New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Win and in for the Cleveland Browns, who are enjoying a late-season surge under veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. Cleveland has the inside track on the No. 5 seed, which would likely mean a date against the AFC South winner.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
The Bills are all but assured of a wild-card spot with a win over the Pats, but they have their sights set on the division. They need to defeat the Pats and hope for the Miami Dolphins to lose to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday to have a chance. Then, if Buffalo beats Miami at home, the Bills will have their fourth division title in as many years.
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears
If the Bears lose, their season is over. If they win, the Bears need a victory next Sunday and a lot of help. If the Falcons lose, their season is on life support. Atlanta can also get into the postseason through the NFC South but need the Bucs, who are a game ahead, to lose.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts
These two games go hand-in-hand. The Texans and Colts are in the AFC Wild Card and AFC South races. Wins keep them alive in both. If either team loses and the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the 2-13 Carolina Panthers, then they will be eliminated from the division race.
The Raiders also stayed alive in the playoff race but need two wins and a lot of help.
Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
The Rams will stay in the wild-card driver's seat with a win over the Giants, who showed some fight against the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas but ultimately lost.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints' hopes for the NFC South stay alive with a win and die with a loss. A defeat will crush their wild-card hopes too. But a victory makes things very interesting going into Week 18 for the division and wild-card races. As for the Bucs, they control their own destiny here. Win, and the NFC South is theirs.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks
The Steelers need this game more than the Seahawks, with them currently outside the playoffs because of tiebreakers. A loss will significantly damage Pittsburgh's hopes, but a win keeps them alive for one more week. Meanwhile, Seattle stays in front of the pack with a win. A loss will drag them down a game and into a tie with at least one 8-8 team with one week left.
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
The Broncos need a win and a lot of help to stay in the playoff race. Ultimately, and realistically, the Christmas Eve loss to the Pats has all but ended hopes.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
The Bengals took a huge blow in their playoff hopes with a bad loss to the Steelers, but they can bring them back to life with a road win over the reeling Chiefs.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
This is essentially an elimination game, with the winner staying alive and the loser all but out. By the time this game is played, that might actually be the case depending on how the day's results go.
