Week 17 NFL Mayhem: Unpacking Dramatic Wins, Playoff Twists, and Bold Week 18 Forecasts

Revel in the raw emotions and head-spinning analysis as I, Lacie, break down the hefty drama of NFL Week 17 on Lacie's Lineup. Straight from celebrating my birthday, I'm dissecting the Cowboys' contentious win and the Lions' uproar that's setting the sports world ablaze. If you're itching to get the real scoop on those crucial plays and penalties that had fans on the edge of their seats, you're in for a treat. Plus, I'm unpacking college football's jaw-dropping losses and their implications for an already electrified season finale. Get ready for a play-by-play that's as passionate as it is insightful.

Ever wonder how a single game can flip the playoff script? This episode has your answers. The Eagles' stunner against the Cardinals might just have set the stage for a Dallas dance into the postseason, but nothing's set in stone with Week 18 on the horizon. I'm mapping out the AFC labyrinth, from the Bills-Dolphins showdown to the Jaguars' fate sealed with destiny against the Titans. While the Ravens assert dominance, I'm also eyeing the NFC's unfolding drama, including the 49ers' coveted top seed and the Cowboys' eye on the NFC East crown. It's a power-packed analysis that'll leave you more than ready for the next round of gridiron glory.

Capping off the episode, I'm dishing out the highs and lows from last week's matchups and laying down my bold predictions for the coming week. You'll want to hear why Miami and the Eagles need to pick up the pieces—and fast. I'm spotlighting the Ravens as they spread their wings, while the Cowboys look to sharpen their arsenal. And for those of you biting your nails over playoff prospects, my Week 18 forecast promises to ease your mind—or maybe fuel the fire. It's all about the chase for Super Bowl stardom, and I'm here to navigate you through every potential pass, punt, and touchdown. Join me, Lacie, and let the excitement of Lacie's Lineup be the game plan to your NFL fandom.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Happy New Year everybody and welcome to Lacey's lineup. I hope everyone had a great holiday break, enjoyed family, friends and, obviously, a lot of good football. My New Year's was great. We stayed home, we had family over, I hung out with friends. It was actually my birthday over the holiday break too, and I was able to celebrate that with the Cowboys game and the win over the Lions, which we will discuss in a little bit. But it was the gift that just kept on giving. I mean, we had Alabama fall in college football, we had Texas fall in college football and then the Eagles surprising upset loss to the Cardinals. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present. It has just been the gift that keeps on giving and I hope it continues all the way to the Super Bowl for the Cowboys. So let's not waste any more time and start talking football right now.

Speaker 1: 1:00

["lacey's Line Up"]. Lacey's lineup bringing you all the latest news around the NFL. ["lacey's Line Up"] Week 17 upsets, surprises and dramatic wins. ["lacey's Line Up"]. Girl is ready to go in. Three, two, one.

Speaker 1: 1:44

All right, let's start and let's address this, because I'm ready to talk about it and I'm ready to get it over with, because you guys have been complaining a lot that the Lions were robbed in the Saturday night game against the Cowboys. Let's talk about this for a second. They were not robbed. First of all, they wouldn't even have the opportunity to go win the game if the refs would have got the call right on the phantom tripping that they ended up calling on the Cowboys on Hinder shot and cost us 15 yards to where we had to punt the ball back In the replay. You can look at it clearly that it was the Lions that did the tripping and not us, which would have gave us the penalty, and the Lions would have not had the ball back at all to even go down and Cowboys would have easily won by seven, if not 10, if Aubrey kicked the ball at the end. So let's start there for all you guys complaining, but now let's go, because they didn't do it. They punted the ball back, lions were driving down the field and they scored. Okay, they're could tie the game with a extra point, but they decide not to. They decide to go for two. I like the aggressive call, why not? You're playing for the two seed. You feel like you have all the momentum, so you go for the first time. Here is what happens.

Speaker 1: 3:15

Number 68 was told to go report as an eligible receiver. Lions tried to get tricky and they send not just 68, but they send three guys over to the ref to try to trick the Cowboys. I don't even understand why you do this. This isn't even something you try to trick on. Once you report that you are eligible, not only do they announce it over the broadcast, they refs or go and they report it to the defense so that the defense knows who is eligible and who is not. So even at that point, if there was confusion, they reported 70 as eligible and 68 as not. So that's where the lion should have picked up. Hey, they didn't get us, they were that it was eligible, which I'm saying it was a confusion. But they were trying to confuse the Cowboys, which ended up confusing the rest, because 70 had been saying that he was eligible all night and he went up with him and was actually rubbing his numbers, which is an indicator that, hey, I'm eligible and that's what the ref saw. So, yes, I feel like it was confusing. I think 68 did his job and did what he was told to go, but because they sent so many people and they were trying to be tricky. The refs said the wrong person was eligible. So that's first. So I will give it to the lions there that the refs messed up on that, but it was still reported. They should have caught that.

Speaker 1: 4:41

Hey, they didn't identify that 68 was eligible, but the play went on. They throw and 68 obviously pretends to block goes down. They make the two point conversion. Lions are celebrating they have beaten the Cowboys. The game is over because there's only like 27 seconds left. But they call in eligible touching.

Speaker 1: 5:05

This is where, just to shut up all the haters out there saying that the Cowboys got lucky which, by the way, even if we got lucky, we haven't been lucky all year. Nothing has gone our way and we've been screwed out of call after call after call with the refs. So if it even was luck, if you want it to call it, then so be it, but it wasn't, because, even so, listen to me clearly here. Even so, if the cow, or if they would have reported it right, 68 or 70 were lined up wrong, they were on the line. That's not where they're supposed to be if they're so-called eligible and it's an illegal formation. So, regardless of anything, they would have been called for a foul and I wish the refs would have called a legal formation and it would have squashed all this. But no matter what, it was a legal formation or a legal touching, because they had the wrong person reported as eligible. So there you go.

Speaker 1: 6:08

That is the bottom line of it, guys. There is no if answer, buts, it was a foul, they did it wrong, they tried to get tricky and try to throw the cowboys off, which ended up confusing the refs. But no matter what bottom line, it was a foul regardless. A legal formation. You still lined up Again, trying to be tricky. You lined up in the wrong formation, so it was called back.

Speaker 1: 6:34

I get it was. I mean, as a cowboy fan watching, my heart sunk because I didn't see what was happening in real life. All I saw was the two-point conversion successful, and I thought, man, this is how this is gonna end. But they get the call back. They have to go for it again. So all these people, like Stephen A Smith saying the rest, robbed them of this game. They really didn't. First of all, you had two more chances. They go for it again. And Micah Parsons was off sides, but he also threw an interception which had nothing to do with off sides. So at that point it's almost like clean slate.

Speaker 1: 7:12

Lions go for it a third time. Guys, help me understand this. I mean I love how the game ended, but when you are unsuccessful two times and you still go for it on a third try, instead of just kicking the extra point and sending this into overtime, you have the Cowboys on their heels, the momentum's in your way because you went down and scored and tied it to go into overtime and you guys have so much on the line. Like this is where the two seed. I think this is where the Lions coach got emotional. He was obviously very mad at how the first play called and he continued to go for it because he goes one way hard or one way the other. But that was a huge mistake by the Lions.

Speaker 1: 7:57

To go for it three times was just crazy to me. Like I couldn't believe. I was like did that really just happen? Are they really not gonna take this into overtime? I really think the momentum. If they would have kicked the extra point, even as a Cowboy fans talking I think Lions would have won in overtime. But they didn't. They went for it the third time through short of the stitch, through short of the receiver, the play's incomplete and the Cowboys walk away with this win.

Speaker 1: 8:28

So for all you guys saying that the Cowboys got lucky and that this game was determined by the Revs, you really need to do your research, because it's not. If you know the game of football, you know that the tripping calls should have been called against the Lions. They should have never got the ball back, and what they tried to do? They ended up confusing the Revs, they lined up illegally and that's it, and they decided to go for it three times instead of tie the game. So that's on the Lions. They need to stop huffing and puffing and more than likely the Cowboys will play the Lions again in the playoffs and we will see how it goes. But don't take credit away from the Cowboys and what they did and try to say they got robbed because the Revs were equally bad on both sides and you could arguably say they cost both teams the game. That's what I have to say about that. I'm tired of talking about it, ready to squash it. But seriously, do your research before you get on and just start saying that the Revs cost this game because they did not. If you're gonna say that, then the Revs cost the Cowboys because they didn't call the tripping. That's my two cents on that game.

Speaker 1: 9:38

But moving on to, like I said, my birthday gift that kept on giving the Cowboys went on Saturday night and then still very low percentage to win the NFC East because the Eagles were playing a Cardinals team that was already out playing them at home and then they were gonna end with the Giants too in Week 18, two teams that they should easily beat. But, like I've been saying, all season, the Eagles have been struggling. Their luck was running out. They are self-imploding. Aj Brown is a cancer on this team right now because of his frustrations and it's just nothing is gelling with these Eagles.

Speaker 1: 10:22

And we got a crazy upset on Sunday afternoon where the Cardinals beat the Eagles, came back from a low deficit and showed that I mean they just took over this game. Kyler Murray props to him. I think he was probably playing for his life in that moment, trying to secure that he can still play and wants to be the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals next year. But he came in and was the Kyler Murray we knew. Just literally tore the Eagles' defense apart, brought his team back, got the winning drive and man, what an exciting game, not for Eagles fans. I know the frustration is still building.

Speaker 1: 11:09

But the Eagles lose at home against an already eliminated Cardinals team who had only won four games. So this is just disaster for the Eagles. Not only do they lose, now the driver's seat for the NFC East is in the Cowboys' hand. All they have to do is beat the commanders in this weekend week 18, and they get the two seed. So crazy turn of events. You would think the Eagles, who were 10 and one at the start of this season, no way they were gonna drop the NFC East. But they have been on the struggle bus. They lose to the Cardinals and now it's up to the Cowboys to seal the deal and the Eagles are no longer controlling their own fate. So that was mostly the excitement from the NFC side in week 17.

Speaker 1: 12:00

Not a lot else to talk about Now. The NFC will get very interesting in week 18, and we are about to go over all of that. But before I jump to that, I just wanna talk about the one AFC game that surprised me and didn't surprise me, but that is the Ravens' Doffins. Did you see this score being this lopsided? I knew the Dolphins were struggling. They were without Waddle and their defense has always been kind of up and down, not sure what they were gonna do.

Speaker 1: 12:34

Ravens have obviously shown that they're probably the best team in the NFL right now. Lamar Jackson should win the MVP, no problem, he's playing amazing Zay Flowers having career games. They are just really dominating and that defense is just taking over but getting destroyed by the Ravens Dolphins, like what I thought you guys are supposed to be, an explosive offense and have run up all these points. Didn't you put up 60 earlier this year or 70? And now it's like you guys are a question mark in my AFC. Are they kind of plateauing and going back down? Are Ravens that much better than the Dolphins? I definitely do think that. I think the Dolphins are overrated. I don't.

Speaker 1: 13:28

If you even asked me who is the Ravens biggest competition in the AFC, I would have to say the Browns. What they're doing and their defense. They are really disruptive against Lamar Jackson and I would say the Bills. Those are the two teams that I think have only chance to go against the Ravens. Dolphins proved it there. They got to play the Bills now to try to win the AFC East and Dolphins are just I know they're a little banged up. They didn't have Waddle, tyreek has missed a few, I think Tua now has some shoulder issues, so they are really banged up, but their defense has been their biggest problem and that's what's getting exposed. But what a crazy game. You think it's gonna be a really good game, really good matchup, and the Ravens said nope, we are much better and we're gonna show you. And that's exactly what they did on Sunday. Now we're gonna turn the episode now and just really focus on week 18. Cause there is a lot at stake for week 18. A lot of things that need to happen for teams, how they control their fates. Just a lot of matchups and a lot of big games that are gonna show who's gonna make it to the playoffs and who aren't.

Speaker 1: 14:50

So let's start with the AFC. The Ravens have secured the number one seed, so they're really the only ones. I don't even think they're gonna play their starters this weekend. It's a rest for them. They got a two week rest cause they don't have to play in the wild card round. So Ravens are sitting in the best position. So there's no concern there.

Speaker 1: 15:10

The big game for the AFC to start with is Bill's Dolphins. They are playing for the AFC East Championship. If Dolphins get this victory, they get the two seed Bill's. They looked bad against the Patriots. Bill's are just still up and down. I really thought Bill's had caught fire when they played the Cowboys, their backs against the wall. They're playing. You know, they have too much talent to just sit there and waste it and I really thought they were turning things around. Then they come play a close game against, you know, a Chargers team who is completely depleted and then they look really bad against the Patriots. Yes, they won and I will say Bill Belichick does a really good job with defense. So for the Bills to win they just need to keep that momentum going. But still, you played a Patriots scene that's been struggling all year and you really just didn't define like it just wasn't a pretty game, but Bill's could be playing for their life I mean, there's a chance even winning, or if they lose, and then the other team I'll get down to that when they could be out, like, in what world did we think the bills wouldn't even be in the playoffs? I don't think that's gonna happen. I think the bills are gonna go in and beat the dolphins and then you could look at the bills getting the two-seat if everything matches upright, which would give them a huge Momentum shift, and I think the bills will try to overcome their choke scenario in the playoffs. But big game on Sunday night. Bills dolphins this is for the AFC East. Who do, I think's gonna win? Bills, I'm going. Bills dolphins are too wishy-washy. They're coming off of a defeat. They're banged up. Bills, yes, are back and forth, but I think they're gonna do what it takes and they're they're playing for their life and they're gonna make sure that they win this game, and I definitely think they do, and I actually don't think it's gonna even be close.

Speaker 1: 17:22

Now let's talk about the AFC South. I mean just a mess of a conference. I mean they just are man. I mean it's gonna come down to the Jaguars, the Colts, the Texans, and it is just crazy on what can transpire right here. Jaguars, let's start with them. If they get a win, they probably have the easiest. They control their fate. With a win against the Titans this weekend, they can take the AFC South. They don't need anyone else to lose. They control the driver seat, they win, they're in. So Jaguars just need to take care of business. They know how to get to the postseason. So I'm feeling really good about the Jaguars getting there.

Speaker 1: 18:10

Now. The Indianapolis Colts they are playing the Texans and they are both playing to win and get in, but they're gonna need some help as well. So you have the Colts they have to beat Houston, which will get them to the playoffs, and if the Jags lose, they will actually give them the AFC South title. So if they beat the Houston, which will get them in, they just, and then if the Jags lose, then they'll go up. So that'll be interesting, that'll be a fun game to watch. But the Texans now they need to beat the Colts To secure their postseason. So they're both playing. When you're in, lose your out. Like these are the games we live for, right football fans.

Speaker 1: 18:58

And the last team that I want to mention is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, the season has not gone their way by any means, and the best Pittsburgh can hope for at this point is grabbing one of the last two wild card slots. And there are some sizable roadblocks to the Steelers accomplishing that, starting with the two AFC South teams directly ahead of them right now, which is Houston and Indianapolis. Both of these squads beat the Steelers this season, so they are. There are no tiebreaker opportunities there. The good news is, though, while Pittsburgh must travel to Baltimore for Saturday's regular season finale, the Ravens have nothing left to play for after securing the top seed, so they should be playing against a second seed team, which should give them to win. The Steelers did get a huge win in Seattle and, ensured Mike Tomlin, will keep a streak of a non-losing season in Pittsburgh alive, but this campaign with them, with the end of them watching the postseason, will probably be from home. So that's really kind of the most interesting Scenarios for the AFC.

Speaker 1: 20:14

Now let's move to the NFC. Just like the Ravens, the 49ers are sitting in the driver's seat. They got the one seed and the buy, so they should be smooth selling and not play until the divisional round. The Cowboys, the like I talked about before if they win against the commanders, they get the two seed and the NFC East title. They're going against the commanders, who they've already beat by a lot in the first meeting on Thanksgiving. They are playing at the commanders, which we talk about the Cowboys not being great on the road, and if you remember last year how they went to the commanders and ended up losing by 20 because they were looking ahead to Tampa Bay. I Don't see them doing this here. One. I think the commanders want to lose. If commanders lose, they get the second draft pick, so they actually have more to gain by losing because they've already been eliminated from the playoffs. So I feel good about the Cowboys going in. I think it'll be a good momentum for them to win on the road, even if it's against a Not so good commanders team who actually want to lose this game.

Speaker 1: 21:33

But here's the one thing I want to say about the Dallas Cowboys. What is the one thing that Cowboys? This is their weakness. It's been their run game. Tony Pollard has not had a Hundred yard rushing, I think, one time all season, which is just crazy based on what he did last year. Is this the play calling by Mike McCarthy? It could be. That's my biggest beef with Mike McCarthy is his time management. I mean, even against the Lions, throwing a bomb instead of running the ball. It's just we don't have belief in our run game right now. So you know how to solve that.

Speaker 1: 22:09

Breaking news the Jets and Dalvin Cook have parted ways mutually and he is healthy. They say that he's passing all his physicals and he is eligible to play with a playoff team. What better match do we have than to go get Dalvin Cook to take to the playoffs with us? That is our missing piece. I mean, our run defense is a little skeptical as well, but we have to have a run game. We've shown that Pollard can't do it right now. Dowdle is hurt Vaughn, unfortunately, let's be honest, he's too small. We had hopes for him to be kind of like in a little explosive Sproles type player, but he hasn't shown that. We need Dalvin Cook. Go get him. Jerry Jones, go at least talk with him and let's try to get a run game going. That's what's gonna get us to the Super Bowl. That's what you want, jerry, right, go talk to Dalvin Cook right now.

Speaker 1: 23:11

But Cowboys are sitting in a good spot. They've already clinched the playoffs. It's between the two seed and the five seed and the only way they do that is that they lose to the commanders and the Eagles beat the Giants. So Cowboys are looking good as the number two seed in the NFC. Next you have the Eagles. Oh, the cry Eagles, cry man. I Cannot. That loss to Arizona was just detrimental. I couldn't believe my eyes, like I really didn't think it Was going to end the way that it did, especially with the Eagles jumping up early.

Speaker 1: 23:52

But you can tell there's a lot of stuff going on. They fired some people, they lost their defensive coordinator. You know, last season that was a big piece of them getting to the Super Bowl and they're just not gelling. They look very monotoned. They don't look Kind of motivated. You can tell frustrations are building over and over. Then you actually had Devonte Smith walk out in a boot. They did say he avoided a more serious injury, but it's still an ankle high ankle sprain which could be a factor for him, because outside of AJ Brown he's been kind of more of their go-to wide receiver. So we'll see.

Speaker 1: 24:33

They still got to beat the Giants this weekend, I think just to Give them any type of hope in the playoffs. And I don't think the Giants are gonna roll over. They're playing at the Giants and I think it's gonna be a good game. I don't see the Giants just handing this over but, like I said, they're going to the playoffs. More than likely they'll be the fifth seed. But if the Cowboys were to lose and they beat the Giants and they would get the two seed. But, like I said, I don't see that happening. So more than likely Eagles will be the fifth seed.

Speaker 1: 25:08

This is where things get a little more interesting and that is with that NFC South. What's with the Souths? This year? This has just been. I mean, more than likely these. Whoever comes out of this to the playoffs, we'll have a losing record. But Tampa Bay Probably still has the best chance. They choked last week at the worst time to the Saints, not taking anything away from the Saints, but Baker Mayfield has had the hot hand. They've been really hyping him up. Seemed like Mike Evans and Godwin were really rallying around him. They were kind of getting some cohesiveness. Not saying that they don't, but it totally went away last week and now they need to win one of the last two games which they lost last week. So this is a must win and if they do, if they beat Carolina this weekend, they can win. The NFC South. Packers are the next one. If they win over Chicago, they're in. Packers have been looking better. With Jordan Love there's some good things coming out of the Packers, but the Chicago Bears Are really lighting things up. I know they're eliminated, but Justin Fields, I think, is Trying to get out of his funk. He's been playing so much better and I think that they're gonna bring the Packers. I've heard there could be some weather issues, so that can make things interesting for this game, but Packers win and they're in. So we'll see how that game shakes up this weekend.

Speaker 1: 26:51

Now moving on to another team that you thought was out of it, which more than likely they are now because of last week's performance. But the Seahawks have been on a high, beating some Pretty impressive teams in the last couple weeks, but they lost to the Steelers in week 17, which hurt them really bad. I mean they were kind of in there on controlling their own destiny. They let it slip through their hands against the Steelers. So now their only hopes of making the postseason is they have to beat Arizona and Green Bay has to lose for them to get in. So now it's not. They need a little bit of help from Green Bay. Like I said, it still could be weather. They're gonna play a Chicago team. So the Seahawk dreams are not over. But losing to the Steelers was a setback and now they're gonna need a little bit of help. And they got to finish out with a win in Arizona.

Speaker 1: 27:49

Gotta talk about these Saints, these poor Saints, just not the season they had imagined. They've been dealing with major injuries and they have uphill battle when it comes to making the postseason. They have to win at Atlanta, cardinals have to beat Tampa Bay, and then Seattle and Green Bay both have to lose. That's a lot to ask for, I mean. Things would just have to align perfectly. The NFL gods would just need to really want the Saints to be in the postseason for them to make it, but it is definitely not in their control. Yes, they have to win, but they need three other teams to lose and that's just a tall order. So I'm pretty sure we will not be seeing the Saints in the postseason. And Lastly, the Atlanta Falcons they can win the NFC South with a win over New Orleans and Tampa Bay Losing to Carolina. So this is what I talk about. The NFC South is still up for grabs very much. Some Players control, or some teams control, their destiny. Some teams need a little bit of help, and that's the Falcons. Right now too. They everyone has to win, but the Falcons need Tampa Bay to lose in order to get them to the NFC South title, and that's what's going on this weekend.

Speaker 1: 29:13

I thought it was important to kind of break down what needs to happen for what teams. If you obviously are a fan of these teams, you are looking into this on what you want from your teams and who needs to lose in order to see your teams in the postseason. But this is where it gets interesting. This is where good football is about to start. This is the last. This is people playing to get to the postseason and then, guys, we were at the postseason.

Speaker 1: 29:41

This season has just flown by, probably not for the football players themselves. It's probably been a long season, but it's crazy to even think that we added an extra week, you, and it just still. I can't believe it. I can't believe that we're to the playoffs. It's 2024, you know, we're a month and a half away from the Super Bowl, and it's just gonna get exciting. I think Wildcard weekend is probably my favorite weekend just as far as a lot of football, a lot of great matchups, and, you know, when you move on, lose, you go home, and that just brings out really good football. So football fans, get ready, hold on tight, because it is about to be an exciting ride to the Super Bowl.

Speaker 1: 30:27

Before we end the episode, though, I always gotta do my best, and worst of the week and my worst has to go. It's a tie. I really could not pick one or the other because I thought they were both terrible performances. And my worst tide is Miami and the Eagles. Miami went in and got embarrassed by the Ravens, even though the Ravens are the better team. That's why I was like maybe the Eagles are worse because they got beat by a Cardinals team, but it was just both like, these teams are kind of imploding at the wrong time. This is where you're starting to gain momentum to get to the postseason and they still look like they're trying to figure out their teams. But embarrassing losses by both teams offense, defense look terrible. It was just hard to watch and you just you wonder if Miami and the Eagles are even going to make it past the first round of the postseason, not with the way they're playing right now. I mean, I think they could both lose this weekend's game too. Even though the Giants are out, they still always wanna beat the Eagles and the Eagles are kind of beating themselves at the moment, and then Miami is playing the Bills, who are playing for their life. So I think both these teams have a good chance of losing in week 18 as well. So those are my worst of the week. My best, though, goes to, undeniably, the Baltimore Ravens. They're fun to watch. They really are.

Speaker 1: 32:02

I mean, lamar Jackson looks like he's having a blast to think that this guy wasn't even gonna they weren't even gonna pay this guy to be their quarterback. Nfl teams didn't even wanna have conversations with him, which I know. He's been back and forth and he hasn't won a Super Bowl. He has came up short in the postseason, but he just seems different this year. His throwing has gotten much better. Obviously, he's always been a great running quarterback. He uses his feet. He's got weapons around him. I think Odell Beckham really doesn't do much. He I guess he can get some respect from defense, but he's kind of riding these coattails on Lamar just trying to get where he wants to go. But Zay Flowers man is the real deal. They lost Mitchell to a terrible injury two weeks ago and it didn't even. It's like they're playing for him. Not saying he wasn't a huge piece of that because he was an explosive runner, but they didn't even look like they were rattled. They just kept going next man up, and this team is just firing on all cylinders and they're the team to beat in the whole NFL and that's why they continue to be my best of the week.

Speaker 1: 33:12

Lastly, my top five Super Bowl contenders. This is where it gets interesting, because now we are entering the playoffs. So, yes, it's fluid, but we're starting to be more concrete, starting to stay pretty consistent with my picks. I had a couple of ones that might surprise you, but let's start with number one, just for the fact that you guys are gonna know my top two. They never change, but my number one, baltimore Ravens. You guys know why I picked them. I've been saying it this whole time, but they are the ones to beat. So they are my top team right now to make it to the Super Bowl. Two is the Niners. They just have so many weapons. The only thing that will hurt them is if they are hurt. Christian McAfrey is not playing in week 18. You know there've been some bang ups. Last year obviously was a catastrophe with injuries. So if they're healthy, niners will make it to the Super Bowl.

Speaker 1: 34:12

Three this is where I changed it up a bit. This is the Cleveland Browns Joe Flacco coming out of retirement, showing that he can still play in this league, putting a huge spark with the Browns, and the Browns defense is obviously a Super Bowl caliber type defense, so they've been really coming at teams. Now you have a quarterback that can just fire the ball and create such plays on offense. And hey, if you remember, he's won a Super Bowl championship. And guess who? He won it with the Ravens. So guess who's gonna give the Ravens the biggest trouble? The Browns, because they have Joe Flacco. So don't be surprised if we see the Browns make it really far in this postseason.

Speaker 1: 35:04

I think it could be the Browns and the Ravens in the matchup, but they are definitely moved up. They're number three on my Super Bowl contenders. Number four. I put the Cowboys back in it. Cowboys, they have everything it takes. Cd is playing out of his mind. Obviously there's question marks with the run game. If they can go get a Dalvin Cook, then that just really completes them a lot better.

Speaker 1: 35:28

Defense started out like a Browns type defense and they've kind of gone back and forth. I know we've had some injuries, but defense has really under delivered for me and they really need to pick it up. They have the talent to do it. Dan Quinn can lead this defense to the Super Bowl, but on paper they have everything. They came off of a you guys call controversial win. But they beat a good Lions team and they are now in control of winning the NFC East and taking the two seed in the NFC. So they are definitely a contender for the Super Bowl.

Speaker 1: 36:07

And my number five which might shock some people, but I'm still believing that we're gonna see some Josh Allen magic in the postseason. He's tired of falling short, he's tired of losing, he wants to win and that's the only thing. If he over commits he could cost his team the win, but the bills have what it takes to get to the Super Bowl and I think they're gonna surprise a lot of teams. So number five is the Buffalo Bills and that is my top five Super Bowl contenders going into week 18. I can't let you guys go until we hear from Skyler, his big predictions, who he thinks is getting into the playoffs. So let's not wait any longer. And in the show with Skyler's week 18 predictions.

Speaker 2: 36:58

What is up everyone? I am back on Lacey's lineup for week 18 predictions. All right, there is some Saturday games, so we're gonna start with that. First, steelers Ravens. Ravens have the number one seed in the AFC so they're not gonna play any other starters, so I'm gonna have to go with the Ravens Steel by 10. There's one more game on Saturday the night game Texans versus Colts. Go to Texans by six win and in.

Speaker 2: 37:33

And now our Sunday matchups. First, cowboys versus Commanders. If Cowboys win, they have a chance to win the NFC East and get the number two seed. So I'm gonna go with the Cowboys by 17. And then next game, bucks versus Panthers. If Bucks win, they're in. So I'm gonna go with the Bucks by seven. And then our next matchup, jaguars versus Titans. If Jaguars win, they're the AFC South winners. So I think they do it by 12. And now the game of the week Bears versus Packers rivalry game. I think the Bears might pull off an upset, but the Packers have to win to still be in the playoffs. But I think Bears win by three. Our next matchup Eagles versus Giants. Eagles have been doing very bad lately, so I still think Giants will beat them by eight. Our Sunday night matchup Bills versus Dolphins. If Bills win, they're in.

Speaker 2: 38:46

But they're fighting for their life and they're also if they win, they get the AFC East. But I'm going with the Bills by nine and that is my week 18 predictions. I'll be back next week for the wild card predictions. Skyler out.