With 17 weeks left, there are still some spots open in the NFL playoff field. Tough times, crazy finishes, officiating controversies, and historic performances set us up for a very promising final week of the regular season.
I love the final week, which promises to be a mess like this:
Beyond the upsets and spoilers, we’ll see some crazy performances by teams that will be missing starters. We’ll probably see some weird QB matchups (like the possibility of Wentz vs. Sam Darnold in San Francisco on Sunday), and things might not end until midnight Sunday when the Dolphins play the Bills in the AFC East. do not have. title.
Before we get too weird, here are the basics you need to know. There are still 20 teams competing for a spot in the Super Bowl. With five remaining playoff spots, six teams have winning scenarios: the Bills, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Packers, and Buccaneers.
Yes, that’s enough. Here are 13 (weird, obscure, head-scratching, really cool) things to know about his race to the playoffs heading into Week 18.
1. Go around the wagon
This week, the Bills could become the No. 2 seed or be eliminated for the ninth time since 1990 (h/t Pro Football Researcher Ivan Urena). A win in Miami would clinch the No. 2 seed, but a loss to the Jaguars and Steelers could result in them being eliminated (unless the Texans-Colts game ends in a tie).
2. Buffalo Comeback
The Bills become just the fourth team in NFL history to win a division title with five games left and three games back (1973 Bengals, 2008 Chargers, 2022 Jaguars). Poor Dolphins fans.
3. Can the Steelers still play even if they lose?
yes. Teams currently on the outside can make the playoffs even if they lose. sound logic. Thanks to the social and research teams at CBS Sports for their analysis here. The Steelers are currently the 9th seed, but if that happens, they could actually make the playoffs even with a loss.
Path to the playoffs if the Steelers lose:
- jaguars lose
- broncos victory
- Texans and Colts won’t tie
That would create a four-way tie for the No. 7 seed between the Steelers, Jaguars, Broncos and the loser of the Texans-Colts game. The Steelers will be IN on the strength of the winning tiebreaker. If you’re still following, please nod.
4. Winner takes all.
The winner of Texans vs. Colts will advance to the playoffs, and the loser will miss the playoffs. This is the 31st winner-take-all game in the final week of the regular season in NFL history, and the first since the Chargers and Raiders finished the 2021 season tied. Texans vs. Colts is essentially a playoff game and a perfect tune-up for the postseason.
5. It means you have a chance.
The Texans had preseason Super Bowl odds of 200-1, tied for the worst in the NFL with the Cardinals. Literally no one expected them to make the playoffs. They are the fifth team since 1978 (when the NFL went to a 16-game format) to advance to the playoffs with preseason winning odds of 200-1 or higher.
6. The stars can align for a reunion
Especially if things go well in Week 18, it’s completely inconceivable that such a reunion could happen in the first two rounds. First game in Kansas City since Tyreek Hill was traded. First game in Detroit since Matthew Stafford was traded. First game in Baltimore since Joe Flacco was traded.
Here’s what you need:
Possibility of wild card matchup
- Dolphins vs. Chiefs (Hill reunion), Dolphins loss, vs. Bills
- Rams vs. Lions (Stafford reunion) Cowboys and Rams win
- Packers at Cowboys (Mike McCarthy reunion) Cowboys, Packers, Rams win
And, just to be clear, the Browns will advance to Baltimore in the divisional playoffs (a Flacco reunion) if they defeat the AFC South champions in the Wild Card Round AND the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds win in the AFC Wild Card Round. They will play against the Ravens. .
7. NFC prank
There are still 256 different seed combinations possible in the NFC, with only the 49ers locked into one seed. There are also six teams still battling for the final two NFC playoff spots.
8. Dallas can play any of these seven teams.
John Breech outlined how the Cowboys could match up with any of these seven teams in the playoffs. The three NFC South championship teams (Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers), Packers, Rams, Seahawks, Vikings. Conclusion. Cowboys fans, don’t waste your time thinking too far ahead. Take care of your work this week!
9. NFC East repeat?
If the Cowboys win the NFC East (either a win or a loss to the Eagles), it will be the 19th consecutive year without an NFC East champion, extending the longest winning streak in any division in NFL history. .
10. Turns purple
The Vikings’ playoff hopeful is on life support (1.4% chance, according to SportsLine), but there’s a chance he could still survive if either option 1 or 2 happens.
Vikings’ road to the playoffs:
- Wins and losses for the Packers, Seahawks, and Buccaneers
- Packers, Seahawks, Saints wins + losses
The first game would be really wild if the Seahawks lost to the Cardinals and the Buccaneers lost to the Panthers. But, you never know.
11. Packers deja vu
The Packers are in a very similar position to last year in the final week. For the second year in a row, there is a scenario in which they win at home in the final week, against a divisional rival they had already eliminated, but are in good form going into the game. Last year we lost to the Lions. This year, they need to get past a Bears team that has won nine straight games (and 17 of their last 20).
However, the Packers QB is Jordan Love instead of Aaron Rodgers, so it’s not exactly the same.
12. All You Need Is Love
If the Packers defeat the Bears and advance to the playoffs, they will become the youngest playoff team since the NFL changed to a 16-game format in 1978. If that happens, the future is bright for Love & Company.
13. Buccaneers Robbery
The Buccaneers are likely 17-17 over the past two seasons with two playoff appearances. They won the NFC South last year with an 8-9 record, and with a win on Sunday they will go 9-8 and win the division title again. No team has ever achieved this. That means making the playoffs in consecutive seasons with a record below .500 in that span.