was 8-3 and cruising toward a division title before hitting a wall so hard they missed the postseason entirely. Some might point to Trevor Lawrence’s shoulder or Doug Peterson's play-calling, but the real ones know exactly where the blame lies.
Big CatThe Jaguars' collapse was caused by the 'Curse of the Terrible Towel'
Since the Jaguars disrespected the towel [The Steelers' Terrible Towel], the Jaguars slid into oblivion. The Steelers end up taking the Jaguar's playoff spot right on the last day of the season. You can't argue otherwise.
CJ Stroud is the Truth
Saturday night gave us a glimpse of the future, and that future is wearing a Texans jersey. CJ Stroud looked like a ten-year veteran under the brightest lights, delivering strikes and clinching the AFC South. The conversation in the room quickly turned to where Stroud ranks among the league's elite, and Big Cat thinks there are only a handful of GMs who wouldn't trade their current situation for the rookie right now.
Big CatOnly four NFL teams would say no to trading their QB for CJ Stroud right now
How many teams would say no if they asked if you called him up and was like, CJ Stroud for your quarterback? The Bills. The Chiefs. I think it's four. I think it's the Bengals and the Ravens. I think that's it. I think every other team would probably say yes. Especially given his contract.
While the Texans are the feel-good story, the Bills are the team that just won't die. They went from being left for dead at 6-6 to winning the AFC East and securing the two-seed. They are the ultimate high-variance team, but if they get "Good Josh Allen" for four quarters, they are a problem for the rest of the AFC.
Big CatThe AFC is wide open and the Bills are as good as anyone when playing their best
If you think the Bills win that Chiefs game, bet 'em to win the Super Bowl at 35 to 1 because the AFC is so wide open and the Bill's best is just as good as anyone else. The bill's worst is really, really bad.
Mutiny in New Orleans and the Coaching Carousel
The funniest moment of the weekend happened in New Orleans, where the Saints players decided they didn't really care what Dennis Allen had to say. Lining up in victory formation only to hand the ball off to Jamal Williams for a touchdown is an all-time move, even if it made Arthur Smith’s head explode at midfield. It’s pretty clear the locker room has moved on from their head coach.
Big CatThe Saints' mutiny against Dennis Allen shows he has lost the locker room
Dennis Allen losing the locker room. The whole team went rogue. It was a mutiny. The whole team was like, it was like in Rudy when they put their jerseys on the table and they said, we want this guy coach. That's what they did for Jamal Williams. So then Dennis Allen had to apologize after the game.
Speaking of Arthur Smith, he’s officially out in Atlanta. While the Falcons move on, PFT is dreaming of a world where a certain hoodie-wearing legend lands in DC to break records and finally bring some discipline to the Commanders.
PFT CommenterI would be excited for Bill Belichick to break the coaching wins record with the Commanders
I'm excited about Belichick possibilities... I would be excited for Bill to break the old time record for coaching wins on my sideline rather than the [Patriots] sideline.
The Green Bay Nightmare and Draft Dreams
For Bears fans, this was a familiar horror movie. Jordan Love looks like the next Hall of Fame quarterback in Green Bay, and the Packers are back in the playoffs during what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Big Cat is optimistic about the future, but it’s hard to ignore that the Packers have figured out a "hack" to the most important position in sports that the rest of the league just hasn't mastered.
Big CatThe Packers' ability to find Hall of Fame quarterbacks is unfair and they are a model organization
Jordan Love is really fucking good... The Packers going from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers [to] Jordan Love is just the shining example of how unfair life is... they have a great coach. They have a great infrastructure. They figured out the hack to quarterbacks: draft 'em, sit 'em, make 'em good, make 'em Hall of Famers.
The loss officially puts the Bears on the clock with the number one pick (thanks, Carolina). The debate is already raging between sticking with Justin Fields or resettting the clock with a new franchise guy. Big Cat is starting to lean toward the USC standout, even if it means another few years of "wait and see."
Big CatI am leaning toward the Bears drafting Caleb Williams #1 overall
I lean Caleb Williams. He's so fucking good. And he would be, he would also just make me excited for a couple more years... whatever the choices are, they gotta make the right choices. I would lean, Caleb Williams.
National Championship and Who’s Back
We’ve got Michigan vs. Washington for all the marbles on Monday night. Big Cat is fascinated by Jim Harbaugh’s bizarre sleep theories, but he’s split between his heart and his wallet when it comes to the Huskies' chances against the Wolverine defense.
Big CatJim Harbaugh's biohacking sleep theory is actually true
Jim Harbaugh is biohacking. He's figured out how to hack sleep. He said two nights before is the sleep that you play on... I've seen some people in the distance running community be like, he's actually not wrong about this.
Finally, Max Homa is back after a monstrous 477-yard drive, and we’re wishing Draymond Green the best as he returns from suspension. PFT is cautiously optimistic that we’ve seen the last of the MMA moves on the hardwood.
PFT CommenterDraymond Green has learned his lesson and won't punch anyone again
I predict that Draymond has learned his lesson. He won't do this again. I think that Draymond had a brief mental error, a brief moment where he blacked out a little bit, a heated gaming moment and he, he will not be making that mistake again. Draymond's a new man.
Enjoy the games, subscribe to the cock if you must, and let's get ready for the best month of the year.
