BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
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Some years week 17 has a ton of playoff storylines and do or die games. Not the case this year.
NFC - Eagles/Viking virtually locked in as byes (unless the eagles lose tonight AND next week they have the first seed locked up). The Vikings need to lose to the lowly bears and have New Orleans lose (to the bucs) and the Panthers beat the Falcons. All of it happening is super unlikely
Rams locked in as the 3rd or 4th seed.
New Orleans locked in as the 3 or 4th seed unless they lose to a bad Bucs team and Carolina wins.
Panthers can't improve from 5th unless they win and New Orleans loses. But they could go as high as the 2nd seed. Both the Vikings and Saints would need to lose though.
All of this is just bouncing around. Not one of these 5 teams is in danger of exiting the playoffs.
Of the teams who are trying to get it there are the Seahawks/Falcons. Falcons need to lose and Seahawks need to win. Seahawks have the Cards who can be tough. Falcons have the Panthers whose motivation depends on a lot of other games.
A lot of it really comes down to one game in the NFC. The Falcons/Panthers game. The rest of them should be mostly gimmies.
In the AFC 5 teams are locked in place.
Pats have locked a bye and the Steelers would need to lose both games to lose theirs. Unlikely.
Pats need to beat the Jets to keep the 1 seed. Should happen but 2 seed isn't horrible either. I doubt they lose that game.
Jags are no worse than 3rd but probably can't change it no matter what next week.
KC is locked in as 4th seed. They probably sit next week.
The AFC has more potential fun implications going on with SD, Bills, Raven and Titans.
The Chargers are pretty much out to be honest. They need to win and the Titans/Bills to lose their must win games. Unlikely.
Titans/Ravens are the teams that fully control their destiny. You need to wonder how hard the Jags will play the if the Steelers win tonight.
The Bills have a slim shot but possible. They need to win and need either the Titans or Ravens to lose (or both if SD wins).
Honestly though there are no AFC WC teams to get overly excited about this year. I know we have preferences but I'm not worried. It kind of takes a bit of drama out of it.
Personally I see only 1 good game next weeks (Panthers/Falcons). It is win or go home for the Falcons but if it is flexed to Sunday night you need to wonder by the time if the Panthers will feel they have any reason to play their starters.
NFC - Eagles/Viking virtually locked in as byes (unless the eagles lose tonight AND next week they have the first seed locked up). The Vikings need to lose to the lowly bears and have New Orleans lose (to the bucs) and the Panthers beat the Falcons. All of it happening is super unlikely
Rams locked in as the 3rd or 4th seed.
New Orleans locked in as the 3 or 4th seed unless they lose to a bad Bucs team and Carolina wins.
Panthers can't improve from 5th unless they win and New Orleans loses. But they could go as high as the 2nd seed. Both the Vikings and Saints would need to lose though.
All of this is just bouncing around. Not one of these 5 teams is in danger of exiting the playoffs.
Of the teams who are trying to get it there are the Seahawks/Falcons. Falcons need to lose and Seahawks need to win. Seahawks have the Cards who can be tough. Falcons have the Panthers whose motivation depends on a lot of other games.
A lot of it really comes down to one game in the NFC. The Falcons/Panthers game. The rest of them should be mostly gimmies.
In the AFC 5 teams are locked in place.
Pats have locked a bye and the Steelers would need to lose both games to lose theirs. Unlikely.
Pats need to beat the Jets to keep the 1 seed. Should happen but 2 seed isn't horrible either. I doubt they lose that game.
Jags are no worse than 3rd but probably can't change it no matter what next week.
KC is locked in as 4th seed. They probably sit next week.
The AFC has more potential fun implications going on with SD, Bills, Raven and Titans.
The Chargers are pretty much out to be honest. They need to win and the Titans/Bills to lose their must win games. Unlikely.
Titans/Ravens are the teams that fully control their destiny. You need to wonder how hard the Jags will play the if the Steelers win tonight.
The Bills have a slim shot but possible. They need to win and need either the Titans or Ravens to lose (or both if SD wins).
Honestly though there are no AFC WC teams to get overly excited about this year. I know we have preferences but I'm not worried. It kind of takes a bit of drama out of it.
Personally I see only 1 good game next weeks (Panthers/Falcons). It is win or go home for the Falcons but if it is flexed to Sunday night you need to wonder by the time if the Panthers will feel they have any reason to play their starters.
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