The coach with "13 seconds" and a 1-6 overtime record on his résumé fumbled again in the Bills' 13-12 loss to the Eagles, which is where we begin the Week 17 review:
⋅ Moments after the loss, McDermott was unapologetic about his decision to go for 2 and the win with five seconds left instead of kicking the extra point and heading to overtime. Allen had Khalil Shakir open in the back of the end zone, but missed the throw.
"Wanted to be aggressive going for the win, and I'd do it again," McDermott said. "We've got a heck of a quarterback, he's the best quarterback in the league, and I'd take him 1,000 out of 1,000 times to make that throw."
I'm usually on Team Go For It and applaud coaches for making bold decisions, but in this case, McDermott misread the situation. The Bills had the home crowd in their favor and all the momentum, finishing the game with two straight touchdown drives. The Eagles also were doing nothing -- Jalen Hurts went 0 for 7 passing in the second half and picked up just one first down. The Bills had their first extra point blocked, but there was no need to put the game on the line with one final play.
The loss dropped the Bills to 11-5 and the AFC's No. 7 seed, and ended their hopes of a sixth straight AFC East title. To make matters worse, Allen hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in two straight games as he battles an ankle injury.
The Bills have the quarterback and experience to make a Super Bowl run, but Allen tries too hard to play Superman, and their coach still doesn't inspire much confidence.
⋅ The Rams and Seahawks have been dominating the NFC West for most of the season, but we should have been paying more attention to the 49ers. They improved to 12-4 with Sunday night's 42-38 win over the Bears, setting up a winner-take-all showdown with the 13-3 Seahawks Saturday night for the division crown and No. 1 playoff seed. The Rams, 11-5 after a 27-24 loss in Atlanta on Monday night, can only get as high as No. 5.
The 49ers' defense is struggling, with just six interceptions on the season and allowing 440-plus yards to four teams, including the Bears. But the 49ers have won six games in a row, and coach Kyle Shanahan has again done a great job with an injury-riddled roster, going 5-3 with Mac Jones and 7-1 with Brock Purdy.
If the 49ers beat the Seahawks, they would play at home throughout the playoffs -- including the Super Bowl, should they make it.
"Shanahan's brain needs to be protected at all times," guard Dominick Puni told the San Francisco Chronicle.
⋅ Anyone feel like winning the AFC North or NFC South?
The 9-7 Steelers could have wrapped up a division title simply beating the lowly Browns on Sunday, but managed just two field goals on 11 possessions in a 13-6 loss.
The two-game suspension of receiver DK Metcalf loomed large for the Steelers, with Aaron Rodgers throwing for just 168 yards and unable to squeeze the ball into the end zone in the closing seconds. They will have to find some semblance of a passing game this week, as they host the 8-8 Ravens with the winner getting the AFC North title and No. 4 playoff seed.
The 8-8 Panthers and 7-9 Buccaneers also are wheezing to the finish line, with both losing Sunday to set up another winner-take-all matchup Saturday in Tampa. The winner will host the Seahawks, 49ers, or Rams in the playoffs, depending on Week 18 outcomes.
The Panthers' 27-10 loss at home to the Seahawks was at least understandable, though Bryce Young completing 14 of 24 passes for just 54 yards and an interception is troubling. The Panthers' leading receiver was Jalen Coker, with 16 yards on two catches.
The Buccaneers, though, look even more like a broken team. Baker Mayfield had three turnovers and was outdueled by Dolphins rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers. Their 20-17 loss was their fourth in a row and seventh in eight games.
Tracking former Patriots
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett: Threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns but suffered his eighth straight loss, 37-14 to the Bengals.
Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers: Had six catches for 39 yards in a 23-17 win over the Colts. Doesn't put up big numbers every game but has been Steady Eddie for the Jaguars.
Bills WR Brandin Cooks: Had four catches for 101 yards, including a 50-yarder, in the 13-12 loss to the Eagles. Cooks entered the game with just 178 yards all season with the Saints and Bills, and recorded his first 100-yard game since Week 10 of 2023 with the Cowboys.
Steelers S Kyle Dugger: Had a team-high eight tackles and his second interception of the season for the Steelers, and fourth of his career. Hasn't missed a snap in eight games.
49ers DE Keion White: Had just one tackle in the win over the Bears, and has 1.5 sacks in eight games. By playing at least seven games for the 49ers, the Patriots get back the seventh-round pick they sent in the trade.
49ers WR Kendrick Bourne: Had one catch for 25 yards. Targets have been limited the last month.
Quick hits
⋅ The Lions and Vikings are big underachievers at 8-8, but at least the Vikings have an excuse, having to play J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer at quarterback. The Lions have no such excuse with Jared Goff, who had seven giveaways all season and then five more on Christmas. If the season ended today, the Lions would finish last in the NFC North.
⋅ It's mind-boggling how Jalen Hurts can in 10 months morph from unstoppable in the Super Bowl to 0 for 7 for 0 yards in the second half against the Bills. Something is rotten in Philadelphia.
⋅ The Saints are showing impressive fight to end the season, winning their fourth straight game to improve to 6-10. Second-round pick Tyler Shough threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Titans and might be for real.
⋅ Why was Ashton Jeanty, one of the few positives for the Raiders moving forward, still taking carries late in the fourth quarter of a 24-point loss in Week 17 of a wasted season?
⋅ Drake Maye became the first player in NFL history to complete 90 percent of his passes while throwing for 250 yards and five touchdowns in a game.
⋅ John Harbaugh was criticized all week for not having Derrick Henry in the game for most of the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the Patriots. Henry Saturday night against the Packers: 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns.
⋅ The Jets' minus-107 point differential this December is the worst for that month in NFL history.
⋅ The Texans became the fifth team since 1990, and first since 2018, to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. But C.J. Stroud and that offensive line look shaky.
⋅ The Bengals threw a quick hitch to reserve offensive tackle Cody Ford, who caught it and rumbled 21 yards down the sideline. NFL rules don't allow eligible players to line up as ineligible, but vice versa is still OK.
⋅ The Chargers look like the team everyone should want to play in the first round of the AFC playoffs.