RADIO
We investigate the NFL playoff contenders as we head into Week 17 of the NFL season. Which teams improved their position and who fell following Week 16? What key games lay ahead as we look toward the postseason?
AFC Contender #1: New England Patriots
One week after falling to a comeback effort, New England roared back over Baltimore to stay a game above the Bills and tied with the Broncos at 12-3. Drake Maye made some MVP-caliber throws, and Rhamondre Stevenson stepped up with TreVeyon Henderson out due to a concussion.
They’ll now finish up the season against the Jets and Dolphins, two reeling organizations, so 14 wins should be theirs. If the Pats win out and Denver falls to either the Chiefs (unlikely) or Chargers (LAC already beat them), then New England captures the No. 1 seed.
AFC Contender #2: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville passed yet another test on Sunday, crushing the Broncos in Denver as Liam Coen’s offense stays red hot. As a result, the Jags now have an avenue to the No. 1 seed if they can beat the Colts and Titans, while Denver and New England need to drop one more game each.
Of course, if they drop a game themselves, then they risk falling behind the surging Texans. Much is yet to be decided, but no matter the seed, Jacksonville has put its oversized paw down as a top-flight contender with a clinched playoff spot.
AFC Contender #3: Denver Broncos
The Broncos fell behind against Jacksonville and could never claw back into the game. The reliable defense did produce five sacks, but otherwise got carved up by Trevor Lawrence to lose a firm grip on the conference. Denver still holds the No. 1 seed, but they’re now tied with New England and only a game ahead of these Jaguars and the Chargers.
They can lose footing to each of those teams in the final weeks, and could lose the division to the Chargers and slide into the No. 5 seed if they aren’t careful. Can they bounce back against a beleaguered Chiefs squad in Arrowhead before that pivotal showdown with L.A. in Week 18?
AFC Contender #4: Buffalo Bills
Buffalo had to dig deep to outlast a gritty Cleveland roster, but the 23-20 win helps them keep the pressure on New England in the AFC East while snagging a playoff berth. The Bills continue to get star efforts out of James Cook III as Josh Allen pushed through a foot issue to get the job done.
They’ll have the home crowd behind them against the Eagles in Week 17 before the regular season finale against the Jets. Even if they aren’t able to steal the division back from the Pats, they can make a strong case for the top Wild Card seed, which would draw the comparatively weak AFC North winner.
AFC Contender #5: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers ran away from the Cowboys with an exceptional second half for a 34-17 victory that saw Justin Herbert throw for 300 yards and tally three total scores. Omarion Hampton averaged over five yards per carry, Quentin Johnston surpassed 100 yards, and Cameron Dicker nailed all six of his kicks.
As of now, the Chargers have a playoff spot locked up. If either the Chargers win or the Broncos lose in Week 17, then the Week 18 showdown between the two of them will decide the AFC West. In other words, the division goes to the Chargers if they win out. Can they pull it off?
AFC Contender #6: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh handled business in Detroit before getting an assist from the Patriots to jump to a two-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North. Both Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell ran wild while the defense held strong against a potent Lions team, even without T.J. Watt (lung) on the edge.
Now, either a win over the Browns or a Baltimore loss to the Packers in Week 17 will give Pittsburgh the division title. This would mean the Week 18 PIT/BAL tilt would lose its luster, but it would buy some rest for anyone who needs it.
AFC Contender #7: Houston Texans
The Texans made things interesting against the Raiders, but the ultimate victory bumps their win streak up to seven games. Jacksonville is understandably stealing many of the AFC South headlines, yet the Texans are one Jaguar loss away from controlling the division.
Derek Stingley Jr. and the defense remain the backbone of this team, though perhaps these final two games against the Chargers and Colts can help the offense gain confidence before the postseason.
NFC Contender #1: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle stood tall on Thursday, rallying for 16 points in the fourth quarter before a third game-winning TD+two-point conversion pairing in overtime. The Rashid Shaheed trade paid off with a return TD that sparked the comeback, with Sam Darnold rebounding from two early interceptions to lead the team.
The win changes the landscape of both the conference and division. Road games against the Panthers and Niners await on the other side of that tilt. They’ll need to fight off persistent threats from within the division to make sure they keep that precious No. 1 seed!
NFC Contender #2: Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson’s Bears looked all but toast late on Saturday night against the Packers, but this team finds another gear in the fourth quarter. They connected on a must-have onside kick before a fourth-down TD to Jahdae Walker, who was in due to injuries for Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden III (ankle), and then a walk-off TD on a perfect ball to DJ Moore.
The win provides a crucial swing in the NFC North, as Chicago now holds more than a full-game lead over the 9-5-1 Packers. Seeing 11-4 with a +33 point differential is wild, but they don’t fold under pressure. Neither of the remaining games is easy (at SF, DET), so notching an 11th win and distancing oneself from GB is clutch.
NFC Contender #3: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles marched over the Commanders on Saturday evening to clinch the NFC East and pick up their second straight win. They’re looking to roll strong momentum into the playoffs after a tumultuous midseason dip, but now they can focus on gearing up against an AFC contender in Buffalo before a final tune-up against the same Washington squad.
Saquon Barkley was able to get going, A.J. Brown stayed hot, and the defense held strong. However, Jake Elliott did miss multiple kicks, so they’ll need to see better results on special teams. Will they make that earlier lull look like a twisted joke?
NFC Contender #4: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams blew Thursday night’s game against the Seahawks, dropping the divisional tilt 38-37 in overtime. They held a 23-14 advantage going into the fourth quarter, including a nearly 99% win probability with just under 10 minutes to go, but couldn’t hold on.
The resulting loss takes control of the NFC West out of the Rams’ hands, and now they find themselves as the No. 6 seed in third place after San Francisco beat Indianapolis on Monday night.
The Rams will want to focus on the incredible offensive output displayed by Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua with Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined, and look to address what went wrong on defense. They’ll face the Falcons and Cardinals to wrap up the year and already have a playoff berth, but losing homefield is a critical blow.
NFC Contender #5: San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco found itself in a shootout with Philip Rivers’ Colts early on Monday night, but eventually the Niners tilted the scoreboard and ran off with to a 48-27 win. Brock Purdy threw for five touchdowns while Christian McCaffrey finally ripped off some lengthy runs, and the defense got in on the action with a late pick-six.
They got the Rams’ loss that they needed to put their destinies into their laps. If the Niners can defeat the Bears and Seahawks in the final two weeks, then the No. 1 seed is sealed up for San Fran. It’s a tall order, but nothing comes easy when you’re vying for the top slot! Is the defense up to the task?
NFC Contender #6: Green Bay Packers
The Packers were already reeling from an injury-filled loss to the Broncos before taking another loss with more key injuries. Not only did they lose to the Bears after holding a win probability above 99% in the last minutes of the fourth quarter, but they also saw Jordan Love, Malik Willis, Josh Jacobs, and Romeo Doubs get hurt.
Love must progress through the concussion protocol, while Willis deals with a shoulder issue after absorbing a big hit on the final play. Jacobs continues to battle a lingering knee injury, but at least Mike LaFleur doesn’t seem concerned about Doubs’ wrist.
The Pack now sits at 9-5-1 with the Ravens and Vikings between them and a playoff spot. Their health will determine how well those go, as the Lions are just a half-game back and could leapfrog them for the No. 7 seed.
NFC Contender #7: Carolina Panthers
Carolina put that last-minute loss to the Saints out of its mind with a fourth-quarter winning effort over the Buccaneers. Bryce Young did enough, throwing for a pair of TDs, including a beautiful deep strike to Tetairoa McMillan.
The 23-20 win over Tampa gives the Panthers an avenue to clinching the division in Week 17: Beat Seattle while the Bucs lose to Miami. That is unlikely given Seattle and Miami’s respective form, but it is a pathway nevertheless. It is most likely that the NFC South boils down to a Week 18 rematch with the Bucs in Tampa Bay.
NFC Contender #8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ late-season slide continued in Week 16, as they lost the first game of the season against Carolina for a third consecutive defeat. They’re now 7-8, but hope springs eternal in the lackluster NFC South.
As long as the Bucs beat the Dolphins next week, or the Panthers also lose to Seattle if Tampa falls to Miami, Tampa Bay keeps the division and its playoff dreams within reach. You can say that they don’t deserve it with how things have been going, but a Week 18 win over the Panthers would seal things.
NFC Contender #9: Detroit Lions
The Lions lost a heartbreaker to the Steelers in Week 16, which puts them on thin ice for the playoffs. They must win their remaining two games (at MIN, at CHI) while needing the Packers to also drop their final pair (BAL, at MIN). Their hopes lie on Green Bay being too injured to get across the finish line.
While the injuries across the defense make their margin of errors quite slim, they’ll either get a dinged J.J. McCarthy (hand) or Max Brosmer. And both Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond looked comfortable racking up catches, so let’s see if they expand the offense if Minnesota stymies the top options early.
