3:00pm
-- Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears - Important game for both
the Packers and Bears. Pack need the win to stay in contention for final
playoff spot. GB has make up games with SD/Teddy B and Womack/Miami. Providing
he takes care of business there, his game with Chicago could determine
whether he finishes in the 4,5 or 6 spot. The Pack closes out with Washington
in the finale. The Bears have make up games with both Dallas and Philadelphia.
Hussein currently maintains a 1/5 game lead over Dallas for the #4 spot.
That is why the game vs. Green Bay will be pivotal in terms of determining
seeding in the NFC.
3:00pm
San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Both the Steelers
and Chargers are mathematically still alive, provided they win out. A
loss here for either team and they can kiss the baby....the winner stays
alive, in the event that Green Bay, Dallas, or Chicago collapses towards
the end.
4:30pm
Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints -- The Bills are still sitting
pretty, despite the loss to Denver last week. Now that the hopes of a
division title is out of the window, the Bills will be playing to secure
the #4 spot in the AFC and not move down any further. That is why Seattle
just may have their eyes on this game, more so than any other. Right now,
the Bills are one game ahead of the Seahawks for the #4 spot in the AFC
race. However the Bills finish off with New England, and New Orleans in
the final week. If the Bills slip up, they can easily find themselves
in the 5th spot rather where they are now.
3:00pm San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys - This will
be a tough game for both teams. Both teams seemed to be going in opposite
directions. San Fran losing 7 straight, while Dallas had won 5 straight
prior to getting knocked off their high horse by the mighty Saints. Allen
needs this win bad vs. his sparring partner. One loss and Niners can make
plans for the off season. The Cowboys can't afford to lose either, since
they have not clinched a playoff berth as of yet, not to mention if they
plan to challenge Chicago or Green Bay for the 4th or 5th spot in the
NFC. Because these guys go at it on the regular, expect a close contest.
4:30pm
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - Big game for the Pats.
Closing out with both Denver and Buffalo will be no easy task for Santana.
The Broncs, basically have nothing to lose here, as they have all but
locked up the division. In addition, with Brooks finishing out against
the defunct Buccaneers, the Broncos are guaranteed to finish out at least
13-3.
4:30pm
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings - Its simple for Casualties....one
win, and he's in. However, it's not that simple on paper. The Vikes close
out with Seattle, Dallas, and San Francisco. All three teams with something
to play for in the closing weeks. A Seahawk win allows them to challenge
Buffalo for the #4 seed in the AFC. Dallas needs the win to keep pace
with Chicago and Green Bay. While San Francisco will be battling for their
playoff lives. The final spot could come down to the final game of the
season between San Francisco and Minnesota, week 17, to see who qualifies
for a trip to the big dance.
6:00pm
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers - Big game more so for
the Packers than the Skins. At 6-5, the Pack need to win out to move into
the 4th or 5th spot in the NFC playoff race. The Skins have all but clinched
the 3rd seed, and could move into the second spot should Steve Stewart
slip up along the way. (Highly Unlikely that will happen).
6:00pm Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers - Things don't
get any easier for Teddy B! when he lines up against Hussein and the Bears.
If the Chargers can survive vs. Pittsburgh, they will still need to get
by Chicago if they plan on keeping the slim hopes of a playoff berth alive.
The Chargers are struggling at 4-7, his work record since 1999 when he
finished the season 6-10. Browns two make up games vs. Green Bay and Carolina
will determine whether he makes a serious playoff push, or perhaps finish
below his 6-10 mark of 1999.
7:30pm
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - This is a big game for
the Pats also. At 11-3, the Pats close out with the Bills and Broncos.
Any slip ups here can cause Santana to slide down the to the #4 seed depending
upon what Chicago and Dallas does to close the season.
7:30pm Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons - Without
question the premiere game of the week. Stewart pretty much has the division
on lock down. Even a loss vs. the Eagles won't hurt the Falcons chance
to clinch particular since Stewart faces both K.C. and Tennessee in the
finale. A loss to Eagles still means Stewart finishes no worst than 14-2.
Even if the Redskins, who trails Stewart by a half game wins out, both
teams end up tied, but Stewart has the tie break edge on conference record
thanks to his win over Brooks, and C-Ya loss to Brooks last week. The
Eagles however are trying to keep pace with the Saints for the top seed
in the NFC. Despite locking down the NFC Shula Division crown already,
one loss and the birds will virtually have to settle for a second seed.
Even if the birds win out, the Eagles will need Buffalo, Miami or Pittsburgh
to upset to Saints in order to have a shot at the homefield throughout
the playoffs. Expect a close game, as these two are sparring partners
and they are familiar with each others styles and game plans.
