NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: AFC, NFC Scenarios Ahead of Sunday’s Games

December 25, 2016   ·   Thomas Duffy   ·   Jump to comments

How was that for a Christmas Eve of football?
The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks duked it out in a 34-31 thriller. The Atlanta Falcons steamrolled the Carolina Panthers 33-16. The Oakland Raiders kept on winning, though they lost rising-star quarterback Derek Carr in the process. Likewise, the Tennessee Titans lost Marcus Mariota in a peculiar landslide loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Two tough blows:
Let’s take a look at some playoff implications heading into Sunday. Oakland, in particular, will be watching closely.
     
AFC What the Raiders Want to See
If the 8-6 Denver Broncos knock off the 10-4 Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, the 12-3 Raiders will clinch the AFC West title and a first-round bye.
That’s huge.
No, Carr is probably not going to play on one leg—though, to the 25-year-old’s credit, you never quite know for sure. But that extra week off would offer invaluable time for head coach...

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