We just wrapped Week 17 in the NFL, which used to mean it's playoff time! But because Roger Goodell strives to stuff more football wherever an opening on the calendar exists, we have one more slate of regular season games. Four divisions and the top spot in both the AFC and NFC are still up for grabs, but for 16 teams, it's all over already, Goodell's extra game be damned. Let's take a look at a few of those teams making early January tee times and try to figure out what's next:
Indianapolis Colts - If you told me Daniel Jones sunk this team's season, I would've believed you, just not in the way it actually played out. Jones was in the MVP discussion up until Week 14, when he blew out his Achilles, sending the team in a tailspin. Indy was 8-2 at one point, but has now lost six straight despite Philip Rivers' un-retirement and will miss the playoffs entirely. Jones is set to hit free agency, but early reports point to him being ready for training camp. It feels like running back this marriage – that looked so promising – is a fit for both parties. (Anthony Richardson Sr., pack your bags.)
Cincinnati Bengals - It's three seasons in a row that this team has missed the playoffs, an unforgivable feat even with Joe Burrow missing nearly a full season due to injuries. But that's part of the problem - Cincy's inability to construct a decent offensive line to keep their franchise player upright. The defense was a disaster again this season, and now that unit is gonna watch Trey Hendrickson walk in free agency after playing games with his contract. Bengals ownership isn't gonna pay Zac Taylor to not coach, but this thing continues to trend in the wrong direction.
Minnesota Vikings - We'll be bold and say it: rolling the dice with JJ McCarthy and letting both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk in free agency was a mistake. Darnold has Seattle two wins clear of any other NFC team, Jones looked capable of another playoff run at minimum, while McCarthy…knows where the eye black is in the locker room? The Vikes have ripped off a futile four-game winning streak, so at least they haven't quit on head man Kevin O'Connell. But he'll need to bring in competition for McCarthy next season - with a top-10 scoring defense and Justin Jefferson on the roster, even adequate QB play should be enough to secure a trip to the postseason.
Detroit Lions - This team probably just runs it back, right? Five of their eight losses were by a single possession, and they play in the only division in the league that has zero teams with a losing record. Meanwhile, advanced metrics still love this squad - DVOA ranks it the third-best in the NFL, while ESPN’s Football Power Index has it sixth. Injuries again hit Detroit hard, losing TE Sam LaPorta by late November and key secondary members Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold in early December, hamstringing a late push for the playoffs. Losing both coordinators from last season was always going to make head coach Dan Campbell’s life more difficult. But with all the firepower he has on offense, the window of contention is probably still open a crack.