It all gets figured out this week. It’s the last week of the regular season and still many spots have yet to be decided in both conferences. Even three division titles will come down to three separate games.
Rest assured, football fans should get some bang for their buck this week. Let’s check out the top storylines for Week 17.
1. NFC North Championship
The first of the three division title games features the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. The Lions took the first matchup, 19-7, but haven’t won in Lambeau since 1993.
Matthew Stafford has had a strong season, but he’ll have to keep up with arguably the league’s top quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Both pass defenses rank in the Top 10, but it might not matter given these two offenses.
2. AFC North Championship
Another division title is on the line in Pittsburgh, as the Cincinnati Bengals travel to try to cool the hot Steelers. Just a few weeks back, the Steelers blew out the Bengals in Cincinnati, 42-21.
The key for the Bengals is stopping Le’Veon Bell, who had 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers win. If they can somehow do that, the burden will feel a lot less heavy for Andy Dalton and his offense.
3. NFC South Championship
It shouldn’t have come to this, but the Carolina Panthers will travel to play the Atlanta Falcons for a losing record and the division title. The problem is that the Falcons have not lost a division games yet.
However, Cam Newton and the Panthers have been clicking offensively, leading to three straight wins and a 41-10 blowout of the New Orleans Saints at their place. If Newton can continue his success, he might expose the league’s worst pass defense.
4. Who will get the NFC’s top seed?
So many teams are in play for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, with five teams at 11-4, led by the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. However, the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers could easily slip in the spot as well.
The NFC will be an interesting playoff, as the No. 6 seed could be one of the teams fighting for the No. 1 seed this week. With that in play, anything could happen.
5. Can the Dallas Cowboys finish strong?
The Cowboys showed their brilliance over the past few weeks, but now a matchup with the Washington Redskins stands between them and a 12-4 season. Given the loss to their rivals earlier in the season, the Cowboys will be looking for no such upset this time around.
Tony Romo has been strong lately and will get the 22nd-ranked Redskins pass defense to work with. It should be an advantage is Romo can succeed.
6. Will the San Diego Chargers pull of a great second half?
The Chargers have miraculously come back from deficits and find themselves a win away from a wild card spot. However, a road matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs will be tough to say the least, given the Chiefs still have life as well.
Philip Rivers might not be able to recover from a weak first half like he did against the San Francisco 49ers, so a strong performances is needed.
7. Will Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens get back to good football?
The Ravens had control of their playoff destiny last week, but a bad loss to the Houston Texans took it out of their hands. Joe Flacco finished a horrid 21-for-50 with three interceptions and the Ravens fell, 25-13.
With a home game against the reeling Cleveland Browns, Flacco will need to get back to his efficient ways if the Ravens want to make the playoffs. However, the Browns are no pushover, with the seventh-ranked pass defense.
8. Who are the Denver Broncos?
The Broncos at times this season were absolute Super Bowl contenders, but have struggled in past weeks, culminating with a road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Peyton Manning has three touchdowns and six interceptions in his last three games.
A home game against the Oakland Raiders will present a good chance to get the kinks out of before the playoffs. However, a first-round bye is at stake, so don’t assume it will be another day at the office.
9. Can the Indianapolis Colts rest enough starters for the playoffs?
Andrew Luck has been strong most of the season for the top passing offense in the league, but he’ll need proper rest ahead of a wild card meeting with either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Cincinnati Bengals.
Luckily for him, a matchup with the Tennessee Titans could present a chance to get the starters out early and still pick up a win.
10. Could the Houston Texans get good luck?
The Texans looked great in a win over the Baltimore Ravens last week, but they’ll need two losses and a win themselves to get into the playoffs. With Case Keenum starting again, there could be more stability than last week.
Add in the Jacksonville Jaguars traveling to Houston, and you have what should be a win. The question is whether the Chargers and Ravens can lose as well.