All I Want for Christmas is a Division Title (Week 16)
The Christmas-centered Week 16 sees four divisions on the verge of being clinched
Ho, ho, ho! It's Christmas week in the NFL! I love Week 16, mainly because it occurs so close to Christmas, with actual games on the Christmas holiday (December 25) depending on how the calendar looks. We are entering the final three weeks of the season, and they are highly crucial. In fantasy football, it's deep in playoff time, with the semifinals taking place in most leagues. In the NFL, it's the real beginning of the end.
Time is running out for a lot of teams in the league. It doesn't matter whether it's a division title, or just a playoff position, the holiday weeks are the period where teams really need to get going, or face seeing coal in their proverbial stocking. With that said, here's how things look entering the final three weeks of the season:
In the American Football Conference, the playoff-bound Baltimore Ravens remain on top at 11-3, while the Miami Dolphins improved to 10-4 with their 30-0 win over the New York Jets. The Kansas City Chiefs hold sole possession of #3 at 9-5, while the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the #4 spot and the AFC South lead via tiebreakef; a three-way tie with the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans.
As for the Wild Cards, the Cleveland Browns remain at #5 at 9-5, and it's followed by a four way tie at 8-6. The Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills, and the aforementioned Colts and Texans have that same record, but it's the Bengals who are atop that logjam due to having head to head over Indy and Buffalo. Indy's own head-to-head over Houston puts them at #7, meaning that the Texans and Bills are behind the playoff line, but still very much alive. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos dropped to 7-7 and need miracles to get in, the 6-8 Las Vegas Raiders are barely hanging by a thread, and the 5-9 Los Angeles Chargers are just waiting to be eliminated, while celebrating the fact that they finally fired Brandon Staley.
In the National Football Conference, the San Francisco 49ers are still #1 at 11-3, and are celebrating another NFC West crown. The playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys are one game out at 10-4, as are the Detroit Lions, but Dallas' 7-3 conference record puts them at #2, while Detroit is #3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain at #4, leading the NFC South at 7-7.
The Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the playoffs, but their third straight loss dropped them to 10-4, and keeps them at #5. Below Philly is a four-team 7-7 cluster, with the Minnesota Vikings holding #6 due to their 5-4 conference record. Holding the #7 spot: the Los Angeles Rams, who have head-to-head over the Seattle Seahawks, and a better conference record than the New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks and Saints are both behind the playoff line after their wins, while the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers are close behind at 6-8. As for the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears, well, at 5-9 each, their luck is running out.
That's the playoff picture entering the final three weeks, and as for Week 16, it's a big boom this week. Four teams can clinch playoff spots this week, and four divisions can be clinched as well.
The Baltimore Ravens locked in a playoff spot with their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday Night Football. This week, the Ravens look to clinch the AFC North, and they can do so with a win and a Browns loss or tie. If they tie, the Browns have to lose. Here's the thing: the Ravens will be in Santa Clara on Christmas Day--the last game of the Christmas three-pack. So they have a very tough task ahead of them.
Last year, the Miami Dolphins barely snuck into the last playoff spot, but this year, they actually can win the AFC East as soon as this week. As far as clinching a spot, it's win and in. Again, it's very nice to control your own destiny. There are five different ways they can clinch a spot with a tie, but regarding a win, if that win comes wiht a Bills loss or tie, the Dolphins win the AFC East. A tie and a Bills loss also gets it done. The Dolphins will host the leaders of the other East Division, the Dallas Cowboys, in Sunday's late window.
The Kansas City Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl Champions, needed to beat up on a piss poor New England Patriots team to get over their doldrums, but a win is a win nonetheless. The Chiefs have won the AFC West every year with Patrick Mahomes as their starting QB. That streak can continue with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders to kick off Christmas Day. If the Denver Broncos lose before the Chiefs take the field, KC can tie and still win the West.
The emergence of the Cleveland Browns has been amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that they're doing this with Joe Flacco at the helm as their QB. It's been working so far, they've been winning the games, and as a result, the Browns can lock in a playoff spot--their second in four seasons--this week. They will need a win and a lot of help. They basically need three or four of the teams below them to lose or tie as well. Some scenarios require a Dolphins win or tie, some require a Colts win, and one actually requires a Chiefs win. Cleveland has a bit of a tough task; they will be in Houston this week.
The San Francisco 49ers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in Week 14, and Week 15 saw them as the first to clinch a division this season. Next up for them is that #1 seed; there are four teams vying for it. However, the Niners could wrap up everything as soon as Christmas Day. A win and losses from the Cowboys, Eagles, and Lions would mean that the road to Las Vegas (Super Bowl LVIII) will have to go through Santa Clara. And given their blowout loss in last year's NFC Championship, the Niners feel like they could use the home field advantage.
The Detroit Lions and their fans were all set to celebrate their first playoff appearance since 2016, but the Seattle Seahawks' clutch 92 yard drive kept that from happening. They have a big chance in Week 16, as the Lions will be in Minnesota against the Vikings on Sunday's early window. If the Lions win that game, not only will they end their seven-year playoff itch, but they will win their first division title since 1993. Only the Cleveland Browns have a longer division title drought. Back then, it was the NFC Central that the Lions won. The Lions have never won the NFC North, which was formed in 2002. Detroit can actually become playoff bound as early as Thursday. If the Rams lose their matchup to the Saints, the Lions are in the playoffs no matter what. They're also in with a Seahawks loss in Nashville on Sunday.
From the looks of it, Week 16 looks like it will be a properous one for the teams with something to play for. It makes sense, after all it is the NFL's Christmas week! Here's hoping for a lot of good moments this week, and for everyone to have a wonderful Christmas!
About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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This article is super golden!