Week 17 is just two evenings away. We will know by Monday morning who has made the playoffs and who has not. Four teams have booked their place in the playoffs in the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There are three places left up for grabs in the NFC playoff picture entering week 17.
Washington, Dallas Or The Giants clinch division in week 17?
The NFC East champion has not yet been decided and the winner of the division will take their place as the fourth seed.
The Washington Football Team and Dallas Cowboys are both on six wins and if one of those two teams win, they will take their place as the division winners.
The Washington Football Team play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
This game follows the Dallas Cowboys’ game against the New York Giants.
If the Washington Football Team beat the Eagles, they win the division no matter what happens between the Cowboys and Giants earlier in the day.
However, if Washington lose to the Eagles, then the winner of the Cowboys Giants game will take home the NFC East crown.
Washington had the chance to win the division in week 16, but lost 20-13 to the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins struggled and was benched during the game for Taylor Heinicke. He was released this week. Can Heinicke get the job done against the Eagles?
Philadelphia’s rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts has impressed since replacing Carson Wentz. He will give the Washington defensive line a tough time through his mobility. His arm will also be a danger for the Washington secondary.
Philly have no chances of making the playoffs and will play with no fear, which can often trip teams up in the final weeks.
Dallas have won four games in a row, with Andy Dalton’s move in free agency seemingly one of the smarter acquisitions this offseason.
They are in the best form out of the four teams in the NFC East.
I predict that they are going to be the team to make the playoffs.
The Giants are too inconsistent and I have more faith in Andy Dalton than I do Daniel Jones. Washington quarterback Alex Smith may not play due to injuy and although Heinicke looks capable in the Panthers loss, he is too inexperienced in the NFL for such a big game.
Can The Chicago Bears Defy The Odds in Week 17?
The Chicago Bears went 5-1 but did so unconvincingly.
They then lost 6 games straight and their season appeared over. Three wins in a row has Bears fans dreaming.
Mitchell Trubisky has thrown for six touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the last three games. He has a chance to resurrect his Bears career but has a really tough task against the Green Bay Packers in week 17. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the current MVP favourite and the Packers travel to Soldier Field looking to lock down the number one seed in the NFC.
Green Bay will not back down in their hunt for the first round bye.
The Rams will hope for a Chicago loss, as this will guarantee playoff football, no matter whether they win or lose against the Cardinals.
Arizona need to win against Los Angeles and hope the Packers beat Chicago.
I cannot see the Bears beating the Packers. Chicago’s defensive line and running back David Montgomery is their chance to win this game. Offensive lineman David Bakhtiari is out for the rest of the season and the Packers’ run defense has it’s flaws. Montgomery has ran for the fifth most yards this season.
However, the Packers offense will be too strong. Despite Trubisky’s good past three games, his opponents in these games have a combined record of 11-34. He has not faced an opponent like Green Bay and week 17 will be a very different outcome.
Week 17 Rams Vs Cardinals: Can Both Teams Make The Playoffs?
This leaves Chicago needing a favour from the Los Angeles Rams and their backup quarterback John Wolford. Usual starter Jared Goff is out with a thumb injury, which will give hope to their opponents. The Arizona Cardinals travel to Los Angeles in week 17 currently out of the playoff picture as the eighth seed. They share the same amount of wins as the seventh seed Bears.
The Rams have been one of the more enigmatic teams this season and they are really hard to judge. The Cardinals have also struggled to stay consistent and have not won more than three games in a row this season.
Both teams have game-changers that can win them any game on their day. The Rams have head coach Sean McVay, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and linebacker Leonard Floyd. The Cardinals have quarterback Kyler Murray, linebacker Haason Reddick and safety Budda Baker.
With a backup QB, I think the Rams will lose to the Cardinals and the Bears will lose to the Packers. This means the Bears will be the team to miss out.
This would leave the NFC seeding after Week 17 as follows.
- Packers
- Saints
- Seahawks
- Cowboys
- Buccaneers
- Cardinals
- Rams
- Bears
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