The top 10 things still up for grabs in Week 17 of the NFL season
We’ve seen a few other Week 17s that have been more wide open as far as playoff scenarios go. This season, most of the playoff spots are spoken for, and mostly we’re just left to wonder about is seeding.
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But, as usual, there is still plenty on the line in the final week of the NFL season. Not just in terms of playoff seeding and spots, but individual awards and accomplishments as well. So a lot will be settled in the 16 games on Sunday:
The NFC North
There is one game that directly impacts a division title or playoff berth for both teams in Week 17, and it’s the Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers. The NFL could have done worse for the flexed game on “Sunday Night Football” than two old rivals battling with a division crown on the line. It’s simple: The winner gets the North title. The loser is still in the playoffs, however, as a wild card.
The Packers have won the last four NFC North titles. The Vikings haven’t won it since 2009. It would be a great accomplishment for Mike Zimmer’s crew to win the division, and of course get the home game that comes with it. The Packers simply need to get back on track. Both teams will go to the playoffs no matter what, but this game is still the most meaningful of the 16 on Sunday.
The other two division titles
Five division titles have been decided. The NFC North goes to the Sunday night winner. That leaves the AFC South and AFC West. The AFC South is almost assuredly going to the Houston Texans. The Colts need nine different outcomes to come through to take the division. That leaves the AFC West with some intrigue. You’d assume the Denver Broncos beat the banged-up San Diego Chargers at home, but this season isn’t predictable and neither are the Broncos. If the Broncos slip up, the Bengals could get the No. 2 seed and the Kansas City Chiefs could get the AFC West crown. So a lot is riding on that game in Denver.
The final wild-card spot
There’s only one wild-card spot truly up for grabs. The NFC wild-card teams are the Seattle Seahawks and the loser of the Vikings-Packers game. The Kansas City Chiefs have one AFC wild-card spot. And the New York Jets can be the other, with a win at the Buffalo Bills and their old coach, Rex Ryan. Fun game. If the Jets lose, the Pittsburgh Steelers and their high-powered offense can sneak into the final spot with a win against the Cleveland Browns. The Jets clinch a playoff spot if the Steelers lose, no matter their result against the Bills.
Who will the wild-card teams play in the AFC? The Cincinnati Bengals are the most likely the third seed, but they could still get the second seed and a bye if the Broncos lose. If the Chiefs win they’d be the No. 5 seed play at Houston in wild-card weekend (assuming the Colts miracle doesn’t happen), so the most likely scenario is the No. 6 seed Jets or Steelers would play at the No. 3 seed Bengals. In the NFC, the Panthers and Cardinals have byes clinched.
Adrian Peterson’s third rushing title
Peterson won rushing titles in 2008 and 2012. Peterson is close to a third, though it isn’t wrapped up. Peterson has 1,418 yards and Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has 1,354. Nobody else is within 310 yards of Peterson so we’re down to these two. Martin has a tough matchup against the Carolina Panthers, so it’s hard to see him getting so many yards that Peterson can’t top it on Sunday night. Only Marion Motley in 1950 and Curtis Martin in 2004 have won a rushing title at age 30 or older. Peterson would be the third.
5,000 for Tom Brady?
There have been eight 5,000-yard passing seasons in NFL history (Drew Brees has four of them, which is unbelievable). Brady has one of the eight, in 2011, and he has a shot at getting another this year. Brady needs 364 passing yards against the Miami Dolphins to reach 5,000 this year. No other quarterback is within 400 of the 5,000 mark. Brady has only thrown for more than 364 yards in one game this season, but did throw for 356 against the Dolphins in the first meeting so it’s not impossible.
Tyrod Taylor’s big bonus
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor didn’t sign a big contract, but smartly included some incentives that could pay off if he became the Bills starter, which he did. One is a $1 million bonus for playing 80 percent of the Bills’ offensive snaps, according to ESPN.com. Taylor has played 848-of-1,000 snaps, according to Fox Sports, so the Bills could run 60 plays on Sunday and Taylor would still hit the 80 percent mark (he will get at least $750,000 for playing 70 percent of the snaps). So with a few snaps on Sunday, Taylor will lock up a $1 million bonus. There are always a few bonuses that are earned or lost in Week 17, and Taylor’s is one of the most notable.
Race for the bottom, to pick first
There’s no obvious can’t-miss No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft right now, but it’s always better to pick first than second. The Tennessee Titans will get that top spot with a loss on Sunday. The problem might be that the Indianapolis Colts are probably starting Ryan Lindley or Josh Freeman at quarterback in Week 17 against them, because of a bunch of quarterback injuries. It will be hard to lose to either of those two. A Titans win would open the door for the Cleveland Browns to get the first pick with a loss.
Will Peyton play?
It appears Peyton Manning will be healthy enough to back up Brock Osweiler in Week 17. That means Manning is an injury or blowout from getting back on the field. Or perhaps the Broncos will try to just get him some work, though there hasn’t been any indication that’s the plan. Either way, now that Manning can be active, he could answer the question, “Was the horrible Kansas City game the last time Peyton Manning plays in the NFL?” Manning deserves better than his last NFL play being an interception (though, we also have no idea if he wants to return next season and write a better ending).
Who is the MVP?
There is some real intrigue in the MVP race this year. I’d pick Cam Newton, and it would take some very extreme results in Week 17 to change my mind on that. But Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer seems to be gaining a lot of steam. And New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has had a phenomenal season as well. Those seem to be the three realistic candidates for the award. Maybe a huge performance by one of them in Week 17 will stick in the voters’ minds.
A 15-1 team
Can you name the 15-1 teams in NFL history? There have only been five. They might be harder to name than you’d think. We’ll get to the answers in a bit.
The Carolina Panthers aren’t chasing 16-0 anymore, after last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but 15-1 is still pretty rare. It’s not as memorable as an undefeated season, but it’s incredibly hard to get to the end of an NFL season with just one loss. Also, the Panthers need to win to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC; with a Panthers loss the Arizona Cardinals have a chance to steal it. The Panthers haven’t been celebrated as much as they should be this season, but they’re on the verge of a great final record.
With one more win the Panthers will match the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, 1998 Minnesota Vikings, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers and 2011 Green Bay Packers in the 15-1 club.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
