Views from 400’s Week 17 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

Hey everybody, it’s been a while.

We interrupt the 12 Days of Bowlmas to bring you our weekly Thursday Night Football Roundtable column. If you aren’t familiar, every Thursday during the NFL Regular Season the guys from Section 400 give you their predictions, bets, and analysis ahead of the game.

Tonight’s matchup features two teams that had very different, but somewhat similar, seasons in 2023.

Both the Browns and the Jets came into the season loaded on the defensive side of the ball but had question marks on the offensive side of the ball.

The Jets lost Aaron Rodgers and have tried to piece together the offense ever since. Cleveland lost Deshaun Watson and turned to former-Jet Joe Flacco.

Flacco has made the Browns legitimate Super Bowl Contenders while New York’s quarterbacks have been metaphorically taking the Browns to the Super Bowl all year long.

Here is what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Jack Albanese, and Matt Kolen are thinking ahead of the final Thursday Night Football matchup of the season.

Guardian(s) Angel?

Matt has been yelling at us for about a month now about how Joe Flacco is good enough to lead the Browns to the Super Bowl. It’s starting to get hard to argue with him. Can the 38-year-old really win his second ring?

BH: I don’t often admit when I’m wrong, but I am willing to do it here. Matt’s take was spot on. Flacco has turnover issues, but he’s made the Browns a competent offensive team. If he can limit the interceptions in the postseason this defense is good enough to win it all.

MK: I’m glad to hear you admit that, Brian. I simply don’t know how anyone could believe he can’t go win it all. This guy has been lights out throwing the ball all over the field. Yes, he’s thrown interceptions, but he’s also lit up the world for nearly 1,000 yards over his last three games.

I’ll put it like this, he has all the pieces necessary to go on a miracle run in the playoffs.

JA: He can if he stays healthy enough it is a possibility. I just don’t expect that to be the case. Flacco isn’t mobile and he’s a father of four. The dude is old.

Flight Delayed.

The Jets came into the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Those were derailed almost instantly when Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles on the first drive of the season. Have you seen enough from the 6-9 Jets this year that tells you they can compete next year.

BH: No. New York’s offensive line is beyond horrendous. Rodgers is going to be 40 next year. The Jets need to make MAJOR upgrades across the offensive line if they want to compete next year. I don’t care about how good the defense is.

MK: The Jets defense is still a brick wall and I don’t see that changing next year. I think a healthy Rodgers would make them good enough to be a fringe playoff team next year, but I won’t get carried away and call them legitimate Super Bowl Contenders. I’m expecting 9 or 10 wins next season.

JA: The defense is stouter than a Guinness. Garett Wilson and Breece Hall are electric weapons on the offensive side. New York is a quarterback away from being a contender.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall.

That’s about all I can think of in terms of questions to ask ahead of this snooze fest so I’ll ask you this. Give me a crazy prediction for the games this weekend!

BH: I guess it wouldn’t be that crazy for this weekend, but give me the Las Vegas Raiders to take down the Colts in Indianapolis this week, then go into Denver and beat the Broncos in Week 17 to make the playoffs. I LOVE what Antonio Pierce is doing in Sin City.

MK: Call me crazy, but divisional games get weird. I wouldn’t be shocked if the New England Patriots win their second game in a row by beating the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.

JA: Home teams will go 13-3 this week. Book it.

I also agree with Brian’s Raiders take. Don’t be shocked if Vegas wins their next two and find a way into the playoffs.

Best Bet

I need your best bet for tonight boys.

BH: I can honestly tell you I won’t be watching a second of this game with Bowl Season in full swing and Oregon playing USC to kick off the PAC 12 basketball season tonight. I’ll give you a Browns money line + Jerome Ford over 40 rushing yards parlay though. It comes out to around (-115)

MK: Trevor Siemian should not be on an NFL roster. He’s throwing for under 177.5 yards tonight.

JA: I bet you can’t guess what I’m taking. This one is going under 34 total points.

Final Score Prediction

We’ve been so close on these. What is your final score prediction for tonight?

BH: I’ll take Cleveland, 26-7.

MK: Browns clinch a playoff spot handily, 21-10.

JA: Everything about this football game is gross, Browns 21-3.