NFL this week
Playoff picture remains unclear The AFC East race perfectly reflects this season’s NFL.
Going into the final weekend, three of the four teams have a chance to win the division: Miami and New England, which meet each other in Foxboro on Sunday, and the New York Jets.
The Dolphins have the easiest method – beat the Patriots and they’re in.
But the Dolphins (9-6) are just 2-5 on the road, lost indoors in Minneapolis last week and historically have problems in nasty December weather.
The Patriots (8-7) haven’t been much better lately. They looked bad in losing to Tennessee and the New York Jets. Yet if they beat the Dolphins and the Jets (8-7) lose at home to Green Bay, New England wins the division. If the Jets and Patriots win, the Jets are the champions.
“It’s really a mental thing at this point,” guard Todd Perry says of Miami’s problems on the road. “There’s really no reason why we should play any different. It’s just seems that when we get on the road, we let the mental things slip. Turnovers, penalties, things that we really don’t do as much at home. We’ve got to focus on that aspect of the game.”
The key for Miami, as it has been all year, is Ricky Williams, especially in the chill of Foxboro against a team that’s 27th in the NFL against the run. In the loss to Minnesota, Williams, who averaged 24 carries in his other 14 starts, rushed only 15 times for 67 yards.
For New England, Bill Belichick is counting on experience and the pride of being the defending Super Bowl champions
“For as much as we put into the season, going all the way back to the offseason program, to training camp, the practices, it comes down to one week and one game,” coach Bill Belichick says. “With the type of guys that we have on this team, I expect them to respond in a positive manner and meet that challenge.”
But meeting the challenge may not be enough if the Jets win, too.
And that’s one of the simplest of the AFC scenarios in the final week of the regular season.
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The NFC is relatively uncomplicated.
Philadelphia, Green Bay, Tampa Bay and San Francisco all have clinched their divisions and the Eagles have clinched a first-round bye.
The New York Giants clinched a wild-card berth with a 10-7 overtime win over Philadelphia on Saturday. That means Green Bay can clinch home-field advantage with a win Sunday.
Atlanta can get the other wild card with a win Sunday. New Orleans can get in if it beats Carolina and Atlanta loses.
In the AFC, Oakland, Tennessee and Pittsburgh have won their divisions. Indianapolis (9-6) clinched a wild-card berth without even playing after Oakland beat Kansas City 24-0 Saturday. The Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention.
Even Baltimore (7-8) remained alive, hoping for an improbable scenario in which seven teams would finish 8-8.
In fact, the scenario is so complicated that even after all the games are played and the major tiebreakers are figured out, it may come down to strength of victory among several conference teams.
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The Giants beat Philadelphia 10-7 in overtime and Oakland beat Kansas City 24-0 Saturday to start the weekend.
In addition to Miami-New England, Sunday games involving playoff berths or positioning are Tennessee at Houston, Baltimore at Pittsburgh, Atlanta at Cleveland, Carolina at New Orleans, Jacksonville at Indianapolis, Green Bay at the Jets, Seattle at San Diego, Arizona at Denver and Tampa Bay at Chicago.
San Francisco is at St. Louis on Monday night.
Only three games Sunday have no relevance to the postseason: Cincinnati at Buffalo, Minnesota at Detroit and Dallas at Washington.
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Green Bay (12-3) at New York Jets (8-7)
New York could be out of the playoffs when it takes the field for the late afternoon game, or it could be playing for a postseason berth after starting the season 2-5. The Jets have won six of the last eight, outscoring opponents 63-9 in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay comes off a terrific defensive effort in blanking Buffalo 10-0, with Vonnie Holliday getting five sacks. A win gives Green Bay home-field advantage for the playoffs because the Eagles lost 10-7 in overtime to the Giants on Saturday.
Atlanta (9-5-1) at Cleveland (8-7)
The Browns added another wild chapter to their season and kept alive postseason hopes with a dramatic 14-13 win at Baltimore. Now, they have to beat the Falcons and hope for some outside help to make the AFC playoffs for the first time since 1994.
The Falcons, who have gone to overtime four times this season, have jeopardized their playoff hopes by dropping two of their last three games.
Tennessee (10-5) at Houston (4-11)
The Titans are charging into the playoffs for the third time in four years. They have won nine of their last 10 since a 1-4 start. Their defense has shown marked improvement and the offense has prospered despite quarterback Steve McNair’s injuries.
Houston’s offense has been the weakest in the NFL much of the season, but in recent weeks its gotten worse. It ranks last in total offense and rookie David Carr has been sacked an NFL-record 73 times.
Jacksonville (6-9) at Indianapolis (9-6)
The Colts clinched a wild-card berth after Oakland beat Kansas City 24-0 on Saturday. It is their third playoff berth in four years, the first time that’s happened since making it three straight times from 1975-77.
Jacksonville already is assured its third straight losing season, and after a dismal performance against Tennessee last week, only two questions remain: whether Jacksonville shows up and whether this will be Tom Coughlin’s final game as coach.
Arizona (5-10) at Denver (8-7)
The Broncos are clinging to playoff hopes after a 6-2 start, needing a win and some help to earn a wild-card berth. The Cardinals have struggled with injuries to lose eight of nine after a 4-2 start.
It also could be the last game for the starting quarterbacks. Denver’s Brian Griese has been benched in favor of Steve Beuerlein, leaving his future with the Broncos in doubt. Arizona’s Jake Plummer, a free agent, hasn’t said if he’ll be back.
Seattle (6-9) at San Diego (8-7)
The Seahawks are hitting their stride too late, having won two straight and three of five behind quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Before moving from the AFC West to the NFC West, the Seahawks beat the Chargers four straight times.
The Chargers have collapsed under coach Marty Schottenheimer, losing six of eight after their 6-1 start. San Diego isn’t mathematically eliminated, but odds are much better that their playoff drought will reach seven seasons.
Carolina (6-9) at New Orleans (9-6)
The Panthers look to snap a 13-game losing streak in division play. They are 0-5 this season in the new NFC South after going 0-8 last season in the NFC West.
New Orleans has lost two straight to put its playoff chances in jeopardy. After opening 6-1, the Saints must win on Sunday and get help.
Tampa Bay (11-4) at Chicago (4-11)
Despite wrapping up the NFC South, the Buccaneers could have a lot at stake. The Bucs need a loss by the Packers and their own win for a first-round bye, and they’ll know before the night game whether they got it. And if that story line fizzles, there’s always the weather. Tampa Bay is 0-21 in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees, and Sunday night’s forecast calls for lows in the 30s.
San Francisco (10-5) at St. Louis (6-9)
With little at stake, the 49ers will rest several regulars in preparation for the playoffs. Tim Rattay should get plenty of playing time at quarterback, although Jeff Garcia will start.
Cincinnati (2-13) at Buffalo (7-8)
The Bills are intent on finishing what has been an encouraging season on a promising note. A victory would mean a five-win turnaround, matching their best improvement from one year to the next.
Dallas (5-10) at Washington (6-9)
The Cowboys end the season in disarray. Dave Campo looks like a lame-duck coach, and Emmitt Smith also appears to have one foot out the door.
Minnesota (5-10) at Detroit (3-12)
The Vikings have won two straight by a total of four points, and can surpass last year’s win total by a game with another victory. Coach Mike Tice has been assured by owner Red McCombs he will be back for a second year. The Vikings have broken a franchise record set in 1965 with 2,353 yards rushing, led by Michael Bennett’s 1,214 yards.
The Lions have lost seven straight. Team owner William Clay Ford Sr. has said he will decide the future of coach Marty Mornhinweg and chief executive Matt Millen after Sunday’s game.