These NFL teams should consider tanking it on Week 17

[frostno98]

Both the Cleveland Browns and Tenessee Titans are 3-12, they can secure the 1 and 2 spots by losing.

The Cowboys, Chargers, and 49ers are all 4-11, this should be interesting.


One game to watch out for is the Seahawks Cardinal game. I think the easiest road to the Superbowl for the Seahawks is maintaining the 6th seed by losing. They will get either Packers or Vikings in the 1st road, both teams they could beat. Then eliminate Carolina in the 2nd round and carry that momentum into Arizona in the NFC Championship game.

[existential]

agreed that Hawks are much better off losing, they should just rest their starters

[MoneyLineDawg]

I'd rather go to Washington than Minny or GB in the playoffs....Have to go thru Carolina and Zona most likely either way and don't think one is a better matchup really

[jjgold]

no draft picks turning any team around

No such thing anymore and injury number one reason

[GunShard]

no draft picks turning any team around

In the 2012 NFL draft when Luck and RG3 were drafted, they completely turned their teams around from one of the worst to one of the best.

[frostno98]

And in 2011, the Broncos got Von Miller in the 4th round. That defense has been stout since, except for their Superbowl year when Von was suspended for 4 games and eventually got injured.

[seaborneq]

And in 2011, the Broncos got Von Miller in the 4th round. That defense has been stout since, except for their Superbowl year when Von was suspended for 4 games and eventually got injured.

Von Miller was a first round pick

[Seaweed]

You play to win

[Vegas39]

Titan won't need to tank with Mettenbeger at QB and Cleveland is Cleveland

[Martinr]

You play to win

Players play to win.
The suits have other ideas.

[t-wizzle]

Nfl players can't afford to tank. Their jobs are on the line.

[SBRMAN23]

Nfl players can't afford to tank. Their jobs are on the line.

This

[mikewlgm]

[mikewlgm]

Players play to win.
The suits have other ideas.

Yup no borderline player is tanking so the team can get a shiny new draft pick....hes playing for his job.

[d2bets]

Every team out of the playoffs should tank. NFL needs to change draft ordering system.

[POOLSIDE]

Tennessee really has no option, they'll be tanking. With Mettenberger at qb they aren't winning anything. Cleveland on the other hand? They'll play to win. Manziel wants it badly. Did you see how pissed he was on the last play of that KC game? The guy is not playing for draft picks.

Seattle should not tank. They'd much rather play a soft Washington team than have to play the Packers in Green Bay. I have no idea how anyone could think otherwise. And for the record, they're not afraid of traveling to Arizona in the second round. They've been playing them twice a year anyway, why not one more.

Besides, do you honestly see a big difference in playing Carolina then Arizona vs playing Arizona then Carolina? Come on. The only glaring difference is they'd rather play the Skins than the Packers.

[Jeep_Life 42]

they need to change the playoff seedings, no way the 'Skins should have a home playoff game, what a joke!

[Da Manster!]

they need to change the playoff seedings, no way the 'Skins should have a home playoff game, what a joke!

...this system has been in place for years...and the last two teams to win their division with sub .500 records was last year Carolina's team 7 - 8 - 1 and then they kicked Arizona's ass in the wild card round 27 - 16..and the Cards were 11 - 5!...and in 2010 Seattle won the NFC West with a 7 - 9 record and beat the Saints at home 41 - 36 and the Saints were also 11 - 5.........once the postseason starts, every team is 0 - 0 and has a decent shot.......and Skins right now are red hot and playing some great football...they are that team that no one wants to play....Hell, we got a good chance as anyone else...

[Vegas39]

Tennessee really has no option, they'll be tanking. With Mettenberger at qb they aren't winning anything. Cleveland on the other hand? They'll play to win. Manziel wants it badly. Did you see how pissed he was on the last play of that KC game? The guy is not playing for draft picks.

Seattle should not tank. They'd much rather play a soft Washington team than have to play the Packers in Green Bay. I have no idea how anyone could think otherwise. And for the record, they're not afraid of traveling to Arizona in the second round. They've been playing them twice a year anyway, why not one more.

Besides, do you honestly see a big difference in playing Carolina then Arizona vs playing Arizona then Carolina? Come on. The only glaring difference is they'd rather play the Skins than the Packers.

Yes Manziel will be trying his ass off as Cleveland likely drafts a QB and sends Johnny pack. So he is auditioning

[habitualwinning]

AZ head coach already said something after their last win about putting something up on the bulletin board so when GB comes back here in 3 weeks we kick their as* again. Caught it on the Fox postgame show when they go inside the locker room for game balls. So if GB loses then we know the NFL isn't fixed, if GB plays AZ again we know that the AZ head coach knew the plan all along, scripted like a broadway production.

[POOLSIDE]

AZ head coach already said something after their last win about putting something up on the bulletin board so when GB comes back here in 3 weeks we kick their as* again. Caught it on the Fox postgame show when they go inside the locker room for game balls. So if GB loses then we know the NFL isn't fixed, if GB plays AZ again we know that the AZ head coach knew the plan all along, scripted like a broadway production.

Yeah, because finding creative ways to get your players a little more motivated for a team they have a decent chance at seeing again in a few weeks is an obvious sign of a fixed game.

[POOLSIDE]

...this system has been in place for years...and the last two teams to win their division with sub .500 records was last year Carolina's team 7 - 8 - 1 and then they kicked Arizona's ass in the wild card round 27 - 16..and the Cards were 11 - 5!...and in 2010 Seattle won the NFC West with a 7 - 9 record and beat the Saints at home 41 - 36 and the Saints were also 11 - 5.........once the postseason starts, every team is 0 - 0 and has a decent shot.......and Skins right now are red hot and playing some great football...they are that team that no one wants to play....Hell, we got a good chance as anyone else...

I agree that changing the format is absurd, but Arizona last year is a questionable example. They won 11 games with Carson Palmer and even Drew Stanton starting. They got stuck starting Ryan Lindley in that playoff game after they unsuccessfully begged fifty year old Kurt Warner to come out of retirement haha.

[Jeep_Life 42]

...this system has been in place for years...and the last two teams to win their division with sub .500 records was last year Carolina's team 7 - 8 - 1 and then they kicked Arizona's ass in the wild card round 27 - 16..and the Cards were 11 - 5!...and in 2010 Seattle won the NFC West with a 7 - 9 record and beat the Saints at home 41 - 36 and the Saints were also 11 - 5.........once the postseason starts, every team is 0 - 0 and has a decent shot.......and Skins right now are red hot and playing some great football...they are that team that no one wants to play....Hell, we got a good chance as anyone else...

I would like to see the Skins make some noise, but shouldn't be playing a home game...

[frostno98]

Actually, you could see both Tennessee and Cleveland covering the spread. I think the Browns will play hard to knock the Steelers out of the playoffs, while Indy will probably go with Stephen Morris a 4th stringer.

[mikewlgm]

I agree that changing the format is absurd, but Arizona last year is a questionable example. They won 11 games with Carson Palmer and even Drew Stanton starting. They got stuck starting Ryan Lindley in that playoff game after they unsuccessfully begged fifty year old Kurt Warner to come out of retirement haha.

I was about to say the same thing...they were down to their 3rd string QB

[Da Manster!]

I was about to say the same thing...they were down to their 3rd string QB

I understand that, but injuries are never an excuse especially at the pro level...every team has them and every team has to deal with them...like they say, next man up...

[POOLSIDE]

I understand that, but injuries are never an excuse especially at the pro level...every team has them and every team has to deal with them...like they say, next man up...

Please stop. Next man up sounds great and all but let's be real. Injuries are more of an excuse at the pro level than at any other level.

Ohio State won a national championship with a third string quarterback last season. The drop off from UCLA's starting small forward to their backup small forward probably isn't a season changer.

But at the pro level? The nearly undefeated Warriors got their shit pushed in tonight by a middling Mavericks team because they were missing Steph Curry. The Packers aren't even close to a playoff team without Rodgers at the helm. I could give a thousand more examples. Losing your quarterback for the playoffs is 100% a valid, understandable excuse. Next man up doesn't cut it.

[Da Manster!]

Please stop. Next man up sounds great and all but let's be real. Injuries are more of an excuse at the pro level than at any other level.

Ohio State won a national championship with a third string quarterback last season. The drop off from UCLA's starting small forward to their backup small forward probably isn't a season changer.

But at the pro level? The nearly undefeated Warriors got their shit pushed in tonight by a middling Mavericks team because they were missing Steph Curry. The Packers aren't even close to a playoff team without Rodgers at the helm. I could give a thousand more examples. Losing your quarterback for the playoffs is 100% a valid, understandable excuse. Next man up doesn't cut it.

well that's what GM's are for...to add quality and depth to rosters...and I totally disagree with your premise....if you are in the NFL, or if you are a pro in whatever sport, it means that you are GOOD!...the best of the best....period....Injuries have always been a part of the game...once again, every team has them and has to deal with them...no excuses at the elite level where every athlete is deemed to be equal...everybody is just as good as you are....hence, next man up!...

[pavyracer]

Even if they try to lose on purpose how do you know the other team is going to let them lose?

[44 Mag]

AT the OP: I thought all those teams tanked all season ????

[pimike]

Tennessee really has no option, they'll be tanking. With Mettenberger at qb they aren't winning anything. Cleveland on the other hand? They'll play to win. Manziel wants it badly. Did you see how pissed he was on the last play of that KC game? The guy is not playing for draft picks.

Seattle should not tank. They'd much rather play a soft Washington team than have to play the Packers in Green Bay. I have no idea how anyone could think otherwise. And for the record, they're not afraid of traveling to Arizona in the second round. They've been playing them twice a year anyway, why not one more.

Besides, do you honestly see a big difference in playing Carolina then Arizona vs playing Arizona then Carolina? Come on. The only glaring difference is they'd rather play the Skins than the Packers.

Big difference between Panthers and Arizona.

[44 Mag]

Big difference between Panthers and Arizona.

Just a guess, one of them will lose BEFORE they get to play each other, always happens.

[pimike]

Just a guess, one of them will lose BEFORE they get to play each other, always happens.

Very possible, however Cards right now the best team.

[meader99]

AZ head coach already said something after their last win about putting something up on the bulletin board so when GB comes back here in 3 weeks we kick their as* again. Caught it on the Fox postgame show when they go inside the locker room for game balls. So if GB loses then we know the NFL isn't fixed, if GB plays AZ again we know that the AZ head coach knew the plan all along, scripted like a broadway production.

Arians said he didn't want to give Green Bay any bulletin board material. He told his team to be complimentary because they will probably see them again in a couple weeks. Arians isn't a dummy. Current seedings show Packers win a playoff game and they are going to Arizona. Not rocket science.

[R.P. McMurphy]

Agreed Arians not a Rex Ryan type moron. This guy knows what it takes to win. Losers talk=Ryan, winners stfu and play=Belicheck types. Bruce don't wanna be no punk ass bitch like Ryan lol