The Pats are hanging on to the slim chance of making the AFC playoffs with a record of 5-6. They must win all of their games and need losses from other teams.
Meanwhile, it's different in the NFC East where the Giants are on top with a record of 4-7. It's a very tight race with Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas all one game behind.
The Eagles are playing the Seahawks tonight on MNF. A win would give them a record of 4-6-1 and a share of the division lead.
Covid is turning the NFL season upside down. The Broncos are the latest to deal with a situation that impacts the overall competitive process.
When they face the Saints today, they will be without any of the quarterbacks on the active roster. They will start rookie WR Kendall Hinton from their practice squad.
Hinton played quarterback three seasons at Wake Forest where he had a line of 133/253 for 1,504 yards and eight TD's. He also rushed for 1,059 yards on 188 carries with 12 TD's.
It sounds like he gives them their best chance, but the team wanted to add offensive quality coach Rob Calebrese to their active roster. They felt he knew the offense better than anyone else.
The NFL nixed that move as they didn't want to get into a situation with coaching staffs becoming storage areas for potential players.
UMass finished its four game season with a 45-0 loss to Liberty, ending at 0-4.
The Minutemen gave up 629 yards on defense and were only able to produce 227 when they had the ball.
UMass continues its crazy ride as a Division 1 program. Entering this season, their six year record was 19-77. In their four games, they were outscored 161-16. A winless season doesn't help.
They were lucky to have a season of four games because it was canceled during the summer. It came back to life in September.
It's important that the seniors had a final chance to play.
The NFL has a mess with the game between the Steelers and Ravens. It was suppose to be played on Thanksgiving night, but Covid changed everything.
It doesn't seem like they should play on Sunday night.
The NFL needs to add another week to the season in light of Covid.
It's a no brainer.
The NFL must be disappointed over postponing the Thanksgiving night game between the Steelers and Ravens due to a high number of positive Covid tests on the Ravens. It will be played Sunday night.
Is this just kicking the can down the road? Will things be better Sunday night?
The NFL hates to lose any money. Postponing a Thursday night game doesn't help, but they must show concern about players, coaches and team personnel.
Tom Brady has been accused of being a sore loser in the past. He is taking heat for not shaking hands with opposing quarterbacks after a defeat.
He did it to Jared Goff on SNF after losing 27-24. He did it earlier in the season to Nick Foles of the Bears after another loss.
Critics point out that he has no problem seeking out his opponent when he wins.
At 4-6, the Pats are almost out of the playoffs according to the experts.
It's long road ahead. They must win every game.
One more loss ends the season.
The Pats really hurt their playoff hopes after losing 24-17 today to the Texans. They are now 4-6 and need to win the remainder of their games to have any chance.
It won't be easy as they lost RB Rex Burkhead to a knee injury that will probably end his season. At this point, he was the team's MVP on offense.
It was looking like the Pats would part company with DE Derek Rivers, their 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft.
He missed his first two seasons with an ACL injury and other issues.
His playing time was cut down to 16% of possible snaps so far this season.
The Pats have an opportunity to sign him to the practice squad if he doesn't get claimed.
I don't think his time is done in Foxborough.
UMass just lost 24-2 to Florida Atlantic University. The Minuteman defense played great, but the offense could never get a long sustained drive.
They were given 33 points by the betting line. The over of 51 was never reached.
They have one more game with Liberty next Friday at noon.
Nobody ever thought they would play four game this year in autumn.
The Pats are 4-5 and are trying to stay in the race for a playoff spot. The Eastern Division title is not an option this year.
They can't lose more than one game or their season is over.
UMass will end up with a four game season after scheduling a game this Friday with Florida Atlantic.
The Minutemen area a 32.5 underdog with an over/under of 50.5
They will probably drop to 0-3 with Liberty on the docket the follwing Friday to close out the season.
It's good to see the Show Time Cam at NFL stadiums with or without fans. Everyone loves to pose after a big play.
It must be really hard to play in front of nobody, especially if your team is just playing out the season..
The Pats won a crucial game tonight when they beat the Ravens 23-17 to improve to 4-5. They are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. They need to get to 500.
They travel next week to play the Texans at 1pm. They will be favored, but that doesn't mean anything.
Some players never make it back from their injuries. QB Alex Smith of the WFT will be starting his first game in two years after a gruesome 2018 injury that saw both bones broken in his lower leg.
He had to endure 17 surgeries and complications to get to this point.
No matter what the score is against the Lions, Smith has already won his own battle.
The Ravens are favored by seven points over the Pats on SNF.
It will be the only show in town. The Pats can't afford to lose this game.
The Pats are 3-5 and need to beat the Ravens to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Will that happen? If they get to 3-6, it would be really difficult for their future plans.
They will get all of the attention on Sunday Night Football with the Ravens.
It's a game they need to win.
There are only 32 punters in the NFL. Jobs are scarce and many are on the outside waiting a chance to make a team.
Ryan Allen was released by the Pats in 2019 after they selected Jake Bailey in the 5th round of the draft. He was able to resurface with the Falcons, but was a free agent at the start of 2020.
I'm sure Coach Mike Vrabel was comfortable signing him considering his link to the Pats.
At the halfway point of the season, the media is posting the playoff prospects for most teams.
The Division leaders are in the driver's seat. It's their title to lose.
The Wild Card teams will do their best to fight off the competition and get their slot.
The Pats are "In The Hunt".
That really means that the post-season is on a week to week basis. Two more losses will end their season.
QB Tom Brady had a very rough night Sunday in the Bucs 38-3 loss to the Saints. It was his largest margin of defeat in his 283 starts in the NFL and 29 at the University of Michigan.
He had a line of 22/38 for 209 yards, three interceptions and a 40.3 passer rating.
The game was hyped as a marque contest between Brady and Drew Brew, but was very one-sided.
The Bucs also broke an 87 year old NFL record for having only five rushing attempts that gathered 8 yards.
It could have been four carries, but Blaine Gabbert replaced Brady at the end of the game and took a knee which counted for -1 yard.
The Steelers beat the Cowboys 24-19 today to remain undefeated at 8-0.
Their record gives them an opportunity to pursue an undefeated season, but each week will bring a new challenge.
Fans and sport talk shows will keep the conversation alive, but the Steelers need to do their part weekly.
As expected, UMass lost to 16th ranked Marshall by 51-10.
However, they beat the odds because Marshall was favored by 44.5 points.
Those gamblers who took UMass with the points scored a victory.
Many of the great players throughout NFL history saw their best years wasted on losing teams. Everyone has only so many years to play.
Texans JJ Wat has been with them for ten seasons. They are 1-6 with Bill O'Brien already having been fired..
It's looks like they will be rebuilding, but don't have a first or second round pick in the 2021 draft.
Watt wants to have a shot at winning a Super Bowl. If he stays with the Texans, he might never get his opportunity.
Boston sports talk radio is trying to create a competition between Coach Belichick and Tom Brady over who is doing better.
Brady is doing very well and was the NFL Offensive Player of the Month for October. The Pats are struggling with a 2-5 record.
Fans and the experts need to move on from this story. Brady was never going to be paid by the Pats. Belichick needed to find a future quarterback.
That part hasn't gone well so far this season.
At 2-5, the Pats are moving on to the Jets.
They can't afford to lose more than two games or the season is over.
They all know that.
The goal is 7-2 to finish the season and hope that 9-7 gets a spot.
UMass plays its second game of the season when they travel to Marshall. They are 44.5 point underdogs, with an over/under of 55.5
All things point towards this being a very long day for the Minutemen.
At least they have another game on their schedule.
It sounds like there will be a college bowl game season this year. Will all 37 games get played? There are a lot of financial reasons to play them.
They are scheduled to start on December 19th in this abbreviated season.
In the end, they are another hyped up televised game that provides revenue to the participating schools. They also get great exposure.
It's hard not to think that the chance of the Pats going to the playoffs probably died today when Cam Newton lost the ball in the final moment of the 4th quarter against the Bills.
The Pats were looking good to win the game or tie with the score at 24-21, but it all ended when Cam coughed it up.
Can the Pats get to the playoffs?
