AFC
Remaining Schedule
vs Jacksonville Jaguars
at Kansas City Chiefs
vs Los Angeles Chargers
Denver is the first team in the AFC to clinch a playoff berth & they have the inside track to the number one overall seed & a first round bye.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Jacksonville or Chargers loss clinches the AFC West.
Remaining Schedule
at Baltimore Ravens
at New York Jets
vs Miami Dolphins
New England blew a big lead against Buffalo & a chance to wrap up the AFC East. The Patriots still hold a one game lead in the division & a pretty favorable schedule to finish the season.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Baltimore, or Colts or Texans loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Denver Broncos
at Indianapolis Colts
vs Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville maintained their one game lead in the AFC South, but the Jaguars have a tough road game this week & Houston is breathing down their necks.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Denver & Colts or Texans loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Detroit Lions
at Cleveland Browns
vs Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh currently leads the AFC North & holds the fourth seed in the AFC, but their position is precarious. The Steelers could still miss the playoffs entirely. Their schedule isn’t easy, with the rematch with Baltimore looming in the final week.
Remaining Schedule
at Dallas Cowboys
vs Houston Texans
at Denver Broncos
The Chargers ended Kansas City’s run of postseason appearances & greatly enhanced their own playoff chances, but that finishing schedule is brutal.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Dallas & Colts or Texans loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Cleveland Browns
vs Philadelphia Eagles
vs New York Jets
Buffalo stayed alive in the AFC East race, but the Bills need help to surpass New England.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Cleveland & Colts or Texans loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
vs Las Vegas Raiders
at Los Angeles Chargers
vs Indianapolis Colts
Houston kept pace in the AFC South. The Texans have a rather favorable schedule to make the playoffs & possibly catch Jacksonville for the division title.
Remaining Schedule
vs San Francisco 49ers
vs Jacksonville Jaguars
at Houston Texans
Indianapolis showed some fight in their first game with the un-retired Philip Rivers, but they’re now 2 games back in the division & a full game back of a playoff spot. That schedule is super tough, as well.
Remaining Schedule
vs New England Patriots
at Green Bay Packers
at Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore eliminated Cincinnati & kept pace in the AFC North. The schedule is tough, but it will probably come down to that final game in Pittsburgh.
Eliminated This Week
Games to Watch
Week 16– Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
Denver wants to hold onto the #1 seed & Jacksonville wants to stay one game ahead of Houston in the AFC South. This game will go a long way into determining both.
Week 16– San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts
The Niners are solidly in the playoffs, but if the Colts want their last two games against division rivals to mean anything, it feels like this is a must win for them.
Week 16– New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens
Patriots could clinch a playoff berth. Baltimore could keep pace with or tie Pittsburgh. Buffalo could catch New England.
Week 17– Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers
Both teams are in good shape to make the playoffs, though nothing is clinched yet. This game will go a long way in determining seeding.
Week 18– Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC North always seems to come down to these two and it certainly appears as if this final week matchup will settle it once again.
My AFC Picks
- Denver Broncos (14-3) AFC West Champions
- New England Patriots (14-3) AFC East Champions
- Houston Texans (12-5) AFC South Champions
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9) AFC North Champions
- Buffalo Bills (13-4)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)
NFC
Remaining Schedule
at Seattle Seahawks
at Atlanta Falcons
vs Arizona Cardinals
The Rams seem like the most complete team in the NFL. This week’s trip to Seattle has massive implications.
Remaining Schedule
vs Green Bay Packers
at San Francisco 49ers
vs Detroit Lions
Chicago jumped back ahead of Green Bay in the NFC North race with a huge matchup against their bitter rivals this week. The Bears can seize total control of the division & keep their hopes alive for the #1 seed with a win.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Green Bay & Lions loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Washington Commanders
at Buffalo Bills
vs Washington Commanders
Any Philadelphia win or Dallas loss will give the Eagles the NFC East for a second consecutive season.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Washington or Cowboys loss clinches the NFC East.
Remaining Schedule
at Carolina Panthers
at Miami Dolphins
vs Carolina Panthers
The two games with Carolina will decide if Tampa Bay maintains their grip on the AFC South.
Remaining Schedule
vs Los Angeles Rams
at Carolina Panthers
at San Francisco 49ers
Seattle has two tough division games sandwiched around a trip to Carolina that will determine their fate. The could end up anywhere from the #1 seed to the seventh seed.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Los Angeles or Lions loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Indianapolis Colts
vs Chicago Bears
vs Seattle Seahawks
The Niners have been quietly hanging around in the NFC West & they find themselves with a shot at not only winning the division but getting the #1 seed, as well.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Indianapolis or Lions loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
at Chicago Bears
vs Baltimore Ravens
at Minnesota Vikings
This week’s trip to Chicago will determine if Green Bay is taking the NFC North or battling for a wildcard spot.
Clinching Scenario- Win vs Chicago & Lions loss clinches a playoff berth.
Remaining Schedule
vs Pittsburgh Steelers
at Minnesota Vikings
at Chicago Bears
Detroit is two games back in both the division and wildcard race, but they can still get either with a final week victory in Chicago & an extra loss for the Bears or two losses for Green Bay.
Remaining Schedule
vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vs Seattle Seahawks
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Those two games with Tampa will decide Carolina’s fate, unless they lose the first & drop the game vs Seattle & the Bucs beat Miami, then that last one is meaningless.
Remaining Schedule
vs Los Angeles Chargers
at Washington Commanders
at New York Giants
Dallas is still alive, barely, but their only shot is the division & there is no margin for error. The Cowboys must win out & have Philly lose out.
Eliminated This Week
Games to Watch
Week 16– Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
The biggest heavyweight fight of the year. Rams could all but clinch the NFC West with a win. A Seattle win would give them first place with a huge date with San Francisco looming in the final week.
Week 16– Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Whoever wins this one will be in control of the NFC North. Chicago has the tougher remaining schedule, but a win gives them essentially a 2 game lead.
Week 16– Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
The winner would be in control of the NFC South with a chance to clinch the following week because both teams have difficult games in week 17.
Week 17– Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers
Both teams could possibly clinch a playoff spot with a victory or set themselves up for a nervous week 18 with a loss.
Week 18– Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
Regardless of how the Rams-Seahawks battle shakes down, this final week game will have major seeding implications.
My NFC Picks
- Los Angeles Rams (13-4) NFC West Champions
- Chicago Bears (12-5) NFC North Champions
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) NFC East Champions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) NFC South Champions
- Seattle Seahawks (13-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Green Bay Packers (11-5-1)
x- denotes clinched playoff berth
Nickels and Dimes 