There won’t be a lot of drama for the final week of the regular season. Having an 18 week season with each team playing 17 games hasn’t provided much dividends this year.
The final regular season game on Sunday night pits the Ravens at the Steelers for the AFC North Division title and a chance to host a first round playoff game as the fourth seed. The loser will not make the playoffs. But the winner isn’t expected to go deep in the playoffs since the Steelers are 9-7 and the Ravens are 8-8.
–The best game of the weekend is Seattle at San Francisco for the NFC West title and the top seed. The loser will be a wild-card team. It is surprising the league decided to make this a Saturday night game instead of Sunday night since the winner will have a good shot at the Super Bowl.
–Denver can wrap up the top seed in the AFC by beating the Chargers Sunday and the Broncos are fortunate that Charger coach Jim Harbaugh decided to rest Justin Herbert. The Chargers are unlikely to beat the Broncos without Herbert.
–In the first game Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Carolina will play at Tampa with both teams vying for the NFC South title but there is a twist. Carolina can clinch with a victory but will still win the division if it loses and Atlanta beat the Saints Sunday. So if the Bucs win, they have to wait until Sunday to find out if they are the division winner and the fourth seed or miss the playoffs. It seems unusual the league didn’t schedule both games Sunday. But the winner is not likely to go deep in the playoffs.
–Jacksonville figures to win the AFC South title and the third seed by beating the Titans Sunday. But if they are upset, the Texans, who have clinched a wild card spot, can win the division title by beating the Colts.
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