NFL BCS Week 17 Preview

Using SportsReaction's fantastic NFL BCS system, let’s have a look at this weekend’s slate of NFL match-ups:

Games of the Week highlighted in Yellow, stinkers highlighted in Gray.

Sunday, 1/2/11, 1:00 EST

#32 Carolina Panthers @ #2 Atlanta Falcons: What a great match-up for the Falcons to have to win to clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. 

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers @ #25 Cleveland Browns: Being on the road may make this game a bit dicey for the #3 Pittsburgh Steelers, but they do have something to play for since a win clinches the #2 seed in the AFC Playoffs. 

#24 Minnesota Vikings @ #22 Detroit Lions: The way the #22 Detroit Lions have been playing they deserve to be the favorite in this game…which means nothing for either team.

#17 Oakland Raiders @ #10 Kansas City Chiefs: Of all the match-ups listed so far, this would have been the first “good one” had the Chiefs not already been locked into the #4 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

#16 Miami Dolphins @ #1 New England Patriots: Again, nothing to play for here. 

#14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ #6 New Orleans Saints: Here is our first great match-up this week.  Both teams have something to play for.  With a win and a loss by the #12 New York Giants and the #9 Green Bay Packers the Bucs get into the NFC Playoffs  The Saints can clinch the NFC South and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs with a win and an loss by #2 Atlanta Falcons. 

#29 Buffalo Bills @ #9 New York Jets: With the #9 New York Jets having already clinched a playoff spot there isn’t much to play for here.   When you combine this with the rankings mismatch, this game is a stinker if there ever was one.

#27 Cincinnati Bengals @ #4 Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens need a win here and a loss by the #3 Pittsburgh Steelers to clinch the #2 seed in the AFC Playoffs.  At least the win looks to be an easy one "on paper" for the Ravens, even though the Bengals have been playing well lately winning their last two games…so maybe it won’t be.

4:00 PM EST

#15 Jacksonville Jaguars @ #20 Houston Texans: Here’s my prediction.  The Texans take an early lead only to blow it and give the #15 Jacksonville Jaguars the win they need to have a chance at the AFC South title.  But, unfortunately, the #11 Indianapolis Colts win their game making Jacksonville a spectator for the playoffs.

#12 New York Giants @ #21 Washington Redskins: Big game here. Enormous game unquestionably.   The #12 New York Giants need a win combined with a loss by the #8 Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs and possibly save Tom Coughlin’s job.

#23 Dallas Cowboys @ #7 Philadelphia Eagles: Meaningless game with the Eagles already locked into the #3 seed in the NFC Playoffs, and Michael Vick isn’t playing.  Pass.

#5 Chicago Bears @ #8 Green Bay Packers:  Large game.  Packers win and they’re in.  And the Bears might have something to play for based on the results of earlier games including the #6 New Orleans Saints and the #2 Atlanta Falcons.   

#18 Tennessee Titans @ #11 Indianapolis Colts: The Colts I'm sure are happy to be controlling their own destiny as a win here means they're in the Playoffs.  I can honestly say it's not a surprise to me though.  Even as the Colts were in the midst of a three game losing streak earlier this season I never expected them to miss the playoffs.  I completely expect them to win this game and host a first round playoff game next week.

#13 San Diego Chargers @ #30 Denver Broncos: Big mismatch, and nothing for either team to play for.  I’m sure that very few people expected this to be the case.  I'm sure many assumed this game would be one the #13 San Diego Chargers would need to win to win the AFC West.   But a loss on the road to the #27 Cincinnati Bengals last week made this game what it is.

8:20 PM EST

Game of the Week

#19 St. Louis Rams @ #26 Seattle Seahawks: The playoffs start early with this match-up.  Forget the rankings here, it’s win and you’re in—not only in, you get to host a playoff game!  For a taste of the post-season be sure to tune in!

While waiting for Sunday there will be tons of great college football games to watch on New Years Day, and I will be attending the New Orleans Hornets @ Washington Wizards game tonight.  I can't wait!