2008 NFL Playoff Picture
Finally, Week 17 is Worth Watching
by Badger of Predictem.com
The cast is starting to take shape and get a little clearer, but there’s still plenty of drama left to unfold in the final week of the NFL season. Week 16 of the regular season was a showstopper this year because for the first time both of the top seeds in each conference were fought over on the same field, winner-take-all style instead of a clinch with a win or so-and-so’s loss scenario.
Tennessee and the New York Giants won those battles to clinch home- field advantage throughout the AFC and NFC playoffs, but more importantly, week 16 of the 2008 season may become more memorable for what didn’t happen than what did happen. So many teams choked away their chances that now we’ve got the NFL’s Christmas wish come true … an exciting and meaningful week 17 of the regular season.
Let’s look back first at week 16 action before we dive headfirst into what’s in store for NFL fans in week 17.
Stumble and You Fall
In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both could have clinched a spot in the postseason with wins at home, but they both lost in stunning fashion. The Bucs dropped a 41-24 decision to an inspired San Diego Chargers. The Vikings lost 24-17 to the Atlanta Falcons, and due to the Bucs loss, it was the Falcons with a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach that instead clinched a birth into the postseason.
The Philadelphia Eagles could have helped their chances greatly by dispatching a down-n-out Washington Redskins team, but the Skins stopped the Eagles on the 1-yard line as time expired to sneak away with a 10-3 victory.
The AFC picture was flipped upside down on Sunday, specifically in the AFC East.
The Jets were in the driver’s seat, but their West Coast woes continued in a 13-3 loss at Seattle. Now it’s the Miami Dolphins who find themselves behind the wheel, as their 38-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, combined with the Jets loss puts them at the top of the AFC East standings. The New England Patriots 47-7 beat down of the Arizona Cardinals also kept them alive in the division as well.
The division that no one wants to win, the AFC West, will also come down to a head-to-head matchup for all the marbles. The Denver Broncos made that scenario a reality by losing to Buffalo 30-23 on Sunday. The Broncos loss combined with the Chargers miracle in Tampa means that the AFC West may just be won by a team with an 8-8 record.
What We Already Know
In the AFC, Tennessee won the AFC South and is the No. 1 seed, has a first-round bye, and has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Pittsburgh won the AFC North and the No. 2 seed, and also gets a first-round bye.
Also, the Indianapolis Colts clinched the No. 5 seed as the top wild card team already.
In the NFC, the New York Giants won the NFC East and earned the No.1 seed, a first-round bye and home field throughout with their victory over Carolina in week 16. Carolina is still playoff bound, but they will have to beat the New Orleans Saints in their finale on Sunday to clinch the NFC South and earn a first-round bye.
Arizona won the NFC West title and the No. 4 seed, and most likely will host the Atlanta Falcons, winners of the No. 5 seed and top wild card spot, in the opening round of the playoffs. Although the Falcons could still win the NFC South with a lot of help.
Week 17 Scenarios
Here’s what we all have to watch for in the final week of the regular season, starting with the NFC first.
Carolina needs to win on the road in New Orleans to clinch the NFC South and a first-round bye. Even with a loss the Panthers are still in, but they’ll be playing for a bye, which makes it a crucial game for them in the finale.
Minnesota still only needs one victory to clinch the NFC North, but they may get an early Christmas present from the rival Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football tonight. If the Packers can beat the Bears tonight, the Vikings are in regardless of how they play Sunday at home versus the New York Giants. If the Bears win, they face a road game at Houston in the final week and a little scoreboard watching as the Vikings take on the defending Super Bowl champs.The Dallas Cowboys currently hold the tiebreaker for the sixth and final NFC wild card spot, but they go head-to-head with the Eagles in Philly the final week of the season. If the Cowboys win, they are in. If they lose, the Eagles will need Tampa Bay to lose to Oakland at home in order to jump ahead of them in the standings. If both Dallas and Tampa lose, Philly gets the final wild card spot.
The AFC playoff picture is basically clear, we just have to settle a few divisions in order to determine who is playing whom in the opening round.
All eyes will be on the Miami Dolphins and New Your Jets game in the Meadowlands Sunday. If the Dolphins win they are in. The Jets however need to win and have the Patriots lose at Buffalo to get back to the top of the AFC East.
If the Dolphins win all is not necessarily lost for the Patriots, as they could still leapfrog over the Baltimore Ravens for the sixth and final AFC wild card spot if they beat Buffalo and the Ravens lose to Jacksonville in their finale.
Then all eyes will turn to the Denver at San Diego game on Sunday Night Football in a winner-takes-all contest for the AFC West title.
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