Mike McDaniel’s Chubb Flub, the Juiciest Playoff Scenarios, and More Big Takeaways From Week 17 | Extra Point Taken
Jan 2, 2024
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Speculation on Bradley Chubb's injury and its impact on the Dolphins' playoff viability. Desired first-round playoff matchups. Debate on offseason moves for Seahawks defense and Commanders as a whole. The possibility of Kirk Cousins in a Steelers jersey next year. Panthers owner David Tepper turning into the new Daniel Snyder. Scenarios for Cardinals, Lions, and Jets next season.
01:20:30
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Quick takeaways
The Washington Commanders have a unique opportunity to rebuild their team with a new owner, draft capital, and a chance to secure a franchise-changing quarterback.
The Seattle Seahawks need to make adjustments to their team-building strategy and prioritize strong edge play on defense to regain their competitive edge.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should explore other quarterback options and prioritize finding a long-term solution at the position to ensure sustained success.
Deep dives
The Washington Commanders have a prime opportunity for a fresh start
The Washington Commanders have a clean slate for rebuilding their team, with a new owner, draft capital, a chance to secure a top quarterback prospect, and the potential to align the head coach and GM in a cohesive manner. This is a rare and promising situation for a franchise that has struggled in recent years. With the number two pick in the NFL Draft, they have the opportunity to land a franchise-changing quarterback. They also have the chance to institute a clear structure and accountability between the head coach and GM, ensuring that they both succeed or fail together. This is a unique moment for the Washington Commanders to set themselves up for long-term success.
The Seattle Seahawks are at a critical team-building stage
The Seattle Seahawks are facing challenges with their team-building strategy, particularly on defense. Despite investing in high-profile players and resources, their defense has been underperforming for multiple seasons. There is a need for a potential defensive coordinator change and a shift back to their previous defensive philosophy that prioritized strong edge play. With the right adjustments and development, the Seahawks have the opportunity to turn their defense around and regain their competitive edge.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to explore quarterback options for the future
The Pittsburgh Steelers should not rely on Mason Rudolph's performance to determine their future at quarterback. Despite potential success in the playoffs, the team should still consider other quarterback options. Kenny Pickett's absence and potential complexities in the coaching decisions surrounding his involvement suggest that the Steelers are likely to explore other options next season. The team needs to prioritize finding a long-term solution at the quarterback position to ensure sustained success.
The NFL Draft has important implications for the playoff-bound teams
The upcoming NFL Draft holds significant implications for teams that are playoff-bound. It presents an opportunity for teams to secure top quarterback prospects and set themselves up for success in the long run. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, despite their potential playoff runs, should not rely solely on their current quarterbacks and need to explore future quarterback options. The Washington Commanders, on the other hand, have a unique chance to rebuild their team with a clean slate and the number two overall pick in the draft. The decisions made in the upcoming draft could reshape the future of these teams.
The Cardinals' Playoff Hopes for Next Season
Despite their strong offensive performance and improvement under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Arizona Cardinals face challenges on defense that may hinder their playoff chances next season. While quarterback Kyler Murray has played well and the offense has shown potential with young players like rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore, the Cardinals' defense ranks as the worst in the entire NFL. Despite potential improvements, it may take time to address their defensive issues, making it difficult to make a significant leap into the playoffs next season.
Concerns for the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions face a crossroads next season, particularly with the uncertain future of quarterback Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Goff is signed through next year, but there are questions about whether he will remain with the team beyond that. Without Johnson, who has been instrumental in their offensive success, the Lions could face challenges in maintaining consistency on offense. The team also lacks solutions on defense, despite significant spending and draft capital investments. Their division, including strong teams like the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, adds to the obstacles they may face in making the playoffs next season.
Sheil and Ben begin the show by speculating on how Bradley Chubb’s injury will affect the Dolphins' playoff viability and sharing their most desired first-round playoff matchups in each conference. Next, they debate the offseason moves for both the Seahawks defense and the Commanders as a whole (25:56). Finally, Ben sees Kirk Cousins in a Steelers jersey next year, Sheil fears that Panthers owner David Tepper could be turning into the new Daniel Snyder, and they both take a look at some possible scenarios for the Cardinals, Lions, and Jets next season (46:10).
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Hosts: Sheil Kapadia and Ben Solak
Associate Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal and Conor Nevins
