We Could Have an Unprecedented NFL Event in Week 18

Nov 14, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) fumbles the ball as he is hot by Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (97) in the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The 2021 NFL regular season has been weird to say the least. That trend has continued as we turn the calendar with a new year. One week into 2022, and we have already seen enough crazy things to last an entire year. Here’s just a few:

A railing nearly sacked a QB.

The most bizarre way to ever get fired.

A recreation of the immaculate reception.

All very weird on their own, but the fact that they happened in the same 8-hour period is quite ridiculous. Guess what, though? We may not have seen the strangest event yet. Week 18 is already guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind event because, well, we’ve never seen a Week 18 in an NFL regular season before. There is a chance that grandaddy of all strange happenings takes place this upcoming Sunday though, and luckily enough for any Minnesota Vikings fans that are sick of watching their own team, they can root for this to happen at the very same time.

While the Vikings will be hosting the Chicago Bears at noon on Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars will also be playing host to the Indianapolis Colts. If the Colts win, they clinch themselves a playoff berth. But, if the Jaguars win? Oh buddy, that opens up a whole new can of worms.

You see, about four hours after that game between the Colts and Jaguars takes place, a much more consequential game will take place between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. If the Colts are victorious earlier that day, this primetime game becomes a “winner-takes-all” for the final AFC playoff spot. However, if the Jaguars win, a TIE in the Sunday night game means BOTH the Chargers and Raiders make the playoffs. This creates a whole new universe of scenarios that I’ve spent way too much time thinking about, so enjoy.

Can the Jaguars Really Beat the Colts, though?

This is the thing that really gets in the way of imagining all the possibilities of Sunday night. The Jaguars are in position for the first overall pick with really nothing to play for while the Colts have everything to play for with a wild card spot on the line. That said, the Jaguars have given Indianapolis some serious problems in recent years.

The most astonishing thing is that the Colts have lost six consecutive games “at” Jacksonville (one of these was in London), being held winless since September 2014. That’s not the only strange stat in this series. however. Over their last 33 games, the Jags are 4-29 overall. They are also 2-2 against the Colts, making half of their wins over the course of 2+ seasons against this one team. We really can’t rule out the possibility that Jacksonville somehow manages to pull off this Week 18 upset.

What in the World Would the Chargers/Raiders Do?

The NFL strategically placed the Chargers and Raiders into primetime football because, I mean, who doesn’t want to watch what should essentially be a playoff game? The NFL is clearly under the impression that Indy will finish off Jacksonville, leaving just one AFC wild card spot for the two teams. But what if they don’t? What in the world would happen in the Chargers and Raiders game if there is a scenario where both teams benefit from a tie?

Well, Brandon Staley has given a very responsible answer, and frankly, it’s the only one he can give without knowing the result of the Colts/Jaguars game. He told Rich Eisen that the Chargers would be “doing everything we can to win this game”, saying that he respects the integrity of the game.

Obviously, that’s the answer you give now, and it’s definitely the football answer I would expect from an NFL head coach. He’s not going to say on a Tuesday before a potentially incredibly important game “well we’re just gonna go out and tie if we can”. No, as Herm Edwards said, “you play to win the game”. You especially play to win the game when it’s against a hated division rival.

That said, what happens when Sunday night rolls around, and a tie means you’re in the playoffs for the first time since 2018? And for the Raiders, what happens if a tie means the franchise’s third playoff appearance since 2002? It’s not like these are two teams that have been making the playoffs year after year. Not to mention, if both teams went out and just kneeled out the clock, it essentially means they have a bye week going into the playoffs: a huge advantage over any opponent regardless of home-field advantage. It has to at least cross your mind.

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But Could Treachery Come into Play?

As funny as it would be to watch two teams go out an kneel out the clock in front of the entire country, I can’t help but think about other scenarios that could play out. After all, even if the two teams were to go into a game on a verbal agreement that they’ll tie the game, these are two franchises that hate each other’s guts. Someone might have their fingers crossed.

What do I mean by that? Well, let’s just imagine the two teams trade possessions and jokes for the first 59 minutes. The Chargers have the ball one last time, now one final Justin Herbert kneel-down away from clinching the playoffs for LA and Las Vegas. Players are high fiving on the sidelines, fans are celebrating in the stands, and the confetti is being prepared to rain on the field. Herbert takes the final snap, and he begins to put his knee towards the turf one last time.

But no, what’s this?

Herbert bolts back up, looking downfield. In the midst of the hour-long standstill, the Raiders secondary has slowly lost its guard. A few are chatting with Keenan Allen, who is wishing them luck in the playoffs. They have no idea what is about to happen.

Streaking down the field is a wide-open Mike Williams. Herbert corks back and unleashes a missile 60 yards downfield. Realizing too late what has happened, the Raiders defense can only watch helplessly as Williams snatches the pass in stride and sprints into the end zone, securing a win for the Chargers. The smiles on Raiders fans in the stands slowly turn to horror. Surely there will be brawls in the parking lot after such a fiendish outcome. Meanwhile, Staley smirks on the sideline, recalling words from just a few days prior, “we’re going to do everything we can to win this game”.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. Go Jaguars.

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