NFL Playoff Picture: 10 Things To Know For Week 16

Two weeks to go, two games to go. Seems like most of the league is still in the playoff hunt and that's the way the NFL likes it.

So here's 10 things to know about 10 games in Week 16:

1. Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Here's a Thursday night matchup that could be billed as "Power vs. Pushover." The Steelers need a solid win to rebound from that awful loss to the Jets last week. And there's nothing like the Carolina Panthers to cure what ails 'ya.

2. New York Giants at Green Bay Packers: Major NFC wild card implications in this one. You have to wonder how the Giants will react from their collapse last week at the hands of Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson. Both teams trying to get the sixth seed in the NFC.

3. New York Jets at Chicago Bears: Talk about a playoff atmosphere. The Jets made this one a whole lot more interesting with the win against Pittsburgh. Chicago's on a short week after their Monday night victory in Minnesota, outdoors. The Bears are trying to a bye and need to win this game.

4. Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Ravens rolling, Browns begging for vacation. It's a classic trap game and the Ravens need to keep their guard up.

5. New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills: The Brady Bunch is rolling toward home field advantage throughout the playoffs and they don't want to slip and fall in Buffalo.

6. Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders: The Colts, as bad as they've been, are still alive and kicking but need to take care of business against the Raiders.

7. San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams: Someone has to win that awful excuse for a division that is the NFC West. Why not the Rams?

8. Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers' playoff hopes took a huge hit with that loss to Detroit last week but they still have a pulse. Same with Seattle, still alive in the NFC West, the mess that it is. Loser is done.

9. Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles:  Key game for the Eagles. The Vikings are done, Favre's been sent into early retirement at last, and the Eagles are bearing down on the NFC East title. You'd have to argue long and hard to come up with any good reason why the Vikings would have a chance here.

10. New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: Huge NFC match up against two playoff-bound teams. Atlanta looking to get home field advantage through the playoffs. New Orleans is alive and kicking.

There you have it, two weeks left and this post-Christmas weekend has some presents for all of us. A lot of quality games with meaning.

Enjoy.