The post-season is the highlight of the league year in any sport, but there’s something particularly special about NFL football in January, isn’t there?
After nearly four months of in-season action and countless more of planning, drafting, practicing, and studying, twelve of the NFL’s thirty-two franchises are about to make appearances on the biggest stage the sport has to offer. This season has been highly unpredictable, and at times out-and-out flabbergasting, but over the course of the next two weeks everything will be sorted out.
The NFL Playoffs are Just Around the Corner
On the NFC side of the equation, things are not all that confusing. While only the Cardinals have clinched a playoff berth, it is a guarantee that four of the Packers, Lions, Seahawks, Cowboys, and Eagles will make a playoff appearance, along with whomever wins the NFC South. It seems unfair that any one of these winning football teams may miss the playoffs while a potentially sub-.500 franchise hosts a game, but that is the reality of the divisional structure in today’s NFL.
In the AFC, things are much more complicated. While the Patriots, Colts, and Broncos have all clinched their divisions, a ridiculous number of teams remain in the playoff picture. In the AFC North, the 9-4-1 Bengals lead the way, but the 9-5 Ravens and 9-5 Steelers (currently the AFC’s two Wildcard teams) could make a move for the division over the next two weeks. This says nothing of the Chargers, Chiefs, and Bill, all 8-6, and firmly in the hunt. Even the Texans, Browns, and Dolphins, all 7-7, have slim outside shots at post-season play. Yes that’s correct. A remarkable twelve of the sixteen AFC teams currently sit at .500 or better.
Perhaps the most staggering fact about the playoff picture is that with only two weeks remaining on the schedule, twenty-one teams remain in the playoff race. That is an insanely high number. Only eleven teams have been mathematically eliminated from playing football in January. Indeed, the aforementioned twelve AFC clubs, to go along with nine NFC North franchises will treat fans to some very exciting and meaningful games down the stretch.
Only four teams have clinched playoff berths, and none of them have clinched first round byes. What this means is that it’s entirely possible that none of the Cardinals, Patriots, Colts, or Broncos will be resting their starters in Week Seventeen, as they will likely be fighting for better seeds. There’s just too much riding on these games.
Essentially, the playoffs have already begun. Perhaps not in a literal sense, but they’ve begun nonetheless. None of these teams can afford a costly defeat right now. All of their seasons are on the line. In the midst of one of the most competitive and closely contested NFL seasons, the biggest story lines are about to play out for fans all over the world to see. Get ready for one of the most exciting stretch runs in NFL history. This is truly an exciting time.
Thanks for reading, everyone. Enjoy this weeks slate of games.
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