NFL Big Games for Week 16

We are winding down and heading into the final two weeks of the regular NFL season. For some teams, this is their do-or-die week. This is also the week in both Conferences where home field advantage will most likely be determined by this week’s results. We are going to talk about these two games first.

In the NFC, the 11-3 Panthers travel to the Meadowlands and take on the 11-3 Giants. While both of these teams are certainly going to the playoffs, the Giants would like to do things a bit differently than they did last year and actually play their playoff games at home. The Panthers and the Giants both feature strong running attacks, so this should be a classic, old-school football game.

While the Panthers are building momentum, the Giants seem to be losing it as they have lost their last two games. New York definitely needs to turn on the heat if they want to experience the same euphoria in the playoffs that they felt last year.
In the AFC, the 11-3 Steelers travel to the 12-2 Titans. The Titans have had some serious injuries on their defensive line, and much like the Giants, Tennessee needs to bring back the passion they had in the earlier games of the season to carry them through the playoffs, and that might mean playing all the stars even though a playoff spot is secure.

Another big game is the 9-5 Ravens traveling to the 9-5 Cowboys. This inter-conference matchup may well mean that the loser does not make the playoffs. In the preseason, few expected the Ravens to get this far, but many considered the Cowboys to be a favorite for postseason play. However, the way the Ravens have played this year, hopes are high in Baltimore and beyond. Dallas has managed to sidestep their personal team turmoil to win last week and keep them alive, and they have to continue to pull together if they are going to go far in the playoffs or even make the playoffs.

The final two games we want to highlight are two of the games that have significance in the NFC wildcard race. The 9-5 Falcons travel to take on the NFC North-leading 9-5 Vikings. The Vikings could lose and still make the playoffs, but if the Falcons lose, they open the door for the Eagles to take their place in the playoffs.
The last game we want to talk about is the Eagles vs. the 7-7 Redskins in Washington. The Redskins have no chance to make the playoffs, but if they beat the Eagles, they will certainly put a damper or a soaking on the Philadelphia playoff bid.

Don’t be surprised to see non-playoff contenders happily play the role of spoiler to teams trying to get a spot in postseason play. Every year, a team with a good chance at the playoffs seems to lose their shot because of a spoiler team who wants to go out with a bang.