{"id":752,"date":"2010-09-11T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2010-09-11T15:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=752"},"modified":"2010-09-10T11:11:10","modified_gmt":"2010-09-10T15:11:10","slug":"bsb-nfl-two-a-days-week-seventeen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=752","title":{"rendered":"BSB NFL Two-a-Days: Week Seventeen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week Sixteen<\/a>\u00a0is in the books.\u00a0 One week left.\u00a0 All the marbles.\u00a0 And, the NFL did a great thing this year–every single Week Seventeen game is a game between division rivals.\u00a0 That has created some amazing final week matchups.\u00a0 Before we get to the games, let’s look at some final-week playoff scenarios:<\/p>\n

The NFC is easy.\u00a0 Five teams have clinched (GB, NO, Phi, Dal, SF), and two teams play each other for the final spot (Atl-Car), with the winner getting in and loser going home.\u00a0 Also, the Cowboys and Eagles play for the NFC East title.\u00a0 As for seeding, the Packers will get the top seed with a win.\u00a0 If they lose, it could be NO, Phi, or Dal, depending of various combinations.\u00a0 SF has locked themselves in the #4-spot.<\/p>\n

The AFC is much more complicated.\u00a0 The Colts will get the top-seed with a win or a Patriots loss.\u00a0 The Chargers have the edge over NE for the #2-seed, but it’s not a lock.\u00a0 The Pats have clinched the East.\u00a0 The North will go to the winner of Week Seventeen’s game between Baltimore and Cincy.\u00a0 The loser of that game is in a fight for a wild card.\u00a0 Right now, three teams sit at 9-6 (Pit, Mia, and Ten).\u00a0 If two of them lose, the loser of the North title game will get in, otherwise there will be a crazy tiebreaker.\u00a0 The Raiders, Texans, and Jets all sit at 8-7 and not mathematically eliminated, but they would need some serious <\/em>help.<\/p>\n

Sunday, January 2:
\n<\/strong>1:00 – Miami (9-6) at NEW ENGLAND (11-4)
\nThe Super Bowl for the Dolphins, but they have to play in Foxborough with the Pats having something to play for.\u00a0 A tough game, but I like New England at home.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Buffalo (1-14) at N.Y. JETS (8-7)
\nThe Jets get a break in Week Seventeen with a home game against an abysmal team.\u00a0 Will it be enough?<\/p>\n

1:00 – Cincinnati (10-5) at BALTIMORE (10-5)
\nThe AFC North Championship Game is in Baltimore.\u00a0 The Ravens are just too tough and too good at home to lose this one, although it should be a phenomenal <\/em>game.<\/p>\n

1:00 – PITTSBURGH (9-6) at Cleveland (3-12)
\nAfter the 1-3 start without Ben, the Steelers now finish 9-3 with him and have a shot at the playoffs.\u00a0 I can’t see them losing here in Cleveland with the season on the line.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Jacksonville (6-9) at HOUSTON (8-7)
\nThe Texans are most likely going to be the only team of these two with anything to play for.\u00a0 They should win this game at home.\u00a0 Will it be enough?<\/p>\n

1:00 – Tennessee (9-6) at INDIANAPOLIS (12-3)
\nObviously, my take on this game would be a lot different if the Colts have nothing to play for here because we all know that they won’t hesitate to rest everyone.\u00a0 But, in this scenario, the Colts do still have homefield advantage to play for (actually, they are still at risk for a #3-seed).\u00a0 If this is true, they will win this game.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Oakland (8-7) at KANSAS CITY (6-9)
\nAt this point in the season, it’s more likely that the Chiefs will still be playing hard.\u00a0 Yes, in this scenario, the Raiders still have a glimmer of playoff hope, but I think, no matter what, the Chiefs should win this game at home.<\/p>\n

1:00 – DALLAS (10-5) at Philadelphia (10-5)
\nThree years in a row the NFC Beast has come down to these two teams on the last day of the season.\u00a0 In 2008, the Eagles waxed the Cowboys to take the division.\u00a0 In 2009, the Cowboys got them back, won the division and won again in the wild card rematch.\u00a0 This year, I just think that the Cowboys, in these circumstances, are the better team and will win in Philly.\u00a0 And, yes, it will really, really <\/em>suck…again.<\/p>\n

1:00 – N.Y. Giants (8-7) at WASHINGTON (3-12)
\nNo one circles the wagons like the Washington Redskins.\u00a0 They will put it all together for one last game for pride.\u00a0 With the Giants eliminated, the ‘Skins will have the edge they need and win this game at home.<\/p>\n

1:00 – MINNESOTA (8-7) at Detroit (6-9)
\nNow, let me preface this.\u00a0 If the Vikings are completely eliminated in Week Sixteen, I think they might walk in here and lose.\u00a0 In this scenario, they are, but I still think that there’s enough of a chance that they will play for pride here and win, that I am going to give it to them here.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Chicago (8-7) at GREEN BAY (11-4)
\nGreen Bay has it all at stake here and should be able to beat their arch-rivals in Lambeau to lock up the homefield advantage.\u00a0 A season that started so promising for Chicago ends at .500.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Carolina (9-6) at ATLANTA (9-6)
\nA playoff game before the playoffs.\u00a0 Winner goes to the playoffs; loser goes home.\u00a0 The Falcons are coming off a really tough game on Monday night against New Orleans, but I think, with their entire season on the line, they should rebound and beat the Panthers at home, sending them back to the playoffs.<\/p>\n

1:00 – Tampa Bay (3-12) at NEW ORLEANS (10-5)
\nIf the Saints need a win in Week Seventeen, they have the perfect co-conspirators to get it done.\u00a0 Tampa at home?\u00a0 Atlanta or Carolina better win this division before the final game because this is a walkover for the defending champs.<\/p>\n

4:15 – SAN DIEGO (11-4) at Denver (4-11)
\nIt was really just two years ago when these two teams played in Week Seventeen for the AFC West title?\u00a0 Well, they have both gone in opposite directions since then.\u00a0 The Chargers should handle the Broncos with ease and take the #2-seed in the AFC again.<\/p>\n

4:15 – Arizona (6-9) at SAN FRANCISCO (8-7)
\nEven if Arizona keeps it close through the year, the Niners get this final game at home and should be able to take care of business and win the division.\u00a0 It’s a nice hammer to have for them, knowing that they only have to stay within a game and they get their shot, at home, in Week Seventeen.<\/p>\n

4:15 – St. Louis (2-13) at SEATTLE (4-11)
\nA long trip for a bad game.\u00a0 I’ll take the Seahawks.<\/p>\n

FINAL STANDINGS
\n<\/strong>NFC EAST
\n<\/strong>11-5 Dallas
\n10-6 Philadelphia
\n8-8 N.Y. Giants
\n4-12 Washington<\/p>\n

The Cowboys win the Week Seventeen title game and win the NFC Beast for the second straight year.\u00a0 The Eagles are going to the playoffs with a solid 10-6 “rebuilding” year.\u00a0 The Giants finish a disappointing 8-8, while the Redskins don’t even improve on last year’s win total.<\/p>\n

NFC NORTH
\n<\/strong>12-4 Green Bay
\n9-7 Minnesota
\n8-8 Chicago
\n6-10 Detroit<\/p>\n

The Packers wrap up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.\u00a0 The Vikings finish a disappointing 9-7.\u00a0 The Bears, after a strong start, come back to reality and finish 8-8.\u00a0 The Lions have the arrow moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n

NFC SOUTH
\n<\/strong>11-5 New Orleans
\n10-6\u00a0Atlanta
\n9-7\u00a0Carolina
\n3-13 Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

The Saints are the first ever back-to-back NFC South champs.\u00a0 The Falcons go back to the playoffs with a big win over Carolina.\u00a0 Tampa struggles again.<\/p>\n

NFC WEST
\n<\/strong>9-7 San Francisco
\n6-10 Arizona
\n5-11 Seattle
\n2-14 St. Louis<\/p>\n

After a ton of hype for several years, Mike Singletary finally leads his team to the playoffs, winning the NFC West.\u00a0 This division was really, really <\/em>bad all season long.<\/p>\n

AFC EAST
\n<\/strong>12-4 New England
\n9-7 Miami
\n9-7 N.Y. Jets
\n1-15 Buffalo<\/p>\n

The Pats beat Miami, but will fall short of a first-round bye.\u00a0 The Dolphins loss this week eliminates them from the playoffs, and the Jets will also be watching from home.\u00a0 The Bills win the Jake Locker sweepstakes with a putrid 1-15 season.<\/p>\n

AFC NORTH
\n<\/strong>11-5 Baltimore
\n10-6\u00a0Cincinnati
\n10-6\u00a0Pittsburgh
\n3-13 Cleveland<\/p>\n

The Ravens win the AFC North Championship Game against Cincy and take the division.\u00a0 With losses to Tennessee and Miami, this division will take both AFC wild cards.<\/p>\n

AFC SOUTH
\n<\/strong>13-3 Indianapolis
\n9-7 Houston
\n9-7 Tennessee
\n6-10 Jacksonville<\/p>\n

The Colts clinch the top-seed…again.\u00a0 The Texans fall a game short of the playoffs…again.\u00a0 The Titans took a big loss here and are going to miss the playoffs…again.\u00a0 Jacksonville should (but probably won’t) fire Jack Del Rio…AGAIN.<\/p>\n

AFC WEST
\n<\/strong>12-4 San Diego
\n8-8 Oakland
\n7-9 Kansas City
\n4-12 Denver<\/p>\n

The Chargers clinch the first-round bye with a win and an Indy win.\u00a0 The Chiefs finish out an encouraging year with a win over Oakland.\u00a0 The Raiders lose six of their final seven games to ruin a promising start.\u00a0 The Broncos have a lot of rebuilding to do.<\/p>\n

THE PLAYOFFS
\n<\/strong>NFC<\/strong>
\n#6\u00a0Atlanta (10-6) at #3 New Orleans (11-5)
\n#5 Philadelphia (10-6) at #4 San Francisco (9-7)<\/p>\n

t.b.d. vs. #2 Dallas (11-5)
\nt.b.d.\u00a0vs. #1 Green Bay (12-4)<\/p>\n

The Packers are the top-seed, as the only NFC team to win 12 games.\u00a0 Dallas’s Thanksgiving Day win over New Orleans wins them the tiebreaker over the Saints and gives them the all-important first-round bye.\u00a0 New Orleans, NFC South champs, are #3.\u00a0 San Fran, who has been in the #4-spot all year, finishes there and will host the Eagles on wild card weekend.\u00a0 The Birds beat Atlanta in Week Six to earn the #5-seed.\u00a0 The Falcons win over Carolina got them in and sends them to New Orleans as the #6-seed.<\/p>\n

AFC
\n<\/strong>#6\u00a0Cincinnati (10-6) at #3 New England (12-4)
\n#5 Pittsburgh (10-6) at #4 Baltimore (11-5)<\/p>\n

t.b.d. at #2 San Diego (12-4)
\nt.b.d. at #1 Indianapolis (13-3)<\/p>\n

Six teams with double-digit wins and six playoff spots.\u00a0 That is how it’s supposed to work.\u00a0 The Colts clinch another #1-seed with a league-best 13-3 record.\u00a0 The Chargers, on the strength of their Week Seven win over New England, get the first-round bye.\u00a0 The Pats have to settle for the #3-seed.\u00a0 The Ravens, after winning the AFC North are the #4-seed\u00a0and will host their arch-rivals, the Steelers, who snuck into the playoffs and took the #5-seed on the back of a season-sweep of Cincinnati (Weeks Nine and Fourteen).\u00a0 The Bengals have to settle for #6.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for The Playoffs (available 9\/11 at 7:00 pm).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week Sixteen\u00a0is in the books.\u00a0 One week left.\u00a0 All the marbles.\u00a0 And, the NFL did a great thing this year–every single Week Seventeen game is a game between division rivals.\u00a0 That has created some amazing final week matchups.\u00a0 Before we … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1060],"class_list":["post-752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl","tag-2010-two-a-days"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=752"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":755,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions\/755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}