NFLSU Week 18 Recap

Jim Mora voice: PLAYOFFS???

The NFL regular season came to a close Sunday, meaning it’s now Playoff time. Unlike year’s past, several of the biggest names in NFLSU will not be participating which is a major bummer, but there are still plenty of Tigers active and our mission to have at least one of the hoist the Lombardi Trophy is underway again. First, let’s break down how everyone performed for the last time until September.

Steelers 17 at Ravens 10

Odell Beckham Jr. got the day off with the AFC’s top seed clinched, but first-time Pro Bowler Patrick Queen played and had eight tackles. Patrick Peterson had one tackle and will return to the playoffs for the first time in quite awhile for him.

NFLSU Score: 4/10

Texans 23 at Colts 19

Derek Stingley Jr. had one tackle and one pass breakup. The Colts’ season ends in heartbreak, but still a promising result in Year 1 of a new regime. Now we need to get some Tigers on that roster.

NFLSU Score: 2/10

Falcons 17 at Saints 48

Tyrann Mathieu had three tackles and his fourth interception of the season and came OH SO CLOSE to scoring a touchdown in his home city for the first time.

That’s too bad. Surely whatever happened as a result of the interception was uneventful and caused no drama whatsoever.

Foster Moreau caught one pass for three yards.

NFLSU Score: 5/10

Buccaneers 9 at Panthers 0

Devin White had three tackles. Trey Palmer caught one pass for 10 yards.

For one last time, we will mercifully discuss the 2023 Carolina Panthers. DJ Chark caught two passes for a team-high 46 yards. He got 43 of them on what should have been a huge second quarter touchdown that became a fumble at the last second. Terrace Marshall Jr. caught one pass for five yards. Stephen Sullivan played but did not record a catch. Donte Jackson was tied with a team-high seven tackles, while Deion Jones had four.

Normally I would celebrate a team playing five LSU Tigers. I will not. Please free them. They don’t deserve this.

NFLSU Score: 4/10

Browns 14 at Bengals 31

Ethan Pocic got the day off with the Browns having nothing to play for. Ja’Marr Chase, who was named to his third Pro Bowl in three seasons, caught four passes for 19 yards.

Please Lord, let this be the last time we see Joe Burrow on the sidelines in street clothes.

NFLSU Score: 2/10

Vikings 20 at Lions 30

Justin Jefferson had a vintage day with a whopping 192 yards and a TD on 12 catches. Danielle Hunter, the third a final NFLSU Pro Bowler prior to alternates, had six tackles and his final sack of his stellar season. He finished the year with 16.5, good for fifth in the league. Jay Ward had one tackle as well.

The Lions are so young and fun and exciting. God I wish they had a Tiger or two.

NFLSU Score: 7/10

Jets 17 at Patriots 3

Davon Godchaux had two tackles. Look! Snow!

NFLSU Score: 2/10

Jaguars 20 at Titans 28

Arden Key had four tackles with a pass breakup.

NFLSU Score: 3/10

Seahawks 21 at Cardinals 20

BJ Ojulari finished off his solid rookie season with five tackles. Damien Lewis and Anthony Bradford blocked.

NFLSU Score: 3/10

Bears 9 at Packers 17

No Tigers. These teams have their offseason homework cut out for them.

NFLSU Score: 0/10

Chiefs 13 at Chargers 12

Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran two times for one yard and caught one pass for nine yards. While he’s not the starter anymore, the limited action shows the Chiefs believe they need him for the Playoffs, so that’s nice.

NFLSU Score: 1/10

Broncos 14 at Raiders 27

Lloyd Cushenberry, I promise we will get you to the Playoffs one year. I promise you.

NFLSU Score: 1/10

Eagles 10 at Giants 27

Cor’Dale Flott has one pass breakup. The Eagles’ vibes are in the toilet and you can thank their Tigerless roster for that.

NFLSU Score: 1/10

Rams 21 at 49ers 20

Even with the starters resting we couldn’t get Ty Davis-Price snaps. Kyle Shanahan has never won a Super Bowl so why should anyone trust him?

NFLSU Score: 0/10

Cowboys 38 at Commanders 10

Damone Clark had four tackles. Saahdiq Charles played every snap.

NFLSU Score: 3/10

Bills 21 at Dolphins 14

The Bills make Leonard Fournette a part of a team and they go from 6-6 to division champs… curious! While seven rushes for 20 yards doesn’t jump off the page, Fournette serves another important role as Josh Allen’s tush-pusher. This game also featured three Duke Riley tackles and both Fergusons long snapping.

NFLSU Score: 5/10

WILD CARD WEEKEND MATCHUPS

Now we look ahead to which games LSU fans should check out to see our guys.

SATURDAY

3:30 CST on NBC: Browns at Texans

Browns: C Ethan Pocic, S Grant Delpit (if he comes back from injury, which is possible)

Texans: CB Derek Stingley Jr.

7:15 on PEACOCK: Dolphins at Chiefs

Dolphins: LB Duke Riley, LS Blake Ferguson

Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

12:00 on CBS: Steelers at Bills

Steelers: CB Patrick Peterson

Bills: RB Leonard Fournette, LS Reid Ferguson

3:30 on FOX: Packers at Cowboys

Packers: None

Cowboys: LB Damone Clark

7:15 on NBC: Rams at Lions

Rams: None

Lions: None

7:00 on ABC/ESPN: Eagles at Buccaneers:

Eagles: None

Buccaneers: LB Devin White, WR Trey Palmer