This weekend is sure to be full of playoff implications, whether it's the Carolina all but securing the division with a win, or the Packers fighting for their season. Here, we will be going through some of the most important games and what they mean for the playoffs.
Miami Dolphins Vs. New England Patriots I 1:00 on CBS
The battle for second place in the AFC East division is coming to a head these upcoming weeks. This starts with the two of them battling it out on Sunday. Currently, all three other teams in the East besides the Bills (who already have clinched the division) are in the hunt for a wild card spot. This game is pivotal for both teams as Miami can clinch with a win and a Jets loss. With the Dolphins going cold nearing the end of the season as well as quarterback Tua Tagovialoa sidelined with a concussion, the odds are stacked against Miami. But saying this, the Patriots have dropped two straight as well to the Raiders and Bengals. Seeing the Patriots being 2.5-point favorites shows how close this game can be with the first-year head coach McDaniel and the all-time great Belichick.
Carolina Panthers Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers I 1:00 on FOX
The disaster that has been the NFC South this season will all but come to an end this weekend, with whoever wins becoming the leader of the division. In Carolina, Sam Darnold has shown signs of being a starting quarterback during their recent hot streak. On the other side in Tampa, Tom Brady has shown some flashes of the all-time great he's been for ages. Tampa is the 4-point favorite on Sunday, but we can assume that the Panthers will make it difficult for them knowing how close they are to making it to the playoffs.
New York Jets Vs. Seattle Seahawks I 4:05 on FOX
This matchup is very important for the two teams competing, for they are each fighting for their seasons in their respective conference. Both teams started the season off very strong, a surprise to most fans. However, the Jets' expectations dropped significantly once rookie star Breece Hall went down with an ACL tear. Seattle was expected to be one of the bottom teams in the league, but with a mix of QB Geno Smith breaking out late in his career and rookies RB Kenneth Walker III and CB Tariq Woolen making big plays, they established themselves as a legitimate team this season. However, the Seahawks haven't played like themselves recently, with some saying that Geno is playing more like how we expected him to. Due to this, the Jets are 1.5-point favorites on Sunday, which is likely accurate to how this game will play out since both teams are fighting for a playoff spot with a chip on their shoulders.
Minnesota Vikings Vs. Green Bay Packers I 4:25 on CBS
A battle of pride, this game's motive. With the importance of the game for the Packers, Week 1 results, and the trash talk will make this game a must-watch. The obvious factor here is that the Packers still have a chance at the playoffs if they win out their season, starting with a massive win against their division rival, the Vikings. On the flip side, a win for Minnesota means they can help propel themselves to a shot at the 1 seed in the NFC with a loss from the Eagles. The Green Bay star cornerback Jaire Alexander recently said how Justin Jefferson's week one performance was "a fluke". I'm sure Jaire is hoping GB Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry will leave him with more 1 on 1 opportunities against Jefferson than in week one. Minnesota is favored by 1.5 points.
Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Baltimore Ravens I 8:15 on NBC
There is nothing better than seeing two AFC North teams go head to head on Sunday Night Primetime, especially the Ravens and Steelers. No matter what the records say this will be a blood bath. With Lamar missing yet another game with a PCL sprain this game remains wide open and up for grabs. Even with the star Ravens quarterback being out they are still favored by 2 points. This is showing the faith in the Baltimore defense as well as the lack of experience on the offensive side of the ball for Pittsburg. Quarterback Kenny Pickett has had his ups and downs in the season but this is his time to really prove himself on primetime, as well as playing in such a storied rivalry game.
Buffalo Bills Vs. Cincinnati Bengals I 8:15 on ESPN
The Monday night matchup is likely the most important game this week when it comes to the AFC playoff picture. Buffalo clinches the top seed if they win and Kansas City loses one of their last two games, and Cincinnati will have to play for the division vs. the Ravens next week with a loss. The Bengals probably feel they need to prove themselves against one of the best teams in the league to establish themselves as the threat they were in last season's Super Bowl run. The 1.5-point favorites in Buffalo also have a lot to prove, since they have been in the mix for a few seasons at this point and have just not been able to get the job done yet. This primetime matchup not only means a lot for the two teams playing but for the other teams in the AFC playoffs. For example, the Chiefs need Cincy to win if they want a shot at the top seed and a first-round bye. Overall, if this game even slightly lives up to its expectations, it will be a matchup to remember.
Comments