Christmas Eve NFL Open Thread (The Lions can clinch a playoff spot)
Lots of big games today, none bigger that the Lions hosting the Chargers today, with a playoff spot on the line. Among the other big games today with playoff implications include.
Giants vs Jets
Philadelphia vs Dallas
Oakland vs Kansas City
San Francisco vs Seattle
Arizona vs Cincinnati
Also of interest, is that the Andrew Luck lottery got very interesting with the Colts WINNING on Thursday. Making it three teams that have two losses, going into the last two weeks of the season. The Colts have the tie breaker at this point, because their opponents winning percentage is the lowest. With the Vikings and Rams playing out the season, and the Colts playing the hapless Jaguars, the NFL draft just got real interesting. If the Rams end up with the first pick they will of course be trading out. The Vikings however, were they to lose out, would have a very interesting debate on the first pick.
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all of you, and may you enjoy a great day of football. To you Lions fans, may we all see today, what has alluded us for a decade.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Last week I discovered that RedZone was included in the HD package we got like 2 years ago. It was without a doubt, the greatest thing to happen to me this year. Today should be fun!
December 24th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
Another Festivus Miracle!
December 24th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
I keep waiting for them to screw it up somehow.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
I would love, LOVE, to be in the Rams situation, were they to finish with the first pick. My favorite sporting event is the NFL draft (don't ask), and I would love to be a fly on the wall with the offers they'll get for that pick.
December 24th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
With the QB situation in their division, I don't see them having much choice.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
I asked Santa to give Philip Rivers a 24 hour flu. Hopefully that works out better than last year when I asked for world peace. I dont even like Ron Artest.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
I love the Lions and so hope they win today but being 52 and having witnessed one heartbreak after another watching this team I can't help but worry they will somehow screw this up.
What sucks for me is that here in Cleveland we are going to get the Dallas-Philly game as our late game, not the Lions-Chargers. And being Christmas Eve there is no way the avatar is going to let me go find a bar and watch it.
December 24th, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
The Lions game is going to be broadcast in NYC! So I can actually watch while following the wise and discerning commentary herein.
December 24th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
is your friend. I laugh when the TV execs tell me to choose between NE-Den or Cin-Pit. Ha ha your regional programming cannot stop me!
December 24th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
I'll be at the game in Detroit. It's gonna be a great atmosphere and I'm hoping for a monumental Lions win!!!!
December 24th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
1997...Lions beat the Jets late in the year at home, to clinch their most recent playoff spot. Barry Sanders ran wild and finished the game over 2000 yds rushing for the year (amazing feat since he only had 52 yds after the first 2 games that year and people were questioning Bobby Ross's scheme for Barry)..... this was also the game where up and coming Lions LB Reggie Brown was nearly paralyzed and had to retire...but thankfully was able to walk again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXQmKo2Ijp8
An emotional game and one of the best in Lions history.
December 24th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
Didn't the lions make the playoffs in 1999?
December 24th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
Yeah...I think they did...with Barry retired.... I kinda tuned out the Lions after Barry retired for a few years... so yeah I think you are right it was 99...last time...I stand corrected. Here is the box score of that game in 99:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001080was.htm
December 24th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
Thanks for the link. I remember almost missing a flight from Detroit Metro because I was watching Barry break the record and the Lions beating the Jets. AWESOME.
December 24th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
And once again, Morning Woodley has reached the finals.
A dilemma arises: an injured Vincent Jackson, or a healthy Malcom Floyd (or Michael Crabtree)?
December 24th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
Having a great quiet day at the home, waiting for the Lions to come on. It's going to be a exciting game, an electric atmosphere. The Lions better get the job done today, playing at Lambeau is not going to be a picnic. I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers played their starters the whole game, seeing as we are one of their rivals. Who stomped on one of their own. Out of spite.
GO HONOLULU BLUE!!!
December 24th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
than screwing the Lions. They are not going to risk injury in order to burn the Lions.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
"We want to play our starters in a meaningless game against a team that STOMPED our players" has some fail to it.
December 24th, 2011 at 4:00 PM ^
December 24th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
1.Lions Win
2.If the Lions lose we need Chicago, Seatlle, and Arizona to lose plus one of the following three things; Dallas loss, NYG loss, or Atlanta win.
This should hold over the next two weeks, I think. Hopefully we just win today and get it over with.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
Fake FG for a 35 yard TD called back by a delay of game penalty.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
Misses the FG.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
I REALLY want to see the Rams end up with the first pick. Watching a solid 10-20 (25? 30?) GMs trip over each other to give up the most for the pick would be highly entertaining.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
Browns are awful. Pat Shurmer looks lost on the sideline.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
Dolphins 17, Patriots 0!!! O_O
December 24th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
December 24th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^
Y u hatin?
December 24th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^
December 24th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
Good thing Sanchez wasn't the QB on the field at the time.
December 24th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^
that was both stupid and incorrect. So I ended up with something merely stupid and incomprehensible.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
What was that Giants player thinkng?
December 24th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
Wow, Giants 99-yd TD pass.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
One of those guys nobody'd heard of until he started getting on the field. Injured and lost in pre-season last year after whetting our appetites, and now that he's healthy...
December 24th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
Cromartie getting stuffed on every kickoff.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
And Browns run the football. Unbelievable.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^
The Factory of Sadness is open for business!
December 24th, 2011 at 2:34 PM ^
When it's even sad with a 13 point spread.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
is that the Ravens are the meta-Browns--if Modell hadn't traded the team Cleveland would have been to a Super Bowl by now.
December 24th, 2011 at 3:27 PM ^
The fans do to the team, they might be closer.
<br>
<br>That, and if they had good players or coaching.
December 24th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
plus McCoy is out for the rest of the "season."
December 24th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
Zook'd. I didn't see it but what you described sounds like the most boneheaded call I've ever heard.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
Because on 2nd and goal they had been stopped inbounds.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
I hope that's a fumble and Giants TD.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
if you didn't see Simpsons flip, here's a link for ya.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:58 PM ^
I be like dang!
December 24th, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^
John Fox proves once again that coaches don't use their brains enough... Tebow is stopped short of a first down, and in stead of simply lining up and going for it on 4th and short, Fox challenges the play. The ruling is confirmed, so Fox goes for it anyway.
Wastes a challenge
Wastes a timeout
If you were going to go for it anyway, why challenge?
December 24th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
I don't know one team that is getting less production from their drafts than the Jets.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:59 PM ^
Maybe Matt Millen is secretly running the organization