Predicting Which Week 17 Game Will Be Featured on Sunday Night Football

In typical NFL dramatic fashion, fans have witnessed chaotic endings in Week 17 in the past, with teams sneaking into the playoffs and receiving some help at the last second to help continue their season. 2014 appears to be no exception, as plenty of teams still have a chance to make the postseason.

Five of the eight NFL divisions are still up for grabs at the moment, and it may stay that way after Week 16 is in the books. Crazy enough, football fans may once again witness a team win a division with a record below .500.

Seven NFL games in Week 17 have a chance at being flexed to Sunday Night Football.

In this slideshow, we will write what must happen in Week 16, offer a little synopsis and make a case for each game as to why it deserves to be broadcast on NBC.

Carolina Panthers (5-8-1) at Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

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Seeing this as a possible Sunday Night Football matchup has probably given some fans flashbacks of when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the St. Louis Rams in the 2010 regular-season finale, when the Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record.

Four years later, the NFL is witnessing another situation in which a division winner will likely make the playoffs with a record of .500 at best and possibly below it.

The Carolina Panthers have led the NFC South at times, as have the Atlanta Falcons. Currently, however, the New Orleans Saints have the lead with a 6-8 record.

While most games listed on here involve teams fighting to get in as a wild card, this game is a battle for a division, which always helps increase the chances of seeing it get moved to prime time.

Cleveland Browns (7-7) at Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

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There is a slim chance that this game ends up on NBC Sunday night. If the Baltimore Ravens fall to the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns top the Panthers, then this game would have a case to appear on Sunday Night Football, as it would feature a pair of NFC North teams.

By the time these two teams meet, there is a strong possibility that the Ravens will be fighting for either the division or a wild-card spot, while the Browns only have a shot at a wild card.

If the Ravens lose and Browns win in Week 16, then the winner of this game will likely advance to the postseason as a wild-card team.

Buffalo Bills (8-6) at New England Patriots (11-3)

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The AFC East has already been decided, but the New England Patriots are still fighting for a No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the Bills look to squeeze through and sneak into the playoffs.

The Bills will visit the Oakland Raiders this week in hopes to stay in the wild-card hunt. Although the Raiders have played poorly this year, they have captured a win in their last two home games. If the Bills get through, they will go into New England with an opportunity to get in as a wild-card team and be showcased on Sunday night on NBC.

This Week 17 matchup will feature one team fighting for a No. 1 spot and the other vying to make the playoffs.

Detroit Lions (10-4) at Green Bay Packers (10-4)

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The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers have the same record, but the Lions possess the edge in the NFC North due to the 19-7 win in Week 3 against Green Bay at home. Meanwhile, the Packers currently own the No. 6 spot in the NFC. Now, the Lions must travel in the final two games of the regular season against NFC North rivals.

In Week 17, Lambeau Field could be the site of Sunday Night Football. Depending on how the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles do, the Packers and Lions might not only play for the division, but the loser might have to settle with a wild-card spot or be eliminated from playoff contention altogether.

San Diego Chargers (8-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-6)

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Despite being one game behind in the AFC wild-card race, the Kansas City Chiefs can run the tables by simply winning their final two games. If the Chiefs defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, then the San Diego Chargers may visit the Chiefs in front of a raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night in Week 17.

The Chiefs and Chargers can only contend for a wild-card spot, as the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West this past week. Although these two AFC teams made the playoffs last year, this season, there is only room for one of them.

In last year’s Week 17 meeting between these two teams, Chiefs coach Andy Reid rested all 22 starters since the outcome of last year’s game did not matter, as the team owned the No. 5 seed either way. This time, the team will need its starters.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)

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As mentioned in the previous slide, the Steelers and Chiefs face off this Sunday. If the Steelers come away with a win, then their Week 17 match against the Cincinnati Bengals could see a time change to Sunday night. Although the Bengals recently dropped a game to the Steelers, they have played well since Week 8.

After incurring a three-game winless streak, Cincinnati has gone 6-2.

As for the Steelers, consistency was an issue, as they had a 3-3 record through the first six weeks of the season. Like the Bengals, Pittsburgh has surged since the 3-3 start and has gone 6-2 as well.

Both teams have had similar seasons and are in position to make the playoffs. The Bengals lead the AFC North, while the Steelers have the No. 5 spot as a wild-card team. But by Week 17, it is likely that only one of these AFC North teams will extend its season into January.

New Orleans Saints (6-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12)

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Teams that are fighting for the No. 1 overall pick generally don’t make it into the postseason. However, the Saints, the current leaders of the crazy NFC South division, could find themselves in a position where they are simply in if they win.

On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were contenders for the division at one point, could play spoiler—even with only two wins—by pulling off an upset and preventing the Saints from making it into the postseason.

If the Saints defeat the Falcons this week, then this game has a chance. However, if the Falcons pull away with a win, the odds of this NFC South matchup being featured would fall.

Prediction: Panthers at Falcons

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1. Panthers at Falcons: The NFL will likely want to air a game that has playoff implications with a division still up for grabs. And let's face it: It is not often we see teams below .500 make it. If the Falcons defeat the Saints this week, the NFL will not hesitate to make this the regular-season finale.

2. Lions at Packers: This is another game in which the winner will be a division victor. However, it is almost certain that both the Lions and the Packers will be in position to make the playoffs. If a situation can occur in which the winner of this game wins the NFC North and the loser drops out of the playoff race, the NFL will strongly consider this match.

3. Chargers at Chiefs: Arrowhead Stadium is a great place for prime-time football, and only one team will walk away from this one and make it into the postseason. If both teams are 9-6 going into this game, then that means the winner of this game would get a playoff spot, making it an easy choice to put on NBC.

4. Bengals at Steelers: If the Steelers beat the Chiefs this week, then this game would get priority over the Chargers-Chiefs match. In addition, a division will be up for grabs in the AFC North, making this more intriguing. 

5. Bills at Patriots: We are starting to reach the games on the list that have a slim chance of making it to Sunday Night Football, as a lot would have to happen in order to make this work. While the Patriots are fighting for the top of the conference, this AFC East storyline isn't as enticing as the others.

6. Browns at Ravens: The Browns will need some help if they want their match with the Ravens to turn to prime time. Although there is still a chance, the odds are low for the Browns at this point. After Week 16, this game may be a match in which the Ravens try to get in, while the Browns try to play spoiler.

7. Saints at Buccaneers: The Buccaneers could play spoiler against a division rival. However, NBC does not want to broadcast the regular-season finale in front of a near-empty stadium. Tampa Bay has just two wins this year, and it is doubtful that many fans will show up for this game.