Week 17 games worth watching
- Redskins-Cowboys meet for NFC East title
- Giants need to beat the Eagles to stay alive
- Bears need a win, plus some help from elsewhere
And so the NFL again gets what it has wanted – a Week 17 loaded with a bunch of meaningful matchups involving teams still working on playoff berths and slotting.
The premier game is the one that will take place at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Washington Redskins. Dallas Cowboys. Division rivalry. Division title at stake. The only thing assured is a ratings bonanza.
Elsewhere, there are divisional matchups, with some teams having a chance to knock familiar foes out of the playoffs or make their road to the Super Bowl even tougher. A look at the meaningful games in the final week of the 2012 NFL regular season:
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
At stake: The NFC East. The New York Giants' loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday means it's down to these two teams, which is shocking considering the Giants were up three games in the win column after Week 9. Winner takes the division.
Key matchup: Cowboys WR Dez Bryant vs. the Redskins' secondary. Washington's secondary covered well on the final play Sunday but nearly gave up the winning TD on an underthrown pass from the Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles to Jeremy Maclin. Foles threw for 345 yards against Washington while Bryant was tearing up the New Orleans Saints' defense for 224 yards and two touchdowns four weeks after posting 145 yards and two TDs against the 'Skins on Thanksgiving.
Knee-jerk reaction:
This seems like the kind of game the Cowboys would lose in ridiculous fashion, doesn't it? Maybe with a blowout or a fantastically bone-headed play late. But there's something about this year's squad. A bit of resolve.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
At stake: The defending Super Bowl champs are somehow on the verge of watching the playoffs from home after losing for the fifth time in their last seven games. They need this victory and then some help, including a win by the Redskins vs. the Cowboys.
Key matchup: Giants CB Corey Webster vs. anybody in green. Sunday just wasn't Webster's day in Baltimore, with the Ravens' Torrey Smith torching him for much of the day. Webster is as streaky and inconsistent as they come, though, so it's not a reach to think he'll bounce back strong.
Knee-jerk reaction:
There are no signs of life from this Giants team. If they couldn't wake up Sunday in Baltimore against a reeling Ravens team, how are they going to get up for this one? The Eagles have been a bit of a nuisance for contenders of late and might rally to send Andy Reid out with a victory.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
At stake: A potential first-round bye for the Packers and a playoff berth for the Vikings, who knocked off the Houston Texans on Sunday to start a brutal two-week closing schedule on an unexpected uptick.
Key matchup: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson vs. the Packers' run defense. Duh. Peterson will be trying to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. He needs 208 yards. He had 210 the last time he faced the Packers.
Knee-jerk reaction:
The Packers can't possibly want to see Peterson in the playoffs. And a week off could really help them rest some achy bodies. Sunday's bashing of the Tennessee Titans was certainly a message about how well they're playing right now. The Metrodome will be rocking, though.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
At stake: The Bears are still alive in the wild-card hunt. The Lions are, well, looking to make Calvin Johnson the NFL's first 2,000-yard receiver.
Key matchup: Bears WR Brandon Marshall against the Lions' secondary. If the Bears are going to do anything, Marshall is going to do it for them. Detroit kept him relatively in check the first time these teams met (six receptions are tied for the second-fewest for Marshall since the Week 6 bye), but Marshall found the end zone.
Knee-jerk reaction:
Bears win. But will they get the help they need from the Packers to knock out the Vikings?
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
At stake: Home-field advantage for the Texans. Positive vibes for the Colts, who are expected to have coach Chuck Pagano back on the sideline for the first time since he started treatment for leukemia in early October.
Key matchup: The Colts' run defense against the Texans' ground game. Yeah, Indy won Sunday, but the Colts gave up 352 yards rushing to the Kansas City Chiefs. It's unclear if Arian Foster will play for Houston after leaving Sunday's game with an irregular heartbeat, though he believes he'll be ready to go.
Knee-jerk reaction:
The Texans have had three bad losses this season. The good news for them is they came back strong after the first two, including a victory against the Colts a few weeks ago, though Indy made it easier for Houston with some mental gaffes and turnovers.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
At stake: A first-round bye and possibly home-field advantage for the Broncos.
Key matchup: Chiefs QB Brady Quinn against the Broncos' defense. Quinn hasn't thrown a touchdown since Week 13. He was intercepted twice by the Colts. He's in for a treat against Denver's defense, which held him to 126 yards late last month.
Knee-jerk reaction:
The Broncos are rolling. It's hard to imagine the Chiefs will be anything more than a speed bump on the way into the postseason.
St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks
At stake: Possible playoff positioning for the Seahawks.
Key matchup: The turnover column. The Rams had five takeaways in Sunday's victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Few teams protect the ball better than the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson.
Knee-jerk reaction:
Jeff Fisher will want to make some kind of statement that this team could carry with it all offseason. Look for the Rams to turn in a gritty performance.
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
At stake: An easier road to the Super Bowl for the 49ers. How the Packers fare in their 1 p.m. ET game could influence how much the Niners need to win their 4:25 p.m. ET game.
Key matchup: The Cardinals pass defense vs. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. The first time these teams met, Alex Smith completed 18 of 19 passes. You remember Smith, right? He's the guy who lost his job because of a concussion. Kaepernick has done things with the San Francisco offense that Smith never could do.
Knee-jerk reaction: Seriously? Say goodbye to a bad Cardinals season that started out in such promising fashion.