Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #18 - Bill's Bye-Bye?

Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #18 - Bill's Bye-Bye?

Sunday will mark Bill Belichick’s 429th game as head coach in New England and as the first possible snowstorm of 2024 is on our doorstep, is the door closing on Bill? Will this be his final game in Foxboro, ending the 24-year dynasty in Patriot red, white, and blue?

Only owner Robert Kraft and Belichick truly know the answer to that question for sure, but as we’ve been asking all season long, it doesn’t seem like the man who has won 296 of those games deserves to come back with the Patriots, who currently sit at 4-12 heading into the season finale against the Jets. By now, we all know the story. Since Tom Brady left town, New England has had one winning season in which they won 10 games and made the playoffs with Mac Jones, while Brady’s now retired after winning his seventh Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers. Overall, they’ve gone just 29-38, including the playoffs loss to Buffalo.

With huge talent gaps, especially on the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots could use upgrades at quarterback, wide receiver, and the offensive line. They have nearly $70 million in cap space to help improve the team along with a top-five draft pick, currently number two headed into the final weekend of play.

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It’s time for a new voice and a new look to make those decisions. Bye-bye Bill. Thanks for the memories. We will never forget your run as the greatest NFL head coach of all-time.

NFL Week 18 Power Rankings

 

10. Los Angeles Rams (9-7, Last week not ranked)

The Rams clinched a playoff spot in week 17 as they watched the Seahawks lose to the Steelers on their airplane coming home from the Newark Airport. Since they'll start the NFC playoffs on the road, they’re sitting most of their starters in week 18.

 

9. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, Last week ranked 5th)

Does anyone know what to expect from the Eagles in the playoffs? They've lost four of their last five games including blowing a 21-3 lead to the Cardinals in week 17. With a win over the Giants and a Dallas loss to Washington, they'll win the NFC East. Otherwise, they will be starting the playoffs on the road at the NFC South winner. Letting former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia call plays hasn't helped as Philly allowed the Cards to drive 70-yards in the final three minutes in a 35-31 home loss.

 

8. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, Last week ranked 9th)

For much of the season, the Chiefs haven't looked like themselves. They did, however, clinch their eighth straight AFC West title last Sunday with a victory over Cincinnati. They'll be the third seed in the upcoming AFC playoffs with nothing on the line in week 18 at the Chargers, which is why Patrick Mahomes and most of the starters will be on the bench.

 

7. Cleveland Browns (11-5, Last week ranked 6th)

The Browns are locked into the AFC's fifth seed, so their game against the Bengals in week 18 means nothing. They'll face the AFC South winner, either the Texans, Jaguars, or Colts in the first round. Quarterback Joe Flacco has had four straight 300+ yard passing games. He won’t make it five straight as he sits out week 18 against the Bengals.

 

6. Buffalo Bills (10-6, Last week ranked 7th)

The Bills have won four straight and now find themselves in a winner-take-all matchup in Miami for the AFC East title Sunday night. Should they lose, they could find themselves as a wild-card team or out of the playoffs altogether.

 

5. Miami Dolphins (11-5, Last week ranked 3rd)

Miami missed out on a chance to play for the top seed in the AFC, getting bested in Baltimore by the Ravens. Now, they'll have to beat the surging Bills at home to win the AFC East. Otherwise, they'll be a Wild Card team heading out on the road for round one. To add injury to insult, Miami lost Bradley Chubb with a torn ACL in the game. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is also battling a high ankle sprain as well.

 

4. Detroit Lions (11-5, Last week ranked 4th)

Wouldn't you love to play for Lions' head coach Dan Campbell? The Lions have clinched the NFC North and will be the #2 or #3 seed in round one depending on the outcome of their game with the Vikings on Sunday and the Cowboys and Eagles contests. If you go back to week 9 of last season, Detroit is 19-7.

 

3. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, Last week ranked 8th)

The Cowboys got a break from the officials in their one-point win over the Lions in week 17. Now, if they beat Washington Sunday, they'll win the NFC East and host a Wild Card game instead of going on the road in round one. A Dallas team playing at home has been unbeatable this season, averaging 40 points per game before the Lions held them to 20 in week 17.

 

2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, Last week ranked 2nd)

The 49ers can sit back in week 18 after their win in Washington in week 17 took care of the NFC's top seed. Now, Christian McCaffery will have some time to rest that calf injury that took him out of last Sunday's win in Washington. Quarterback Brock Purdy will join him on the bench along with many other starters against the Rams.

 

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3, Last week ranked 1st)

The Ravens proved they are clearly the top team in the NFL and the top seed in the AFC by routing the Dolphins 56-19 last week. The AFC road to Las Vegas goes through Baltimore after Lamar Jackson's 5 TD performance. The MVP may go through him as well as he leads an offense that's scored 20+ points in 11 straight games.

 

Five games to watch in week 18
Colts at Texans (Saturday 8:15 pm on ABC/ESPN)
Jets at Patriots (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Jaguars at Titans (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Bears at Packers (Sunday 4:25 pm on CBS)
Bills at Dolphins (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC)