NFL Week 16 Preview

Two weeks remain in the 2010-2011 NFL regular season, and while some teams spend the final two games preparing for the postseason, numerous clubs jockey for a spot in the NFL’s final 12.

Six teams in the AFC appear to possess solid playoff footing. The New England Patriots are surefire winners in the AFC East, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the current AFC North leader, have also clinched a postseason bid. The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, both at 10-4, are one win away from a Wild Card playoff berth. The Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, the present leaders of the AFC South and AFC West divisions respectively, both control their own playoff destiny. In the next two weeks, both teams play Tennessee and Oakland once, which are certainly winnable contests.

In the NFC, on the other hand, the playoff picture is much more cloudy. The Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles are both in firm control of their divisions and should secure the conference’s two first-round byes. With a win on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears clinched the NFC North title as well, but will likely have to run the table against the Jets and Packers to earn a bye. Elsewhere, seven teams are competing for three playoff spots.

Let’s look at each of these seven teams and examine the probability that they’re playoff bound.

New Orleans Saints (10-4)

The Saints had all but wrapped up a postseason berth, but a loss to the Ravens this past Sunday slowed their ambitions. With a road bout with the Falcons looming, the Saints are still likely to be playoff bound, but it may require a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Superdome in Week 17.

New York Giants (9-5)

The Giants blew any hopes of winning the NFC East on Sunday when the team squandered a 21-point fourth quarter lead to lose to the Eagles as time expired. Now the team must focus its sights on a Wild Card berth. If the Giants win their final two games, which are both on the road against the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, they will finish at 11-5 and earn a playoff bid. If not, the Giants will need help to get in.

Essentially for the Giants, it comes down to this Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. If the Giants can establish the run against a vulnerable rushing defense with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, they will have a great opportunity to emerge victorious. If they do so, a game against the Red Grossman-led Redskins is less than ominous.

Green Bay Packers (8-6)

After a four-game win streak, the Packers have lost three of the team’s last four games. Yet with a Buccaneers and Giants loss Sunday, the team controls its own destiny in the final two weeks. If the Packers can win at home against the Giants and Bears, they will earn a Wild Card berth.

The health of Aaron Rodgers will obviously impact the team’s success down the stretch, but Matt Flynn proved to be more than serviceable Sunday night against the Patriots in Foxboro. Regardless of who is leading the offense, if the Packers defense can continue to perform as the league’s top-ranked unit in terms of points allowed, the team will always have a chance. All Packers fans can hope for is minuscule winds at Lambeau Field the next two weeks, which could derail the team’s passing attack.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

The Buccaneers, a team that has yet to beat a club with a winning record, lost its first game to an opponent with a losing record Sunday, falling to the Detroit Lions in overtime. With the loss, the Buccaneers will need to win their final two games—a home contest with Seattle and at the Saints—and hope for the Giants and Packers to falter. Even if New York or Green Bay loses, the Buccaneers have no easy win traveling to New Orleans in Week 17. All the Bucs can hope for is that the Saints have wrapped up a Wild Card berth and have nothing to play for.

Saint Louis Rams (6-8)

Only in this year’s NFC West could such mediocrity be reawarded. Unfortunately, one of the division’s three teams, who may very well finish with a 7-9 record, will enjoy the opportunity to host a playoff game. The Rams currently lead the division based on a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks, a team the Rams beat earlier in the season at the Edward Jones Dome.

In the final two weeks, the Rams host the San Francisco 49ers and travel to Seattle. If the Rams win these two games, they will clinch the division title. If the Rams lose to the 49ers, they can only hope for a win over the Seahawks and a 49ers loss to the Arizona Cardinals the following week. In this scenario, the Rams will clinch based on a 2-0 head-to-head record against Seattle. If the Rams win this week but lose in Seattle, the Seahawks will win the division, regardless of the outcome of the team’s battle with Tampa Bay, based on a better division record.

Seattle Seahawks (6-8)

Like the Rams, the Seahawks control their own destiny in the NFC West. If head coach Pete Carroll’s club wins their remaining two games, they will host a playoff game at Qwest Field in three weeks. Even if the Seahawks lose in Tampa Bay this upcoming Sunday, Seattle will advance to the postseason if they beat the Rams in Week 17 and the 49ers lose one of their final two games.

San Francisco 49ers (5-9)

The 49ers have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, and the team has not possessed a consistent starting quarterback all year. Head coach Mike Singletary is figured to be on the hot seat, yet the team is clearly in the playoff hunt.

If the 49ers win their final two games and Seattle loses to either Tampa Bay or St. Louis, San Francisco will earn a playoff berth. However, if the 49ers lose either of their two final games the team is eliminated from the playoff picture because Saint Louis or Seattle has to finish at least 7-9, considering the fact that the two teams still play each other in Week 17.

The picture may be muddy, but it should ensure a fun two weeks for football fans everywhere.