Divisional
games are scheduled in Week 17 as they have since 2010 in order to ensure that
the last week of the season has the games with the most impact on the playoffs.
This
is the first season since NBC was awarded the Sunday Night NFL package in 2006
where no game originally scheduled in the Sunday Night game was flexed out. The
only week where a Sunday game is flexed to Sunday Night was this week in the
last week of the season. And that game is…
MUST WATCH GAMES
Panthers at Falcons
Well…
someone has to win this division. Those are the rules for the NFL playoffs. Win
your division, you are seeded 1-4. The NFC South winner will be seeded 4 and
will host one of these teams in the playoffs: Seahawks or Cardinals. Though the
NFC South champion will be at home for the playoffs, I am not liking their odds
in advancing to the second round.
Jets at Dolphins
Both
teams are out of the playoff race so why is this must watch?
Because
of what could happen on Monday.
It
was rumored
that Miami coach Joe Philbin was going to be on the chopping block come Monday.
The ownership gave a vote of confidence to Philbin, but there could some
changes regarding his staff.
When
asked about the
future of his staff Philbin answered, "I'm concerned about the New
York Jets."
Speaking
of which, this could be the last game Rex Ryan is on the sidelines for the
Jets. Ryan has guided the
Jets to 2 AFC Championship appearances in 2009 and 2010 and a 24-14 record.
Since then the Jets have finished at .500 twice and a 25-38 record. Right now
the Jets are 3-12 and will be looking at finding a new head coach.
Chargers at Chiefs/Jaguars at Texans/Browns
at Ravens
The
Texans, Ravens, Chargers, and Chiefs will be doing some scoreboard watching. For
the Chargers it is win and in (or tie and the Ravens lose or tie).
Meanwhile
for the Chiefs, they need to beat San Diego, the Ravens lose, and the Texans
lose or tie their game.
The
Ravens need to beat the Browns and have the Chiefs beat the Chargers or the
game end in a tie. The Ravens get in with a tie and the Chargers lose.
For
the Texans, they need to beat the Jaguars, have the Ravens and Chargers lose.
Cardinals at 49ers/Rams at Seahawks
Since
the Seahawks have completed the season sweep of the Cardinals, the only hope
the Cardinals have at winning the NFC West is to beat the 49ers and the Rams
beat the Seahawks. For the third time this season the Cardinals have given up
21 or more points and have a 0-3 record when doing so.
The
Cardinals currently are 4th best in points against, but quarterback woes looks
like it will sink this team come the playoffs.
The
Rams did beat the Seahawks, but that was in St. Louis back in October.
Boy that seems like ages ago. Seattle is currently on a 5 game winning streak
and a win over the Rams plus other scenarios would give Seattle the NFC 1 seed.
I think a lot of teams would dread having to go to Seattle for a playoff team.
Watching
that game on Sunday night looks like the Seahawks could be back in Phoenix in
February.
Raiders at Broncos
The
Broncos faithful are panicking. Despite an 11-4 record, fans are fearing
another playoff collapse.
With
Denver's loss at Cincinnati, New England claimed the AFC 1 seed. Denver can
still win a bye week with a win over the lowly Raiders, but Oakland has been
playing better of late. Since starting the season 0-10, the Raiders are 3-2
having knocked the 49ers and Bills out of playoff contention. The Raiders are
impacting the playoff race… just probably not in the way they are expecting.
I
think Denver will win this game giving them the bye week to rest up for their
playoff game, but another loss could cause fans grave concern and some panic.
Lions at Packers
The
Lions have
not won in the state of Wisconsin since 1991. That was also the last season
Detroit won a playoff game. The winner of this game wins the NFC North while the
loser will play in Wild Card Weekend.
Bengals at Steelers
The
Bengals avoided this game being a win-and-in scenario with their win over the
Broncos on Monday night. This game is now for the AFC North. Winner gets the
division and the AFC 3-seed.
And
now the picks.
Kickoff
times are mountain time, games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN), and picks
are in BOLD.
Week
17 is double doubleheader Sunday meaning both CBS and Fox air NFL
doubleheaders. NFL television
rules
dictate that if the local team is playing at home then that game must be the
only game that is airing in that time slot. The NFL released this information lifting that
rule meaning that EVERY market will enjoy double doubleheader Sunday.
Translation: I don't have to watch the Broncos curbstomp the Raiders and get to
watch a more competitive game… on Fox…
|
|
Me
|
||
|
WEEK
16
|
10-6
|
10-6
|
9-7
|
|
TOTAL
|
167-72-1
|
157-82-1
|
148-91-1
|
FOX 11AM
Cowboys at Washington
(DEN)
Bears
at Vikings
Eagles
at Giants
Jaguars
at Texans
Saints at Buccaneers
CBS 11AM
Chargers at Chiefs (DEN)
Bills
at Patriots
Browns
at Ravens
Colts at Titans
Jets
at Dolphins
FOX 2PM
Lions
at Packers (DEN)
Cardinals at 49ers
Rams
at Seahawks
CBS 2PM
Raiders
at Broncos (DEN)
Panthers
at Falcons
SUNDAY NIGHT (GAME 256), NBC 6:15 PM
Bengals
at Steelers
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