Newton and Panthers seek first-round bye
Three 10-win teams vie for division honours
WASHINGTON: Undefeated Carolina can clinch a first-round bye in the NFL play-offs with a victory today over Atlanta while three 10-win teams can take division crowns and postseason spots with weekend triumphs.
The 14th week of the NFL season features division leaders New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals at 10-2 and looking to clinch play-off places this weekend.
But the top team continues to be the Carolina Panthers (12-0), who play host to Atlanta, who have fallen to 6-6 after five losses in a row. The Falcons are one game behind Seattle for the last NFC play-off spot.
A victory, which would be Carolina’s 17th in a row over two seasons, would ensure Carolina a firstround bye and a home game in the second round.
“Our focus is beating the Falcons, regardless of the circumstances, but yeah, I think it’s important,” Panthers centre Ryan Kalil said.
“You can basically advance one play-off game by getting that bye. You’re that much closer to the big show and that’s obviously a big goal for us.”
Only four teams in NFL history have enjoyed multi-season win streaks of 17 games or more.
All of them reached a Super Bowl but only the 2003-2004 Patriots won it. The record multi-season run of 23 regular-season games by Indianapolis in 2008-09 could not be threatened by Carolina until next season.
But all of the Panthers’ success will come up hollow if they cannot make the most of the opportunity their sizzling start have provided this season.
“We never know the day, we never know the hour, we never know the minute that’s going to be our last hurrah,” said Carolina quarterback Cam Newton. “So while you have the opportunity to do something, please do it.”
That’s what the Patriots, Broncos and Bengals say entering today’s games. The Broncos play host to Oakland while the Patriots visit Houston and Cincinnati entertain Pittsburgh.
The Bengals would clinch the AFC North title by beating the Steelers and could clinch a play-off berth if either the New York Jets lose to visiting Tennessee or Kansas City fall at home to San Diego.
New England can seal the AFC East crown by beating the Texans and having the Jets fail to beat the Titans.
The Broncos capture the AFC West title by beating Oakland and the Chiefs failing to beat San Diego.
Intense emotions will be the undercurrent of Buffalo’s visit to Philadelphia as the Bills (6-6) and Eagles (5-7) battle to stay in their respective play-off races.
The game also sees former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy return to face the team that traded him last March after he ran for almost 3,000 yards over the prior two seasons. McCoy has suggested that racism on Eagles coach Chip Kelly’s part played a role in the move.
“We did the right thing at the time. It was a tough decision,” Kelly said, saying it was a money issue for a team that wanted to toughen their defence and that he would welcome the chance to shake McCoy’s hand today.
“He knows that’s not going to happen,” McCoy said. “I know that’s not going to happen. We’re not going to shake no hands. I’m not going to get into an argument with [Kelly] or fight with him. But I just don’t think we need to be shaking hands.”
Kelly said that due to the actions of others, he was unable to speak with McCoy beforehand to tell him the circumstances behind the trade move.
“He was disrespected and it was wrong,” Kelly said. “I understand where he’s coming from. If he doesn’t want to shake my hand, I understand that.”
While the Bills are a game out of a wild-card play-off spot in the AFC, the Eagles are level with Washington and the New York Giants for the NFC East lead despite their losing record. Washington will visit Chicago (5-7) while the Giants play tomorrow at Miami (5-7).
Today’s other games find Seattle at Baltimore, Detroit at St Louis, San Francisco at Cleveland, Indianapolis at Jacksonville, Dallas at Green Bay and New Orleans at Tampa Bay.