Upcoming games of interest with playoff implications:
All these games are on Sun Dec 30th.
Jax Jags at Houston Texans.
Hou wants to win to clinch the AFC South and have a home playoff game (or games). If Hou loses, then they are a wildcard team.
NY Jets at N.E. Patriots.
Pats are favored by 13 points. Pats want to win to ensure a bye in the playoffs, and try to get home field advantage.
Clev Browns at Baltimore Ravens.
Although the Browns are not gonna be in the playoffs, they are in a great position to have some fun playing football. If the Browns lose, then the Steelers are knocked out of the play-offs. If the Browns win, then the Steelers have a chance of getting in the playoffs. The Ravens need to win to win the AFC North.
Cincy Bengals at Pitt Steelers.
The Bengals get a chance to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh and knock the Steelers out of the playoffs. The Steelers are favored by 14, and should win at home. Even if the Steelers win, they also need to Ravens to lose to the Browns in order to get in the playoffs.
Oak Raiders at KC Chiefs.
Chiefs want to win to win the AFC West and get to play at home in the playoffs. If they lose, they might end up being wildcard team.
Chargers at Denver Broncos.
Chargers are in the playoffs as a wildcard team even if they lose, but the Chargers could win the AFC West if they win -and- if the Chiefs lose.
How about the Chargers play like a formidable playoff bound team and win this game against the Broncos.
Phil Eagles at Wash Redskins.
Eagles need to win, and have Vikings lose, in order to get a wildcard spot in playoffs.
Chicago Bears at Minn Vikings. The Vikings are favored by 5 points.
If the Bears rest key players and let the Vikings win, then another NFC North team make the playoffs as a wildcard team instead of giving the Eagles a chance to make the playoffs. The Bears should try to win, but they probably figure the Rams will beat the 49ers, so the Bears won't move up to get a 1st round bye.
The Vikings better play to win to ensure getting in as a wildcard team, and don't count on the Eagles losing in order to get a wildcard spot.
Az Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks.
Not a big deal if Seattle were to win or lose. They are a wildcard team either way, as a #5 seed or possibly as a #6 seed.
Indy Colts at Tenn Titans.
This is the Sun night game. Huge game for both teams. One of these teams will make the playoffs with a win, the other team will not. If the Colts-Titans game ends in a tie, then the Colts have the tiebreaker advantage over the Titans.
I have no idea how it plays out if the Colts-Titans tie, and the Steelers win their game. Not sure who advances in that scenario Colts or Steelers?
Should be some great games to sort out who makes the playoffs, and to see how the seedings and home field advantage plays out.