WHAT WE LEARNED: NFL WEEK 15

BY ADAM GREENE

It took an extra day, but we finally get to put Week 15 in the rearview, maybe the strangest week in recent NFL history

COVID STILL WREAKING SOME HAVOC

I hope you are sitting down. Maybe wrap yourself up in a blanket and take a moment to silently meditate before reading what I’m about to write — Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has caught COVID-19.

I know. I am as shocked as you are. How could the poster boy for natural immunity and anti-vaxx nonsense come down with a disease targeting every single human on Earth? It boggles the mind.

Beasley has taken to Instagram to lament the fact that he can’t play, missing out on the opportunity to infect everyone else in the league dealing with its worst Covid issues since the pandemic began. Being a selfish deluded moron is pretty much his brand at this point.

When a teammate of his, Jonathan Feliciano, also suffering COVID-19, replied that he’s taken the monoclonal antibody treatment (a treatment based on the exact same science as the Covid vaccines, just delivered after infection and not before), he asked, “Why aren’t we promoting treatments for Covid?”

Obviously, “we” are. Some of us promote nonsense that doesn’t even work, but while the vaccine, again based on the exact same science as the monoclonal antibody treatment, has been politicized, the monoclonal antibody treatment hasn’t. I’m guessing because people get it when they’re sick and afraid to die, but you know, that could just be the cynic in me.

Beasley had his own hypothesis, sharing this little genius nugget — “Cause then they can’t make money on the vaccine. Lol.”

Yes. LOL. We’re LOL-ing over here.

Because he’s a fun fact — the COVID-19 vaccine costs $19.50 per dose.  The monoclonal antibody treatment can cost anywhere from $2,100 to $5,000 per dose. See? LOL.

Southern Methodist needs to take back Beasley’s diploma, because he obviously could never pass a science or math class.

In the meantime, we’re still losing players and coaches to Covid. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni tested positive Wednesday and New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was nailed the day before. As coaches, they’re vaccinated, so it’s possible they could return for Sunday’s game. The Chargers put Austin Ekeler and Jaylen Guyton on their Covid reserve list Thursday and are already without Joey Bosa.

The entire list is lengthy and shows just how much having a vaccinated (or mostly vaccinated) team is and should be a competitive advantage. Don’t be surprised to see more games moved around the schedule again as the league attempts to get the full sslate in.

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY

Thanks (maybe) to the weird week and certainly thanks to the NFL shuffling a few games around, we have a new playoff bracket in both conferences.

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)

2. New England Patriots (9-5)

3. Tennessee Titans (9-5)

4. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

5. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

7. Buffalo Bills (8-6)

WILD CARD GAMES

Bills at Patriots

Chargers at Titans

Colts at Bengals

Realistically alive: Baltimore Ravens (8-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1), Las Vegas Raiders (7-7), Miami Dolphins (7-7), Cleveland Browns (7-7), Denver Broncos (7-7)

Officially Eliminated: New York Jets (3-11), Houston Texans (3-11), Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

Key Games in Week 16: 49ers at Titans, Browns at Packers, Colts at Cardinals, Ravens at Bengals, Bills at Patriots, Steelers at Chiefs, Broncos at Raiders, Dolphins at Saints

While we might have the most teams realistically still alive this late in the season as any I can remember, that will all probably change this weekend. All of these match ups need to be seen as de facto playoff games, especially the contests between AFC teams. The squads with seven losses need to view these match ups as elimination games, because they basically are. Taking an eighth loss here, with just two games to go, could be the end of the road, even if the math says otherwise.

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers (11-3) – Clinched a playoff spot

2. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4)

4. Arizona Cardinals (10-4)

5. Los Angeles Rams (10-4)

6. San Francisco 49ers (8-6)

7. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)

WILD CARD GAMES

Vikings at Cowboys

49ers at Buccaneers

Rams at Cardinals

Realistically alive: Philadelphia Eagles (7-7), New Orleans Saints (7-7), Washington Football Team (6-8), Atlanta Falcons (6-8)

Officially eliminated: Chicago Bears (4-10), Detroit Lions (2-11-1)

Key Games in Week 16: 49ers at Titans, Browns at Packers, Colts at Cardinals, Rams at Vikings, WFT at Cowboys, Dolphins at Saints

With the Packers officially punching their ticket to the postseason with their victory over the Ravens Sunday, all they’re fighting for now is a first round bye and home field advantage. Considering the ongoing Covid situation and Aaron Rodgers’ toe issues, they need the rest. And it won’t hurt to welcome all these warm weather and dome teams to Lambeau Field come January.

Unlike the AFC, the seven loss squads aren’t in dire straights even if they drop a game this week. That seventh Wild Card spot will remain wide open probably until the final games of the season. The 49ers can secure their second winning season under Kyle Shanahan by all but eliminating the Browns and the Colts can turn the Cardinals into a Wild Card team with a victory in the desert. The Rams are probably already in the playoffs, regardless of what the math says, but they still have a shot at an NFC West title and a stumble by the Cards and with LA winning in Minnesota would put them in control of the division.

While the WFT can’t expect to catch the Cowboys for the NFC East title, they can knock them down the playoff seeding and shore up their own chances for the postseason. A ninth loss for them or the Falcons this week probably wraps their year. They can’t expect the Philadelphia Eagles, Saints and Vikings to lose two of their last three.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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