There's a big game in the NFC playoff race on Sunday night in Week 17.
It’s possible that by Week 18, there’s no real intrigue left in the NFL’s playoff picture.
With two games left, the field is mostly set other than figuring out the AFC North and NFC South champions. Both of those divisions could be clinched this week. The only two wild-card contenders who are still mathematically alive but aren’t currently in the field are the Colts and Lions. They have a 4% and 6% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com. The NFL has to fill Saturday slots and a Sunday night slot in Week 18, and there might not be any great options.
What could save the NFL’s scheduling staff are the races for the No. 1 seeds. There should be a little more clarity about that after Sunday night’s game between two 11-4 teams.
The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers are both alive for the very important top seed in the NFC. The loser of this game is likely eliminated from the race. The Bears probably will win the NFC North regardless of Sunday night’s result, but the 49ers’ path to a division title and the No. 1 seed is predicated on winning out. With two more wins against the Bears and Seahawks in Week 18, San Francisco would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Seahawks still have the inside track for the top seed in the NFC, but Sunday night’s result should streamline the race.
Here are the other Week 17 games that will have the biggest impact on the playoff picture:
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers
Among the Week 17 games, the meeting with the most direct impact on the AFC playoff picture is probably the Houston Texans visiting the Los Angeles Chargers. A Texans loss would give the Jaguars a chance to clinch the AFC South title with one more win in their final two games. Jacksonville plays at Indianapolis on Sunday and finishes by hosting the Titans. The Chargers are the lurker in the AFC race. While we’ve been talking about the Broncos and Patriots vying for the top seed for a few weeks, the Chargers can steal the AFC West and have a shot at the No. 1 seed by winning out. That would mean beating a tough Texans team and then beating the Broncos in Denver to close the season. NFL executives are hoping for a Chargers-Broncos AFC West title showdown to end the season because that would make for an easy Sunday night flex option.
Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers
This game should have been more impactful, but the Packers’ loss to the Bears last week gives Chicago the inside track to the NFC North title and the Ravens’ loss to the Patriots last week means the Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win at Cleveland on Sunday. Or the Steelers can clinch on Saturday night if the Ravens lose. That would allow Pittsburgh to perhaps rest players for their final two games. If the Ravens win and the Browns upset the Steelers on Sunday, a Ravens-Steelers game in Week 18 would decide the division championship.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins
The Buccaneers are flailing, with six losses in seven games. But they can still take the NFC South title by winning out. If the Buccaneers beat the Dolphins on Sunday, a Week 18 game against the Panthers would be for the NFC South title, regardless of whether the Panthers win in Week 17. If the Buccaneers lose and the Panthers win on Sunday, Carolina would clinch the division and the Week 18 game would be meaningless for both teams. The NFL will be rooting for the Bucs on Sunday, with its Week 18 scheduling in mind.
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
The Rams will be paying close attention to this game. The Rams need to win out and have the 49ers and Seahawks each lose a game to win the NFC West. Because the 49ers and Seahawks play each other in Week 18, the Rams can’t win the division if San Francisco and Seattle both win this week. For the No. 1 seed, the Rams need the 49ers, Seahawks and Bears to each lose one game. Seattle simply needs to win out for the No. 1 seed.
The Panthers need to win in case the Buccaneers lose in Miami. Both games kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. If the Panthers win and Tampa Bay loses, Carolina is the NFC South champion. But if Tampa Bay wins at Miami then the Panthers’ result doesn’t matter; the Panthers and Bucs will play in Week 18 for the NFC South title. But the Panthers won’t know that result ahead of time.
Category: General Sports
