Audibles

The NFL's highest-scoring season ever ends with a whimper, not a bang. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick win their sixth rings, Julian Edelman wins the MVP, and Wade Phillips wins respect, but the Rams offense fails to show up.

For the first time in history, both conference championship games go to overtime. The New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl, as they once again play an explosive Rams offense, led by an offensive genius head coach, in an NFC South dome. And, uh, how about that officiating?

A very tame divisional round again ends in a quartet of home-team victories. Only one of those road teams could even be truly described as competitive, but even Old Saint Nick was stopped late against the Saints.

Newbie quarterbacks go 0-3 in their playoff debuts. Old Saint Nick leads another seasonal upset (courtesy of an ill-timed Cody Parkey crossbar challenge). Both road teams advance in the AFC. The only matchup of two playoff veterans sees both take a back seat, as running and defense are the order of the day in Dallas.

The 2018 regular season has ended, and the playoff field is set. Your Audibles crew discusses the action on a final day that is equal parts predictable (every single top-five seed with anything to play for won) and incredible (fourth-and-season in Baltimore again, and the Eagles are back in the playoffs).

What moment best sums up Jacksonville's 2018 season? Did Joe Haden's pass interference call against the Saints merit an entire capsule of its own? Your Audibles crew discusses the action as the AFC playoff race goes down to the final week with almost nothing yet guaranteed.

A week that was supposed to make things clearer instead muddies the playoff field substantially. Half of the league's division leaders lose, including both presumptive No. 1 seeds. Three of the AFC's four remaining six-seed contenders win. Five divisions are still technically up for grabs, somehow still including the AFC East. And just what is wrong with the Rams?

Up is down in Week 14, as three of the AFC's top four seeds take losses and the fourth needs overtime for a narrow home win. At the opposite end of the standings, two of the three contenders for the No. 1 draft pick take home victories over playoff contenders. Your Audibles team comments on the weird and the wacky.

The Week 13 action is particularly unlucky for the Colts, the Panthers, the Bears, and Mike McCarthy. The first playoff berth is mathematically clinched in the NFC, while one AFC bye-week contender is upset at home by another on Sunday night. Your Audibles crew discusses.

Thanksgiving weekend means one of the smallest Sunday slates of the regular season. Your Audibles crew discusses important wins for the Seahawks, Broncos, Colts, and Vikings, on a day with no games played between two teams that came in with a winning record.