NFL Week 17 is here and the 2014 regular season is about to conclude. With the post-season right around the corner, this is the time of the year where legends are made and title pushes get underway. While the stakes are always high in Week 17, the situation is compounded by the fact that every single game is a divisional match-up, and many of these contests have huge playoff ramifications.
What will happen in the NFC West?
The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are competing for the divisional title as they take on the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams, respectively. While the ‘Niners and Rams may be out of the playoff picture, they would love nothing more than to play spoilers to their rivals. The winner of the NFC West could very well end up as the top seed in the NFC, and home field advantage is crucial at this time of year, particularly for the ‘Hawks and their “twelfth man.” It’s anyone’s guess what happens at this point, but this race is coming down to the wire.
Can the Chargers clinch a playoff berth in Kansas City?
The San Diego Chargers have a very straightforward task if they want to clinch the sixth seed in the AFC: win and they’re in. This is always a much easier task on paper than in reality, and in Kansas City, they will face a Chiefs team that still has playoff aspirations of their own (grant you, they’ll need some help) and a rabid fan base to boot. It was recently announced that Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will miss the game due to a lacerated spleen, and Chase Daniel will be tasked with taking up the reins. The Chiefs have a tough task ahead of them, but the will look to answer it on Sunday.
Who will win the NFC South?
After a year of under-achievement in the NFC South, records and statistics are now meaningless. The Carolina Panthers travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons this Sunday and the winner of the contest will be the 2014 NFC South Champion, securing the number four seed in the NFC and a home playoff game. It doesn’t matter how these two teams got here. This is crunch time. The Falcons are typically a tough team to beat at home and boast a perfect 5-0 record in divisional games this year, so they may appear to be the favorites but it’s difficult to count out a gritty Panthers squad that loves to silence doubters. This should be an exciting one.
NFC North Up For Grabs
When the Detroit Lions head to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers, the stakes couldn’t be any higher, and the objective couldn’t be any clearer. The winner will be the NFC North champion and secure a first round bye, based on tiebreakers over the Dallas Cowboys, and the loser will play on the road during Wild Card Weekend. Yes, both clubs are locked into the playoffs, but it’s extremely difficult to win on the road in the NFL, particularly in January. The opportunity to have a week of rest and a home playoff game is a sweet one indeed. Look for these teams to have a highly competitive match-up.
AFC North Comes Down to the Wire
On Sunday Night Football, the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in the final regular season game of the 2014 schedule. At stake? The AFC North championship. This year’s toughest, most competitive division, it seems fitting that the North would be decided in this manner. A huge storyline in this game is the availability of A.J. Green, who sustained an injury on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. If he is out or limited, the Bengals will have a very difficult time against their rivals. This has the potential to be one of the better games of the season, and really illustrates that the playoffs are officially here. This one should be a treat.
Yes, the 2014 NFL regular season is just about over. It would be kind of depressing, were it not for the fact that the post-season is right around the corner. Enjoy this last full slate of games, NFL fans. The second season begins in a week.
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