Week 15 recap with Pat Kirwan
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ETPat Kirwan
17 comments
NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan answers your questions and breaks down all the action that unfolded in Week 15, plus looks ahead to more matchups in a live chat on Monday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET.
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Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
02:00 PM
Hi everyone and welcome to this week's chat. Let's get started! -
Adam, Pittsburgh
2:03 PM ET
In my effort to be 100% fair and in keeping me grounded from play-off bound euphoria, did the Steelers get a legitimate touchdown? Follow-up: would you go for the win or the tie if not ruled a touchdown. Thanks!
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Right after the TD was announced, Bill Cowher and I called Mike Pereira in the league office for clarification. the confusion came from the announcement after the review when the officials suggested it was a touchdown because both feet were down in the end zone. That really was only part of what should have been said. That made it a catch. What was left out was that the ball broke the plane of the goal line. The video -- especially the aerial shot -- showed it broke the plan and thus it was a TD.
To the second part of your question: Coach Cowher agreed with me: You go for it in a situation like that when you are inches away. -
Russell, Fayetteville, NC
2:07 PM ET
If the Dallas Cowboys were to lose this Saturday. How much would it affect their playoff chances?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
The Cowboys are at the #5 seed right now. If they drop to 9-6 that hurts them -- significantly if both the Eagles and Falcons win. That would make the regular-season finale between the Cowboys and Eagles for all the marbles. Basically, it is Philly they need to worry the most about. The Eagles should win tonight, and they play a Redskins team that is really struggling next week. -
Matthew, New York
2:10 PM ET
Are the Giants in danger of losing all of their momentum now?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Matthew, the Giants and Titans are both in similar situations. There has been a momentum swing and injuries and the Burress situation are playing key roles in what the end of the season could look like. They meet Carolina for the #1 seed this week. -
Andrew, New York
2:11 PM ET
After 15 weeks of play, who is the strongest team in the AFC East?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Good question, Andrew. The Jets have won with a little luck in recent games. The Dolphins looked solid and yesterday Matt Cassel looked like Tom Brady. The Jets still control their own destiny, but a West Coast trip this week, even against Seattle, scares me. They've already lost at San Francisco and Oakland.
I still say the division champ comes down to the winner of the Week 17 game when Miami plays at the Jets. -
Jonas, Denmark
2:14 PM ET
What is your take on the AFC West as of now, who will reach the playoff. Chargers or Broncos?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
First off, it will be a shame that a 10-win team in the AFC East will probably miss the playoffs and it's possible an 8-8 team will win the AFC West. The Broncos still control their own destiny -- and if they win at home this week against Buffalo, as they should, then the Week 17 game between these teams is moot. -
Jon, Virginia
2:16 PM ET
After the performance of Viking QB Tavaris Jackson over the last two weeks, where does he stand for the rest of this year, or even on to next year?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Tarvaris has done an exceptional job in regaining the confidence of the organization. when you look at his body of work for this season, his 1 INT in 87 pass attempts speaks volumes about his growth. His 5 TD passes in his last 27 throws since coming off the bench last week makes the future bright. as for the rest of this season and the playoffs, I don't think coach Childress would hesitate to play him if Frerotte struggles (though I do believe a healthy Frerotte will return to the starting lineup). I've seen enough from Tarvaris in the last two weeks to convince me he is the QB of the future for the Vikings, and they do not have to draft a QB or sign one in the offseason.
What's really interesting: The success of Tarvaris makes you wonder if the Titans couldn't be looking at a similar scenario with Vince Young and Kerry Collins. -
coatesieshow, toronto
2:21 PM ET
Hey I'm a Panther fan, how far do u think they will make it into the playoffs and do you think they will take the conference?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
If they beat the Giants and get the #1 seed n the playoffs, they can go all the way to Tampa. They are undefeated at home. They can run the ball against any defense in the NFL, the defense is underrated, and Jake Delhomme is starting to play much better football than he did a month ago.
The Giants need to get healthy in order to beat the Panthers -- they need Brandon Jacobs running the ball and they need DT Fred Robbins healthy on the d-line. The Cowboys opened up a can of worms with their 8 sacks of Eli Manning, and the giants are going to have to find a way to block Julius Peppers. -
Randy, Livonia, Michigan
2:25 PM ET
Do the Lions have something with Orlovsky, So they can address LT/DE/MLB with their first 3 picks in April or do they have to look at the QB with the #1 overall pick?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They have to follow the Atlanta Falcons' plan -- hopefully for their sake, Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford comes out early, giving the Lions a chance to find their Matt Ryan. Then they can use the rest of their multiple draft picks to solve the other needs. -
david dunkleman, korea
2:27 PM ET
what is wrong with buffalo do we need a new coach?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
You do not need a new coach in Buffalo. You may need a new backup quarterback, as Losman has been frustrating to fans and coaches in his time replacing starter Trent Edwards. You spent a number of weeks in a row with critical injuries on defense. Edwards is still a work in progress on offense. It's the worst time to turn back and start over with a new coach. Outside of a bad play call late in the game, resulting in a Jets TD for a win, it's clear the Bills players are still playing hard for Dick Jauron. -
Lori Fellows, New Brunswick, Canada
2:29 PM ET
Based on what you've seen in the last few weeks, what are your predictions for the playoffs?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Lori, I'll say Pittsburgh weill be the #1 seed in the AFC followed in this order by: 2, Tennessee, 3. Jets, 4. Denver, 5, Ravens, 6. Colts. In the NFC, Giants are #1, followed by: 2. Panthers, 3. Vikings, 4. Cardinals, 5. Tampa Bay, 6. Philadelphia.
My Super Bowl as of today would be Carolina and the Steelers. Ask me next week and I might have a different set of teams. -
Joe M., Fairfax, VA
2:32 PM ET
After another blown lead, resulting is another embarrassing loss when does Herm Edwards get shown the door??
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Herm Edwards will be there in 2009. Your frustrations are easy to understand, but this youth movement was going to come with a lot of mistakes and a number of blown leads. There will have to be progress next year before the subject of Herm and "the door" are real. -
Kaye Cowher, Raleigh, NC
2:34 PM ET
Will Dan Snyder maker another run at my husband this off-season?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I think Dan Snyder will make a run at your husband any year he's available, and rightfully so. But he's not going to get him (he loves being home with you, Kaye.) -
randy, montreal
2:35 PM ET
hi pat, do you think the falcons are out. or do they still have a chance. and how can they improve??
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They still have a chance, Randy. They're at the seven seed with two games left. They can win at Minnesota and should win easily at home against St. Louis. I think Dallas will lose at least one of their last two games. Tampa Bay has San Diego and Oakland at home -- which is why they have the best chance of those three to get in. I do think Atlanta will do their part by winning the last two games. Then they just need the Cowboys or Bucs to lose one.
All season I've said the Falcons are the Browns of '08 - a potential 10-6 team that doesn't make the playoffs. You have a real chance to be an 11-5 team and Mike smith should be coach of the year. the future is bright and with Matt ryan Atlanta will be in playof contention for the next 10 years. -
Josh Farris, Omaha Ne
2:39 PM ET
Ha pat I listen to you everyday on Sirius. Love the show. Tom Brady got the job done in New England with no name receivers. Do you think Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys would be better off with dumping the primadonnas and getting some blue collar talent.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I only replace talent with talent. I think after this season I could convince myself to show Terrell Owens the door and build the passing game around Roy Williams, Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton. -
Chris, Newport Beach, CA
2:40 PM ET
Do the 49ers keep Singletary on as head coach next year or pursue someone else?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They absolutely should keep Mike Singletary. He is unorthodox, but he improved the play of this team overnight. He's done enough to deserve this chance. Give him an offseason to shape that roster the way he wants, and you will have one very tough football team. If you let him go, you'll be playing against him. -
Mitch, San Diego
2:42 PM ET
How much of a chance do the Eagles have at making the playoffs?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Earlier in the chat I picked them to be the sixth seed. They win the next two games -- starting tonight -- and they will be 9-5-1, playing the Cowboys at home, who will be either 9-6 or 10-5. Either way, the winner goes to the playoffs. I like Philly's chances at home. Ask any Cowboy fan which team in the NFC East they fear the most, and they will tell you it's the Eagles. -
Ocho Cinco, Cincinnati, OH
2:44 PM ET
Pat, who do you suggest I play for next season?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Ocho, you'll be lucky to stay in Cincinnati and hope they still want you. Nobody understands you better than Marvin Lewis, and you're too old to try to get a new coach to figure out what you are all about. and wait until you see what some of the other QBs in the league look like compared to Carson Palmer, who will be back next season. Try showing up for the offseason next year. You'll enjoy it and I think your team will benefit from it.
That's a wrap for this week. Great questions as always. Enjoy the stretch run.
