New Year’s Day is just around the corner and with it the NFL crunch for the playoffs is at its peak. Both the Jets and Giants are in the thick of things when it comes to the wild card races, and thanks in major part to the NFL’s expansion of its regular season schedule to 17 games, the fury over who gets in and who gets locked out is all the more compelling.
Let’s break it down!!!
Giants Just Need to Win
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 24: Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the New York Giants takes the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
At 8-6-1 on the year, the Giants have a very simple way of clinching their first playoff berth since 2016: win. And not just win, but win against the lowly Indianapolis Colts who come limping into the game at 4-10-1. The Colts are a total mess. Not only do they not have an identity on either side of the ball, but interim Head Coach Jeff Saturday has proven to be unfit for the full time job. The Giants can ill afford a letdown game now. Not at home in the final home game of the year. Win and the G-Men are in.
Lose? Well, then things get dicey with a trip to Philadelphia in Week 18.
Jets Must Win Out and Get Help
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 11: Mike White #5 throws a pass to Zonovan Knight #27 of the New York Jets in the third quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
The Jets are in a real pickle. Thanks to the struggles of Zach Wilson and the team in general down the stretch, Gang Green went from a likely playoff contender to likely out of the mix when its all said and done. As it stands, the Jets have only an 11 percent chance of making the playoffs.
Mike White returns this week for Gang Green when they head to Seattle to face old buddy Geno Smith and the Seahawks. The Jets must win their final two games (at Seattle and at Miami) and hope that the New England Patriots lose one game. The Patriots hold a tie breaker over the heads having swept Gang Green this year. Ironically those two losses came with Zach Wilson under center.
AFC's Number 1 Seed is Up for Grabs
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 16: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 at Arrowhead Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
The top seed in the AFC is up for grabs. Currently the Buffalo Bills (12-3) hold a head-to-head advantage over Kansas City (12-3) due to a victory Buffalo had against the Chiefs in early October. Things will get interesting down the stretch, because not only are the Bills and Chiefs in this race, the Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) are right there with both of them.
The Bills and Bengals face one another next Monday night, January 2, and that game could go a long way in determining the top seed. If Buffalo wins, forget about it. The number 1 seed is locked up. That could affect the Patriots, Jets and Dolphins (more on that in a minute).
If the Bengals win over Buffalo, that creates a huge cluster atop the AFC, assuming the Chiefs also beat the Broncos on Sunday. We could then be looking at three teams at 12-4 with the Bengals having head-to-head odds over both Kansas City and Buffalo. We will also be looking at a situation where all three teams will want to play to win in Week 18 just in case someone should slip up. In short, a Bengals win over the Bills on Monday night will create league-wide chaos.
The Patriots and Dolphins Paths are Muddied at Best
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 25: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins recovers a fumble during the first quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Dolphins are big trouble. Not only have they lost four in a row, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is out again with a concussion. It will be up to Teddy Bridgewater to guide the Dolphins in the final two games against the Patriots and Jets. They have to win both or hope the jets lose to Seattle in order to make their road easier.The Patriots are also in trouble, having lost three-of-four to stand at 7-8 on the season. The Patriots must win their last two games in order to get into the playoffs. They already own a tie-breaker against Gang Green.
Basically the winner of this game will have the inside track to the seventh seed.
AFC South Will Be Decided Week 18
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 11: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a pass during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jaguars defeated the Titans. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 36-22. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
No matter what happens in Week 17, the match-up between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans in Week 18 will determine who wins this division. The Titans are limping to the finish line. Front office turbulence, plus injuries have wrecked their season.
The Jaguars on the other hand are red hot, have won three in a row, and Trevor Lawrence continues to turn the corner as a franchise quarterback. The Jags right now have the inside track.
NFC South will be Determined this Weekend
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gives a thumbs-up during warmups before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Carolina visits Tampa Bay this weekend. The winner has the inside track at the NFC South. It is hard to bet against Tom Brady, even if he is at the end of his career, and the Bucs just aren’t that good overall.
Imagine, however, if Carolina beats Tampa this weekend. Yup, Jets fans that would mean ex-Jet Sam Darnold has a chance to lead the Panthers to the playoffs. Keep smiling. Keep smiling.
NFC 7th Seed is wide open
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 28: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 24-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The final spot in the NFC playoff picture is wide open. Washington (7-7-1); Detroit (7-8); Green Bay (7-8), and Seattle (7-8) are all vying for the final spot. Seattle would own tie breakers over Detroit and Green Bay. Ironically, if Green Bay sweeps their final two games and gets help with Seattle and Washington losing, the Packers could take the last spot.
