Week 17 NFL Preview

IT’S ALL ON THE LINE IN WEEK 17

It’s the final push for NFL teams as the regular season ends on Sunday, January 1. All 16 games are division contests. And with one week to go, there are still 14 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LI. 

The schedule is set for Week 17, culminating with the final game of the 2016 regular season (#Game256) to determine th​e NFC North winner. On Sunday night in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC), the Detroit Lions (9-6) will host the Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Ford Field with the division title on the line. And, depending on the results of Sunday’s earlier games, the loser of this contest could be out of the playoff picture entirely.

WEEK 17: SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

GAME	TIME (ET)	NETWORK
BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI	1:00 PM	CBS
JACKSONVILLE AT INDIANAPOLIS	1:00 PM	CBS
NEW ENGLAND AT MIAMI	1:00 PM	CBS
CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA	1:00 PM	FOX
BUFFALO AT NEW YORK JETS	1:00 PM	CBS
DALLAS AT PHILADELPHIA	1:00 PM	FOX
CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH	1:00 PM	CBS
CAROLINA AT TAMPA BAY	1:00 PM	FOX
HOUSTON AT TENNESSEE	1:00 PM	CBS
NEW ORLEANS AT ATLANTA	4:25 PM	FOX
OAKLAND AT DENVER	4:25 PM	CBS
ARIZONA AT LOS ANGELES	4:25 PM	FOX
KANSAS CITY AT SAN DIEGO	4:25 PM	CBS
SEATTLE AT SAN FRANCISCO	4:25 PM	FOX
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON	4:25 PM	FOX
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT	8:30 PM	NBC

The playoff teams in the AFC are locked in – New England (13-2), Oakland (12-3), Kansas City (11-4), Pittsburgh (10-5), Miami (10-5) and Houston (9-6) – although there’s still plenty to play for in Week 17.

The Patriots, who have won the AFC East and earned a first-round bye, can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or an Oakland loss. The Raiders can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a New England loss. Oakland can lock up the AFC West and a first-round bye with a win or a loss by Kansas City. The Chiefs can take the AFC West division title and earn a first-round bye with a win and an Oakland loss.

Three AFC division winners have been determined: New England (AFC East), Pittsburgh (AFC North) and Houston (AFC South). The Steelers have won the AFC North and locked up the No. 3 seed. The Texans, who have clinched the AFC South, will enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed. The AFC West winner (Oakland or Kansas City) will earn a first-round bye and the Raiders still have a shot to claim home-field advantage.

The Dolphins have secured a Wild Card berth. The runner-up in the AFC West (Kansas City or Oakland) will qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entrant.

In the NFC, three of the four NFC division winners have been determined: Dallas (NFC East), Atlanta (NFC South) and Seattle (NFC West). The Cowboys (13-2) have secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Falcons (10-5) can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Seattle and Detroit. The Seahawks (9-5-1) can lock up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and an Atlanta loss.

The NFC North winner will be determined on Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC) in the final game of the 2016 regular season (#Game256) when Detroit (9-6) hosts Green Bay (9-6) at Ford Field. The Lions can also claim the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Atlanta and Seattle.  

The New York Giants have clinched a Wild Card berth and are locked in as the No. 5 seed. The final NFC playoff spot comes down to the NFC North runner-up (Detroit or Green Bay), Washington (8-6-1) and Tampa Bay (8-7). Some of the key games in Week 17:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-2) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Patriots, who have won the AFC East and earned a first-round bye, can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or an Oakland loss.
• The Dolphins, who have clinched a playoff spot, can claim the No. 5 seed with a win and a Kansas City loss.

DALLAS COWBOYS (13-2) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-9) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Cowboys have won the NFC East and secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-14) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Steelers have won the AFC North and are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-9) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Buccaneers can secure a playoff spot but need a win combined with a Green Bay loss, a Washington tie and victories by all of the following teams: Dallas, Indianapolis, Tennessee and San Francisco.

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-6) at TENNESSEE TITANS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Texans have won the AFC South and are locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.   

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-8) at ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

• The Falcons have won the NFC South and can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Seattle and Detroit.  

OAKLAND RAIDERS (12-3) at DENVER BRONCOS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Raiders, who have clinched a playoff berth, can secure the AFC West division and lock up a first-round bye with a win or a loss by Kansas City. Oakland can earn the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a New England loss.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (5-10) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Chiefs, who have earned a playoff berth, can seize the AFC West division title and earn a first-round bye with a win and an Oakland loss.  

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5-1) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-13) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Seahawks, who have won the NFC West, can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and an Atlanta loss.

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5) at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (8-6-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Giants have clinched a playoff berth and are locked in as the NFC’s No. 5 seed.
• Washington can qualify for the postseason with a win as long as the Green Bay-Detroit game doesn’t end in a tie.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6) at DETROIT LIONS (9-6) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

• The final game of the 2016 regular season – #Game256 – will determine the NFC North division winner. And, depending on the results of Sunday’s afternoon games, the loser of this contest could be out of the playoff picture entirely.
• The Packers will claim the division with a win. With a loss, Green Bay can secure a playoff berth with a Washington loss.
• The Lions will lock up the NFC North with a win and can earn a first-round bye with a win combined with losses by both Atlanta and Seattle. With a loss, Detroit can clinch a playoff berth with a Washington loss.

2016 NFL STANDINGS

American Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
New England Patriots	13	2	0	.867	406	236	6-2-0	7-0-0	10-1-0	4-1-0	6W
Miami Dolphins	10	5	0	.667	349	345	6-1-0	4-4-0	7-4-0	4-1-0	3W
Buffalo Bills	7	8	0	.467	389	348	4-4-0	3-4-0	4-7-0	1-4-0	1L
New York Jets	4	11	0	.267	245	399	1-6-0	3-5-0	3-8-0	1-4-0	2L
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Pittsburgh Steelers	10	5	0	.667	372	303	5-2-0	5-3-0	8-3-0	4-1-0	6W
Baltimore Ravens	8	7	0	.533	333	294	6-2-0	2-5-0	7-4-0	4-1-0	1L
Cincinnati Bengals	5	9	1	.367	298	305	3-3-1	2-6-0	4-7-0	2-3-0	2L
Cleveland Browns	1	14	0	.067	240	425	1-7-0	0-7-0	1-10-0	0-5-0	1W
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Houston Texans	9	6	0	.600	262	304	7-1-0	2-5-0	7-4-0	5-0-0	3W
Tennessee Titans	8	7	0	.533	357	361	4-3-0	4-4-0	5-6-0	1-4-0	1L
Indianapolis Colts	7	8	0	.467	387	372	3-4-0	4-4-0	4-7-0	2-3-0	1L
Jacksonville Jaguars	3	12	0	.200	298	376	2-6-0	1-6-0	2-9-0	2-3-0	1W
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Oakland Raiders	12	3	0	.800	410	361	6-2-0	6-1-0	9-2-0	3-2-0	2W
Kansas City Chiefs	11	4	0	.733	352	284	6-2-0	5-2-0	8-3-0	5-0-0	1W
Denver Broncos	8	7	0	.533	309	291	4-3-0	4-4-0	5-6-0	1-4-0	3L
San Diego Chargers	5	10	0	.333	383	386	3-4-0	2-6-0	4-7-0	1-4-0	4L

National Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Dallas Cowboys	13	2	0	.867	408	279	7-1-0	6-1-0	9-2-0	3-2-0	2W
New York Giants	10	5	0	.667	291	274	7-1-0	3-4-0	7-4-0	3-2-0	1L
Washington Redskins	8	6	1	.567	386	364	4-3-0	4-3-1	6-5-0	3-2-0	1W
Philadelphia Eagles	6	9	0	.400	340	318	5-2-0	1-7-0	4-7-0	1-4-0	1W
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Green Bay Packers	9	6	0	.600	401	364	6-2-0	3-4-0	7-4-0	4-1-0	5W
Detroit Lions	9	6	0	.600	322	327	6-1-0	3-5-0	7-4-0	3-2-0	2L
Minnesota Vikings	7	8	0	.467	289	297	4-3-0	3-5-0	4-7-0	1-4-0	2L
Chicago Bears	3	12	0	.200	269	361	3-5-0	0-7-0	3-8-0	2-3-0	3L
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Atlanta Falcons	10	5	0	.667	502	374	4-3-0	6-2-0	8-3-0	4-1-0	3W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8	7	0	.533	337	353	3-4-0	5-3-0	6-5-0	3-2-0	2L
New Orleans Saints	7	8	0	.467	437	416	4-4-0	3-4-0	6-5-0	2-3-0	2W
Carolina Panthers	6	9	0	.400	353	385	4-4-0	2-5-0	5-6-0	1-4-0	1L
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Seattle Seahawks	9	5	1	.633	329	269	7-1-0	2-4-1	5-5-1	2-2-1	1L
Arizona Cardinals	6	8	1	.433	374	356	4-3-1	2-5-0	5-5-1	3-1-1	1W
Los Angeles Rams	4	11	0	.267	218	350	1-6-0	3-5-0	3-8-0	2-3-0	6L
San Francisco 49ers	2	13	0	.133	286	455	1-6-0	1-7-0	2-9-0	2-3-0	1W

NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

(All times local)

Sunday, January 1
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM	Houston at Tennessee, 12:00 PM
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM	New Orleans at Atlanta, 4:25 PM
New England at Miami, 1:00 PM	Oakland at Denver, 2:25 PM
Chicago at Minnesota, 12:00 PM	Arizona at Los Angeles, 1:25 PM
Buffalo at New York Jets, 1:00 PM	Kansas City at San Diego, 1:25 PM
Dallas at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM	Seattle at San Francisco, 1:25 PM
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM	New York Giants at Washington, 4:25 PM
Carolina at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM	Green Bay at Detroit, 8:30 PM (NBC)

The Week That Was - Week 16

THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 16

COMEBACKS GALORE: There have been 70 games won by teams that trailed in the fourth quarter through Week 16, tied for the most such games in a single season in NFL history.

Four teams – HOUSTON, MIAMI, PITTSBURGH and SAN FRANCISCO – were victorious in Week 16 after trailing in the fourth quarter. The Texans and Steelers both overcame fourth quarter deficits for the second consecutive week.

The most games won after trailing in the fourth quarter in a single season in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES WON AFTER TRAILING IN 4TH QUARTER IN SINGLE SEASON
2016	70
1989	70
2013	69
2015	67
2008	67
2001	67

-- NFL --

WORST TO FIRST: The DALLAS COWBOYS (13-2), who defeated Detroit 42-21 on Monday Night Football, clinched the NFC East division and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. It marks the 13th time in the past 14 seasons that one or more teams went from last or tied for last place to a division championship the following year.

The teams to go from “worst-to-first” in their division since 2003:

SEASON	TEAM	RECORD	PRIOR SEASON RECORD
2003	Carolina	11-5	7-9
2003	Kansas City	13-3	8-8*
2004	Atlanta	11-5	5-11
2004	San Diego	12-4	4-12*
2005	Chicago	11-5	5-11
2005	New York Giants	11-5	6-10*
2005	Tampa Bay	11-5	5-11
2006	Baltimore	13-3	6-10*
2006	New Orleans	10-6	3-13
2006	Philadelphia	10-6	6-10
2007	Tampa Bay	9-7	4-12
2008	Miami	11-5	1-15
2009	New Orleans**	13-3	8-8
2010	Kansas City	10-6	4-12
2011	Denver	8-8	4-12
2011	Houston	10-6	6-10*
2012	Washington	10-6	5-11
2013	Carolina	12-4	7-9*
2013	Philadelphia	10-6	4-12
2015	Washington	8-7	4-12
2016	Dallas	13-2	4-12
* Tied for last place  ** Won Super Bowl

-- NFL --

HISTORIC WINNERS: The GREEN BAY PACKERS defeated Minnesota 38-25 on Saturday at Lambeau Field. The win marked the Packers’ 217th victory at Lambeau Field, the most home wins by any franchise at one stadium in NFL history. Green Bay surpassed Chicago, which had 216 victories at Wrigley Field.

The most home wins by a franchise at one stadium:

TEAM	VENUE	WINS
Green Bay Packers	Lambeau Field	217
Chicago Bears	Wrigley Field	216

The PITTSBURGH STEELERS defeated Baltimore 31-27 on Sunday, clinching the AFC North division title. The victory marked the 600th regular-season victory in franchise history, joining Chicago (744), Green Bay (729) and the New York Giants (683) as the only teams in NFL history to reach 600 regular-season wins.

The teams with the most regular-season victories in NFL history:

TEAM	WINS	LOSSES	TIES
Chicago Bears	744	567	42
Green Bay Packers	729	553	37
New York Giants	683	572	33
Pittsburgh Steelers	600	535	20

New England defeated the New York Jets 41-3 on Saturday, marking BILL BELICHICK’s 200th regular-season win as head coach of the Patriots.

Belichick joins Pro Football Hall of Famers GEORGE HALAS (318 with Chicago), DON SHULA (257 with Miami), TOM LANDRY (250 with Dallas) and CURLY LAMBEAU (209 with Green Bay) as the only head coaches to win 200 regular-season games with one team.

The head coaches with 200 regular-season wins with one franchise:

HEAD COACH	TEAM	WINS
George Halas^	Chicago	318
Don Shula^	Miami	257
Tom Landry^	Dallas	250
Curly Lambeau^	Green Bay	209
Bill Belichick	New England	200*
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

FRANCHISE CONNECTIONS: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 347 yards and four touchdowns, including two to wide receiver JORDY NELSON, in the Packers’ 38-25 win over Minnesota.

Rodgers and Nelson have connected on 59 touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE and ANTONIO FREEMAN (57) for the most touchdown passes from a quarterback to a receiver in franchise history.

Pittsburgh quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning four-yard score to wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN with nine seconds remaining in the Steelers’ 31-27 win over Baltimore.

Roethlisberger and Brown have combined for 50 touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRY BRADSHAW and LYNN SWANN (49) for the most touchdown passes from a quarterback to receiver in team history.

Roethlisberger has 301 career touchdown passes and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (300) for the ninth-most touchdown passes in NFL history. Roethlisberger is the 10th player in NFL history to throw for at least 300 career touchdowns.   

The quarterbacks with 300 career touchdown passes:

PLAYER	TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Peyton Manning	539
Brett Favre^	508
Drew Brees	463*
Tom Brady	453*
Dan Marino^	420
Fran Tarkenton^	342
Eli Manning	320*
Philip Rivers	312*
Ben Roethlisberger	301*
John Elway^	300
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

POSH PASSERS: Dallas wide receiver DEZ BRYANT had two touchdown catches and his first career touchdown pass in the Cowboys’ 42-21 victory against Detroit.

Bryant, who has 67 career receiving touchdowns and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MICHAEL IRVIN (65) for the second-most in franchise history, is the fifth player in NFL history with two touchdown catches and a touchdown pass in the same game.

The players with two touchdown catches and a touchdown pass in the same game:

PLAYER	TEAM	DATE	TOUCHDOWN CATCHES	TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Dez Bryant	Dallas	12/26/2016	2	1
David Patten	New England	10/21/2001	2	1
Keith Lincoln	San Diego	11/7/1965	2	1
Don Hutson	Green Bay	10/31/1943	2	1
Johnny McNally	Pittsburgh	10/17/1937	2	1

Kansas City defensive tackle DONTARI POE threw a two-yard touchdown pass in the Chiefs’ 33-10 win against Denver.

Poe, who has 1.5 sacks this season, is the first player with a touchdown pass and a sack in the same season since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.

Jacksonville quarterback BLAKE BORTLES passed for 325 yards and one touchdown in the Jaguars’ 38-17 win against Tennessee. Bortles, who threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver MARQISE LEE, also had a 20-yard touchdown reception from Lee in the victory.

Bortles and Lee became the first pair of teammates in NFL history to throw touchdown passes of at least 20 yards to each other in the same game.

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