The last games to watch before the playoffs

[DallasEast]

‘The Tournament’, as old Bill would say, is almost ready to begin, but there are still 17 regular seasons games yet to be played. Here’s how I rank ‘em:

Win, They’re In | Lose, They’re Out

1. Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders, Sunday, December 30, 4:15 PM est. on FOX
2. Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on CBS

Yeah, NFL Network had been hyping Patriots/Giants as the Game of the Week, but New York killed the suspense by securing a playoff spot yesterday. The best game to see will be the NFL’s #1 rivalry game, with the stakes being a sure Wild Card berth IF the Commanders should beat the Cowboys. FOX should send the Giants a thank you note.

Like Wade Phillips, Tony Dungy will be resting his starters in the season’s finale, but Jeff Fisher cannot afford the same luxury. Can Vince Young lead his team to the promise land in only his second pro season? Stay tuned.

Who Wants To Play New England First?

3. Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers, Monday, December 24, 8:00 PM est. on ESPN
4. San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders, Sunday, December 30, 4:15 PM est. on CBS
5. Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on CBS

A #3 seed in the AFC playoffs is in the balance. Cementing that seed and two playoff victories will most likely translate into a trip to Foxboro for the AFC Championship. A #4 seed and a playoff win land you in Gillette Stadium a week early. San Diego currently has the inside track, but if the Chargers should stumble against the Broncos and/or the Raiders, the Steelers only need to beat the Ravens to skip the AFC Divisional Hoodie round. Losing Willie Parker will make that task a little harder, though.

Hanging On By A Thread

6. New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX
7. San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX
8. Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos, Sunday, December 30, 4:15 PM est. on FOX

Ah, Saints, Browns and Vikings! Oh, my!

Doesn’t have the same ring to it and it shouldn’t. All three teams could have made their playoff lives a lot easier by taking care of business in Week 16, but it now comes down to the final week. A win only equals 50% (or less) of the equation.

New Orleans must pray for heavenly intervention since Dallas could (and may) dial in their game against the Commanders. If Washington wins, it’s over for the Saints, but if the Commanders lose, they still must depend on Jay Cutler & Co. to beat Minnesota later that day. Of course, the Bears could simply put them out of their misery before the afternoon game kicks off.

The Vikes are almost in the same boat as the Saints. Their postseason dreams hang on a “Win + one other guy losing” formula. If Adrian Peterson runs out of breath gasping at Denver, Minnesota’s in big trouble because the thinner air will not help Tarvaris Jackson’s passing improve at all. Taking care of business at the Mile High Club will mean a whole lot more if the Cowboys should send Joe Gibbs packing for NASCAR racing a week early (they deserve him a whole lot more than the NFL does). A Dallas win will make this game a whole lot more interesting, so this would be a great time for hooking up Directv and it’s NFL Super Fan Game Mix to watch both games at the same time. PM me so I can refer you. I’ll get $50 bucks and you’ll get $50 bucks. What’s not to love?

Cleveland shouldn’t have any problem beating the 49ers. Then again, they shouldn’t have lost to Cincinnati, either. A win plus a Titans loss equals a Happy New Year for Romeo Crennel and who wouldn’t want to see that happen?

Okay, besides Cowboys fans wanting a higher draft selection this April, that is.

The Miami Dolphins’ Worst Nightmare

9. New England Patriots @ New York Giants, Saturday, December 29, 8:00 PM est. on NFL NETWORK

Don Shula couldn’t have dreamed this up even if he were on PCP. Both the Patriots and Giants are locked into their respective #1 and #5 playoff seeds. What is left for the Giants to play for?

Rest your starters and watch SpyGate Master run up the score! At least the Dolphins will have the small consolation that the 16-0 perfect regular season will not be viewed live by most of the nation because it’ll be on NFL Network. yay.

Four Super Bowls In One Day!

10. Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX
11. Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX
12. Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX
13. Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on CBS

Question: What’s the motivation for the Falcons, Panthers, Lions and Jaguars (oh, my!) this Sunday?

Answer: Nothing really, but it’s their last game of the season and they get to play the Hawks, Bucs, Pack and Jags--who already have their playoff seeds firmly in their backpockets. They will see their opponents resting their starters, so why not play like its February 2008?!? These would be the ho-hum games at the end of ’07… if it were not for…

Gone Fishin’!

14. Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on CBS
15. Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on CBS
16. St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, December 30, 4:15 PM est. on FOX
17. Kansas City Chiefs @ New York Jets, Sunday, December 30, 8:15 PM est. on NBC

They’re already eliminated from the playoffs, but the schedule MUST be played out!

The Miami game will be blacked out since most Dolphin fans will stay at home—depressed over Bill Belichick’s smearing of their franchise’s most valued legacy. The few Bengals fans who may show up can sympathize with their depression because… well… they’re Bengals fans.

The Bills will be playing for their fans’ pride. The Eagles will be playing to prove for their fans that they are the best 8-8 team in the history of the NFL—which will also help their fans cope a little more with the fact that Philadelphia’s Super Bowl window has been officially and finally (thank goodness) closed shut.

St. Louis and Arizona. One city used to have the Cardinals. The other city (or state/take your pick) currently has the Cardinals. ‘nuff said.

Kansas City and New York. One city currently has Herm Edwards. The other city (or is that New Jersey..?) had Herm Edwards. Still, Chiefs’ and Jets’ fans can be thankful of one thing while watching their teams play the last game of the season.

They can thank their lucky stars that they have never been Cardinals fans!

Is it Monday night yet?

 

[DallasEast]

bumpy

 

[THUMPER]

The #2 pick in the draft is on the line next weekend as well. Currently, the Jets, Falcons, and Rams are all 3-12.

The Jets host the 4-11 KC Masterpiece Chefs who have little to play for.
The Falcons host the 10-5 Seahawks who have already clinched their division.
The Rams play at Arizona against the 7-8 Cardinals.

The Jets are likely to win their game against the almost equally sorry Chefs leaving it to the Falcons and Rams to fight it out for that #2 selection.

The Seahawks have nothing to play for and will likely rest a lot of players for the playoffs. The Cardinals would like to end their season at 8-8 so they at least have something to play for and Warner has played well of late and will probably play well against his former team.

I have a feeling that it will be the Rams who end up with that #2 pick with a loss to the Cards but even with the Seahawks resting many of their players they could still beat the ultra sorry Falcons so who knows.

I will be in the unpleasant position of rooting FOR the 49ERs against the Browns for two reasons. One is so that the Browns will have a worse record giving us a higher draft pick and two, so that the 49ERs will have a better record giving the Patriots a lower pick.

There's just something so wrong with rooting FOR the Niners. :bang2:

 

[DallasEast]

There's just something so wrong with rooting FOR the Niners. :bang2:

You're on your own, partner. I'd give myself an aneurysm trying to root for any team other than Dallas--much less the Commanders, Steelers OR 49ers--in any scenario. : I loathe those guys.

 

[Kevinicus]

I think the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs = one and done.

 

[THUMPER]

I think the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs = one and done.

I agree, they will be playing the Jags and it will be either the Stealers or the Chargers. Neither team is likely to beat the Jags regardless of where they play.

The Stealers are without Parker and if the weather is bad in Pittsburgh they will get run over by Taylor & Jones-Drew.

The Chargers would have a better chance with at least a healthy LT but I don't think their defense is as good as the Stealers' and they will get run over just as badly.

The cool thing is that the Jags are likely to play the Patriots in the 2nd round (NE would face the lowest seeded team left) and could very well knock them out. After going undefeated in the regular season, to see them lose in the first playoff game would be too sweet!

 

[kmd24]

7. San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns, Sunday, December 30, 1:00 PM est. on FOX

Cleveland shouldn’t have any problem beating the 49ers. Then again, they shouldn’t have lost to Cincinnati, either. A win plus a Titans loss equals a Happy New Year for Romeo Crennel and who wouldn’t want to see that happen?
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Actually, this game doesn't matter at all. If the Titans beat Indy, the Browns would lose the tiebreaker on record against common opponents despite beating SF, and if the Titans lose, then the Browns will win the tiebreaker on conference record even if they lose to SF.