Week Fifteen went a long way to separating the men from the boys, and Week Sixteen should go even further. We should get a somewhat clear playoff picture after this week.
Thursday, December 23:
8:20 – Carolina (9-5) at PITTSBURGH (8-6)
The Steelers will need this one desperately, as might the Panthers, but the Steelers are a better team and playing at home. The Panthers may be looking ahead to a big-time showdown against the Falcons in Week Seventeen, as well.
Saturday, December 25 (Christmas Day):
7:30 – DALLAS (9-5) at Arizona (6-8)
The last stand for the Cardinals might come here on Christmas Day, as they host the Cowboys. Dallas, coming off of a nice win over Washington has to get back up for this road game. But, it’s not that far of a trip, and like Thanksgiving, it might be more of a distraction to be at home on holiday games than on the road. I like the ‘Boys to take this one.
Sunday, December 26:
1:00 – N.Y. JETS (7-7) at Chicago (8-6)
This the last stand for the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, and I think they will come through. They may be devastated from four straight losses, but they’re not eliminated, and I see them playing with a ton of pride here. The Bears, who also need this game, are coming off of a tough Monday night game in Minnesota and are staring at a trip to Lambeau Field in Week Seventeen.
1:00 – NEW ENGLAND (10-4) at Buffalo (1-13)
The Pats need this game to clinch the division, and they should be able to get it with ease. The Bills stink, home or away.
1:00 – BALTIMORE (9-5) at Cleveland (3-11)
This is a nice, cushy game for the Ravens, heading into a Week Seventeen tussle with Cincinnati.
1:00 – Tennessee (9-5) at KANSAS CITY (5-9)
This is a really tough one. It’s hard to imagine that a playoff-caliber team could lose a Week Sixteen game against the Chiefs, but (1) I don’t really think of Tennessee as a true “playoff-caliber” team and (2) this game is smack-dab in the middle of their two biggest games of the year, with Houston last week and Indy next week. This looks like a trap to me.
1:00 – Minnesota (8-6) at PHILADELPHIA (9-5)
This might be a de facto playoff game here in Week Sixteen. Again, the schedule-makers give the Birds a bit of a break, as the Vikings have a short week before this game on the road. Yes, it’ll be a tough one, but I like the Eagles to get it done, at home, against a beat-up Vikings team.
1:00 – Seattle (4-10) at TAMPA BAY (2-12)
A very long trip. A 1:00 game. A bad Seattle team. I don’t care who it it, Seattle’s not winning this game.
1:00 – SAN FRANCISCO (7-7) at St. Louis (2-12)
A very long trip. A 1:00 game. But, this is not a bad San Fran team. This is where the “men” that Singletary has created step up and show their coach a little something.
1:00 – Detroit (6-8) at MIAMI (8-6)
This is a nice spot for the Dolphins in a place where they may just really need a win. I like the ‘Phins at home.
1:00 – Washington (3-11) at JACKSONVILLE (5-9)
I can’t wait to not care at all about this game. In fact, the only people that might care less than I will about this game are the players in it. Both teams will have quit for the season by now, so give me the home team.
4:05 – HOUSTON (7-7) at Denver (4-10)
A game that the Texans will desperately need. The Broncos stink. Give me Houston, on the road.
4:05 – INDIANAPOLIS (11-3) at Oakland (8-6)
A playoff preview? Haha…no. The Raiders are now paying the price for a relatively easy opening schedule, as the Colts (if they need this game, which in this scenario, they do) should have no trouble winning on the Left Coast.
4:15 – N.Y. Giants (8-6) at GREEN BAY (10-4)
Lambeau Field on the day after Christmas. A Green Bay team that is just better than the Giants and is looking for homefield advantage through the playoffs. Sounds like a recipe for a nice Packers win here.
8:20 – San Diego (11-3) at CINCINNATI (9-5)
This one is really tough. It has all the makings of a trap game for Cincy with a division showdown against Baltimore coming up next week, but I just don’t trust Norv Turner in a game like this. Plus, the Chargers should have the division wrapped up by now–granted, they will be playing for a bye, but is it enough to motivate a San Diego team playing in freezing Ohio in late-December? In a tough one, I like the Bengals (on whom, if you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty bullish this year).
Monday, December 27:
8:30 – NEW ORLEANS (9-5) at Atlanta (9-5)
The game of the week is, as it should be, on Monday Night Football. This game should decide, at least, the NFC South, if not a bye or even homefield advantage in the NFC. The Saints have to play this game, on the road, coming off a brutal trip to Baltimore. The Falcons get this game after a viciously long road trip to the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, for both teams, they get an extra day of rest for it. I have gone back and forth several times about this game, and I’m still pretty unsure of my thoughts on it. But, my final decision comes down to having more trust in the experience of the New Orleans coach-quarterback combination than I of the Atlanta coach-QB. But, only by a hair.
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 16
NFC EAST
10-5 Dallas
10-5 Philadelphia
8-7 N.Y. Giants
3-12 Washington
For an amazing third year in a row, the 2010 NFC Beast will come down to a Week Seventeen game between the Eagles and Cowboys. The Giants loss to Green Bay essentially ends their playoff hopes. The Deadskins are, well, dead.
NFC NORTH
11-4 Green Bay
8-7 Chicago
8-7 Minnesota
6-9 Detroit
A really tough loss for the Vikings in Philly puts them on life support. An equally devastating loss for the Bears at home against the Jets has them there, as well. The Packers win over the Giants clinches them the NFC North and puts them a win away from the #1-seed.
NFC SOUTH
10-5 New Orleans
9-6 Atlanta
9-6 Carolina
3-12 Tampa Bay
A monumental win for the Saints in Atlanta on Monday night puts them in complete control of this division. The Panthers were right there, but suffered a tough loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday and are now enter a de facto playoff game in Atlanta in Week Seventeen.
NFC WEST
8-7 San Francisco
6-9 Arizona
4-11 Seattle
2-13 St. Louis
An Arizona loss at home against Dallas on Christmas, coupled with a San Fran win in St. Louis the next day, give the 49ers the NFC West, and renders the Week Seventeen Arizona-SF game meaningless.
AFC EAST
11-4 New England
9-6 Miami
8-7 N.Y. Jets
1-14 Buffalo
The Pats clinch yet another AFC East title and are fighting for the bye. The Dolphins got a big win to stay in the playoff hunt. The Jets got a must win and are just barely breathing. At least the Bills got that win over Jacksonville in Week Five.
AFC NORTH
10-5 Baltimore
10-5 Cincinnati
9-6 Pittsburgh
3-12 Cleveland
The Ravens beat Cleveland on the road, while Cincy handles San Diego at home, setting up a division championship game between these two in Baltimore in Week Seventeen. The Steelers beat Carolina to inch closer to a possible wild card.
AFC SOUTH
12-3 Indianapolis
9-6 Tennessee
8-7 Houston
6-9 Jacksonville
The Colts win another AFC South. The Titans take a huge loss in Kansas City and are now in trouble. The Texans win in Houston to stay alive–barely.
AFC WEST
11-4 San Diego
8-7 Oakland
6-9 Kansas City
4-11 Denver
You can stick a fork in the Raiders, after losing this week at home against Indy. The Chargers also lose and now are in jeopardy of losing out on the bye.
PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 16
NFC
#6 Carolina (9-6) at #3 Philadelphia (10-5)
#5 Dallas (10-5) at #4 San Francisco (8-7)
t.b.d. vs. #2 New Orleans (10-5)
t.b.d. vs. #1 Green Bay (11-4)
Still Alive: Atlanta (9-6)
The Packers still hold a one-game lead for homefield advantage. The Saints have now gone back into the #2-spot, thanks to their advantage in conference record over the NFC Beast leaders, Philly, who are #3. The Niners have completely clinched #4. The Cowboys are #5. Right now, the Panthers are #6 because of their Week Fourteen win over Atlanta, but this will be settled on the field. And, because the Falcons and Panthers play each other Week Seventeen, they both can’t lose, so the 8-7 teams (Giants, Vikings, and Bears) are all out. The top 5 seeds have all clinched playoff berths.
AFC
#6 Tennessee (9-6) at #3 New England (11-4)
#5 Baltimore (10-5) at #4 Cincinnati (10-5)
t.b.d. at #2 San Diego (11-4)
t.b.d. at #1 Indianapolis (12-3)
Still Alive: Miami (9-6), Pittsburgh (9-6), Houston (8-7), N.Y. Jets (8-7), Oakland (8-7)
The AFC, all of a sudden, is much murkier than the NFC. The Colts are a win away from the homefield advantage. The Chargers hold a tiebreaker over the Pats for the #2. The AFC North has its championship game in Baltimore Week Seventeen, but right now it’s the Bengals at #4. The Ravens are #5. There is a three-way tie for the last spot. The Titans are in the driver’s seat, considering they beat Pittsburgh in Week Two and Miami in Week Ten, but the Titans have Indy this week, so we’ll see. The Texans, Jets, and Raiders are still technically alive, but it would take a miracle.
Click here for Week Seventeen (available 9/11 at 11:00 am).
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