Happy New Year everybody and here we are at Week 17 ... the final games of the 2009 regular season in the NFL.
There are a lot of games that mean nothing as far as the NFL playoffs are concerned. However, there a lot of teams still in the running in the AFC for the final two spots.
It's real simple in the AFC, if the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets win their season finales, they are both going to the playoffs. If they both lose, then Houston, Pittsburgh and Denver definitely have a shot at making the post-season party. Miami and Jacksonville are definite long shots after losing key games last weekend.
In fact, Pittsburgh has somehow managed to play it's way back into contention with two straight wins after losing at Cleveland three weeks ago. The Steelers' LaMarr Woodley has gone so far as to accuse the Patriots and Bengals (each division winners and playoff bound) of possibly laying down in their final games against Houston and the New York Jets just to keep the Steelers from making the playoffs.
That's ridiculous because the Steelers should be 11-4 after losing games against Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland. They put themselves in this tough spot where they need A LOT of help should they beat Miami on the road on Sunday.
Another thing is whether or not the Indianapolis Colts, having sewn up home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, will even play any starters in their final regular season game at Buffalo.
In the NFC, it's all settled as far as who is in the playoffs. The only question is who will be playing who next weekend in the Wild Card Round.
The Minnesota Vikings have dropped three out of their last four games and now must win at home against the New York Giants and then get some help to regain the number-two seed and a first round bye.
The BIG GAME this weekend without question is the Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys for all the marbles in the NFC East division. If the Cowboys win, they will move up from sixth spot to at least four and possibly even third seed.
The Eagles (11-4) currently are the second seed and could secure the first round bye if they beat Dallas. The New Orleans Saints have clinched home field throughout the NFC playoffs and the Green Bay Packers are already assured a wild card spot while they travel to Arizona to finish the regular season against the playoff bound Cardinals.
No doubt there will be a lot of scoreboard watching going on in the NFL this Sunday and then the final game of the regular season on Sunday Night Football will have the Cincinnati Bengals at the New York Jets to determine the final spot in the AFC playoff picture.
It should be an exciting finish to the 2009 season and then the real fun begins.
Here are the final picks for the last game of the regular season ... (HOME TEAMS are listed in BOLD)
Chicago over Detroit
Miami over Pittsburgh
New England over Houston
Buffalo over Indianapolis
San Francisco over St. Louis
Tampa Bay over Atlanta
Carolina over New Orleans
Cleveland over Jacksonville
Minnesota over NY Giants
Tennessee over Seattle
Philadelphia over Dallas
San Diego over Washington
Denver over Kansas City
Baltimore over Oakland
Arizona over Green Bay
NY Jets over Cincinnati
Last week's record: 11-5
SEASON RECORD: 156-84
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