The final week of the regular NFL season kicks off on Monday January 4, 2016 (AEST) before the following week’s four Wild Card matches lead us into the playoffs in the countdown to February’s Super Bowl.
The AFC Conference’s New England Patriots, favourites with us to win the Super Bowl 50, play the Miami Dolphins in an easy East divisional clash, while the NFC Conference leading Carolina Panthers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, third in the NFC South division, giving easy playoff lead-ups for the two conference leaders.
The closely-ranked Raiders vs Chiefs clash in Kansas City should be a tough AFC West clash, as will the NFC West’s Cardinals vs Seahawks showdown in Arizona.
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Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
The AFC South leading Texans take on Jacksonville at home after a runaway 34 – 6 victory over the Titans last week. The Jaguars are third in the same division and come off a loss to the Saints. Houston can wrap up the divisional win and secure a playoffs bid with victory here. The ever-changing quarterback line-up for the Texans hasn’t stopped their form and they are now 8 – 7, and if current #5 Brandon Weeden plays like he did over Tennessee they’re winning.
New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills
The Jets are second behind the Patriots in the AFC East division and come off a hard-fought six point win over New England from last week. Here they play third in the same division, the Buffalo Bills, who put 10 more points on the Cowboys to take out their Week 16 game. This should be a top AFC East battle, and even though the Bills are mathematically incapable of making the playoffs, they are out to spoil it for the Jets who go straight to playoffs with a win here. Jets’ former head coach, Rex Ryan, is on the sidelines for Buffalo, who beat the Jets 22 – 17 in New Jersey in November, adding intrigue to this clash.
Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts
The Titans are out of the playoffs finishing at the bottom of the AFC South division, but the Colts are second behind the Texans and will be eager to clinch a win here. Tennessee were thrashed by the Texans last week and could be in real trouble again taking on an Indianapolis outfit who narrowly defeated the Dolphins last week. Even with a win here the Colts need a lot to go their way to secure a playoff berth. In more bad news their quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder) and Charlie Whitehurst both came off the field with injury against the Dolphins adding to their ongoing injury woes this season.
Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys
NFC East leaders the Redskins take on last in that division, the Dallas Cowboys, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington this week and should be favourites after a smart win over the Eagles last week. Dallas meanwhile went down to the Bills and are well and truly out of playoffs contention. Washington is #4 in the NFC overall and will host a Wild Card game next weekend, so really not that much interest in this clash.
Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
The Lions and Bears are both out of the playoffs sitting third and fourth behind Green Bay in the NFC North so this one is really just for pride and a punt. Both are Week 16 winners though with Detroit getting the better of the 49ers 32 – 17 and the Bears upsetting the Buccaneers 26 – 21. Chicago ran the ball very effectively with 174 yards on 39 carries, the kind of stats that should see them defeat Detroit this week.
St. Louis Rams vs San Francisco 49ers
The Rams are third in the NFC West and out of the race as her the fourth-ranked 49ers, so this is really another ‘nothing’ game in Week 17 – the last both of these teams will play for the season. The Rams scored the upset over the Seahawks last week, while San Fran’s woes continued with the loss to the Lions. Betting for this will reflect those results, St. Louis the ones to beat. They put up a too-good defensive line to stop Seattle from holding a lead for the first time in 71 regular-season and postseason games, no easy feat.
Oakland Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City are tied on 10 wins with the Broncos in the AFC West division, but have suffered one more loss this season so sit second. They beat the Browns last week and will be keen to clinch another victory over fellow Week 16 winners, the Raiders, who beat the Chargers by just three points on Christmas Day (AEST). Kansas City should be able to knock off Oakland in this and win the AFC West to stay in playoffs contention.
Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals
Seattle are second to the Cardinals in the NFC West, but trail 13 – 9 wins so can’t leapfrog them to win the division even with a win over them here. Arizona are favourites in betting and early second favourites behind New England to take out February’s Super Bowl. They enjoyed a huge 38 – 8 win over NFC North leaders the Packers last week putting an end to a three-game winning streak for Green Bay and are flying into this, while the Seahawks lost to the Rams. Arizona can sneak in and take the #1 overall seed from the Panthers if they beat Seattle and the Panthers lose to the Buccaneers.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns
The Steelers are second in the AFC North behind the Bengals after stumbling in a shock 20 – 17 loss to the Ravens on the road, but get the chance to atone this week when they play fourth in the same division, Cleveland, this week. The Browns lost to the Chiefs last week and are out of the post-season party. The final spot in the AFC will go to either Pittsburgh or the Jets, who need to beat the Bills to get in. The spot is New York’s to lose, but a Steelers win over Cleveland could shake it up.
New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins
The Patriots are the overall AFC leaders despite their six point loss to the Jets, who clinched five games in a row in Week 16. Last in the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins should be easier rivals for New England this week after their loss to the Colts last week. The Patriots lock up the #1 seed if they knock off Miami this week. They were missing four key contributors in their overtime loss to the Jets, their staggering injuries getting the better of them, but with a home-field playoff advantage on the line here they’ll be fighting.
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lead the AFC North division and are second overall to the Patriots in the conference, with their Tuesday (AEST) game against the Broncos pending. Cincinnati haven’t won in Denver since 1975 so they face a tough task, but breaking that drought will see them lock up a first-round bye with the chance at home-field advantage. The Ravens won their Week 16 clash against the Steelers and are third in the AFC North with the playoffs off the cards. Whatever happens in Denver, Cincinnati should win in Week 17.
New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons
The Saints are out of the playoffs and will finish either third or fourth in the NFC South despite their big 38 – 27 win over the Jaguars in Week 16. The Falcons are second in the same division and Atlanta enjoyed the 20 – 13 victory over NFC North leaders the Panthers in an upset last week that ended Carolina’s shot at an unblemished run. Matt Ryan and Roddy White played their best of the season for the Falcons last week, Ryan battling through with a rib injury, but their team’s postseason hopes ended when the Vikings beat the Giants.
Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants
Second behind the Redskins in the NFC East, the Eagles lost to Washington last week and are out to end their season with a win over the Giants here after New York lost in a big way when thrashed 49 – 17 by the Vikings in Week 16. Neither make this season’s playoffs, but one has to win this and the Giants will be keen to make it them as Tom Coughlin coaches them for the last time and make up for their woeful blowout loss to the Vikings.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers
The Buccaneers went down by five points to the Bears in Week 16 and this week take on fellow last game losers, the Panthers, who lost by seven to the Falcons. Despite the defeat Carolina remain on top of the overall NFC standings one win ahead of the Cardinals, while Tampa Bay are out of the playoffs sitting third in the NFC South division. The Panthers’ unblemished run came to an end when they fell to Atlanta and that should serve as a wake-up call for Cam Newton and co. Tampa beat the Panthers back in Week 4, but Carolina will be much harder to knock off at the pointy end of the season as they look to clinch home-field advantage through the playoffs.
San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos
It is last plays first in the AFC West here, Denver sitting top of the division pre-their all-important Tuesday (AEST) clash against AFC North leaders the Bengals. The Chargers were brave in defeat just three points off the win over the Raiders in Week 16 but have said goodbye to the playoffs. The Broncos need to beat Cincinnati and the Chargers to push into #2 spot at worst, #1 if they win and the Patriots lose their next. If Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler does a good job against the Bengals he stays in for the clash against the Chargers instead of veteran Peyton Manning who only gets the Week 17 call-up if the Broncos lose to San Diego.
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
The Vikings clinched a playoff berth with their massive 49 – 17 win over the Giants in Week 16 and are second to the Packers, who they play this week, in the NFC North division. Minnesota eliminated the Falcons and punched their postseason ticket with the victory over New York and play in the State’s Sunday Night Football finale against Green Bay in the week’s blockbuster showdown. The NFC North title is on the line, but both teams are safely in the playoffs. The Packers are looking to make up for their embarrassing 30-point loss to the Cardinals last week when they managed to score just eight points, and Green Bay – especially quarterback Aaron Rodgers – need to win back some fan love if they are to shape up in the postseason.