Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
MUCH UNSETTLED as Week 17 nears.
The big winners in Week 16 of the NFL season were the Saints, Patriots, Cowboys, Seahawks and Ravens. The big losers were the Steelers, Dolphins, Chiefs and Texans.
But wait. Then the Texans became winners hours later, earning a playoff berth as they headed back to Houston on Sunday after a last-second 32-30 loss at Philadelphia that handed the AFC’s No. 2 seed behind Kansas City to the Patriots. Houston sneaked in when Pittsburgh lost 31-28 at New Orleans, though the Texans still could wind up a wild card in the wild AFC South.
Here’s a road map as we head into the final week of the schedule:
NFC
New Orleans (12-3) secured home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs by beating Pittsburgh. The Saints won’t be playing outdoors again — the Super Bowl, should they get there, will be inside at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Knowing that we’ve done it, knowing that the road comes through New Orleans, that gives us a lot of confidence,” quarterback Drew Brees said. “Obviously we love playing in the dome. We have goals throughout the season, and this is one of them.”
Also reaching their goal were the Cowboys, grabbing the NFC East with a 27-20 victory over Tampa Bay. Dallas (9-6) will be the fourth seed and host a wild-card game.
“We can’t get comfortable,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “We can’t afford to take a week off next week. We’ve got to keep working and make sure we’re ready for the playoffs.”
Chicago (11-4) needs to be ready next week at Minnesota (8-6-1). For one, the Bears have a shot at the second overall slot and a first-round bye with a victory and a loss by the Rams (12-3), who are at home for San Francisco. For another, they could deny their division rival a postseason spot — a Vikings’ victory gets them a wild card.
But a Vikings’ loss and an Eagles’ win at Washington gets the defending champions (8-7) back into the postseason.
Seattle (9-6) appears destined to play at Dallas in the first round. The Seahawks beat the Cowboys in Week 3 for their first victory of what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
They’ve rebuilt so quickly that Pete Carroll is in the running for coach of the year.
“It’s not complicated,” quarterback Russell Wilson said after the 38-31 victory against the Chiefs on Sunday night. “It’s hard work, it’s having faith. We knew we had to battle throughout the season.”
AFC
For a decade now, the New England Patriots have owned the AFC East, and they had a huge weekend.
The Patriots clinched their 10th consecutive division title when they beat Buffalo 2412. They got an added bonus when Houston fell to drop out of the second seed in the conference, which New England grabbed — with a shot at the top spot.
They are 7-0 in Foxborough — the league’s only undefeated team in its own building — and 3-5 on the road.
“We didn’t have our best day in the passing game. But it felt good to win. At this time of year, whatever it takes to win, that’s what you’ve got to do,” quarterback Tom Brady said.
Baltimore (9-6), fresh off its victory at the Chargers on Saturday night, has a halfgame lead in the AFC North on Pittsburgh (8-6-1), which has lost four of five. The Ravens will take the North with a home victory against Cleveland next week. The Steelers host Cincinnati and need help to get into the postseason from the Browns.
“We’re playing pretty good football, but it might not matter,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “Obviously, we don’t control our destiny anymore. We have to take care of business next week.”
The game of tiebreakers also shows that should the Colts and Titans deadlock in Nashville, Tenn., in the primetime game to end the season, and the Steelers win, Pittsburgh edges both of them out for the final wild card, all at 9-6-1.
In the South, Houston (105) is leading Indianapolis and Tennessee by a game. The Texans host Jacksonville (510) and could wind up a wild card with a loss and a non-tie in Nashville.
The Chiefs (11-4) and Chargers (11-4) already are in the postseason from the West. That takes up one wild card. But Kansas City, once the darling of the league, could plummet from top overall seed to wild card if it flops versus Oakland next week and Los Angeles beats Denver.