NFL Week 17 Schedule: Players to Watch in the Big Matchups

Week 17 can be summed up by this: Who's going to make a play?

It's cliche, but with the 2015 season down to its final regular-season games, it comes down to the players who are going to show up.

The following is a list of players who will or need to step up for their teams, with some rules set in place.

First, the games have to mean something. I was going to put DeMarco Murray on this list because I'm so interested in seeing how he bounces back after the Chip Kelly “release,” but, let's be honest, it's not that interesting. (Unless you're an Eagles fan, which I am.) The Philadelphia Eagles' season ended last week, and Week 17 is all about playoff teams.

Seriously though, the downfall of Week 17's excitement is that some games just don't count as much.

However, individual titles count. Cam Newton makes the list for two reasons. The first is he'll be the reason why the Carolina Panthers clinch home field in the NFC. In addition, he needs to play a good game to help solidify his case for MVP.

Third, it's not just about the best players. Teddy Bridgewater makes the list because in order for the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North and go deep in the playoffs, he'll have to start by beating the Green Bay Packers. 

And fourth, the list isn't ranked. It's just a matter of which popped in my head at what time. There are a ton of playmakers in the league who can be the difference between a team making or missing the playoffs this weekend, so your list may differ from mine.

Each player on the list will have the possible scenarios based on his Week 17 standings.

Ben Roethlisberger

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Pittsburgh's playoff scenario: Clinches playoff spot with win over Cleveland Browns and Jets loss

In Ben Roethlisberger's last five games, he's thrown seven touchdowns and five interceptions. In two of those games, he hasn't thrown a touchdown.

Before their surprising loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers were on a roll and were considered by some to be one of the better teams in the AFC.

If the Steelers want to make the playoffs, they'll need help, but they'll also need Roethlisberger to get back to being Big Ben.

And, against a middle-of-the-pack passing defense in Cleveland, he should get back on track.

Prediction: 310 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

New York Jets' playoff scenario: Clinch berth with win or Pittsburgh Steelers loss

Never in a million years would I have said Ryan Fitzpatrick is a playmaker.

But, in 2015, he is one touchdown pass away from his first 30-TD season. In fact, after Week 6, he has thrown 20 touchdowns to only five interceptions (all of which came in only three of those 10 games), including two TDs (and interceptions) against his Sunday opponent, Buffalo Bills.

Both teams have gone in opposite directions since then, and Jets coach Todd Bowles said Fitzpatrick's injuries shouldn't affect his availability, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

If the Jets want to clinch a playoff berth without help from the Steelers, Fitzpatrick will have to stay as productive and efficient as he's been during New York's five-game winning streak.

"

There must've been FitzMagic In the wild beard he found. Brandon gave a friendly tug Now his Jets are playoff-bound? https://t.co/fd8SdL24b5

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2015"

As for Marshall, well, he just locked up his sixth season with at least 100 catches; he's the first player in the NFL history to ever do it.

Part of Fitzpatrick's success can be attributed to Marshall's production and vice versa.

If the Jets win, it will be the first time Marshall will have made the postseason, so don't be shocked if he has a good game.

Prediction: Fitzpatrick 290 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; Marshall 8 catches, 110 yards, 1 touchdown

DeAndre Hopkins

Associated Press

Houston's playoff scenario: Clinches AFC South with win or Indianapolis Colts loss

Poor DeAndre Hopkins.

Arguably one of the top receivers in the league, he has been forced to catch passes from about 22 different quarterbacks this season.

But, what makes Hopkins so good is that it doesn't matter who throws to him, according to Chris Wesseling of Around the NFL:

"

NFL Research confirms DeAndre Hopkins is the first player with 100-yard receiving games under 4 different starting QBs in a season.

— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) December 30, 2015"

So Hopkins is going to produce. It's amazing to think about it. In theory, receivers shouldn't produce this much when a team's quarterback situation is that messy, but he has.

Hopkins has 104 catches (on 181 targets) for 1,432 yards and 11 touchdowns. And, according to head coach Bill O'Brien, he'll catch passes this weekend from Brian Hoyer:

"

O'Brien on Brian Hoyer: "He's out of the concussion protocol. Cleared by the specialists. Will start for us at QB on Sunday."

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 30, 2015"

Going into a Week 17 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the 10th-worst pass defense in the league (261.7 yards), Hopkins should keep up his production.

Prediction: 7 catches, 110 yards, 1 touchdown

Tom Brady

Brad Penner/Associated Press

New England's playoff scenario: Clinches home-field advantage through AFC playoffs with win or Denver loss/tie

Tom Brady—a top-three candidate for MVP—has played this entire season with a decimated offensive line and injured wide receivers.

Yet, somehow, he still leads the league in yards and passing touchdowns—a category he hasn't been tops in since his 2010 MVP season, per ESPN Stats and Info:

"

Tom Brady leads the NFL in TD passes ... last time he was the NFL leader in that stat-- 2010 pic.twitter.com/A7zCPIVqKw

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 30, 2015"

With CBSSports.com (via ESPN.com) reporting Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell are all uncertain to play Sunday, the onus will again fall on Brady.

Against the Miami Dolphins, who have had a rough go this season and are ranked 25th in the NFL in passing defense (giving up 258.3 yards per game), Brady has a good chance to carry the Patriots to victory.

We know by now to count out Brady in crunch time.

He has had only one 300-yard passing game in the past six weeks, but I predict he gets his second this week.

Prediction: 325 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Minnesota's playoff scenario: Clinches NFC North with win over Green Bay Packers

Here's a weird stat about the Vikings and Teddy Bridgewater, via SportsCenter:

"

Strange But True: The Vikings are now 7-1 this season when Teddy Bridgewater throws for fewer than 200 yards. pic.twitter.com/qj1QwJkQFX

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 28, 2015"

Bridgewater is obviously capable of beating defenses for 300 yards passing, since he's done it twice this season. And he enters Week 17 on a decent streak, having completed 70.4 percent of 81 passes for 734 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions over the last three games, per Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel.

But he's limited. The Vikings aren't built to come from behind or put up a ton of points; they're ranked 15th, scoring 23 points per game. So they have to strike when they can.

And, if the Vikings want to make a run, they can't be one-dimensional with Adrian Peterson. And teams know how dangerous he still is. The Vikings may be 7-1 when Bridgewater throws for fewer than 200 yards, but only three times have the Vikings won without Peterson running for at least 100 yards. Furthermore, every game they lost this season, Peterson didn't have 100 yards.

So, it's clear that teams that want to beat the Vikings should shut down Peterson and force Bridgewater to beat them. I'm interested to see how Bridgewater performs against the Packers' 13th-ranked pass defense, which gives up 236.7 yards per game.

As for Peterson, we know what he can do.

Prediction: Bridgewater 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; Peterson 110 yards, 1 touchdown

Aaron Rodgers

Associated Press

Green Bay's playoff scenario: Clinches NFC North with win over Minnesota

Speaking of the Packers, they've been on a decline since their 6-0 start to the season.

Since then, the Packers have gone 4-5 (3-6 if not for that Hail Mary), and Rodgers has thrown at least 250 yards three times. It's actually been a semi-down year for Rodgers, considering he's thrown over 250 yards only five times this year.

After Arizona dismantled the Packers, I want to see how the Packers respond, especially Rodgers. To his credit, it's hard to throw passes when you're sacked nine times, but I'm interested all the same.

Rodgers is still neck-and-neck with Brady as the best quarterback in the league, and I'll always be interested in seeing his response games, especially when it's for a home game in the playoffs.

What concerns me, though, is that offensive line. The O-line has been porous throughout the season, but when starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were injured, the Packers were doomed.

According to Pro Football Focus, via Evan Western of AcmePackingCompany.com, Bakhtiari's replacement, Don Barclay, was credited with four sacks and four quarterback hurries.

So yeah, the Packers desperately need Bakhtiari.

Prediction: 275 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Marcus Peters

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Kansas City's playoff scenario: Clinches AFC West with win over Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos loss

It's good to see Marcus Peters live up to the hype.

Though he went through some growing pains to start the season, the first-year corner for the Chiefs has increased his level of play dramatically, per Pro Football Focus:

"

Marcus Peters before the bye: 60.7% comp, 7 TDs 3 INTs, 101.7 rating. Post bye: 41.4% comp, 0 TDs, 5 INTs, 25.7 passer rating allowed.

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 28, 2015"

Here's more from Pro Football Focus about Peters' last game against the Cleveland Browns:

"

#Chiefs CB Marcus Peters gave up just 2 receptions for 20 yards against the Browns, despite being targeted 9 times. Passer rating of 0.

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 28, 2015"

This is without mentioning that he is tied for the most interceptions in the league with Cincinnati's Reggie Nelson.

It's been fun to watch him grow this season into a solid cornerback, and if he keeps on this path, he may be a premier corner next year.

Prediction: Peters gets his ninth interception of the year.

Von Miller and Brock Osweiler

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Denver's playoff scenario: Clinches first-round bye with win over San Diego Chargers or clinches home-field advantage with win and New England loss

The Brock Osweiler experiment is still ongoing. No one knows if he's a franchise quarterback, but this is certain: When he is on, the Broncos offense hums. 

With receivers like Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, Osweiler has the arsenal to ease him along.

He's had patches where he's shone and others where he looks like a backup, so I'm interested to see if he can string together a full game against the Chargers. This is arguably the biggest start of his young career, because, at worst, a win will clinch the No. 2 seed for the Broncos.

And, if the Patriots flop against Miami, it makes the game even bigger, since a Denver win with a New England loss would give the Broncos the No. 1 seed.

Von Miller is one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Six of his 10 sacks have come in the last seven games. Having said that, he's been shut out the last two games.

San Diego has given up only 30 sacks this season, but Miller had two sacks against the Chargers earlier this season. And, the Broncos are playing in Denver, so Miller should play well.

Prediction: Miller 2.0 sacks; Osweiler 260 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Carlos Dunlap and A.J. Green

Tom Uhlman/Associated Press

Cincinnati's playoff scenario: Clinches first-round bye with win against Baltimore Ravens and Denver loss

Carlos Dunlap—who had three sacks against Denver last week—has sneakily climbed within 1.5 sacks of NFL leader Khalil Mack.

In fact, Dunlap is having a historical season for the Bengals, according to Around the NFL:

"

Carlos Dunlap up to 13.5 sacks, breaking Eddie Edwards’ longstanding Bengals single-season sack record. Michael Schofield can’t handle him.

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) December 29, 2015"

With one game to go, he'll have a tougher time upping his total against the Ravens, who have only given up 23 sacks this season. And, with the Ravens wanting to play spoiler for the second straight week, they could give the Bengals everything they have.

Then again, with the way Dunlap is playing, he can snag another sack or two this week.

As for A.J. Green, he remains the least talked-about premier receiver in the league. He's seventh in the league with 1,263 yards and has nine touchdowns.

He's had a slight drop-off since Andy Dalton went down, but he seems to be building a rapport with A.J. McCarron. Green saw nine targets last week and scored.

And, going up against a Ravens defense that gives up 239 yards per game through the air, it's possible Green continues to excel.

Prediction: Dunlap 1 sack; Green 6 catches, 90 yards

David Johnson and Carson Palmer

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Arizona's playoff scenario: Clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with win and Carolina Panthers loss

The Cardinals and Panthers are both playing at the same time after the Panthers were flexed to the later game—a move pulled by the NFL to deter betting (because if the Panthers win, Arizona would likely bench everyone, giving an easier game for Seattle).

Bottom line: The Cardinals have to play to win this game.

Division games are never easy, and the Seattle Seahawks have been playing well, just not as well as Arizona has.

David Johnson has been a gem for the Arizona Cardinals this season. It turns out the Chris Johnson's and Andre Ellington's injuries were blessings in disguise for the Cardinals, who got to see what their third-round pick is capable of.

The MMQB's Robert Mays can attest to the great drafting over the years by Arizona:

"

Players the Cardinals have found in the third freaking round over the past three seasons: Tyrann Mathieu, John Brown, David Johnson

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) December 27, 2015"

In his first season, Johnson has 12 touchdowns (eight rushing) and is becoming one of the most lethal all-around weapons on the team. If the Cardinals offense wants to keep humming—and keep pressure off Carson Palmer—Johnson will have to continue to produce.

It won't be easy against the stingy Seattle run defense, which ranks third in the league, giving up 85.1 yards rushing per game.

Speaking of Palmer, he rounds out the three MVP candidates.

Mike & Mike vouch for the production of Palmer in Arizona:

"

NERD NOTES: Carson Palmer is 19-2 over the last 2 seasons, the 2nd-best record over a 2-season span in NFL history. (Bart Starr in 1962-63)

— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) December 29, 2015"

Palmer has tossed a career-high 34 touchdowns so far this season and is vital to the offense. He'll still throw a “what the f--k was that” pass once or twice per game, but it's clear he helps put that offense over the top.

Prediction: Johnson 60 yards rushing, 45 yards receiving, 1 touchdown; Palmer 275 yards passing, 3 touchdowns

Cam Newton and Kawann Short

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Carolina's playoff scenario: Clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Arizona loss

Over the last seven weeks, Cam Newton has solidified his MVP candidacy.

He's thrown five touchdown passes in a game three times while rushing for at least 45 yards four times over that stretch. Oh, and he's thrown just one interception in total during that stretch.

But, despite that monster part of his season, Newton had one of his worst games this season last week against the Atlanta Falcons. (“Worst” is relative here.) He threw for 142 yards and didn't throw a touchdown for a second time this season.

And that's why I want to see Newton play. Despite Carolina's 14-game win streak and Newton's great resume, pundits and others have said that he isn't a lock for MVP. And the Panthers still aren't a lock for the No. 1 seed.

We saw Newton already have that cold-blooded, confident look against the New York Giants. Now, with his team fighting for the top spot in the NFC and his MVP award on the line, I can't wait to see how Newton comes out Sunday.

Also, the least talked-about impact player on the Panthers defense is Kawann Short. With five sacks over the last four games, he is turning into a solid interior lineman.

NFL Network's Brian Billick called him the unsung hero:

"

Kawann Short is the unsung hero of this #Panthers defense full of super stars.

— Brian Billick (@CoachBillick) December 27, 2015"

Though he isn't the imposing force—nor does he receive the attention—of St. Louis's defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Short is tied with Donald with 11 sacks. That's as a defensive tackle.

Carolina Panthers News shared some of his impressive stats:

"

#Panthers DT Kawann Short is the ONLY player with 10+ sacks, 4+ pass deflections and 5+ combined FF & fumble RECs. pic.twitter.com/k797x1oJzT

— CAR Panthers News (@CarPanthersNews) December 28, 2015"

Short may have the benefit of playing with good linemen on the outside who take the focus off the middle, but he's still producing and deserves credit for his performance on a team with Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis and Josh Norman.

(If you're wondering why Norman wasn't picked, it's because I want to see him against top receivers only from now on. Norman's play against Julio Jones made me interested in seeing him against top talent. Norman is good, but is he an elite corner?)

Prediction: Short 1 sack, 1 defended pass; Newton 250 yards passing, 40 yards rushing, 3 total touchdowns

All scenarios are via NFL.com,