WILD ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS
Falcons still have a chance at securing position in postseason with victory or help
There’s no question the NFC has been the dominant conference in the NFL this season, with the South the top division.
The NFC won 41 of the 64 head-tohead matchups against the AFC for a .641 winning percentage that is the NFC’s best since going 27-12-1 (.675) in 1970, the year of the merger.
New Orleans (11-4) and Carolina (114) have already locked up playoff spots, and the NFC South championship will be decided Sunday. Atlanta (9-6) also could qualify as a wild card — by beating Carolina or having Arizona beat Seattle — giving three of the division’s four teams a stake in the postseason.
All three are capable of going deep into January, maybe even to the big game. The Falcons would like to return to the Super Bowl and have a chance to make up for their monumental collapse against the New England Patriots last February.
You can be sure the Panthers would enjoy denying the Falcons that opportunity, and they could take the division with a victory and a New Orleans defeat at slumping Tampa Bay (4-11), which has dropped five in a row.
“We don’t want three teams from the NFC South in the playoffs,” Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. “We want two. We’ve got to go down there and spoil their parade.”
The Panthers are 5-2 on the road, while Atlanta is only 4-3 in its brand-new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Carolina’s defense has really come on, posting 15 sacks and 10 takeaways the past three games.
No team has a more balanced offense than the Saints, who rank fifth in both passing — thanks to Drew Brees throwing to Michael Thomas — and rushing. Mark Ingram (1,486 yards from scrimmage, 12 touchdowns) and standout rookie Alvin Kamara (1,426, 12) are the only teammates in league history with at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns apiece in the same season.
ARIZONA (7-8) SEATTLE (9-6) AT
The Seahawks are shooting for a sixth straight playoff appearance, but they have struggled with penalties, injuries and undisciplined play. Russell Wilson, the first QB to have a winning record each of his first six NFL seasons, really lights it up against Arizona — he has nine TD passes with no interceptions in the past four meetings. But the Cardinals have won the past two meetings in Seattle, and the Seahawks uncharacteristically have three home losses this year.
OAKLAND (6-9) L.A. CHARGERS (8-7) AT
The Chargers must win for a shot at the postseason. After an 0-4 start, they could replicate what they did in 1992 with a win and Tennessee loss or tie and Buffalo loss or tie; or a win and Tennessee loss or tie and Baltimore win or tie; or a tie and Tennessee loss and Buffalo loss or tie.
CINCINNATI (6-9) BALTIMORE (9-6) AT
Baltimore has won five of six — and the one defeat was by a point at Pittsburgh. Thanks to another fierce defense, the Ravens lead the league with 33 takeaways and rank first with a plus-17 turnover differential. They’ll make the playoffs for the first time since
the 2014 season with one more victory or even a tie; or a Buffalo loss or tie; or a Tennessee loss or tie. This could be the final game for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who is 17-12 against Baltimore but has never won a postseason game.
BUFFALO (8-7) MIAMI (6-9) AT
The Bills could end an almost unfathomable 17-year playoff drought — the longest active streak in North America’s four major professional sports. Buffalo clinches with a win and a Baltimore loss; a win and a loss or tie by Tennessee and the Chargers; a tie and losses by Los Angeles and Tennessee. Star RB LeSean McCoy’s 1,554 yards from scrimmage account for 34 percent of the Bills’ net yards this season. Miami WR Jarvis Landry leads the NFL with 103 catches and needs 105 yards to become the first Dolphin with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
JACKSONVILLE (10-5) TENNESSEE (8-7) AT
Jacksonville, the AFC South champion for the first time since 1999, can see to it that division rival Tennessee falls short of a wild card. But the Jaguars are settled as a No. 3 seed and have nothing to gain. If the Titans can end their losing streak at three games, they’ll make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They’re also in with a tie plus a Buffalo loss or tie and a Chargers loss or tie; or losses by both of those teams. They’ll take their shot without starting running back DeMarco Murray (sprained right knee) and might be missing cornerback Ryan Logan (ankle injury) for the second straight game.
DALLAS (8-7) PHILADELPHIA (13-2) AT
It has been a special season for the Eagles, who have the NFL’s best record, but they’ll need to pursue a Super Bowl berth with backup quarterback Nick Foles, and their defense has sprung leaks on occasion. They’ll probably rest a bunch of starters against the Cowboys, who will miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
N.Y. JETS (5-10) NEW ENGLAND (12-3) AT
New England has won nine consecutive AFC East crowns, an NFL record, and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win. The Jets will miss the postseason for a seventh straight year, but winning five games with such a weak roster is somewhat impressive.
CLEVELAND (0-15) PITTSBURGH (12-3) AT
The Browns avoided a winless season in 2016 by coming out on top in their 15th game. That didn’t happen this year, and now they face one of the AFC’s powers, so matching Detroit’s 0-16 of 2008 seems a cinch. Pittsburgh, assured of a first-round bye, probably blew its chance to be the AFC’s top seed when it lost at home to New England two weeks ago. The Steelers need a win (quite reasonable) and a Jets upset (not so reasonable) to clinch it.
CHICAGO (5-10) MINNESOTA (12-3) AT
The Vikings can secure a bye with a win. This could be final game as Bears coach for John Fox, whose 14-33 mark over three years (.424) is the second-lowest winning percentage in franchise history.
SAN FRANCISCO (5-10) L.A. RAMS (11-4) AT
Rams QB Jared Goff might be the NFL’s most improved player this season under the guidance of new coach Sean McVay. It hasn’t hurt to have RB Todd Gurley turning in an MVP-caliber season. The 49ers gambled by sending a second-round pick to the Patriots to get QB Jimmy Garoppolo in late October, but it has been a steal for San Francisco, which has won Garoppolo’s four starts.
KANSAS CITY (9-6) DENVER (5-10) AT
In a game devoid of meaning — the Chiefs are ensconced as the fourth seed in the playoffs; Denver is one of the league’s biggests busts this season — Kansas City’s first-round draft pick, QB Patrick Mahomes II, will make his NFL debut. Coach Andy Reid declined to say who else might sit out but indicated enough starters will play to give Mahomes a fair chance to succeed.
GREEN BAY (7-8) DETROIT (8-7) AT
A disappointing fade in Detroit could mean the end of Jim Caldwell’s coaching tenure. The Lions were 3-1 and 6-4, then flopped down the stretch. Green Bay’s chances pretty much ended Oct. 15, when veteran QB Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone.
WASHINGTON (7-8) N.Y. GIANTS (2-13) AT
A Redskins victory gives them a .500 or better record for the third consecutive season, last accomplished from 1999 to 2001. Six years after winning their second Super Bowl in five seasons, the Giants are wrapping up the worst record in franchise history in terms of losses.
HOUSTON (4-11) INDIANAPOLIS (3-12) AT
Both teams are glad to get out of 2017 and start rebuilding. The main questions for the Colts are whether Chuck Pagano remains as coach and when QB Andrew Luck’s surgically repaired shoulder will be healthy enough for him to play again. For Houston, getting back DE J.J. Watt, LB Whitney Mercilus and QB Deshaun Watson will be a good start for next season.