Because the NFL will get nearer to the playoffs, a brand new function showing in these Video games of the Week posts shall be ‘clinching’ or ‘elimination’ eventualities.
With the playoffs coming nearer and nearer, it is vital to know the place these groups stand.
The Giants journey to Minnesota after drastically enhancing their possibilities final week in opposition to Washington.
Regardless of pre-season predictions of a troublesome struggle within the AFC West, the Chiefs are nonetheless on high
In the meantime, that very same Commanders crew is caught in survival mode in opposition to a strong 49ers crew.
After throwing away their finest likelihood at a playoff boosting win, the Patriots now have to beat the Bengals.
Kansas Metropolis seems to coast to a win in opposition to a Seattle crew on the skin wanting in. It results in the Sport of the Week that includes the highest two groups within the NFC East.
Welcome to Week 16 of the NFL season. Listed here are the Dailymail.com picks for video games to keep watch over…
Sport 1: New York Giants (8-5-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
- Saturday at 1:00pm ET (CBS) / U.S. Financial institution Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
After tying the Washington Commanders a number of weeks in the past, the New York Giants made certain they took management of their very own future by beating them this Sunday.
It had been 5 video games because the Giants had final final gained a sport – beating the Texans manner again in mid-November. A loss would have dropped their odds of constructing the playoffs all the way down to 27 p.c. As a substitute, that victory provides the Giants a 92 p.c likelihood to leap into the Wild Card race in line with the New York Instances.
The victory was not a fairly one, however ugly wins nonetheless depend as wins – particularly now. New York has three video games left on their schedule: on the Vikings, residence in opposition to the Colts, and on the Eagles. With three video games left – and a crowd of groups behind them dealing with equally powerful video games – their place proper now is an efficient one to be in.
The Giants win will allow them to sleep simpler as they get set to play Minnesota this weekend
As for the Vikings, they do not have to fret about their place. They’ve already locked up their first NFC North division title since 2017. After these Giants they play the struggling Packers and an already eradicated Bears crew to shut out the common season.
Even in occasions the place they’ve appeared flat footed, their offense has sparkled. On non-primetime video games Kirk Cousins has appeared phenomenal. WR Justin Jefferson is by far the very best broad receiver within the league, main in complete yards and common yards per sport.
What’s left for them is the struggle for the highest spot within the NFC – incomes them residence area benefit by means of out the playoffs in addition to a bye.
That is attainable – contemplating the information surrounding the Eagles quarterback (extra on that later) – though it appears not possible. But when Kirk Cousins & co. can seize a victory right here at residence, they’ll put up nearly as good of a struggle as any of their convention.
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is lapping the league’s cross catchers in yards this season
Sport 2: Seattle Seahawks (7-7) @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (11-3)
- Saturday @ 1:00pm ET (FOX) / Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas Metropolis, MO
After scrolling by means of Twitter on Sunday, I learn somebody’s put up that stated one thing to the impact of ‘The Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders spent all that cash on expertise simply so the Chiefs may clinch the AFC West by Christmas as a substitute of Thanksgiving’.
It is actually exceptional how shortly that division went from being considered as what may very well be ‘the closest within the NFL’ to being the largest letdown within the league.
Kansas Metropolis’s protection has proven some critical weaknesses, however their offense has proved that they’ll survive any shootouts they arrive throughout – until they play the Payments, Bengals, or the Colts (one way or the other).
Even within the midst of a exceptional comeback season, Geno Smith may miss the playoffs
They’ve simply wrapped up the division title and will find yourself transferring as much as high of the AFC if the Payments slip up.
The identical couldn’t be stated for the Chiefs’ opponents this weekend as Seattle sit on the skin wanting into the final Wild Card spot within the NFC. The Seahawks have slumped – shedding 4 of their final 5, together with losses to struggling groups just like the Panthers and Raiders.
Plenty of that blame falls on their protection, which stays battered. 12 members of the protection are on the harm record in some capability – with seven of these gamers on injured reserve. In all of their losses, the protection has given up not less than 325 yards – together with giving up 576 yards to the Raiders.
Nonetheless, in every of these losses, Seahawks QB Geno Smith has been the higher sign caller by yards – having tossed eight touchdowns throughout these 4 video games.
Whereas the Seattle protection will most likely let the offense down, if they’ll discover some technique to get issues collectively, Smith and the Seahawks offense will probably do properly sufficient to place factors on the board.
Whereas the protection is letting him down, Smith has been placing up profession excessive numbers
Sport 3: Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) @ New England Patriots (7-7)
- Saturday @ 1:00 pm ET (CBS) / Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
One in every of these groups put up an enormous comeback to win their sport in opposition to the best to ever do it. One other blew their likelihood to go to time beyond regulation with a miraculous blunder.
The Patriots had been one play away from sending issues to time beyond regulation in Las Vegas in opposition to the Raiders. A win would’ve helped them preserve their spot in seventh place within the AFC Playoff hunt.
As a substitute, a run from Rhamondre Stevenson noticed the working again pitch it to receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers then took that lateral, ran backwards an inexplicably selected to toss it over to Mac Jones – who was 20 yards behind him.
It was a poor alternative that led to Raiders DE Chandler Jones choosing up the ball and working to the top zone to win the sport. As a substitute of taking a knee and taking part in for time beyond regulation, the Patriots dropped to 7-7, permitting the Chargers to leap them right into a present spot within the playoffs.
Cincinnati is in pole place within the AFC North whereas the Patriots wrestle within the AFC East
Rather a lot can change between from time to time, and possibly the Patriots can take their anemic offense and do one thing with it in opposition to a Bengals crew that compelled 4 turnovers in opposition to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Though Cincinnati’s protection allowed 397 yards on the day, their skill to takeaway the ball by way of interceptions and fumbles allowed their offense the prospect to attain 34 unanswered factors by means of the third and fourth quarters. QB Joe Burrow seems as assured as ever within the pocket, throwing 4 touchdowns on the day – with three of these coming instantly off turnovers.
For New England to win, they will want every part to go proper on protection to sluggish Burrow down – and statistics say that’s attainable. The Patriots are third within the league in sacks, sixth in complete protection, and ninth in cross protection.
Nonetheless, they will really want their offense to seek out some manufacturing. Stevenson has proven he is succesful, however poor play calling has led to paltry passing sport numbers and has prompted many in New England to surprise how for much longer the Mac Jones experiment or the Matt Patricia experiment (or each) can final.
Meyers’ poor resolution making noticed Chandler Jones pummel Mac Jones by means of the grime
Past that, their hopes for making the playoffs look extra grim than ever. That loss to the Raiders dropped New England’s possibilities of making a postseason look dropped from 42 p.c to 27 p.c in line with the New York Instances.
A loss to the Bengals in a vacuum (a.ok.a. with out every other outcomes factoring in) drops their possibilities to roughly 14 p.c dealing with powerful video games at residence in opposition to Miami, then away in opposition to Buffalo. Victory just isn’t assured in both of these video games – but if New England wins each of these in a vacuum, they’ve a 65 p.c likelihood of constructing the Wild Card.
Briefly, the Patriots can win two of their final three video games and sure make the playoffs. They can not lose all three. Seeing as that is comparatively one of many two simpler ones, it calls for that New England get their act collectively.
Sport 4: Washington Commanders (7-6-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Saturday @ 4:25pm ET (NBC) / Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Washington’s odds of stepping into the playoffs are presently at a coin flip. With Monday evening’s win for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the Commanders have a 48% likelihood of getting in by means of the Wild Card.
They can not be eradicated, however their odds drop to 30 p.c in the event that they lose to San Francisco. Their odds can drop as little as 14 p.c if sure groups win.
All that is to say: a win away to San Francisco is crucial if the Commanders wish to preserve their hopes of constructing the playoffs alive. However that is not a straightforward ask – even with the 49ers working with a 3rd string QB.
Washington must discover a technique to win out – if they need the very best likelihood at making the playoffs
Washington’s offense appeared hopeless in primetime on Sunday – regardless of placing up virtually 100 extra yards than the Giants. However over the course of 10 drives, they burned almost half-hour of sport time simply to punt 4 occasions and fumble twice.
Issues will not get simpler for them this week after they journey to San Francisco to tackle the 49ers and the league’s finest protection.
Add to that proven fact that Washington’s protection remains to be banged up themselves – dealing with a resurgent Christian McCaffrey – and you do not like the possibilities for the Commanders.
And but, they nonetheless want this win – and the necessity for wins typically brings out the very best in groups. Seeing as Washington wants two wins in a vacuum and so they play Dallas to shut out the season, they will want this win to remain heading in the right direction.
The 49ers protection is the strongest within the league – making the Commanders job a lot more durable
Sport of the Week: Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
- Saturday @ 4:25pm ET (FOX) / AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Contemplating all the groups above combating for his or her survival, you might surprise why is that this the Sport of the Week when each groups are locked into playoff spots. Merely put, these two groups hate one another – however extra importantly, they’re each displaying some indicators of weak point.
The Eagles come into this sport as the highest crew within the league – with solely a single loss to their identify. Final week, they dominated the bottom sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears – with QB Jalen Hurts taking huge hits however scoring three touchdowns and grabbing 376 complete yards.
However then, the precise toll of these hits was revealed when it was introduced Hurts had a shoulder sprain. He did not apply on Wednesday and his standing for Saturday’s sport is formally questionable.
If Hurts cannot run, former Jacksonville Jaguars starter Gardner Minshew is second on the depth chart, with second-year Notre Dame product Ian Guide behind him.
With Jalen Hurts probably out and the Cowboys protection reeling from a collapse, this sport is nearer than what beforehand predicted as the 2 high groups within the NFC East face off
Usually, the prospect of staring down the Cowboys protection is not one which fills you with hope. Nonetheless, one take a look at the best way Dallas performed Jacksonville could calm the nerves of Eagles followers.
After Brett Maher’s area objective put the Cowboys up 27-10 with 5:21 remaining within the third quarter, the Jaguars outscored Dallas 24-7 for the remainder of the sport to drive time beyond regulation.
There, after Jacksonville punted on their first possession, they had been capable of win the sport due to a pick-six off Dak Prescott due to security Rayshawn Jenkins. It was a serious error for Prescott, who has been shaky the final 4 video games having thrown a mixed seven interceptions.
With that lack of consistency, a win for the Eagles – even with a backup quarterback – is not out of the query. In the event that they win, they will clinch the division and have a transparent path to the no. 1 total seed. If Dallas can discover a technique to get issues collectively, this upset will assist this crew push ahead and safe a house sport within the Wild Card spherical.
Rayshawn Jenkins (2) put the cap on a surprising comeback victory over Dak Prescott & Dallas
