STAT OF THE NIGHT

The Steelers and Ravens are the first pair of teams to meet in three primetime games in the same season.

Week 2 Thursday night
Week 9 Sunday night
Week 18 Saturday night

NFC #LETME Week 17

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 ET, Fox: Sam Rosen, Kirk Morrison, and Donovan McNabb)
The Saints are a bad team. No more excuses Buccaneers 20, Saints 17

7. Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Kristina Pink)
At least it's not a couple of days from now, when the high will be 7. Vikings 14, Bears 7

6. Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa) Sunset at 4:36.
The Eagles needed a miracle last week on that Hail Mary from Sanchez, and didn't get it. Maybe they'll get one at the Meadowlands. Giants 27, Eagles 13

5. Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin) Sunset at 4:57.
Presumably Harbaugh's last game as coach of the 49ers Cardinals 23, 49ers 10

4. St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Gus Johnson, Charles Davis, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and Molly McGrath) Sunset at 4:24.
Rams 13, Seahawks 10

3. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver) Sunset at 4:53.
This is the last regular season game sideline-reported by the great Pam Oliver. The only thing the Cowboys have to play for in this game is homefield advantage throughout the playoffs if they hope for a DET/GB tie. While this is a rare occurrence, it would be ridiculous to rest starters, lose the game, see DET/GB tie, and know they could have had the first seed. This is why I expect they will play their starters. Also, Fox must think so as well since they've sent Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver to Landover. Finally, the reason the Cowboys have nothing to play for regarding getting a first round bye if both Seattle and Arizona lose is that if both Seattle and Arizona lose, the Cowboys will get the first round bye anyway, even if they also lose to the Redskins! With this win, the Cowboys can complete a perfect 8-0 season on the road. Cowboys 31, Redskins 24

2. Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 5:36.
Many thought this game would be flexed to Sunday Night Football since it is the only true playoff game (win-and-you're-in, lose-and-you're-out) in Week 17, citing the example of St. Louis at Seattle in 2010. This was the year when the Seahawks won the division at 7-9 and went on to upset the defending champion Saints in the Wild Card Round on the earthquake Beast Mode run. This is a bad example as that year, St. Louis at Seattle was the only divisional championship game in Week 17 whereas this year there are two others: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, and Detroit at Green Bay: America's Game of the Week. Both of the last two meetings between these two teams, including a Week 17 showdown last year at the Georgia Dome, had a final margin of victory of fewer than 3 points. No team has ever won the NFC South in consecutive years, and the Panthers won it last year (clinching it with that victory at the Georgia Dome). Panthers 22, Falcons 21

1. Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:19.
AMERICA'S GAME OF THE WEEK as for the third straight year, the Week 17 Fox late game features the Packers. Last year it was another divisional championship game, at the Bears, and the previous year it was at the Vikings when the Packers needed to win to clinch a first round bye, and the Vikings needed to win to clinch a playoff spot. Adrian Peterson fell nine yards short, but perhaps had Blair Walsh missed the field goal, AD could have broken the record in overtime. Packers 45, Lions 38

AFC #LETME Week 17

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots) Sunset at 4:20.
The Pats claim the #8 spot on the list for the first and only time this season by resting their starters. Bills 38, Patriots 7

7. New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker)
The other AFC East game rounds out the bottom two. Jets 17, Dolphins 14

6. Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta)
If the Colts win, they can clinch the 3rd seed if CIN/PIT tie. Therefore, they do have something to play for. They would avoid PIT who already whooped them and would host one of the four teams struggling to stay alive this year, playing a tough game this week and perhaps being drained for next week. Titans 18, Colts 15

5. Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox; Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale)
It is unfortunate to Texans fans outside Houston, Beaumont, and Victoria that they won't get to see their favorite team in a playoff implication game, but to even the crossflexes following CAR-ATL, the NFL couldn't cross-flex BUF-NE since NE-BUF was already crossed, SD-KC not to screw over CBS, NYJ-MIA since the Giants are on Fox, or CLE-BAL since CLE has already crossed twice this season. Out of the two remaining options, the NFL chose the game with playoff implications. Texans 28, Jaguars 14

4. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (1 ET, CBS: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon) Sunset at 4:50.
Connor Shaw is starting, making Columbia the only disjoint market receiving this game. Ravens 28, Browns 17

3. San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell)
Many questioned why this game wasn't flexed to 3;25, and it's because it must take place simultaneously as the other AFC wild card implication games since both teams are wild card contenders. Chiefs 31, Chargers 28 (OT)

2. Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (2:25 MT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 4:42.
Peyton Manning looked weak Monday night, and is coming off a short week. Broncos 48, Raiders 28

1. Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
It's possible the flexing of this game was done with the thought the Bengals would likely lose to the Broncos, but nevertheless this game matters as the teams will be fighting to host the weakling wild card that will come off a victory this week, giving it their all. Steelers 38, Bengals 35

Week 17 Scenarios

All times Eastern.

AFC

NEW ENGLAND (12-3, vs. Buffalo, 1:00)

New England has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC East division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

New England can clinch
they've already clinched everything

DENVER (11-4, vs. Oakland, 4:25)

Denver has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC West division title

Denver can clinch
a first round bye in the playoffs

Denver can clinch a first round bye with:
1) DEN win
2) DEN tie + CIN loss or tie
3) CIN loss
4) CIN tie + IND win

INDIANAPOLIS (10-5, at Tennessee, 1:00)

Indianapolis has already clinched
a playoff spot
AFC South division title

Indianapolis can clinch
nothing more (IND is locked into the 4th seed barring a CIN/PIT tie (then IND could get 3 seed with a win))

CINCINNATI (10-4-1, at Pittsburgh, 8:30)

Cincinnati has already clinched
a playoff spot

Cincinnati can clinch
AFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs

Cincinnati can clinch the division with:
1) CIN win
2) CIN tie

Cincinnati can clinch a first round bye with:
1) CIN win + DEN loss or tie
2) CIN tie + DEN loss + IND loss or tie

PITTSBURGH (10-5, vs. Cincinnati, 8:30)

Pittsburgh has already clinched
a playoff spot

Pittsburgh can clinch
AFC North division title

Pittsburgh can clinch the division with:
1) PIT win

SAN DIEGO (9-6, at Kansas City, 1:00)

San Diego has already clinched
nothing

San Diego can clinch
a playoff spot

San Diego can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) SD win
2) SD tie + BAL loss or tie

BALTIMORE (9-6, vs. Cleveland, 1:00)

Baltimore has already clinched
nothing

Baltimore can clinch
a playoff spot

Baltimore can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + SD loss or tie
2) BAL tie + SD loss

HOUSTON (8-7, vs. Jacksonville, 1:00)

Houston has already clinched
nothing

Houston can clinch
a playoff spot

Houston can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) HOU win + SD loss + BAL loss

KANSAS CITY (8-7, vs. San Diego, 1:00)

Kansas City has already clinched
nothing

Kansas City can clinch
a playoff spot

Kansas City can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) KC win + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie

Detroit hasn't won at Green Bay since 1991.

NFC

DALLAS (11-4, at Washington, 1:00)

Dallas has already clinched
a playoff spot
NFC East division title

Dallas can clinch
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Dallas can clinch a first round bye with:
1) SEA loss + ARZ loss
2) DAL win + SEA loss or tie + ARZ loss or tie
3) DAL win + DET/GB tie
4) DAL tie + SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB result

Dallas can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) DAL win + SEA win + DET/GB tie
2) DAL win + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB tie

DETROIT (11-4, at Green Bay, 4:25)

Detroit has already clinched
a playoff spot

Detroit can clinch
NFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Detroit can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) DET tie

Detroit can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) DET win
2) DET tie + DAL loss or tie
3) DET tie + SEA loss + ARZ loss

Detroit can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) DET win + SEA loss or tie + ARZ loss or tie
2) DET tie + SEA loss + ARZ loss + DAL loss or tie

GREEN BAY (11-4, vs. Detroit, 4:25)

Green Bay has already clinched
a playoff spot

Green Bay can clinch
NFC North division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Green Bay can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) GB win

Green Bay can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) GB win + SEA loss or tie

SEATTLE (11-4, vs. St. Louis, 4:25)

Seattle has already clinched
a playoff spot

Seattle can clinch
NFC West division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs

Seattle can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) ARZ loss
2) SEA tie + ARZ tie

Seattle can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) SEA win
2) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DAL loss
3) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DET/GB tie

Seattle can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win + DET/GB result
2) SEA win + DAL loss or tie
3) SEA tie + ARZ loss or tie + DAL loss or tie + DET/GB tie

ARIZONA (11-4, at San Francisco, 4:25)

Arizona has already clinched
a playoff spot

Arizona can clinch
NFC West division title
a first round bye in the playoffs
homefield advantage through the Super Bowl

Arizona can clinch the division and nothing more with:
1) ARZ tie + SEA loss

Arizona can clinch the division and a first round bye with:
1) ARZ win + SEA loss or tie
2) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie
3) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DET/GB tie

Arizona can clinch homefield advantage through the Super Bowl with:
1) ARZ win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie
2) ARZ tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie + DET/GB tie

CAROLINA (6-8-1, at Atlanta, 4:25)

Carolina has already clinched:
nothing

Carolina can clinch:
a playoff spot
NFC South division title

Carolina can clinch a playoff spot and the division with:
1) CAR win
2) CAR tie

ATLANTA (6-9, vs. Carolina, 4:25)

Atlanta has already clinched:
nothing

Atlanta can clinch:
a playoff spot
NFC South division title

Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot and the division with:
1) ATL win

Projected Week 17 schedule based on Week 16 results

The official Week 17 schedule will be announced after Monday night's game.
Below, all times Eastern.

1:00
All games that are not listed below
(+BUF-NE at 1:00 if CIN beats DEN)

4:25
DET-GB
OAK-DEN
(BUF-NE at 4:25 if DEN beats CIN)
STL-SEA
ARZ-SF

8:30

CIN-PIT

Clinching Scenarios and Other Scenarios

Things that can be clinched in Week 16 (from ESPN):

New England:

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with: 

1) NE win + DEN loss 

New England clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) NE win OR 

2) NE tie + IND loss or tie OR 

3) IND loss + CIN loss or tie + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie 

Denver:

Denver clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) DEN win OR 

2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie 

Cincinnati:

Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with: 

1) CIN win + PIT loss + BAL loss or tie 

Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) CIN win OR 

2) CIN tie + BAL loss OR 

3) CIN tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR 

4) KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie 

Pittsburgh:

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) PIT win 

Baltimore:

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) BAL win + PIT loss + CIN loss OR 

2) BAL win + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR 

3) BAL tie + KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie 

Arizona:

Arizona clinches NFC West division, first round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs with: 

1) ARI win 

Detroit:

Detroit clinches NFC North division with: 

1) DET win + GB loss 

Detroit clinches a first-round bye with: 

1) DET win + GB loss + DAL loss 

Detroit clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) DET win OR 

2) DET tie + PHI loss or tie OR 

3) PHI loss 

Dallas:

Dallas clinches NFC East division with: 

1) DAL win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) DAL tie + PHI loss 

Dallas clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) DAL win + GB loss or tie + DET loss or tie as long as both don't tie 

Seattle:

Seattle clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) SEA win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) SEA win + DET loss or tie OR 

3) SEA win + GB loss or tie OR 

4) SEA tie + PHI loss OR 

5) SEA tie + DET loss + GB loss OR 

6) PHI loss + DAL win or tie 

Green Bay:

Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with: 

1) GB win + PHI loss or tie OR 

2) GB win + DAL win or tie OR 

3) GB tie + PHI loss OR 

4) GB tie + PHI tie + DAL win or tie OR 

5) PHI loss + DAL win or tie 

New Orleans:

New Orleans clinches NFC South division with: 

1) NO win + CAR loss

How the AFC North teams could all easily clinch this week (with no one any closer to clinching the division)

If the three of them win and SD loses, all three AFC North contenders clinch the three remaining AFC playoff spots!

It all comes down to Week 17 again...

...in the NFC East...as long as Philadelphia beats Washington today. Things could get interesting if they lose (DAL can clinch tomorrow).

Arizona could clinch everything tomorrow

With a win, the Cardinals would clinch homefield advantage all the way through the Super Bowl.

Dallas's win at Seattle won't help them get a first round bye

If Seattle and Dallas both win out, one might expect the Cowboys to clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their win at Seattle being the tiebreaker. The problem is that most likely, either Green Bay or Detroit will also end up 12-4, and the three-way tiebreak would toss the Cowboys down to the third seed, having to play in the first round, likely hosting the loser of Green Bay and Detroit!

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record DAL already has 4 conference losses, while SEA and either GB or DET will have fewer conference losses

The Packers could miss the playoffs quite easily

The Packers miss the playoffs if Detroit and Philadelphia win out, Seattle beats St. Louis, and the Cowboys lose to the Colts. They would then miss the playoffs regardless of what happened in either of Arizona's games. It may be counterintuitive that a competitor (Dallas) has to lose for Green Bay to miss the playoffs, but it is necessary as Dallas must become a wild card contender by losing the division to Philadelphia before Dallas can eliminate Green Bay on tiebreakers (If Philadelphia lost the division, Green Bay would beat Philadelphia on tiebreakers as they won at Philadelphia.)

There are three scenarios within the above scenario that result in a Green Bay elimination:
Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 12-4
Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 11-5
Arizona winning the division

Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 12-4
If Seattle wins the division and Arizona finishes 12-4, there would be a two-way tie between the Cowboys and Packers at 11-5 for the 6th seed.

Two-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Head-to-head Doesn't apply
2. Conference record Both would be 8-4
3. Record against common opponents, minimum of four:
The Cowboys' and Packers' common opponents this season were the Bears, Eagles, Saints, and Seahawks, against whom the Packers were 3-2, but the Cowboys were 4-1. DAL wins tiebreak, eliminating GB

Seattle winning the division and Arizona finishing 11-5
If Seattle wins the division and Arizona finishes 11-5, there would be a three-way tie among the Cardinals, Cowboys, and Packers at 11-5 for the 5th seed.

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record All three teams would be 8-4
4. Record against common opponents, minimum of four: ARZ, DAL, GB lack 4 common opponents
5. Strength of victory (combined records of all teams beaten): Due to such quality wins as DET, PHI, and DAL, Cardinals win the tiebreak here for the fifth seed.

Next, the remaining two teams revert back to the top of the two-way tiebreaker format to see who gets the sixth seed, and DAL beats out GB for reasons already clarified in the previous scenario.

Arizona winning the division
There would be a three-way tie among the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Packers at 11-5 for the fifth seed.

Three-way tiebreak (teams from different divisions):
1. Apply divisional tiebreaker if any subset of the teams are in the same division Doesn't apply
2. Head-to-head sweep (only applies if one team has beaten both other teams or lost to both other teams) Doesn't apply
3. Conference record Seattle would be 9-3, winning the tiebreak over the two 8-4 teams.

DAL then wins the two-way tiebreak over GB.

The three games that could still be divisional championship games in Week 17
1. DET-GB
2. CIN-PIT
3. CAR-ATL

1. DET-GB
As long as the Packers win tomorrow, regardless of what the Lions do, this is a divisional championship game (If the Packers lose, the Lions could clinch with a win tomorrow.).

2. CIN-PIT
As long as both these teams win in Week 16, this will be a divisional championship game. Here's the reason: Even if BAL is 10-5 after this week, a CIN win in Week 17 would keep them ahead of BAL, since they're already a half game ahead, and a PIT win would at worst tie them with BAL, and PIT owns the tiebreaker over BAL since they split but PIT would have a better division record (4-2 over 3-3).
A CIN-PIT tie and BAL win in Week 17 would still hand the division to CIN. 10-4-2 is an equivalent record to 11-5, and CIN swept BAL.

3. CAR-ATL
This is a divisional championship game if both these teams win tomorrow. Even though the Saints would still be tied with ATL and only a half game behind CAR, a CAR win in Week 17 would keep them ahead of the Saints (since they're already a half game ahead), and an ATL win would at worst tie them with NO (and ATL would have swept NO in this scenario).
A CAR-ATL tie would tie CAR and NO at 6-8-2 and 7-9, and they split, but CAR would have a better division record of 3-2-1 over NO's 3-3.

Projected Week 17 Schedule based on Week 15 results

1:00
AFC South
NYJ-MIA
SD-KC
CHI-MIN
NFC South

4:25
AFC North
BUF-NE
OAK-DEN
NFC East
NFC West

8:30
DET-GB

I think that if the Cowboys clinch in Week 16, then the NFC East and South will switch (as long as the Saints don't clinch this week of course) (NFC East at 1:00 and NFC South at 4:25)

NFC #LETME Week 16

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

9. New York Giants at St. Louis Rams (3:05 CT, 4:05 ET, Fox: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin) Sunset at 4:42.
Maybe 13 or 14 years ago this would have been a #1 game. Rams 29, Giants 7

8. Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:21.
Why Fox's #1 team is doing this game is beyond me since Jimmy Clausen is being thrown to the Lions. Lions 40, Bears 9

7. Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale) Sunset at 5:26.
GB: 0-6 all-time at Buffalo. Aaron Rodgers: 0-2 all-time at Tampa Bay. Packers 26, Buccaneers 21

6. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (4:25 ET Saturday, NFL Network: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon) Sunset at 4:48.
While Game #5 is a more exciting game due to a closer matchup, I bet had NFL Network known weeks ago when they flexed these two Saturday games that San Francisco would be eliminated before Week 16, then this game would have been the night game instead. Eagles 27, Redskins 20

5. San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers (Saturday: 5:25 PT, 8;25 ET, CBS, NFL Network: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell) Sunset at 4:53.
Just a few weeks ago, this could have been a Super Bowl preview... Chargers 20, 49ers 17

4. Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta) Sunset at 5:14.
Matchup of the Heismans, just as we will see on January 1 (5 ET, ESPN) Panthers 17, Browns 9

3. Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver)
Finally we reach our first game on this list that features two playoff contenders. The Falcons have never swept the Saints since Drew Brees joined the team, and the Falcons won the Week 1 matchup the #lasttimetheymet Falcons 25, Saints 23

2. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (6:30 MT, 8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya) Sunset at 5:23.
The Cardinals can clinch the division, a first round bye, and homefield advantage through the Super Bowl with a win here! Seahawks 16, Cardinals 11

1. Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys (3:25 CT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson) Sunset at 5:23.
Skip Bayless calls AT&T Stadium a neutral site. Colts 37, Cowboys 34

AFC #LETME Week 16

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

7. Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (8:25 ET Thursday, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The worst primetime game of all time. Jaguars 17, Titans 10

6. New England Patriots at New York Jets (1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes at Solomon Wilcots) Sunset at 4:31.
At Foxborough, the Jets only lost on a missed FG. Patriots 38, Jets 3

5. Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
The Dolphins still have slim playoff hopes, but the Vikings last week were eliminated. Dolphins 24, Vikings 23

4. Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Tasker)
A commenter on the506.com said Baltimore at Houston should have been flexed to Fox due to Fox's weak slate. I think that Atlanta at New Orleans holds up Fox's slate and that it should have been the main game. Ravens 31, Texans 24

3. Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, CBS: Brian Anderson and Chris Simms) Sunset at 4:53.
Teams that beat the 49ers and Packers Bills 25, Raiders 23

2. Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 4:56.
Pittsburgh needs to win to guarantee keeping its AFC North hopes alive. Steelers 31, Chiefs 21

1. Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (8:30 ET Monday, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
The Monday Night Football season finale is a really good game. Broncos 45, Bengals 34

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Grizzlies: first team since 2000-01 Bucks (beat Jazz and Lakers) to beat the team with the best record in the NBA and the defending champion on back-to-back nights

First Take Live Blog December 17, 2014

11:58 Brian Cashman: I can't expect [A-Rod] to be anything.

11:50 Stephen A.: I would be far more worried were it Wiggins (like if it were LeBron), but because he's a good shooter like Melo, he'll be fine.

11:47 Topic 8: How will Jabari's injury affect his future?

11:42 Stephen A.: Woody Johnson has been a bane in the existence of the New York market for years.

11:40 Stephen A.: The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen, and the Jets are an accident that has already happened.

11:37 Topic 7: Did Woody Johnson accidentally favorite the tweet saying he should fire John Idzik?

11:30 Skip says Durant needs to learn to step back and play behind Westbrook.

11:27 Skip is reserving judgment due to their upcoming tough schedule. If you force him in this moment to say right now, he says OKC are the best team in the West.

11:24 Topic 6: OKC 9-1 in last 10 games but not in the playoff standings yet

11:23 First take on the road at Dallas January 5-13 (doors open 7:30 AM CT)

11:13 Stephen A.: The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen, and the fact that this DeMarco Murray issue is an issue at all, and that they're talking about it almost as a preemptive excuse for a potential loss, shows that they are too scared!

11:08 The Colts have only won two games against teams over .500, and so they will lose to the Cowboys.

11:05 Topic 5: How will Murray's injury affect his game?
Murray says he talked to Emmitt Smith about it.

10:59 Skip says when he's rooting against Peyton he wants him to be throwing the ball less not more!

10:54 Stephen A.: C.J. Anderson has been bad the past two games (less than 3 yards per carry). Unless something's wrong with Peyton, they wouldn't be running the ball this much.

10:52 Jeff Saturday says he thinks Peyton Manning is old and getting sick, but the building of the run game with C.J. Anderson is good for a potential AFC Championship rematch at New England.

10:50 Topic 4: What has happened to Peyton Manning? In the last 3 games, he has thrown for under 20 completions, only the 2nd time in his career for three straight games.

10:42 Skip says when Steph Curry's 3 is not going, they're going to lose, and so it's not a "exposed".
Nick Young: "I knew it was cash money."

10:39 Z-Bo will just lean on you for no reason, and it wears on you by the 4th quarter. Other teams can't do this. Only Spurs and MEM can beat Warriors under these current strategies of the "exposed"

10:38 MEM: 20-0 run to open 2nd quarter (Curry on bench)

10:37 "I thought I was your partner in crime."
"When it come to the NBA!"

10:36 Stephen A. is calling Andrew Bogut bogus, and says Bogut called him a wonker, and says he has been on a New Zealand radio show frequently.

10:34 Avery Johnson says yes, Tim Legler says that unless the personnel like Z-Bo is available for a Warrior opponent, the Warriors weren't exposed last night.

10:33 Topic 3: Did the Warriors get exposed last night?

Wow, that was a long A Block.

10:26 Wow, why is Skip making fun of Stephen A.'s accent?

10:25 After this draft, the Redskins have to decide whether to pick up the option on RGIII's contract after 2015 for $18,000,000.

10:23 Cari: I don't think Jay is equal opportunity blamer. There is something extremely dismissive when he talks about RGIII.
Stephen A.: I don't get that vibe, Cari. He's dismissive to everybody.

10:23 Stephen A.: "What is there for YOU to talk about off of a 3-13 season!"

10:22 Who are you doing favors by signing off social media with two weeks left!

10:21 Jon Gruden signed through 2021!

10:20 I agree with Stephen A. that Jay is not being prejudiced against RGIII on purpose. Jay admitted Colt stunk up the joint against Indianapolis.

10:16 Skip thinks RGIII is doing this to concede to Jay Gruden. He also thinks that when the sack went down with 1:24 left this past game, Jay Gruden should have called a timeout and was disrespecting RGIII.

10:15 RGIII is leaving social media.

10:11 Stephen A.: When Washington State battered Mariota and that's why they lost to Arizona, that's going to happen to Mariota everyday in the NFL.

10:09 Skip keeps correcting Stephen A.'s pronunciation of "Mario"-ta.

10:08 "He's got the Floyd Mayweather record."

10:08 The clutch factor does exist.

10:07 Marcus Mariota: 2-3 in games decided by less than 7 points
Jameis: undefeated

10:07 I agree with Skip that Oregon's being a 9-point favorite over Florida State is too much.

10:04 Stephen A. would take Jameis over Mariota

AFC #LETME Week 15

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (3:05 CT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, and Steve Beuerlein)
Chattanooga got switched from this game to PIT-ATL because its fans called into the station! Titans 14, Jets 13

7. Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens (1 ET, CBS: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta)
The Jags are fighting the Raiders for the first overall pick after the Raiders choked it away by beating the 49ers. Ravens 25, Jaguars 13

6. Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots)
Don't be surprised if you see the sweep. Raiders 17, Chiefs 14

5. Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (1 ET, CBS: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon)
HOU: 0-12 all-time at IND Texans 12, Colts 0

4. Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (1 ET, CBS: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Jenny Dell)
The Dolphins beat the Patriots in Week 1. Dolphins 21, Patriots 20

3. Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills (1 ET, Fox: Justin Kutcher, David Diehl, and Laura Okmin)
This was originally going to be shown to 61% of the country until Johnny Football Fever hit the nation. Bills 21, Packers 17

2. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (1 ET, Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, and Pam Oliver)
Manziel Mania! Browns 27, Bengals 26

1. Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (1:05 PT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
Jim, Phil, and Tracy are working a singleheader day for the first time this season! Chargers 23, Broncos 14

My Projected Week 17 schedule

All times Eastern.

1:00

CHI-MIN

AFC South

NFC South

NYJ-MIA

BUF-NE will be at 1:00 if the AFC East is still in contention with MIA still having a chance
SD-KC will be at 1:00 if the AFC West has already been won.

4:25

AFC North

NFC East

NFC West
OAK-DEN

BUF-NE will be at 4:25 if NE has already clinched division and is battling DEN for 1st seed
SD-KC will be at 4:25 if either SD or KC has a chance to win the division away from DEN

8:30

DET-GB

NFC #LETME Week 15

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. Washington Redskins at New York Giants (1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
Rare for a divisional rivalry game to be at the bottom of the barrel, especially this one. Giants 25, Redskins 0

7. New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (Monday: 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
Chicago's had 11 days to prepare Bears 11, Saints 8

6. Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons (1 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn)
Pittsburgh is the only AFC North team to have lost to an NFC South team this year (1-2). Steelers 28, Falcons 24

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Kristina Pink)
Derek Anderson is starting Panthers 20, Buccaneers 13

4. Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams (Thursday: 7:25 CT, 8:25 ET, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The Rams have already beaten both of their other divisional rivals this year Rams 34, Cardinals 17

3. Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (4:25 ET, Fox: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale)
The Vikings have not yet been eliminated! Lions 38, Vikings 35

2. San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 PT, 4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews)
19-3. Seahawks 19, 49ers 3

1. Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (8:30 ET, NBC: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya)
44-6. Eagles 44, Cowboys 6

First Take A Block Live Blog: December 8, 2014

10:23 It's all NFL the rest of the day. Peace

10:22 BRILES should be upset.

10:21 Skip is using Minnesota as a common opponent.
Stephen A.: Did you see that weather!

10:15 Skip: Did you watch TCU Iowa State?
Stephen A.: No, why would I watch that game? My rankings were Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, Baylor
Skip: What about Florida State?
Stephen A.: What do you mean what about 'em? They are the defending national champions, undefeated for two years, and haven't lost a game. How can you leave them out?
Skip: Oklahoma State, it went down the wire, Clemson, without Jameis, barely won at home, Notre Dame, controversial call. Miami, Boston College, I don't know how they won those games. Florida, some random interception the other way. TCU would beat them.
Stephen A.: Florida State would win. TCU lost up 21 points in the 4th!
Skip: That's the point. They were the better team, but Bryce Petty just got hot at home.
Stephen A. Baylor stopped you! You had four possessions in the fourth quarter and didn't score! That's not Bryce Petty!

10:14 Last week, you said on national TV if Ohio State rocks with a thirdstring quarterback Wisconsin, you will reconsider. Hypocrite.

10:11 Stephen A.: I'm stepping back before saying this. I don't care two cents about what Mr. Bowlsby has to say. He is on the record in August as saying, "we will defer to our tiebreaker if there is a tie. Head-to-head" and recently said he MISSPOKE. Hypocrite.

10:11 Don't throw ESPN into this equation!

10:10 Ignore the SEC East! You're a hypocrite!

10:09 Stephen A.: NUMBER ONE It was less than two weeks ago you said three or four teams from the SEC should be in. Hypocrite.

10:07 Skip: SWC to WAC to Conference USA to Big East to 10-team Big 12. No one knows who they are, and that's why they didn't get in.

10:06 Skip: The BCS computers still have TCU ranked fourth.

10:05 Skip: TCU got all-time rocked, burned, ....(he is at a loss for words)
Skip: I'm going to run you into the rug on this one.
Stephen A.: (laughing)
Skip: This is all about sex appeal and TV ratings.

10:04 Skip: ESPN's FPI on Friday said Big 12, SEC, Pac-12, Big 10, ACC

10:03 Cari: Did the committee get a break with Ohio State's blowout win on Saturday night?

10:01 Okay College Football Playoff. I was wrong on the A Block topic.

10:01 Stephen A. is claiming he's a prophet due to his "correctness" in feeling what was going down with the Playoff.

10:00 the open is back to normal

Prediction of A Block Topic: Seahawks at Eagles

NFC #LETME Week 14

Least Exciting To Most Exciting.

8. New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings (noon CT, 1 ET, CBS: Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots)
Both the New York teams are playing at the same time, a rarity. Vikings 34, Jets 17

7. St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins (1 ET, Fox: Sam Rosen, Kirk Morrison, and Kristina Pink) Sunset at 4:45.
This is the only other game on the NFC slate this week that is not between two playoff contenders. Rams 39, Redskins 36

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (1 ET, Fox: Dick Stockton, Brady Quinn, and Charissa Thompson) Sunset at 4:59.
The Lions control their own destiny to win the NFC North. Lions 41, Buccaneers 9

5. Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (noon CT, 1 ET, Fox: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
Nothing close to the epic Panthers/Saints games of Week 14 and 16 a year ago for the division. Panthers 17, Saints 12

4. Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers (Monday: 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, ESPN: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters)
Monday night games are frequently closer than they're "supposed" to be Packers 38, Falcons 34

3. Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears (Thursday: 7:25 CT, 8:25 ET, NFL Network: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson)
The Cowboys already have their allotted 8 wins. Bears 23, Cowboys 20

2. Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals (2:05 MT, 4:05 ET, CBS: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Evan Washburn) Sunset at 5:20.
Can the Cardinals bounce back, or are they doomed to losing out because of their quarterback? Cardinals 14, Chiefs 7

1. Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 ET, Fox: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Erin Andrews) Sunset at 4:35.
Both coming off 10 day rests and massive Thanksgiving blowouts, Eagles 41, Seahawks 34

STATS OF THE WEEK: NFL Week 13

• This was the first time all 3 Thanksgiving games were divisional rivalries.
• Cowboys/Eagles and Seahawks/49ers not only met on Thanksgiving but also in Week 15, both meetings just 17 days later.
• Cowboys/Bears meet this week on Thursday, meaning that for once a Thursday game is not a short week for either team, as both played on Thanksgiving and had a full 7-day week.
• Rodgers: 1-0 all-time against Brady
• The Dolphins were closer to beating the Packers than the Patriots were, losing only due to Aaron Rodgers's fake spike play, whereas the Patriots were behind the whole time.
• This was only the 2nd time in the last 50 times they were down on the road in the 4th quarter that the Dolphins came back to win the game.
• Ryan Tannehill has now had 5 straight games with his completion percentage above 70%, something Drew Brees, Dan Marino, Steve Young, and Tom Brady have never done.

The most controversial scenario possible

If Arizona, Baylor, and TCU win, and exactly one of Alabama, Ohio State, and Florida State loses, then the three teams guaranteed to be in would be the two who didn't lose of those three, and one Big 12 team. Who should get the fourth spot? A second Big 12 team (one-loss) or Arizona (two losses but beat Oregon twice)? The committee has shown great willingness to rank one-loss teams above undefeated Florida State but not once has ranked a one-loss team below a two-loss team (amongst the Power Five conferences).

First Take A Block Live Blog December 1, 2014

10:17 Stephen A.: The only team that can beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field in the playoffs is the Dallas Cowboys.

10:17 I agree with Skip that Green Bay does very poorly on the road and needs to have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to make the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl year was a fluke of road brilliance.

10:16 The only play Darrelle Revis made a mistake on doesn't matter. He lost.

10:15 I can agree with Skip that the Jordy slant route crossing route play was the play that in many ways was the play of the game.

10:14 Stephen A.: no

10:13 Skip: Belichick complimenting coach and quarterback was trying to butter them up for the potential Super Bowl rematch that we're going to talk about later.

10:12 Stephen A.: New England's defense held up in the red zone. They didn't play poorly.

10:11 Stephen A.: I don't view it that way Skip Bayless. In this game, you could not have afforded not to respect your opponent.

10:11 Skip: Too often, Belichick played not to lose instead of going for the jugular.

10:10 On the 3rd and 4 play, "Aaron Rodgers had enough to call Olivia Munn and make postgame plans."

10:10 Skip doesn't know Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix's name. Apparently neither does Stephen A.

10:09 Skip is saying Belichick should have challenged the Gronk non-TD with 3:31 left.

10:08 Skip: Chandler Jones's being unable to play is the reason they lost.

10:08 Tom Brady: 4 for 12 on 3rd downs

10:07 Stephen A.: Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL.
Skip: Congratulations to the Packers for beating the best quarterback in the NFL,

10:05 Stephen A. is just ranting about that baaaaaaaaaaad man.

10:03 Stephen A.: We learned that Green Bay's defense has the ability to step up.
Here's my question: Could they do it outside Lambeau?

Prediction of A Block topic: New England at Green Bay