Saints look to keep NFC South lead against Falcons

The NFL has waited all season for the NFC South race to heat up, and entering Week 16, it finally has. The Atlanta Falcons travel to New Orleans this week to face the Saints in a matchup that has major implications of the division’s playoff spot.

WR Julio Jones unsure if Falcons will let him play in preseason, aims for opener vs. Saints Article Image 0
Despite being inactive against the Steelers in Week
15, Jones still ranks second in NFL receiving yards.

The Falcons (5-9) sit one game behind the Saints in the standings, but with a win would take over the NFC South lead with a 2-0 head-to-head record against the Saints.

With a victory, New Orleans can put themselves a win over the lowly Buccaneers next week away from a playoff home game.

The Falcons have dropped two straight games and three of their last four, but a win over the Saints could allow their game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 to decide the division crown.

The Falcons will receive a major boost if Julio Jones can suit up against the Saints, Atlanta’s leading receiver missed last week’s game against the Steelers with a hip injury.

 

Panthers hope to keep pressure on Saints, Falcons

The Carolina Panthers muddle the NFC South standings with their tie earlier in the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. Due to the tie, the Panthers sit second in the NFC South, half a game ahead of the Falcons and half a game behind the Saints.

Cam Newton
Newton practiced for the first time since the car
accident on Wednesday.

In order to have a chance at the playoffs, the Panthers need the Saints to lose at least one game. Their best chance of seeing that is likely this week against the Falcons.

With a win this week over the Cleveland Browns, the Panthers can keep themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot. However, a Panthers loss and a Saints win would crown New Orleans as the champions.

The Panthers could receive a major boost this week if quarterback Cam Newton returns from a back injury. Derek Anderson started for the Panthers last week as Newton was sidelined by injuries sustained in a car accident.

 

Manziel tries to improve on woeful start

Trying to put a major dent in the Panthers’ playoff hopes are Johnny Manziel’s Cleveland Browns.

The Browns have lost three straight games to see their playoff hopes all but disappear and turned to Manziel last week looking for a spark.Wallace Gilberry Johnny Manziel The plan appeared to backfire as the Browns were shut out by the Cincinnati Bengals in the team’s worst offensive game of the year.

Manziel completed 10 of his 18 passes last week for just 80 yards in the loss. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. Things likely cannot get any worse for the rookie in his second start, however.

 Though the Panthers have been an improved unit defensively in recent weeks, the team has allowed 24 passing touchdowns this season, 10th most in the NFL.

With critics already questioning his NFL future, Manziel needs to show signs he can be Cleveland’s quarterback of the future.

 

Cowboys need win to stay ahead of Eagles in NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys earned a key victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week, but their road to the playoffs continues with a tough matchup against the AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts this week.

DeMarco Murray
Murray leads the NFL in rushing by more than 400
yards.

With the Eagles owning the tiebreaker over the two teams, the Cowboys only sure path to the playoffs is consecutive wins, over the Colts and Redskins. The Eagles have an easier schedule ahead, facing the eliminated Redskins and Giants.

To make matters worse for the Cowboys, star running back DeMarco Murray is set to be a game-time decision after undergoing surgery on a broken ring finger this week. 

The Colts will be playing to keep their hopes of a first-round bye alive, although the scenario to earn a bye over the Patriots and Broncos is unlikely.

 

Steelers, Chiefs meet with playoff hopes on the line

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, S Eric Berry leave game vs. Broncos with ankle injury Article Image 0
The Chiefs have to complete a touchdown pass to a wide receiver. All 18 of Alex Smith’s passing scores have gone to a running back or tight end.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) and Kansas City Chiefs (8-6) both currently sit in the thick of the AFC wild card race, with the Steelers holding the sixth and final playoff spot. The Steelers are also alive in the AFC North playoff race, half a game behind the Cincinnati Bengals.

A win for either club would severely damage the playoff hopes of the other, but a Chiefs win would further muddle the Wild Card picture heading into Week 17 - as many as five teams could sit at 9-6.

The Chiefs could have trouble contraining the Steelers offence, which has emerged as one of the best in the league and ranks first overall in total yards. Wide Receiver Antonio Brown also leads the NFL in receiving yards, while Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger each sit second in rushing yards and passing yards, respectively.

 

Cardinals turn to Lindley with NFC West lead on the line

The Arizona Cardinals will be in the playoffs, where they will be playing remains to be decided. The Cardinals can clinch the NFC West and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The Cardinals will start their third quarterback of this season this week in Ryan Lindley, with Drew Stanton sidelined due to a knee injury suffered in Week 15 against the St. Louis Rams. Stanton took over the position when Carson Palmer tore his ACL earlier this season, in the Cardinals first meeting with the Rams. The Cardinals defeated the Rams last week, but Lindley completed just four of his 10 passes for 30 yards.

The Seahawks have not battled the same injury adversity as the Cardinals this season, but have rebounded from a surprising 3-3 start with wins in seven of their last eight games.

Ryan Lindley
Lindley has never thrown a touchdown in the NFL.
He has thrown seven career interceptions.

The Seahawks secondary – or “Legion of Boom” – is not an ideal unit for Lindley to make his fifth career start against. The ‘LOB’ allows a league-low 184 passing yards per game this season and boasts first and second-team All-Pros in Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas.

With a win, the Seahawks will be a Week 17 win over the St. Louis Rams away from repeating a regular-season NFC Champions.

If Lindley can lead the Cardinals to victory, Arizona will be two home wins in the playoffs away from becoming the first team to play at home in the Super Bowl.