NFL Week 17: Everything You Need to Know for Sunday's Games
We've finally reached the finish line of the 2015 NFL season—well, the regular season, anyway. We're heading into the 17th and final Sunday of regular-season football, which means the playoffs are at the doorstep.
By now, most of the playoff participants have secured their postseason tickets. The New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos are all in the playoffs.
This Sunday, we'll find out if the Houston Texans can join the aforementioned group by clinching the AFC South, and if the New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers will sneak in as the AFC's No. 6 seed. We'll also learn who gets home-field advantage in each conference, and whether the Vikings or Packers are NFC North champions.
There are no Thursday or Monday night games this week, which means all 16 contests will take place Sunday. Here's what you need to know about them.
Playoff Scenarios
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Since this is the final week of the regular season, we're going to focus almost exclusively on playoff teams.
What Will the Playoff Field Look Like?
In the grand NFL landscape, this is the big question. Let's run down Week 17's playoff scenarios.
Patriots: The Patriots can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win or a Broncos loss or tie.
Broncos: The Broncos can clinch a first-round bye with a win, with a tie and a Bengals loss or tie, or with a loss and a Chiefs loss or tie and a Bengals loss. The Broncos can also clinch home-field advantage with a win and a Patriots loss.
Bengals: Cincinnati can earn a first-round bye with a win and a Broncos loss, a tie and a Broncos loss, or a Broncos loss and Chiefs win.
Chiefs: Kansas City can win the AFC West with a win plus a Broncos loss.
Jets: New York can secure a playoff spot with a win or tie, or a Steelers loss or tie.
Steelers: Pittsburgh can steal the playoff spot with a win and a Jets loss.
Texans: Houston can win the AFC South with a win or tie, an Indianapolis Colts loss or tie, or if any team of the Bengals, Patriots, Saints, Jets or Chargers win.
Panthers: The Panthers can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win or tie, or with a Cardinals loss or tie.
Cardinals: Arizona can earn home-field advantage with a win and a Panthers loss.
Packers: Green Bay can win the NFC North with a win or tie.
Vikings: Minnesota can win the NFC North with a win.
Seahawks: Seattle has already clinched a wild-card berth.
Redskins: Washington has already clinched the NFC East.
Biggest Questions
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Can the Steelers Finish Strong?
The Steelers entered Week 16 with a good shot at making the postseason. However, they blew a big one against a banged-up Baltimore Ravens team, dropping the contest 20-17.
This week, Pittsburgh draws the lowly Cleveland Browns, who are also banged up. Quarterback Johnny Manziel entered midweek in the concussion protocol and has been ruled out in favor of Austin Davis.
If Pittsburgh hopes to have any chance of stealing away a playoff spot, it has to take care of business against an opponent who could be easy to overlook. Of course, if the Jets win their matchup Sunday, what the Steelers do is meaningless.
Should Washington Rest its Players?
Since the Redskins have already secured the NFC East, they really have nothing to play for against the Dallas Cowboys. Even with a win, Washington would finish the regular season 9-7. This wouldn't be good enough to move up from the fifth seed to the fourth seed.
What Washington has to decide is whether it is more important to gain momentum heading into the playoffs or to guarantee health.
“The injuries will be a major part of that, but the guys that play, they have every intent of trying to win this football game,” head coach Jay Gruden said, per John Keim of ESPN.com. “It’s a big game for us to keep our momentum, but we also have to be smart about the guys that are a little bit [hurt] and get them well for the playoffs.”
Realistically, we'll probably see a mix of starters and backups in for Washington. The Redskins aren't going to want to just roll over for a division rival, but they won't want to risk any injuries, either.
Ultimately, it might be enough to give Cowboys fans a chance to see their team go out on a high note.
What Should the Texans Do?
In all likelihood, the Texans are going to clinch the AFC South. A win earns them the title, but so does a win by the Patriots, Bengals, Saints, Chargers or Jets. An Indianapolis loss or tie would also do the trick.
Should the Texans just play the odds and rest key players such as pass-rusher J.J. Watt, who has been playing with a broken hand? What about quarterback Brian Hoyer? He only recently exited the concussion protocol. According to head coach Bill O'Brien, though, Hoyer will start Sunday.
The most realistic scenario has the Texans looking for a win with the starters in the game. However, if the Texans take a big lead, or one or more of the other teams that impact Houston's standing do the same, backups will start coming in the game.
There just aren't many reasons to put your best players at risk if another team can win the division for you.
Game of the Day
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What: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: NBC
This is the big one in the NFC North. When the Vikings travel to meet the Packers in the NFL regular-season finale, it will be for all the proverbial marbles the division has to offer.
Both of these teams have already clinched a playoff spot in the NFC, so this isn't going to be a battle to get in. The winner, though, becomes NFC North champion and earns the right to host an opening-round playoff game. The loser will head into the postseason on the road.
Even if there wasn't so much as stake in terms of playoff positioning, this game will still be a dogfight. We're talking about a couple of NFC North rivals, after all. Both teams are going to be dialed in for this one.
“We’re a little further into our plan than we would be for a normal Wednesday,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told the team's official website. “Our guys are all locked in. That’s the feeling I have.”
Oh yeah, and these two 10-5 teams seem evenly matched, too. Pro Football Focus rates the Vikings 10th overall and the Packers 13th overall. Green Bay won the earlier matchup of the season 30-13.
This game will either solidify the notion that the Packers are still the team to beat, or it will signal change atop the NFC North. It's going to be awesome.
Honorable Mention: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
This is going to be another interesting game with significant playoff implications. This is why we're picking the Jets vs. Bills over the Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals (which is also worth watching).
Not only are these two teams AFC East rivals, but a playoff spot is on the line for the Jets. If New York wins, it is in the postseason. If the Bills can manage to hold off head coach Rex Ryan's former team, things open up for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Jets can still make the postseason with a loss but would need the Cleveland Browns to upset the Steelers at home. There's no way the Jets can count on that happening. This is going to be a meaningful and possibly emotional battle.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
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Stats of the Week
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Career passing yards by Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. According to Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post, Manning is listed as probable this week but will serve as the backup to Brock Osweiler. There's a chance Manning's time as an NFL starter is over.
Yards passing by Manning in 2013. He also finished the year with 55 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 115.1. Two years later, he's been effectively benched.
Yards rushing by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson this season. He is closing in on his third league rushing title (he has a 54-yard lead on Buccaneers back Doug Martin) and should be a major piece of Minnesota's game plan against Green Bay.
Yards rushing by Peterson the last time he played Green Bay. The Packers defense held him mostly in check (just 3.5 yards per carry) and went on to win 30-14.
Times Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked in last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Green Bay offensive line will have to do a better job of protecting him to beat the Vikings in what is essentially the NFC North championship game.
Players the Baltimore Ravens have placed on injured reserve this season. According to the team's official website, this is a record number for the John Harbaugh era. Baltimore still managed to beat the rival Steelers in Week 16, which might keep Pittsburgh out of the postseason.
Who's Favored?
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Here are the odds for Sunday's games, via Odds Shark:
| Game Time (ET) | Away Team | Home Team | Favorite |
| 1 p.m. | New Orleans | Atlanta | Atlanta -6 |
| 1 p.m. | NY Jets | Buffalo | NY Jet -2.5 |
| 1 p.m. | Detroit | Chicago | Chicago -1 |
| 1 p.m. | Washington | Dallas | Dallas -4 |
| 1 p.m. | Jacksonville | Houston | Houston -6.5 |
| 1 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Cleveland | Pittsburgh -10.5 |
| 1 p.m. | Baltimore | Cincinnati | Cincinnati -9 |
| 1 p.m. | Tennessee | Indianapolis | No Line |
| 1 p.m. | New England | Miami | New England -9.5 |
| 1 p.m. | Philadelphia | NY Giants | NY Giants -3.5 |
| 4:25 p.m. | Tampa Bay | Carolina | Carolina -10.5 |
| 4:25 p.m. | Oakland | Kansas City | Kansas City -7 |
| 4:25 p.m. | Seattle | Arizona | Arizona -6.5 |
| 4:25 p.m. | San Diego | Denver | Denver -9.5 |
| 4:25 p.m. | St. Louis | San Francisco | St. Louis -3 |
| 8:30 p.m. | Minnesota | Green Bay | Green Bay -3 |
Matchups to Watch
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Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Buffalo Pass Defense
The Jets are not going to face a 100 percent healthy Buffalo Bills team. Star running back LeSean McCoy has already been ruled out, along with linebacker Nigel Bradham. Tight end Charles Clay has been placed on injured reserve.
However, the game won't be a cakewalk for the Jets. They will still have to contend with a defense that is rated 11th overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus, as well as current Buffalo and former Jets head coach Rex Ryan's scheming.
The key to this game is Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. If he can play efficiently and minimize mistakes, New York should have a good chance to win and secure a playoff spot. He tossed two interceptions the last time these two teams met, and the Jets lost 22-17.
Packers Offensive Line vs. Minnesota Pass Rush
We already mentioned that Aaron Rodgers was sacked a whopping eight times last week against the Arizona Cardinals. This week he gets to face a Vikings pass rush that is rated sixth overall by Pro Football Focus.
As a team, the Vikings have produced 38 sacks this season. The Packers, for the year, have allowed 42.
The Packers, of course, have been juggling injuries on the offensive line for much of the season. The good news is that most of the starting lineup was back on the practice field this week, according to Josh Silverstein and Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
If Green Bay's line produces a repeat performance of last week, it's going to be difficult for the Packers to win. Putting pressure on Rodgers should be one of Minnesota's primary game objectives.
Patriots Offensive Line vs. Miami Pass Rush
Applying quarterback pressure should also be a goal for the Miami Dolphins, who are looking to play spoiler against the Patriots.
Miami has only produced 29 sacks this season, but Pro Football Focus rates the team first overall in pass rush. Though defenders don't always hit home, the pressure has been there for most of the season.
New England has been dealing with its own offensive line injuries for much of the season. Starting left tackle Nate Solder is on injured reserve with a torn bicep, and replacement Sebastian Vollmer won't suit up Sunday either.
The Patriots have allowed 36 sacks and are rated just 31st in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus. New England can secure the AFC's No. 1 seed with a win, but protecting quarterback Tom Brady has to be an even bigger concern with the playoffs looming.
Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill vs. Baltimore Run Defense
The Bengals can earn a first-round playoff bye if the Broncos lose Sunday, but Cincinnati will have to win its game against the Baltimore Ravens to do it.
A key to the game should be the running back duo of Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill and how they fare against an underrated Ravens run defense. Baltimore is rated eighth overall in run defense by Pro Football Focus, and allows an average of just 101.1 yards per game.
If Cincinnati can get its running game going, it should have an easier time knocking off a team that the Steelers couldn't a week ago.
Injury Report
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Each week, we take a look at the most significant injuries from around the league.
Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots (out)
Edelman was on the practice field this week in a limited capacity, but he won't make his return from foot surgery to the playing field this week. He has been ruled out, along with offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (ankle), linebacker Dont'a Hightower (knee), defensive end Chandler Jones (abdomen) and linebacker Jonathan Freeny (hand).
LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills (out)
McCoy (knee) has been ruled out, along with linebacker Nigel Bradham (ankle). Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is listed as probable with a shoulder injury.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns (out)
Cleveland is back to having Austin Davis at quarterback because Manziel is out with a concussion. Receiver Marlon Moore and cornerback Tramon Williams are also out with concussions. Receiver Travis Benjamin is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Cecil Shorts, WR, Houston Texans (out)
Shorts (hamstring) has been ruled out, along with linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (foot). Quarterback Brian Hoyer is listed as probable as he looks to return from a concussion.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans (out)
The Titans will be without Mariota (knee), offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (concussion) and wide receiver Kendall Wright (knee) when they face the Colts.
Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (out)
The Colts will be without Luck (abdomen), quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder) and linebacker Trent Cole (concussion). Since quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was recently placed on injured reserve, the Colts will turn to either Ryan Lindley or Josh Freeman at quarterback.
Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints (out)
The Saints have ruled out Colston (chest), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hip) and offensive tackle Andrus Peat (concussion).
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers (out)
The Panthers have ruled out running Stewart (foot) and fellow running back Fozzy Whittaker (ankle). Wide receiver Ted Ginn (knee) and safety Kurt Coleman (foot) are both listed as doubtful.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (out)
Lynch (abdomen) won't make his return before the postseason. He has been ruled out for Sunday. Tight end Luke Wilson (concussion) and guard J.R. Sweezy (concussion) have also been ruled out. Offensive tackle Russell Okung (calf) is listed as doubtful.
Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams (doubtful)
The Rams will probably be without rookie sensation Todd Gurley. He's officially listed as doubtful.
Expert Picks and Predictions
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Each week, we take a look at picks and predictions from Bleacher Report's top NFL writers. We also spotlight the experts' results on a week-to-week basis.
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