After another defeat of the Titans for the last Thursday Night Football, now place the rest of the NFL. If the 2022 regular season is about to deliver its verdict, many uncertainties remain in the four corners of the league. The weekend will be busy everywhere and will end in style with a taste of the playoffs: Bengals-Bills. This is THE match not to be missed this week.
In the rest of this preview, special focus on ranged battles (or not) for the latest playoff spots. The Wild Cards in AFC and NFC or even the NFC South will be mentioned. Here is the program for week 17.
Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) – Buffalo Bills (12-3)
They go into playoff mode. Between the Bengals and the Bills, the stake will not be crucial in the short term. Both teams are already qualified. Buffalo is sure to win its division and Cincinnati is in good shape to do the same. No, if this match is important, it’s good that it will be a dress rehearsal before the playoffs. Along with Kansas City, these are the three favorite teams to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. So there is a good chance that they will meet again in January. This meeting a few days before the start of the postseason could already give a psychological advantage to the winner.
While Joe Burrow’s teammates were regaining the level of play that allowed them to win the AFC, they have been less calm for two games. Certainly the victory is always at the end, but against the Buccaneers and the Patriots, two average teams, they trembled until the end. Conversely, Buffalo seems to be gaining momentum. The trough of the mid-season wave has passed and the Bills are starting again. Will they be able to maintain this momentum with a direct competitor? We will have to wait until the end of this weekend of competition to find out. One thing is certain, two weeks before the start of the playoffs, this match should already put us in the mood.
AFC Wild Cards
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
New England Patriots (7-8) – Miami Dolphins (8-7)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks (7-8) – New York Jets (7-8)
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday at 02:20
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) – Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
Before this week 17, two divisions have already delivered their verdict. Kansas City and Buffalo will win the AFC South and East respectively and therefore qualify for the playoffs. Just like the Chargers who will also see the knockout matches. In AFC North, Baltimore and Cincinnati are still fighting for first place but have already punched their ticket for the post-season. Finally in AFC South, Jacksonville and Tennessee will compete for the last place. In summary, they remain a single place in Wild Cards to 4 teams in this conference.
The first three are in AFC East. Miami, New England and New York still believe in it. The first two clash in a decisive encounter. The loser could certainly say goodbye to his goal. Behind, Jets and Steelers need a small miracle to reach the playoffs. First, they must impose themselves on the outside. Robert Saleh’s men go to to face a team who are also aiming for a place in Wild Cards (in NFC). For Pittsburgh, it will happen against a division opponent, Baltimore. The Jets and Steelers need to win to survive and keep their hopes up until the final week.
NFC Wild Cards
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Detroit Lions (7-8) – Chicago Bears (3-12)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
New York Giants (8-6-1) – Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Washington Commanders (7-7-1) – Cleveland Browns (6-9)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers (7-8) – Minnesota Vikings (12-3)
In the other conference, the scenario is a bit different. Greater room for manoeuvre. Three divisions already have a winner, the fourth is between Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Orleans (see below). Dallas is already qualified and there are therefore two spots left in the Wild Cards. They are five who can still legitimately claim it.
The two NFC East teams, the Giants and the Commanders, have so far qualified. New York and Washington receive two affordable teams this weekend. Faced with Indianapolis and Cleveland, they have the opportunity to keep their hand. Detroit and Seattle (see above) are next on the list. The Lions have perhaps the best dynamics of all and could drive the point against the Bears this week. Finally, the Packers come out of nowhere but still believe in it. Green Bay remains on two consecutive victories and hope to take advantage of the slowdown in front to beat everyone at the post. This will require beating the Vikings who have already validated their division title, but who are aiming for first place in the conference.
The NFC South
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) – Carolina Panthers (6-9)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) – New Orleans Saints (6-9)
It is one of the few divisions that has not yet rendered its verdict. And for good reason, three franchises are still in the running to win and therefore qualify for the playoffs. For now, the Buccaneers are in pole position, but that could all change this weekend. The Buccaneers welcome their most dangerous opponents: the Panthers. Carolina has the most encouraging dynamic. Steve Wilks’ men are indeed staying on 5 wins during last 6 games. Only the Steelers managed to surprise them.
Carolina is still one game behind the Floridians, but success this Sunday would see them regain control of the division for the benefit of the tiebreaker. The Panthers had also dryly beaten Tampa Bay during the “first leg” (21-3). They should reiterate week 17 pressing down on the floor. The winner will in any case take a real option. At the same time, the Saints remain in ambush. They do not have their destiny in hand. Above all, they receive the team with the best record in the league, Philadelphia. We will therefore have to be solid and hope for a favorable scenario, but in this NFL 2022nothing is impossible.
The rest
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (5-10) – Arizona Cardinals (4-11)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Houston Texans (2-12-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) – Denver Broncos (4-11)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) – San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) – Los Angeles Rams (5-10)
In the rest of the games of the week, the stakes will not be capital. In their respective conferences Kansas City and San Francisco are eyeing the 1st Seed. Both teams need the defeat of their direct competitors but can still believe in it. The Chiefs host the Broncos while the 49ers move to Las Vegas. Two struggling teams that shouldn’t pose much of a problem for these NFL behemoths.
For their part, the Jaguars are calm after the defeat of the Titans on Thursday. They will stay ahead of the AFC South no matter what and play their qualifier against Tennessee next week. Finally, the Chargers, already qualified, receive the Rams in a duel of Los Angeles, while the Falcons-Cardinals meeting will have little interest.
The posters
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (5-10) – Arizona Cardinals (4-11)
Detroit Lions (7-8) – Chicago Bears (3-12)
Houston Texans (2-12-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) – Denver Broncos (4-11)
New England Patriots (7-8) – Miami Dolphins (8-7)
New York Giants (8-6-1) – Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) – New Orleans Saints (6-9)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) – Carolina Panthers (6-9)
Washington Commanders (7-7-1) – Cleveland Browns (6-9)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) – San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Seattle Seahawks (7-8) – New York Jets (7-8)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers (7-8) – Minnesota Vikings (12-3)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) – Los Angeles Rams (5-10)
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday at 02:20
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) – Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) – Buffalo Bills (12-3)
