Entering Week 17 of the NFL regular season, many teams will face off in season-ending or season-extending matchups. In Week 16, five teams, the Rams, the Browns, the Titans, the Colts, and the Redskins, all had the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a win. All five of them lost. This not only complicates the playoff picture for both the AFC and the NFC in this last week, but it also gives many teams a second chance to continue their season. These are four of Sunday’s games that have the biggest effects on the 2020 NFL playoff picture.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) v. Cleveland Browns (10-5)
The Steelers, without the possibility of a first-round bye, do not have much to lose in this matchup. Their comeback win last week against Indianapolis secured them as AFC North Champions, earning them a non-wildcard playoff berth. However, for the Browns, this win is everything. After last week’s humbling loss to the 1-14 Jets, the Cleveland Browns have put themselves in a must-win situation. Vying for one of the four available playoff spots in the AFC, Baker Mayfield will need to outplay backup QB Mason Rudolph, who is replacing starting QB Ben Roethlisberger, in order to lead Cleveland to their first playoff run in 18 years.
If the Browns come away with the loss, Indianapolis will be able to swoop into the wildcard spot with a win over the 1-15 Jaguars. There is no doubt tensions will be high this Sunday in this already-dramatic AFC North rivalry.
2. Arizona Cardinals (8-7) v. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
With the Rams losing 3 of their last five games, they fell steeply from their place atop of the NFC West and are now forced to play the Cardinals for a wildcard spot. The winner of this divisional faceoff will be granted one of the three available NFC playoff spots. However, the Rams, even with a loss, will be granted a spot as well if Chicago loses their tough matchup with Green Bay.
The Cardinals will be facing a Rams team that is without Jared Goff, as the starting QB recovers from thumb surgery. Look for the Cardinals defense to be hungry to put all the pressure on backup QB John Wolford in his NFL debut. On the other side of the matchup, star WR Deandre Hopkins will likely see a lot of CB Jalen Ramsey, as their last matchup included a Ramsey-Hopkins coverage on 85% of routes. On the Cardinals offense, all eyes will be on young QB Kyler Murray, who has the opportunity to prove his greatness in a potential season-ending game for his team.
3. Green Bay Packers (12-3) v. Chicago Bears (8-7)
In a rivalry as old as the league itself, the Packers-Bears Sunday showdown will have serious NFC seeding implications. With a win over the Bears, MVP-favorite Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will clinch the No. 1 seed and a highly sought-after first-round bye. According to the NFL Scouting Report, Green Bay has an estimated 78% chance of claiming the first seed. Despite the odds, the Bears are sure to put up a fight, as they are looking to extend their season with a wildcard spot. With a win (or a Cardinals loss to the Rams), the Bears extend their season.
If this game has a chance to be a close one, the Bears will need to lockdown star wideout Davantae Adams. Last week against Tennessee, Adams caught 3 receiving touchdowns along with 11 receptions for a whopping 142 yards. If the Bears coverage fails to shut down the Packers’ biggest threat, Green Bay will undoubtedly return to Wisconsin with the No. 1 seed, leaving the Bears praying for an Arizona loss.
4. Tennessee Titans (10-5) v. Houston Texans (4-11)
It is neck-to-neck in the AFC South heading into Week 17, with the Titans and the Colts both having a 10-5 record. Tennessee remains at the top of the division but only clinches their playoff spot with a win on Sunday (or with an unlikely Indianapolis loss to Jacksonville). Although the already-eliminated Texans appear to be an easy win, they are fully capable of surprises and not to be underestimated with a playoff spot on the line.
After the Texans’ loss on Sunday, J.J. Watt was asked about how he and his teammates could bounce back to play a tough Titans team in Week 17.
“If you can’t come in and put work in in the building, go out to the practice field and work hard, do your lifts and do what you’re supposed to do, you should not be here,” he responded, “There are a lot of people that watch us and invest their time and their money into buying our jerseys and…they care about it”. His impassioned speech is one equally full of toughness and hope, especially for being a member of a dismal 4-11 team. His moving comments were widely circulated over the week and were a reminder to many that just because you’re down does not mean you should be counted out. If they want to top Indianapolis, Tennessee should be prepared to bring that same level of enthusiasm and preparation to the game on Sunday to face a Houston team that is prepared to bring their all.
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