NFL: Plenty of Week 17 storylines to watch with playoff berths, jobs on the line

MARSHAL LAW

Jets vs. Bills, 1 p.m. (CTV, CBS)

Jets receiver Brandon Marshall, in his 10th NFL season, is one win away from making his first trip to the playoffs. At 10-5, New York can clinch its first post-season berth since 2010 with a win or tie in Sunday’s road game against the eliminated Buffalo Bills.

The Jets could also back in with a Pittsburgh loss or tie against Cleveland. Marshall, voted the Jets’ MVP by his teammates after friction led to his exit from the Bears, became the only NFL player to catch 100 passes in six seasons.

RUSH HOUR

Vikings vs. Pack, 8:20 p.m. (TSN)

The Minnesota Vikings have secured a return to the playoffs this season with running back Adrian Peterson back in the lineup. They will try to go a step further and win the NFC North title Sunday night at Green Bay.

The winner will be the NFC’s third seed and open the playoffs at home. The loser gets a wild-card road date — and it could be a Vikings-Packers rematch. Also in play is the NFL rushing title, which Peterson (with 1,418 yeards) leads by 64 over Doug Martin of the Bucs.

WOODSON’S FINALE

Raiders at Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. (TSN2)

Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson close out his career against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium — the same place he started it on Sept. 6, 1998. There have been 252 games in the interim that will some day land Woodson in the hall of fame. He’s tied with Ken Riley for fifth in NFL history with 65 interceptions, and with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper for the most defensive touchdowns (13). “After the season is over, things will change for me as a person, as a man . . . (but) I’m able to focus on the task at hand.”

ON THE HOT SEAT

Black Monday is approaching, with Giants coach Tom Coughlin high on the list of coaches hanging by a thread. Despite winning two Super Bowls, Coughlin’s teams have missed the playoffs four years in a row. The recent out-of-control behaviour of star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., suspended after multiple cheap shots against Carolina, was not a great reflection on the coach. Others in limbo: Indy’s Chuck Pagano, Miami’s Dan Campbell, Cleveland’s Mike Pettine, San Diego’s Mike McCoy and Sean Payton in New Orleans.