DJBC Sports Corner

NFL Week 17
This is it, as Kenny Loggins and Bugs Bunny both proclaimed. 16 weeks and 240 games of NFL football have come to do-or-die time for several NFL teams.

Here is the current playoff picture.
AFC
1) New England Patriots (13-2)- CLINCHED AFC East, First-Round Bye, and Home-Field Advantage
2) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)- better division record than Baltimore; CLINCHES AFC North + 1st Round Bye with WIN or BALT loss
3) Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)- CLINCHED AFC West
4) Indianapolis Colts (9-6)- IN with WIN or JAC loss
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5) Baltimore Ravens (11-4)- CLINCHED Playoff Berth; CLINCHES AFC North with WIN + PITT loss
6) New York Jets (10-5)- CLINCHED Wildcard

STILL WITH A SHOT: Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)- CLINCHES AFC South with WIN + IND loss
ELIMINATED:San Diego Chargers (8-7), Oakland Raiders (7-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8), Tennessee Titans (6-9), Houston Texans (5-10), Cleveland Browns (5-10), Buffalo Bills (4-11), Cincinnati Bengals (4-11), Denver Broncos (4-11)

NFC
1) Atlanta Falcons (12-3)- CLINCHES NFC South + Home Field Advantage with a WIN or NORL loss
2) Chicago Bears (11-4)- CLINCHED NFC North + First-Round Bye
3) Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)- CLINCHED NFC East
4) St. Louis Rams (7-8)- CLINCHES NFC West with WIN
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5) New Orleans Saints (11-4)- CLINCHED Playoff Berth; CLINCHES NFC South with WIN + ATL loss
6) Green Bay Packers (9-6)- beat NY Giants last week; CLINCHES Wildcard with WIN, or losses by NYG and/or TB

STILL WITH A SHOT:
New York Giants (9-6)- CLINCHES Wildcard with WIN + GB loss
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)- CLINCHES Wildcard with WIN + GB and NYG losses
Seattle Seahawks (6-9)- CLINCHES NFC West with WIN
ELIMINATED: Minnesota Vikings (6-9), Washington Redskins (6-9), Dallas Cowboys (5-10), Detroit Lions (5-10), San Francisco 49ers (5-10), Arizona Cardinals (4-11), Carolina Panthers (2-13)

Marquee Game of the Week/Sunday Night Football:
St. Louis Rams (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (6-9)- Sunday @ 8:20PM EST at Qwest Field- Seattle on NBC
It has all come down to this in the NFC West. This is the most mediocre division in all of professional sports, and the winner of this division will be at best 8-8 (St. Louis- if they win) and at worst, below .500 (Seattle- if they win). This is a mockery of the system, plain and simple. But, I think that it will all come down to the better team winning, and St. Louis has the drive and the power, thanks to a young Sam Bradford.
Pick: St. Louis 27-21

1:00PM Games on Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Cleveland Browns (5-10)- Cleveland Browns Stadium- Cleveland on CBS
This is more than likely the end of the line for the self-proclaimed ManGenius. Pittsburgh gets both the AFC North and a week off to regroup as they flush the Browns down Lake Erie.
Pick: Pittsburgh 27-0

Cincinnati Bengals (4-11) at Baltimore Ravens (11-4)- M&T Bank Stadium- Baltimore on CBS
This is probably the end of the Bengal line for high-profilers such as Chad Ochocinco, Cedric Benson, Jonathan Joseph, and most importantly Head Coach Marvin Lewis, as the Bengals look to spoil the Ravens hopes of getting the AFC North. The Bengals knocked San Diego out of playoff contention last week, as the Bengals went back to basics, using unused players such as Jerome Simpson, who scored two of Carson Palmer's four touchdown passes in a 34-20 win over San Diego. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and gang will gang up on the Bengals after I saw what they did to Colt McCoy and the Clowns last week.
Pick: Baltimore 28-10

Atlanta Falcons (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (2-13)- Bank of America Stadium- Charlotte, NC on Fox
Panthers have the # 1 pick in April's draft. Falcons wrap up NFC South and Home Field after a rare Matt Ryan loss at home on Monday night. Thanks for the memories in Carolina, John Fox.
Pick: Atlanta 30-0

Miami Dolphins (7-8) at New England Patriots (13-2)- Gillette Stadium- Foxborough, MA on CBS
Tom Brady has won a record 27 consecutive games at home (Brady did not play a single home game in 2008, because he was on injured reserve after an opening day knee injury). The only reason there will be a 28th is if (a) Brady plays a significant amount of this game, (b) Miami can't stand the cold, and (c) Belichick plays his starters for a majority of the game. The Patriots have nothing else to play for, because they already locked up the top-seed in the AFC. So, with that said...if the Pats rest their starters, Tony Sparano wins perhaps his final game as Miami's head coach.
Pick: Miami 27-7

Minnesota Vikings (6-9) at Detroit Lions (5-10)- Ford Field- Detroit on Fox
The Vikings won a shocker on Tuesday Night football in Philadelphia. This week, they return to Ford Field, but this time as the visiting team. The Lions are fresh off three straight wins, including back-to-back road games. This game is basically the last round of a job interview for interim head coach Leslie Frazier. He deserves another shot next year, but the Vikes will have to win this game.
Pick: Minnesota 20-16

Oakland Raiders (7-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)- Arrowhead Stadium on CBS
The Chiefs won the AFC West last week with a win plus a San Diego loss in Cincinnati. The Raiders are a much better team than in years past, and have a shot at their first non-losing season since 2002, when the Raiders (pronounced REH-dehs) reached Super Bowl XXXVII. Did I mention Oakland is 5-0 in the AFC West this year?
Pick: Kansas City 24-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) at New Orleans Saints (11-4)- Louisiana Superdome on Fox
Do or die time for Tampa Bay. Two years ago, the Bucs were 9-3, lost four straight, and Jon Gruden was fired. Last year, Raheem Morris's first year, the Bucs finished 3-13. There were even questions about Morris returning for this year. Then all the naysayers were silenced this year as Tampa Bay surprised every one with a decent shot at a playoff run. But it all comes to this. Beat the defending champs in their Dome and hope both the Packers and Giants lose later, and then head to Philadelphia to play Michael Vick and the Eagles, or lose and go home. The Saints proved that they can still contend, as evident with their 17-14 win on Monday night.
Pick: New Orleans 35-21
　
4:15PM Games on Sunday
Indianapolis Colts (9-6) at Tennessee Titans (6-9)- LP Field- Nashville on CBS
Could this be the end of the Jeff Fisher era in Music City? If it is, the Colts will send the 17-year Titans coaching vet out on a whimper as Peyton and crew win the AFC South.
Pick: Indy 34-13

Arizona Cardinals (4-11) at San Francisco 49ers (5-10)- Candlestick Park- San Francisco on Fox
Just after last Sunday's loss to the Rams, the 49ers fired head coach Mike Singletary. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula will coach the Niners in their finale against Arizona, who is finishing an off-year, just two years removed from Super Bowl XLIII. Possible 49ers coaching candidates include Jon Gruden and Jim Harbaugh.
Pick: San Francisco 17-10

Dallas Cowboys (5-10) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)- Lincoln Financial Field- Philadelphia on Fox
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D, Philadelphia) declared America a "nation of wusses" after the Eagles game was moved to Tuesday night last week in the wake of last Sunday's East Coast blizzard. Michael Vick cost himself a shot at the MVP honors with Philly's loss to the Vikes on Tuesday night football, where Governor Rendell had a spot covered in snow at the Stadium. This week, it's do-or-die time for Cowboys interim head coach Jason Garrett, as a Cowboy win could solidify Garrett's chances of keeping the head coaching job in Big D.
Pick: Philadelphia 24-17

New York Giants (9-6) at Washington Redskins (6-9)- FedEx Field- Landover, MD on Fox
The Giants had a chance to win the NFC East and blew with with a 65-yard punt return by DeSean Jackson two weeks ago in the Giants home finale, and then last week, they got buried by six turnovers in Green Bay. This week, it is do-or-die time for the G-Men as they head down to our Nation's Capital to play the Redskins. When it comes to quarterbacks, Eli Manning > Rex Grossman. But the Skins may have pulled Jacksonville out of the playoffs with their 20-17 overtime win last week.
Pick: G-Men (NY Giants) 27-17

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) at Houston Texans (5-10)- Reliant Stadium- Houston on CBS
Jags win and Indy loses, the Jags win the AFC South. That is what is on the line for the Jaguars.
Pick: Jacksonville 27-20

San Diego Chargers (8-7) at Denver Broncos (4-11)- Invesco Field at MileHigh- Denver on CBS
Last week, the Chargers were shocked out of the AFC playoffs with a 34-20 loss in Cincinnati, where turnovers and a weak secondary were the final nail in San Diego's coffin, as injuries (Antonio Gates and in last week's game, Mike Tolbert), key player losses (LT and Shawne Merriman), and special teams gaffes (i.e. the Oakland fiasco) also proved fatal for the once San Diego Super Chargers. Alas, Air Coryell offense is not alive and well in San Diego. On the other side, Tim Tebow proved he is for real with a 24-23 comeback win over Houston, as the Texans led 17-0 at one point.
Pick: Denver 27-24

and last, but not least....
Chicago Bears (11-4) at Green Bay Packers (9-6)- Lambeau Field- Green Bay, WI on Fox
The Bears will know by kickoff that they are the # 2 seed (Atlanta will have walloped Carolina by the time this game starts) and not play their starters for most of the game. Green Bay controls their own destiny, because it is "Win and In" for the Pack. If they lose, the Giants and Bucs both have shots. Last week, Green Bay proved they are playoff material as they shut down the Giants. They'll do the same to the Bears.
Pick: Green Bay 38-14

BLACK MONDAY:
Four coaches were already fired (Wade Phillips, Brad Childress, Josh McDaniels, and now Mike Singletary) before season's end. More will be pink-slipped on Monday (or Tuesday) of this week. Here are the more likely changes on the coaching carousel. Disclaimer- But, this is who I think will not be back, not who I want, because Bill Cowher put up a big point last Sunday on the NFL Today, it is disrespectful to wish somebody to lose their jobs (although I am lobbying for Rich Rodriguez to lose his at Michigan).

Carolina Panthers (John Fox)- This is the final year of Fox's contract. Fox led the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII, but that is about all he did in nine years. This year was a total abomination for Panthers fans. EDIT: On New Year's Day, it was announced that Fox will NOT return next season, and that Sunday's season finale against the Falcons is Fox's last game.
Cincinnati Bengals (Marvin Lewis)- This is a toss-up, whether or not Lewis will quit/walk, or get fired, because like John Fox, Lewis's contract is up. It will be a surprise if he does come back next year, because Lewis wants things that Bengals Owner/GM Mike Brown refuses to bring to Cincinnati.
Miami Dolphins (Tony Sparano)- Miami finished 1-7 at home this year, and that was not acceptable to the front brass down in Miami.
Cleveland Browns (Eric Mangini)- Mike Holmgren in charge, I don't need to explain anything further, because Mangini was a great coach with the Jets, but the Browns have flushed quality coaching talent (Butch Davis, Sam Rutigliano, Bud Carson, Romeo Crennel, Bill Belichick) pretty easily.
Houston Texans (Gary Kubiak)- Last year, the Texans were 9-7 and a Jets spanking of the Bengals in Week 17 away from making the playoffs. This year, they went backwards, despite sending Andre Johnson and Arian Foster to the Pro Bowl.
Tennessee Titans (Jeff Fisher)- It all hinges on whom Titans owner Bud Adams sides with- Fisher or Vince Young. If Fisher, the longest active tenured coach (this is Fisher's 17th season with the Titans/Oilers) leaves, then Andy Reid becomes the longest active tenured coach in the league.

ON THE FENCE:
Dallas Cowboys (Jason Garrett, interim)- As mentioned before, it all hinges on where the Cowboys are headed in the off-season. Since taking over for Wade Phillips, the Cowboys are a competitive team again.
Minnesota Vikings (Leslie Frazier, interim)- Last week, Frazier proved that he deserves a shot with the Vikings as the Vikings upset Philadelphia.
Oakland Raiders (Tom Cable)- With Al Davis in charge (like with Mike Brown in Cincinnati), nobody knows these days, but Oakland is a better team than they were the last seven years combined.