The List: More playoff spots filled, plus NFL 100 receivers and Centennial nominees named

The List: More playoff spots filled, plus NFL 100 receivers and Centennial nominees named

The NFL train is chugging on toward the playoffs. With just one week left in the regular season, there are still two spots up for grabs, one in each conference. Also, several statistical marks were set and the league announced its group of the best wide receivers, as well as an expanded Hall of Fame nominee list. Here is the best and worst from Week 16. 

WINNERS

Playoff spots continue to be filled - Three Saturday games, three games that solidified the playoff atmosphere in both conferences. The Texans clinched the AFC South with a 23-20 win over the Buccaneers in the early game. New England won its 11th straight AFC East crown with a 24-17 win over Buffalo. Finally, Robbie Gould’s 33-yard field goal as time expired allowed the 49ers to knock the Rams out of the playoffs with a 34-31 win. The Vikings earned the last wild card spot on the NFC, despite losing to the Packers on Monday night. 

There were several games with postseason implications on Sunday. Baltimore took home-field advantage in the AFC with a 31-15 win over Cleveland. The Titans and Steelers both lost, leaving them both at 8-7. Meanwhile, the Raiders and Colts both won, pushing each to 7-8. All are still in play for the final AFC playoff spot. Philadelphia defeated Dallas, 17-9, to take over the top spot in the NFC East, which is the last open spot in the conference. The top seed in the NFC is still up for grabs among the Saints, Packers, 49ers, and Seahawks (with those last two meetings in the Sunday night game). 

NFL 100 announces top wide receivers – Last Friday, the NFL 100 announced its group of ten wide receivers, and the list was not without controversy. Here is a look at the selections. 

Jerry Rice is the NFL’s all-time leader with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards, and 197 receiving touchdowns. The three-time champion and Super Bowl XXIII MVP had 14 seasons with 1,000 or more yards and 76 games with more than 100 yards (both records). Rice is also a 13-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time All-Pro. Raymond Berry was the league’s all-time leader with 631 catches and 9,275 yards when he retired in 1967. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro who starred for the Baltimore Colts in their 1958 NFL Championship Game win over the Giants. Before Berry, most receiving records were held by Don Hutson, who was a two-time Joe Carr MVP winner and won the receiving Triple Crown (catches, yards, and touchdowns) a record five times with the Packers. Paul Warfield was an eight-time Pro Bowler with the Browns and Dolphins who retired in 1977 with a then-record 85 receiving touchdowns. Lance Alworth was the first player from the American Football League to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro with the Chargers. Randy Moss ranks second in NFL history with 156 scoring catches and fourth with 15,292 yards. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro who had 10 seasons with 1,000 or more yards. Larry Fitzgerald ranks second in yards (more on that later) and third in receptions, and he is an 11-time Pro Bowler. Steve Largent topped the league’s all-time list in catches (819), yards (13,089) and touchdowns (100) when he retired in 1989. The seven-time Pro Bowler caught a pass in 177 straight games. Marvin Harrison ranks fifth with 1,102 receptions and 128 scores. The eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was the all-time record-holder in single-season receptions (more on this later as well). Finally, Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch led the NFL in 1951 with 66 receptions, a then-record 1,495 yards, and 17 touchdowns, 10 of which were at least 40 yards. 

Noticeably missing from this list is Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, who was a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. “T.O.” ranks third with 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns and eighth with 1,078 catches. Maybe voters decided his mercurial personality and “me first” attitude would be a detriment on this list. 

In addition to the wide receivers, the NFL 100 named two more of its top head coaches. Don Shula was a two-time championship coach who led the Dolphins to a 17-0 season in 1972, the only perfect year in the Super Bowl era. He is the NFL’s all-time leader with 328 regular-season wins and has 347 overall counting the playoffs. Bill Walsh helped perfect the West Coast offense, then used the scheme to lead the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles. He won the league’s Coach of the Year award in 1984 and ’91, and he led San Francisco to six NFC West titles. 

This Friday, the final position group will be announced as 10 quarterbacks get their due. Joe Montana and Tom Brady have already been named, but who will join them?

Special Hall of Fame nominees named – In honor of the NFL’s 100th season, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has put together a Blue Ribbon Panel to choose the “Centennial Slate,” a one-time-only extra Hall of Fame ballot that will name 15 additional inductees for this year’s enshrinement. 

The panel includes members of the current Selection Committee, along with Hall of Famers, coaches, executives, and historians, who looked at the careers of more than 300 candidates and whittled the list down to 38 (eight coaches, 10 contributors, and 20 players). The finalists will be debated in a meeting in early January and 15 names will be selected (two coaches, three contributors, and 10 players). 

Here are the 38 men up for consideration with the “Centennial Slate”: 

Coaches – Don Coryell (Cardinals and Chargers), Bill Cowher (Steelers), Tom Flores (Raiders and Seahawks), Mike Holmgren (Packers and Seahawks), Jimmy Johnson (Cowboys and Dolphins), Raymond “Buddy” Parker (Lions and Steelers), Dan Reeves (Broncos, Giants, and Falcons) and Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs). 

Contributors – Kenneth “Bud” Adams (Oilers and Titans owner), Ralph Hay (owner of the Canton Bulldogs who was at the founding meeting of the American Professional Football Conference), Frank “Bucko” Kilroy (former player who was an executive for more than 40 years), Art McNally (official for more than 20 years, helped established replay system), Art Modell (Browns and Ravens owner), Clint Murchison (original owner of the Cowboys), Steve Sabol (President of NFL Films, worked for the company for 50 years),  Seymour Siwoff (President and CEO of Elias Sports Bureau for 67 years), Paul Tagliabue (NFL Commissioner from 1989 to 2006) and George Young (Giants general manager and the former NFL Senior vice president of football operations). 

Players – Cliff Branch (wide receiver and three-time champion with the Raiders), Harold Carmichael (all-time leading wide receiver with the Eagles), Jim Covert (offensive tackle and champion with the 1985 Bears), Roger Craig (dual-threat running back and three-time champion with the 49ers), Bobby Dillon (safety and four-time All-Pro with the Packers), LaVern Dilweg (receiver and three-time champion with the Packers), Gover “Ox” Emerson (offensive lineman and champion with the 1935 Lions), Randy Gradishar (linebacker who was a seven-time Pro Bowler with the Broncos), Cliff Harris (safety and two-time champion with the Cowboys),  Winston Hill (offensive tackle and champion with the 1969 Jets), Cecil Isbell (running back and champion with the 1939 Packers), Alex Karras (defensive tackle with the Lions who lost the 1963 season due to a gambling suspension), Verne Lewellen (running back who won three titles with the Packers), Tommy Nobis (five-time Pro Bowl linebacker known as “Mr. Falcon”), Drew Pearson (wide receiver who won a championship with the 1977 Cowboys), Donnie Shell (safety who won four titles as part of Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense), Frederick “Duke” Slater (seven-time All-Pro with the Cardinals and Rock Island Independents who was one of the last few black players before the NFL opted for segregation [which lasted from 1934-46]), Mac Speedie (wide receiver and five-time champion [four in the All-America Football Conference and one in the NFL] with the Browns), Ed Sprinkle (defensive end and champion with the 1946 Bears) and Al Wistert (offensive and defensive lineman who won two titles with the Eagles). 

Those 15 will join the usual contingent of five Modern-Era Players. The list of 15 Modern-Era finalists will be announced on January 2, with the final five named on “Selection Saturday,” the day before the Super Bowl in Miami. 

Week 16 milestones - The Ravens locked up the top playoff seed in the AFC with a win over the Browns. Quarterback and top MVP candidate Lamar Jackson threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards in the victory. He became the first player in NFL history with 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and he also set the franchise’s single-season passing touchdown record with 36 (Vinny Testaverde had 33 in the club’s inaugural season of 1996). Mark Andrews caught two touchdowns in the game, allowing him to join Mike Ditka, Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham to have 10 scores in one of his first two seasons. 

While he did not get as much exposure as teammate Drew Brees setting the all-time passing touchdown mark last week, Saints wide receiver caught 12 passes from Brees on Sunday, setting the single-season record with 145 receptions. Marvin Harrison caught 143 passes (ironically, from the guy Brees passed, Peyton Manning) in the 2002 season. New Orleans held off Tennessee for a 38-28 win on Sunday. 

As previously mentioned, Larry Fitzgerald had 48 yards against the Seahawks on Sunday, making him the second player to reach 17,000 receiving yards (he now has 17,038). 

The Eagles took over the lead in the NFC East with a win over the Cowboys and two players set milestones in the game. Running back Miles Sanders had 79 rushing and 77 receiving yards, making him the fifth rookie since 2000 to have at least 500 rushings and 500 receiving yards (joining Reggie Bush in 2006, Giovani Bernard in 2013, Alvin Kamara in 2017 and Saquon Barkley in 2018). Zach Ertz had four receptions on Sunday, giving him 525 overall and allowing him to pass Jason Witten (523) for the most catches by a tight end in his first seven seasons. 

Although the Steelers lost to the Jets, 16-10, T. J. Watt had a strip-sack, giving him 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles. He is only the second Pittsburgh player to attain those marks since 1982 (when sacks became an official NFL stat). James Harrison had 16 sacks and a league-high seven forced fumbles when he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. 

Finally, Christian McCaffery had 15 receptions in Carolina’s 38-6 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday, giving him 109 on the season. The total broke his own single-season record of 107 catches by a running back, and also added him to a list that includes Anquan Boldin, Brandon Marshall, and Michael Thomas as the only players in NFL history to have 100 or more catches in at least two of their first three seasons. 

“You don’t even know how to tank right!” - That line comes from comedian Rob Riggle as part of a skit during the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show. The scene is set with a split holiday-themed living room inhabited by fans of the Cowboys and Eagles before their game on Sunday. Fans of the Redskins and Giants are at the window asking to come in and get that response from “Eagles dad.” 

Later in the scene, “Fluffy” comedian Gabriel Iglesias joins the families to disparage both teams, to which the “Eagles daughter” says, “I’ll go get some batteries we can throw at him!” After a little more back-and-forth, they kick it back to the studio, with “Cowboys son” saying “I wish Jimmy Johnson was my dad,” to which his dad replies, “so does your mom, son.” 

Apparently, the skit was right about one thing, New York and Washington put out a Game of the Week-quality contest, with the returning Daniel Jones leading the Giants to a 35-21 advantage after three quarters, only to see Case Keenum come off the bench to lead the Redskins back. Keenum’s one-yard touchdown run (which stood despite replays being inconclusive about the ball coming out before he reached the goal line) tied the score at 35-all with 29 seconds left. 

In overtime, the Giants marched down the field, using 11 plays and taking 9:45 off the clock before Jones found tight end Kaden Smith for a three-yard scoring pass to give New York a 41-35 win. Jones became the fourth rookie to throw five touchdowns in a game, joining Matthew Stafford in 2009, Jameis Winston in 2015 and Deshaun Watson in 2017. Saquon Barkley had 189 yards rushing and 90 receiving, and his 279 total scrimmage yards were the most in team history, surpassing Tiki Barber’s 276 in Week 17 of the 2002 season. 

For Washington, Adrian Peterson scored his 111th rushing touchdown, moving him out of a tie with Walter Payton and into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time list. 

Another great game involving bad teams took place in Miami, where Ryan Fitzpatrick had the Dolphins up 35-12 with 11 minutes left, only to see Andy Dalton lead the Bengals back. Cincinnati scored 16 points in the final 29 seconds, with Dalton throwing a scoring pass to Tyler Boyd, then hitting tight end Tyler Eifert for two points with 29 seconds left. After recovering the onside kick, the Bengals quickly scored again. Dalton found Eifert with a 25-yard scoring pass, then ran in the conversion to tie the score with no time on the clock. 

The teams traded punts in overtime until Miami took over at its own 30. Fitzpatrick completed three key passes, including a 28-yarder to Isaiah Ford, to set up a 37-yard field goal by Jason Sanders as time expired to propel the Dolphins to victory and give the Bengals the first pick in the 2020 Draft. 

More statistical leaders - Fitzpatrick (419 yards and four touchdowns) led all quarterbacks in yards, and there were several other passers who had stellar games. Dalton (396 yards and four scores), Atlanta’s Matt Ryan (384 yards), the Giants’ Daniel Jones (352 yards and five scores) and Philly’s Carson Wentz (319 yards) were solid, and all but Dalton led their teams to victories. 

In addition to Barkley and Jackson, Arizona’s Kenyan Drake (166 yards and two touchdowns), Green Bay’s Aaron Jones (154 yards and two touchdowns) and Denver’s Philip Lindsay (109 yards) reached the century mark, while Alvin Kamara, of New Orleans, joined Los Angeles players Todd Gurley (Rams) and Melvin Gordon (Chargers) with two scores each. 

McCaffrey (15 catches for 119 yards) and Thomas (12 catches for 136 yards) were just two of the receiving stars this week. Ryan’s top target, Julio Jones, had a league-high 166 yards in Week 16, and Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd (128), Green Bay’s Davonte Adams (13 catches for 116 yards) and Robert Woods (117) of the Rams also were among the weekly leaders. 

“Beast Mode” returning to Seattle - With the Seahawks losing two more running backs to injury (more on that later), the team signed two former backs in Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin on Monday. Lynch’s deal was cemented late Monday night and confirmed with an image of a contract posted on the Twitter feed of his agent, Doug Hendrickson. Lynch has not played at all this season, but the five-time Pro Bowler had four seasons with 1,200 or more yards and double-digit touchdowns in the Pacific Northwest from 2011-14. 

LOSERS

Backup quarterback’s brother stabbed to death - Clayton “Clay” Beathard, 22, grandson of longtime NFL coach and executive, Bobby Beathard, and brother of 49ers quarterback, C. J. Beathard, was one of two men stabbed to death outside a bar in Nashville early Saturday morning. Beathard and 21-year-old Paul Trapeni III were stabbed outside Dogwood Bar. A third man received wounds to his eye and arm and is in the hospital after being stabbed.

According to reports, the incident began as an argument in the bar between Beathard and another man over a woman, then escalated after the parties went outside. Police released an image of the yet-unnamed assailant from the bar’s surveillance video. 

Jaguars fire Coughlin - The longtime head coach and Executive Vice President of Football Operations was relieved of his duties last Wednesday after the NFL Player’s Association looked into some of his decisions. One of the mandates of the hard-nosed Coughlin was that injured players get all rehab treatment at team facilities (a demand that is in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). Before he was traded last year, defensive end Dante Fowler was fined more than $700,000 for missing offseason appointments with team trainers and physicians.

Sadly, the NFL has passed by Coughlin and his tough stance on player accountability. Players such as Jalen Ramsey (who whined his way into a trade out of Jacksonville) and Leonard Fournette (who accomplished little before this season and won a grievance against the team due to a fine he received for sitting on the bench despite being inactive for the game) are becoming the norm. Coughlin instilled toughness and leadership in players such as Mark Brunnell, Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, and Keenan McCardell when he was coach of the Jaguars in the late 1990s, as well as Eli Manning and Michael Strahan with the Giants in the 2000s, but his voice is one the players no longer want to hear. Unfortunately, this is probably it for the two-time champion.

Pittsburgh’s Kelly arrested and then waived - The saying goes, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” Maybe former Steelers safety Kameron Kelly should have heeded that advice. Kelly was charged with making terroristic threats and resisting arrest after an altercation at Mario’s South Side Saloon early Friday morning, then was cut by Pittsburgh later in the day. 

Kelly allegedly threatened a bar employee after his jukebox selection got skipped over. When police arrived at the scene, one of the officers accidentally stepped on the foot of a woman who Kelly says was with him. Kelly became aggressive and was struck several times by officers in order to arrest him. He was arraigned at 4:30 a.m. Friday and released on bail.

Winston has another pick-heavy game - Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston threw four interceptions in a loss to Houston on Saturday (giving him a league-high 28 this season). He threw a pick on the second play of the game that was returned for a score by Bradley Roby. The play tied Winston for the most pick-sixes in a season in NFL history with six. He threw another interception less than a minute later that was returned to the end zone by Justin Reed. The pick stood but the touchdown was called back on an illegal block penalty on Houston. 

Eagles cut one running back, will lose another to retirement - With Jordan Howard coming back from a shoulder injury this week, Philadelphia needs to open up a roster spot, which comes in the form of waiving Jay Ajayi. A Pro Bowler with the Dolphins after rushing for 1,272 yards in 2016, Ajayi has been held to 30 yards on 10 carries in three games this season. 

Meanwhile, the Eagles will lose another running back at the end of the season when Darren Sproles retires. Sproles is currently on injured reserve with a torn right hip flexor muscle. He was a backup running back and kick and punt returner who was selected to three Pro Bowls (2014-16) and was a part of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots. 

Injuries continue to pile up - Even before the games began this week, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (shoulder), Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring), Titans kicker Ryan Succop (knee) and Eagles linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (back) were all facing injuries. 

Joining them from in-game action are: Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esche (surgery on a nerve in his neck), Seahawks offensive tackle Duane Brown (meniscus surgery), plus injuries to running backs Chris Carson (hip) and C. J. Prosise (arm), Ravens running back Mark Ingram (calf strain), Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (shoulder) and running back James Conner (quad), Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (rib) and cornerback Ronald Darby (hip), along with tackle Lane Johnson and cornerback Jalen Mills (both with ankle injuries), Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins (high ankle sprain), Titans wide receivers Corey Davis and Kalif Raymond (concussions) and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (minor hamstring pull). Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks left during the second quarter of Monday night’s game against the Packers after suffering a quad injury.

-By: Kevin Rakas