please log in to view this image Week 17 of the NFL 2012 season. The last game of the year for 18 teams, but for some it still remains a question if they can make it to the play offs. Christmas is over, we survived the 21st of December and 2013 is on our doorstep. Here is this weeks match thread! please log in to view this image This week is either boring, or very exciting. Most teams got nothing to gain and a few have something to fight for. In the AFC conference the home field advantage is up for grabs for the Texans, in the NFC conferences the home field advantage has been clinched by the Falcons. In the AFC the play off picture is set: The Texans, Bronco's Ravens, Patriots, Colts and Seahawks will battle for the AFC title. But in the NFC the Redskins and the Vikings are still one game away from clinching a playoff spot. The Redskins MUST win because a loss would mean that the Cowboys or the Giants will steal that ticket to the post season. The Vikings have more room for error. As long as the Bears lose the Vikings are safe, even if they lose. The schedule for this week: please log in to view this image Source: ESPN radio Now most games have little meaning this evening, and a lot of teams will likely give their back up QB a go. One team however will revert things, The NY Jets have benched McElroy and have activated Mark Sanchez to start on Sunday but more shockingly, McElroy hid from the staff that he had a concussion. Rex Ryan's popularity in New York will likely reach a new low if the Jets fail to win, which would mean that the team would end the year with a three game losing streak. Heads will roll if that happens. On the other side of the country, the Arizona Cardinals options are gone. They used four different quarterbacks throughout the season and none of them were able to make an impact. But this week a remarkable rumour seeped through to the NFL news centre this week: the Cardinals are trying lure 49ers QB Alex Smith for a move to Arizona! Enough with the rumours, back to the games that matter: The Green Bay Packers @ The Minnesota Vikings. The Packers could still lose their bye week spot to the 49ers. The Vikings need a win to be sure of a playoff spot, as mentioned earlier. But the main question of this game is: Can Peterson gather enough rushing yards to break the record of Erick Dickerson? He is on 1898 yards currently and needs 207 and a bit to tie the record. It's been a tough year for Peterson who single handedly carried the Vikings to a playoff spot. Last week he couldn't excell against a mighty Texans defense, will he rise again this week or is this season a couple of weeks too long for Peterson? Another game with Playoff implications is Bears @ Lions. Cutler has the Jeckyl and Hyde syndrom. One week he is solid with great throws, the next week he can suck beyond all recognition. The Bears miss Urlacher badly and Tillman hasn't been able to fill the defensive void on his own. Cutler must win this game to stay in the race for a playoff spot. If the Vikings win, game over. The last team in the playoff picture is the New York Giants. At Metlife Stadium they will host the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weeks tormenting defeat against the Ravens was enough to knock them almost completely out of the race. A tie between the Cowboys and the Redskins is the only option for them to clinch the Division Title. And for a wild card they need: A vikings loss, Bears loss and a Cowboys loss. Bleak might not be the best word to formulate their outlook for the post season. please log in to view this image This one is easy: Cowboys @ Redskins Most likely to be the game of the year. Both teams must win to clinch a division title. Romo VS RG3. RG3 got himself on the pro bowl sheet but hopefully his head is still in Washington and not in Hawaii. Against the Cowboys he needs all his concentration and focus During the season he relied heavily on his Running Back Mouris. But this game will likely be one of throw down passes and hail marry's. The Cowboys' defense has been sort of solid throughout the season and RG3 will need to be resourceful to dismantle it. Tony Romo was in a position to hurt the Reskins last week but he failed to perform. Will he learn from his mistakes of last week and be the one that leads their team to the NFC East division title? At the start of the season the Cowboys looked nothing like a post season team but from November and on they started to turn the tables in their favour. One more win is enough for both teams. Stay in your seats because this game will be hectic from kick off and will probably be cheek clinching to watch till the last whistle. And that's the last week thread of this season. Hope you enjoyed them!
Cowboys @ Redskins is all set up to be the regular season game of the year (it's practically a playoff game anyway). Got to tip the Redskins with home advantage and on current form, but it'll be a close-run thing. Great thread, although can Giants mathematically win the NFC East? I thought it was a straight winner-takes-all contest between Dallas and Washington?
ESPN says so, look I'll be honest, this is my first season that I'm following in depth. Last year I watched a couple of games, playoffs and Super Bowl. But since Visa sponsored the NFL live feed and made it open to international watchers I'm finally able to watch the season more closely. So I'm still somewhat of a rookie, last year I started learning the rules and plays and this year the details. And I'd like to think I'm doing alright with that. but when it comes to the 'what if' rules for playoffs, I know that I have to look elsewhere to shine some light on the matter. So here it is: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8776179/new-york-giants-need-win-philadelphia-eagles-lot-luck Hope this helps!
I'll be in Amsterdam for nye so hopefully I'll be celebrating the Vikings making the playoffs. it is a big ask to beat the packers though. SKOL! SKOL!
Nice Inkedupp, you could have tea with Cove! I'm flying out myself, to South America early Monday, (probably I will never see the Skins v Cowboys) so I will try to keep in touch until I get back in about 2 weeks. SKOL is the No 1 beer of Brazil, funnily enough. Once again. Kudos to you Cove this is a wonderful thread.
Right some updates on the injuries this week: A quick round up: Bears Brian Urlacher still doubtful for this weekend, Packers WR Randall Cobb questionable with an ankle injury and NY Jets B McElroy is doubtfull with abdomen problems. The rest of the injuries you can find here: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000118254/article/week-17-injury-report-brian-urlacher-doubtful-to-play Bears RB Matt Forte will start even though his ankle looks bad. NE Gronkowski will play, recovered from a broken fore arm in week 11
Kick off! The Colt getting a break in the end zone with a defensive pass interference 0-7 for the Colts, Chuck Pagano getting his first TD as coach in regular season
Vick is playing again for the Eagles, Foles is benched 85 yards to go for Megatron to the 2000 yard milestone
Giants are 14-0 up already! I've just realised, I'm up so early to go to Heathrow tomorrow, I will catch the end of the Cows Skins game!
great thread again cove, nice round up just looked on espn and it says the cowboy-'skins game is on late come on you redskins!
Wow, Bennett of the Bears is FAST! What a run! And Sanchez throwing his 18th interception of the season, REX RYAN IF YOU DON'T DUMP HIM, ALL OF NY WILL!!
Christ Manning, three TD in the first quarter, why not play like this every week!?!?! Should've made the post season this year!
