Week 17 Playoff Push Begins For Several Teams

Week 17 of the SFL season has several intriguing matchups with both playoff and draft implications.  So here is a look ahead to the penultimate week of SFL season 46.

49ers (11-4) at Raiders (9-6)

The 49ers were the team to beat in the NFC all season long, boasting the league’s best record before the last couple of weeks.  They appeared to be cruising to the NFC West Championship and the likely #1 seed for the NFC playoffs.  However, the previous two weeks have not been kind as the 49ers have dropped the last two games to the Washington Commanders in week 16 and their division rival Seattle Seahawks in week 15.  These two losses have opened the door for the Seahawks to win the NFC West and the Packers, Commanders, or Seahawks to grab the #1 seed.  It’s not a must-win for the gold diggers, but the team would undoubtedly like to get back on the winning track heading into the postseason.

The Raiders are in a must-win of sorts.  They are currently in a 2-way battle for the AFC West with the Chargers.  The Chiefs have faded and have to win out and have some help, but the Chargers and Raiders are tied 9-6 with two games to go.  The Raiders hold the tie-breaker over the Chargers, so two wins guarantee the West Championship for the Raiders, but the 49ers are desperate for a win as well.  This should be a great game between 2 teams with a lot to play for going down the stretch.

Bears (10-5) at Lions (9-6)

The Bears have overachieved all season and find themselves in the thick of a playoff chase in a season where four wins seemed unlikely.  Now, the Bears have an outside shot at the NFC North title if they can win out, and the Packers have a slip-up.  But first, the Bears must get past the much-improved Lions in Detroit.  The Bears dominated the favored Lions in week 10 38-21, but that was in Chicago.  Can the Bears match that intensity on the road in hostile Detroit?  We’re going to have to tune in to find out. 

The Lions have dropped three games in the last four weeks.  They once looked like a sure playoff team, but now they may be out altogether if they don’t win the next two games.  However, coach Kelly has the Lions ahead of schedule on their rebuild, and a win against the rival Bears could catapult them into a nice playoff run.

Jaguars (10-5) at Texans (11-4)

The Jaguars are looking to steal the AFC South title from the Houston Texans and need a win in Houston to accomplish their goal.  The Jaguars have been very impressive all season and, if not for the surprising success of the Texans, would have been the favorites to win the South.  Unless the Jags collapse over the next two weeks, they should be a playoff team regardless of the outcome against the Texans, but AFC South Champs has a nice ring in Jacksonville. 

The Texans have shocked the SFL under new head coach Wafflemaker.  Wafflemaker won a Super Bowl with the historically underachieving Detroit Lions during the Madden 22 cycle, but that was only after securing Super Bowl legend Tom Brady in free agency.  Everyone expected Waffle to make the Texans competitive, but no one could have predicted how well he’s done with an underwhelming roster.  The early season trade for Saquan Barkley was an excellent addition but hardly seemed enough to make the team a Super Bowl contender.  However, a win against the Jags will secure the AFC South title for the Texans, and another win in week 18 could have them with the #1 seed in the AFC, depending on how the Bengals do against the Bills and Ravens.

Los Angeles Rams (9-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

The Rams are in the hyper-competitive NFC West, with three teams in the NFC playoff race.  The Rams will need to win to keep pace with the 49ers, the Seahawks, and the Cardinals.  Cam Akers leads the Rams’ offense and is in the running for league MVP honors.  If the running game can get on track, the Rams have a good chance of coming away with the win against their crosstown rivals.  But, on the other hand, a loss could end their season altogether. 

The Chargers have been up and down all season.  Justin Herbert was a preseason pick to be a top QB this season.  His 42 interceptions have most people in the Chargers’ camp scratching their heads.  However, if he can play mistake-free or even minimize some mistakes, the team is as good as any in the league talent-wise.  The added pressure of securing a playoff spot may be too much pressure for Herbert and his 2^nd-year slump to overcome.  The rest of the talent on the roster is immense and will need to step up to give the Chargers a chance against the Rams.

Several week 18 games may have playoff implications depending on how week 17 plays out.  We will spotlight those games next week.