Adrián Basilio / Reform Agency
Mexico City
The NFL playoff berths are pretty much filled and now a few wild cards and teams are to be determined that will end up leaders of their respective divisions.
With two weeks to go until the end of the regular calendar, there are already eight teams with their pass secured for the final battles.
In the National Conference, Postseason qualifiers Philadelphia and Dallas vie for the top spot in the Eastern Division, while San Francisco and Minnesota, already in the playoffs, tied for first place in the West and North, respectively.
In the American League, Cincinnati and Baltimore, also ranked, vie for first position in the North Division; Buffalo drives east and Kansas City drives west.
If the season had ended this weekend, the other qualifiers would be Jacksonville (7-8), Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) and Miami (8-7), for the American, and Tampa Bay (7-8), New York (8-6-1) and Washington (7-7-1). for the national team
The win over Miami improves Green Bay’s record to 7-8, the same as Seattle and Detroit, and is one-half game behind Washington for the final NL playoff spot.
A win for NFL leader Philadelphia (13-2) or a loss for Dallas (11-4) in their final two games would clinch the Eagles’ playoff spot.
The NFL announced yesterday that the week 17 game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore, scheduled for noon, will be played at 8:20 pm ET on Sunday, January 1, as the LA Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers. :25:00
The Ravens have already clinched a playoff berth and can still finish at the top of their industry, while the Steelers need to win to keep any hope of qualifying or else they are out and would finish their first season with a losing record since 2003.
The Chargers are still looking for a wild card and today they play in Indianapolis. The Rams are already out.
Steelers-Ravens switch in prime time
With the playoffs fast approaching, the NFL yesterday announced it will be changing its schedule for Week 17.
The game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) and the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) next Sunday, January 1, will now be played in prime time at 7:20 p.m. in Baltimore, despite originally being scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
As a result, the game between the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers originally scheduled for that time will now be played at 3:25 pm on the same day.
This duel is a strong rivalry in the North Division of the American Conference. The Ravens clinched their playoff berth on Saturday, but need to win their final two games of the regular season to clinch what would be their first division title in three years, as well as playing at home in the Wild Card Round.
The Ravens have won four of their last six games and will visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the final week of the regular season.
Pittsburgh still has slim hopes of advancing to the playoffs, thanks to a strong streak in which they had four wins in their last five games.
After visiting the Ravens, the Steelers will close out the season at home by hosting the Cleveland Browns.
Beginning in 2006, the NFL implemented a “flexible scheduling” procedure for Sunday night games to ensure quality primetime game play.
The Ravens will play a key game against the Steelers next Sunday.
They pay homage to Franco Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers players arrived at Heinz Field dressed in jersey 32, the number that immortalized Franco Harris, who passed away last Tuesday.
The historic Acereros runner received the first tribute, before the duel between the Steelers and the Raiders, which was played on Christmas Eve.
Players such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith, Kenny Pickett, among others, were captured in the stadium tunnel, where they wore a shirt with the legendary number.
Similarly, the Steelers’ social networks also paid tribute to Harris by posting “32” on their profile photos.
Architect of the “Immaculate Homecoming” in 1972, Harris died at age 72, collected 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowls with the Steelers.
Results of the 16th day
Atlanta 9. Baltimore 17
Detroit 23-Carolina 37
Buffalo 35 – Chicago 13
New Orleans 17-Cleveland 10
Seattle 10–Kansas City -24
NY Giants 24 vs Minnesota 27
Cincinnati 22 – New England 18
Houston 19-Tennessee 14
Washington 20 – San Francisco 37
Philadelphia 34 – Dallas 40
Las Vegas 10-Pittsburgh 13
Denver 14-LA Rams 51
