5 most important remaining NFL games

The 2016 NFL season is coming into the home stretch and the playoff race is as tight as can be. With the exception of only a small handful of divisions, most are still in play. In some cases, upwards of three teams are still vying for a divisional crown. And the race for two wild card spots is no different in either conference.

After a season of disappointing and meaningless primetime games, the NFL and their fans can now feast on several weeks of impactful games that should carry a playoff-like atmosphere. In both the AFC and especially the NFC, the contenders will be squaring off with weekly regularity.

It certainly makes things interesting, so here’s a look at five remaining regular season games that carry substantial playoff implications.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (Dec. 11, Dec. 24)

We’ll kick off this list with an interesting two-for over the course of 13 days.

Currently, the surging Buccaneers are one game back of the division-leading Atlanta Falcons and also closing in on the Washington Redskins for the No. 6 seed in the NFC. They’ll have a real opportunity to put some pressure on the Falcons and the remaining NFC field with two key games against the Saints over the next four weeks.

Those two divisional games will be spread apart by a matchup against the San Diego Chargers in Week 13 and a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.

If the Buccaneers can somehow escape that gauntlet with a 3-1 record, they will close out the regular season with a game against the Carolina Panthers that could, potentially, pave their way to an NFC South crown or an unexpected wild card birth.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Saints could also use the two Tampa Bay games as a springboard back into the divisional race and wild card race. And with games also remaining against the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, it’s clear Drew Brees & Co. will have a lot to say about the playoff picture one way or another.

Ultimately, the two Bucs/Saints games over the course of 13 days will not only impact the destiny of those two teams and the NFC South race, but will also have a direct impact on the Redskins, Giants, Lions and Vikings.

4. Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans (Jan. 1)

Who would have ever imagined a season-ending game between the Titans and Texans could potentially carry so much weight? But not only will it likely impact the AFC wild card race, but could very well determine the AFC South champion.

Of course, the significance of this game may be altered by the Texans/Indianapolis Colts matchup on Dec. 11, which also carries quite a bit of weight given the way the schedules are shaping up.

Ultimately, it’s the Titans who seem to be heating up and the Texans who are struggling to hang on. And even in the event Houston were to lose to Indianapolis in Week 14, the way Marcus Mariota his teammates are playing offensively means the South will likely be decided on the final Sunday of the season.

The Texans must right their ship over the next two weeks before easier games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Titans are preparing for games against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

In the end, the three-way race for the South is likely to be determined by a razor-thin margin. And based on the way things stand, it’s the Week 17 game between the Texans and Titans that will decide it. But that is very much subject to change over the next couple of weeks.

3. Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (Dec. 25)

Perhaps more than any other AFC game the rest of the way, the Christmas Day game between the Chiefs and Broncos is going to have quite a bit riding on it.

Depending on what happens to the Oakland Raiders from now until then, the Week 16 game could set up an interesting Week 17 battle for the AFC West crown. But even short of that, the Chiefs and Broncos game on Christmas will likely determine continued life for one team, while putting an end to the playoff hopes of the other.

Although they currently sport a tie-breaking win over the Broncos, Kansas City is readying themselves for a very rough part of their schedule. They travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons before returning home to host the Raiders in Week 14. If they manage to win both of those games, their Christmas Day battle with the Broncos becomes even more important and may be a stepping stone to something greater.

Meanwhile, for the Broncos, they’ll travel to Jacksonville and Tennessee over the next two weeks before entering a three-game stretch that will close their season and determine their playoff fate. And if they somehow manage to navigate a win over the New England Patriots in Week 15, they could set themselves up nicely with a Week 16 game against the Chiefs and a Week 17 game against the Raiders.

Is this Christmas Day game the most important AFC West game remaining on the schedule? It is only because it will likely decide what happens in the division in Week 17 and which of the three contending AFC West teams will be the odd man out once the playoffs get underway.

2. Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 25)

It’s realistic to assume the AFC North will be decided when the Ravens and Steelers battle it out at Heinz Field on Dec. 25.

For one team, it’s going to be a beautiful Christmas. For another, their divisional hope — and quite possibly their playoff hopes — will go out the window.

Pittsburgh will host the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns over the final five weeks of the season, with travel dates against the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. All things considered, that’s a relatively favorable schedule.

The same cannot be said for the Ravens, who travel to New England and Cincinnati, while hosting the Eagles and Dolphins down the stretch. However, with one win over the Steelers already this season, Baltimore has the luxury of being able to fall a game back between now and Dece. 25, while still controlling their own destiny.

The math is simple for the Ravens: keep it within a game and then beat the Steelers. In all likelihood, that would yield them the AFC North.

For the Steelers, it’s slightly more complex. If they win out, they’re in. But if they find themselves a game back of the Ravens prior to Dec. 25, even if they come out victorious in Week 16, the tie-breakers will come into play and records against common opponents could be the deciding factor.

1. New York Giants @ Washington Redskins (Jan. 1)

The Week 17 game between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins could be a playoff game in and of itself. Depending on how things shake out in the NFC East and the remainder of the conference, this game could prove to be a “win and in” scenario. There’s also an outside chance it could decide the division winner.

Currently, the Giants (8-3) and Redskins (6-4-1) hold the NFC’s two wild card spots, but with a relatively weak schedule the rest of the way, it’s conceivable that Washington will be able to make up the game and a half difference. On the other hand, the Giants face a much tougher schedule, consisting of games in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and at home against Dallas and Detroit.

Given that most other NFC contenders will battle it out with each other down the stretch, the Giants’ biggest remaining games are against Detroit and, obviously, Washington. Even if they go 2-3 over their final five, wins in those two games will likely boost their playoff chances substantially.

For Washington, all they have to do is navigate an easy schedule to Week 17 for a shot at the playoffs. Given that they already own a tie-breaker over the Giants, a win to close out the season may not only give them a playoff berth and the No. 5 seed, but could send New York home to ring in the new year.