The Cowboys clinched their playoff spot last week. Now, they're just going through the motions to get home-field advantage all sewn up. When that happens, don't expect them to rest the starters. Jerry Jones said as much on his Tuesday radio show.
That raises the bigger question of whether Tony Romo will get to see the field again this season. On the one hand, reps are good, even garbage time reps. On the other hand, can they really afford to put Romo at risk for injury? If he gets hurt in a meaningless Week 17 game, that leaves the Cowboys on the hook for a lot of money, a lot more money than they'd be on the hook for if they traded him in the offseason.
Teams almost never say they're going to play their backups once they have their playoff spot locked down, but they usually do it anyway. The best bet for the Cowboys might be to let Dak Prescott cool his heels for a little bit, as well as Romo, and let Mark Sanchez take a few reps.
MONDAY NIGHT STINKER: Jets got their "ass handed to them" again, and it’s time to clean house. Even by the Jets’ standards, Monday’s 41-10 loss to the Colts was ugly. It’s time to clean house in New York, again. The best part of the game was when Kevin Harlan did play-by-play of fans on the field again and it was brilliant.
TIME TO BELIEVE IN THE CHIEFS & LIONS: NFL power rankings Week 14: It’s time to believe in the Chiefs and Lions. Everything is coming together for some teams, while others were exposed as frauds in Week 13. Chiefs and Lions fluked their way to being good. The Lions and Chiefs are proving that "fake it until you make it" works at a team level, too.
STAFFORD MVP LEVEL: Matthew Stafford is looking more dynamic than ever for the Lions. Stafford isn’t just a big arm that puts up a ton of yardage — he’s becoming a smarter, better quarterback, and growing with an evolving offense.
MOCK DRAFT: 2017 NFL mock draft: What if the QBs just aren’t that good? It’s no sure thing quarterbacks go in the top 10. In this week’s mock, we look at what happens if they don’t.
RAIDERS' HEART AND SOUL: Michael Crabtree is the Raiders’ heart and soul. Derek Carr and Khalil Mack are the MVPs for the red-hot Raiders, but it’s Crabtree who gives them the spark they need.
WHAT ABOUT CAM'S TIE? Cam Newton's tie issues a statement about his owner's alleged dress code violation. The slighted piece of neckwear issued a terse press release.
FISHER HAS MORE EXCUSES: Jeff Fisher's problems are never his fault, and he has a contract extension to prove it. Nobody in the NFL is as good at being bad at their job as Jeff Fisher, but he’s got a million excuses for that. Let’s review them. Dragonfly Jonez finds some valuable career advice in Fisher's terribleness. There was something especially fitting about Tom Brady getting his 201st win against the coach who’s soon to be the NFL’s biggest loser. Dragonfly Jonez recaps Week 13.
CLEAT WEEK REDUX: NFL decides to let Titans, Browns wear cleats for good causes despite bye week. Jason McCourty and Delanie Walker won’t have to take the fine after all.
ELLIOTT ON THE ROAD: Ezekiel Elliott hasn't lost a road game since he was a freshman in high school. We talked to his mom about it.