Before we do, though, some additions from tonight from the AFC side:
Indianapolis' loss means the two 11-win wildcard contenders (Buffalo and the Chargers) and the 11-win Jaguars join New England and Denver in the playoffs.
Meaning there's only two spots left in the AFC. One of them goes to the winner of the AFC North. The other goes to Houston unless they lose twice and Indy wins twice.
In the NFC:
Kayfabe:
All four division leaders are spaced out, no tiebreakers needed.
1) Seattle (12-3, IN)
Probably needs both wins for not only the #1 seed, but the NFC West as well.
2) Chicago (11-4, IN)
The win over the Packers ends the NFC North. Chicago will be the NFC North champions, barring two losses and two Packer wins, but who's going to be quarterbacking the Packers, some guy in the popcorn stand?
3) Philadelphia (10-5, CHAMPIONS OF THE NFC EAST)
Need a lot of help to improve their position, though.
4) Carolina (8-7)
Same situation in the NFC South as in the AFC North. Carolina goes to Tampa Week 18 in a game that might end up in the late window.
5) San Francisco (11-4, IN, divisional record tiebreaker over the Rams)
6) LA Rams (11-4, IN, loses divisional record tiebreaker to San Francisco)
Yes, this means, two weeks out, there are only four spots left for the playoffs. The two suck divisions and the two #7s.
7) Green Bay (9-5-1)
Something gives me the impression they might want Green Bay vs. Chicago again at some point in these playoffs, Jordan Love's health pending.
ON THE OUTSIDE:
Detroit at 8-7 for the #7.
Tampa Bay at 7-8 for the NFC South.
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Before we get to the NFC Politicals:
I usually do a nice rundown of how Goodell likes to make as many games relevant for Week 17 as he can.
He's got a MAJOR problem in that regard.
Ten of the fourteen playoff spots have already been clinched: Patriots, Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, and Chargers in the AFC, Eagles, Bears, Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams in the NFC.
Here's the fun part: The two #7's are both "one win and in" situations for the Texans in the AFC and the Packers in the NFC.
The Steelers are "one win and in" to win the AFC North.
Here's a scenario for you:
- Houston beats the Chargers OR Indianapolis loses to Jacksonville -- that gets Houston in either way.
- Green Bay beats Baltimore OR Detroit loses to Minnesota -- that gets Green Bay in either way
- Pittsburgh beats Cleveland or Baltimore loses to Green Bay -- that gets Pittsburgh in either way
- The one buggy-boo: Carolina must beat Seattle AND Tampa Bay must lose to Miami.
If all four of those conditions are met, the ONLY relevance to Week 18 will be seeding and placement. If I were a betting man, I'd be considering either Baltimore beating Green Bay (and then Detroit beating Minnesota) and Pittsburgh losing to Cleveland, if I were interested.
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NFC Politicals:
Yes, a new top dog in the political race in the NFC. There actually is, now, with some of the news coming out of the Bears, a possible angle for the NFL and Trump to actually want the Bears at least in the Super Bowl, if not winning it.
1) The Indiana Bears
Chicago is a very repulsive city to MAGA.
Trump carried Indiana by almost 20 points.
Do I think that's completely a factor in the Bears announcement of considering Indiana for their new stadium? Yes, but if and only if they've already been told that an improvement of their political situation with the power is required for them to win (or get to) a Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have just stated they are going to be playing in a stadium in suburban Kansas. Do I think that doesn't have some political possibility too? Probably. There's a lot of MAGA in the Chiefs, and they do need to get their mojo back after being completely exposed as rigged paper tigers, this year being the result, culminating in Mahomes' ACL and the possible retirement of Travis Kelce.
The other three of the four best teams in the NFC are all West Coast, and I can't see them not simply being served up to the AFC representative (barring a Super Bowl Week incident), especially if it's New England (Denver and Buffalo to a lesser extent -- call those "probablies").
Is it more likely that Seattle, San Francisco, or the Rams get to the Super Bowl? Yes.
But I think the only NFC team with a political chance to win right now is the Bears, and I do think the Indiana move is a large part of it.
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