Week 16 concludes as Christmas is coming up! Which teams will be gifted a playoff spot, and which teams will miss out on a shot for a Super Bowl appearance? For week sixteen, the Ravens and Packers clinched a playoff spot, and the Saints, Cowboys, 49ers, and Cardinals were eliminated. In the AFC, three divisions have been decided, with the North coming down between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Only five teams left are outside the bubble for a playoff spot in the AFC. There are still no division clinches in the NFC, but four teams are confirmed for a place in the postseason. Five NFC teams remain in the hunt. Who are the three biggest winners and losers this week?
Scrubs: Seahawks
In a big NFC matchup, two former Jets QBs clash in the Vikings, Sam Darnold and Seahawk’s Geno Smith. With less than four minutes in a highly-contested game, Darnold found receiver Justin Jefferson from 39 yards out for a TD. Seahawks would get two more tries to win, but a missed 60-yard field and a one-play interception drive would spell the end for Seattle. In the contest, Smith threw two picks that would be the first play in each drive. With the loss, the Seahawks are knocked out of the playoff bubble as the Rams win against…the Jets. Lol. The Seahawks now have a 14% chance to make the playoffs and 18% to win the division. The Hawks must beat Chicago, and the Rams must lose to Arizona in week seventeen. If this happens, the division comes down to the week eighteen contest between Seattle and Los Angeles. If Los Angeles wins against Arizona, Seattle must hope a wild card spot is still available to make the playoffs. And speaking of the Rams—
Dubs: Rams
Beating the Jets isn’t the most impressive feat this year. The Rams’ performance wasn’t even their best. But considering the Rams started 1-4 in the season but would win eight of their next ten games and now are a win away from winning the division. Considering they had a 12% chance of making the playoffs in week five, this is an excellent improvement for LA since the 1-4 start. But the resurgence of Cooper Kupp, the play of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams running his heart out, and Matthew Stafford still kicking at 36. The Rams are an interesting team for the near future.
Scrubs: Buccaneers
Either this is a hilarious but sick joke the football gods are playing on Atlanta, or the Bucs might be cooked. However, the Buccaneers fall to the Cowboys in a weird game. Dallas JUST got eliminated before the game when the Commanders won against Philly, but they played one of their better games for some reason. Weird. However, with Tampa’s loss, the Falcons now own first place in the division and the tiebreaker, and Atlanta has a new starting quarterback to give them a different scheme and play style. If Atlanta wins against the Commanders and Tampa loses against Carolina, the division is the Falcons. The Commanders are no easy feat to beat, but crazier things have happened. And the Panthers aren’t easy either, despite their record. Atlanta controls their destiny, and Tampa now sits at a 51% chance at the playoffs.
Dubs: Chargers
I’m impressed, LA. You “out-chargered” yourself. From being down 24-13 after Denver’s first drive in the third quarter, you outscored Denver 21-3 and won 34-27. With that win, you have a 94% chance to make the playoffs. Are the Chargers bolting up at the right time? There was some concern the past few weeks as you went 1-3 in the past four games. But all you have to do is beat New England next week, and you will have a wild card spot! Please don’t mess this up.
Scrubs: Steelers
Pittsburgh, what has happened to you? I know there are injuries to big-time players, and you have already clinched a playoff spot and gotten your yearly winning record, but now Baltimore has a chance to win the division and owns the tiebreaker. In a tough division dominated by Mahomes, Allen, and Jackson for the coming years, a division title is essential to stay relevant without winning a Super Bowl. Pittsburgh is one slip-up away from losing it with the loss to Baltimore. And their next game? The Chiefs. Three days later. Man, who put this schedule together, and why do you hate Pittsburgh so much?
Dubs: Ravens
The Ravens’ win puts them in a more comfortable position going forward in the postseason. They have a more manageable schedule than Pittsburgh, a playoff spot confirmed, and their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, is making a case for MVP. And now, finally, Lamar has beaten the team that has haunted him since he came into the league. The Ravens are heating up and becoming a scary team in the playoffs.
Now that week sixteen has concluded, the weather is getting chillier, and the playoffs are heating up. Who will represent their division? Will a wild card team be a threat? And who will be getting the #1 overall pick in the draft?
