Heading into the final week of the regular season, eleven teams remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Eleven teams. Seven spots.
Each of the league’s 16 games will be played on Sunday.
In the NFC, the Rams, Bears, Cardinals and Washington Football Team face “win and in” scenarios.
Drama alert: The Rams and Cardinals face each other in Los Angeles. Washington is one of three NFC East teams still alive for a division title. The Cowboys and Giants are also in the mix. As for the Bears, they host the Packers in a game that will help determine the NFC’s top overall seed.
Speaking of that number-1 overall seed: The Packers, Saints and Seahawks all remain in the hunt.
A two-way tie between the Packers and Saints means that Green Bay will be the top seed.
A two-way tie between the Packers and Seahawks means that Seattle will be the top seed.
A three-way tie between the Packers, Saints and Seahawks means that New Orleans will be the top seed with Green Bay tumbling to the third.
The Seahawks finish up against the 49ers in California, while the Saints travel to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers. As mentioned previously, the Packers will face the Bears in Chicago.
Each of the three games will kick-off Sunday at 3:25.
And that’s just the NFC!
In the AFC the Titans, Dolphins, Ravens and Browns all face win-and-in scenarios.
In the AFC, an 11-5 team will miss the playoffs, while a sub-500 division winner gets in in the NFC.
What does it all mean? It means the NFL remains the ultimate in reality-television.