You never quite know what you're going to get when it comes to the final week of the NFL Regular Season. Sometimes, there are plenty of playoff spots still open, allowing for incredible games to take place as teams duke it out for their shot at the post season and sometimes...it's all about pride when the playoff picture is set and teams instead work toward finishing the season on a high note. Week 17 this year features a mix of both of those elements. A couple of teams are still fighting to make the playoffs, while others are planning to rest their starters as they prepare for a postseason run. But whether or not teams have something to play for...there's still great stories waiting to be told this time of year and here are the ones we will be keeping an eye on come tomorrow. 

Will the Packers lock up the NFC North?
On November 23rd, few football fans paid any attention to Aaron Rodgers statement that the Green Bay Packers could 'run the table' simply due to the fact they were 4-6 and heading toward a playoff exit. Yet, here we are weeks later, the Packers are on a five game win streak, and if they beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, they will win the NFC North, lock up a playoff spot and effectively...run the table. But the question on all of our minds is a simple one...can they beat the Lions and make good on their QB's promise? The answer is a resounding yes. The Green Bay Packers have finally found their stride and are now fearless when they take the field on either side of the ball and they will face a Detroit team that is losing confidence in their abilities as the weeks progress, so I fully expect Green Bay to lock up the division come tomorrow night. 

Will the Denver Broncos play the spoiler against the Raiders?
Few rivalries are as epic or as historic as the one between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders and come tomorrow, Denver has the chance to finish their season on a high note by beating Oakland and keeping their long time rival from winning the AFC West. Yet, while the hope is that the Broncos will trot out onto the field and finish the season on a high note with an epic beatdown of the Raiders...I just don't see that happening. The run game disappeared from this offense ages ago, and the offensive line simply cannot play so if anything, I expect this game to serve as nothing more than an evaluation game for Denver and that's not a bad thing. They desperately need to find out who has potential to contribute to another championship run so if evaluation becomes the focus, find by me...a win would simply be icing on the cake.

The New England/Miami Game might turn out to be one intense matchup.
Normally, this is a matchup where New England sits its starters, or plays them briefly and Miami tries its hardest to play for pride because the Pats are in the playoffs and Miami is looking ahead to the next season. But this year, that's simply not the case. The Patriots have yet to lock up the number one seed in the playoffs and the Dolphins are in and looking to maintain a win streak, which means this game might be the game of the week. After all, New England wants that bye week and home field advantage and Miami...well they want to play the spoiler and head into Wild Card Weekend with some momentum under their belt. So don't be shocked if the Dolphins manage to upset the Patriots, since they are a strong team this year, and they have a history of making life difficult for the New England Patriots.

Can Jacksonville and Cleveland end their seasons on a high note?
Last week was a momentous occasion for the Jaguars and the Browns since each team snapped their losing streak and savored the sweet taste of victory, but considering how rough their seasons have been this year...can either one of these teams win again and finish the season in positive fashion? When it comes to Jacksonville, I think the answer is yes, simply because of the fact that Interim Head Coach Doug Marrone has this team ready to play and they're motivated to win with him at the helm but as for the Browns...who knows. They're playing a Pittsburgh squad that will be resting their big name starters and that might help, but the Browns are one of the worst teams in football this year and while they are riding a high from last week's win...a couple of big plays from the Steelers can suck the life right out of this team. Either way, both of these teams could be fun to watch tomorrow simply because they have nothing to lose. 

Will Interim Head Coach Anthony Lynn make a difference for the Buffalo Bills? 
The Buffalo Bills are a team facing an uncertain future right now. They have turmoil at the quarterback position thanks to ownership's lack of faith in Tyrod Taylor, to the point where the Pegulas made the decision to bench him without input from a coaching staff that also dealt with incredible turnover this year and now unfortunately...the only way to right the ship is with a big time win and the man now chosen to guide this team to success is Interim Head Coach Anthony Lynn who a year ago was the Running Backs Coach for this team before ascending to Offensive Coordinator earlier this year and eventually the top job following Rex Ryan's departure. Which means Coach Lynn has one heck of a task ahead of him. He has to unify a shattered team and find a way to beat the Jets and well the big question that remains is...can he? I think the answer is yes if he can find a way to cut through the drama that surrounds this team and get them to focus on football and only football. If he can accomplish that then the Bills end their season on a high note and if not...well then it's business as usual.

​This weekend’s slate of football games came with a wide range of emotions. Some fans were able to feel pure joy and elation over a big win from their favorite team and others…well they simply shared in their team’s heartbreak because this was a holiday weekend filled to the brim with big time games with big time stakes and regardless of who won or who lost…there were fascinating stories to emerge from every game and here are the top stories from Week 16 in the NFL.
 
The Rex Ryan era has ended in Buffalo.
Earlier today, the Buffalo Bills relieved Head Coach Rex Ryan and his brother Rob of their respective duties and well…this is a move that is long overdue. Sure Rex was a great Defensive Coordinator and that’s what put him on the radar for head coaching gigs, but some coordinators are never meant to be in charge of an entire team, and Rex falls into that category and because of the fact that his legacy as a head coach will be forever tainted with mediocrity, wild sound bytes and boneheaded stunts filled with bravado, I don’t think any team will be handing him the captain’s chair ever again. But if a team is looking to improve quickly on the defensive side of the ball…Rex is the man to call. But in the meantime, expect the Bills to conduct a thorough search to find their new Head Coach and hopefully this time around they get the right man for the job rather than hiring a flash in the pan.
 
The Cleveland Browns pulled off a Christmas Miracle…and won a game.
I truly expected the 2016 Cleveland Browns to be the second team in the NFL to go 0-16, and well…it’s time for me to eat some crow because they surprised everyone this weekend by beating the San Diego Chargers. It wasn’t a pretty win by any means, but when you’re 0-14, you take what you can get and my hat goes off to the Browns for finding a way to contain the Chargers for four quarters and push them to the point where a critical mistake was made on special teams. Granted, they’re still the worst team in the league, but this win serves as a fine building block and hopefully they can use this spectacular victory to make their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers a competitive contest for a change.
 
It turns out that Gus Bradley WAS the problem in Jacksonville.
There was plenty of talk from the players in Jacksonville shortly after Gus Bradley was let go that they didn’t do enough for their coach and that his exit was their fault. While that is a lovely and respectful mea culpa…sometimes the coach is the problem and ol’ Gus was clearly the issue with the Jaguars because with Doug Marrone at the helm…Jacksonville looked like a completely different team. They were motivated, and hungry on both sides of the ball and that change in attitude resulted in a big win over the Titans, and while there are still plenty of fundamental football issues to fix on this squad, having a Head Coach that demands the most out of his players is a good first step and if Marrone can get this team to win again, expect him to be under serious consideration to remain as the Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 
Big Offensive changes are coming for the Denver Broncos in the offseason.
Any player that signs with Denver Broncos, has a few key expectations to follow when they put on the uniform. First and foremost, they have to give it their all every single game and second, they have to know their game and come prepared to do their job. If they choose to not follow either of those edicts, then consequences come into play and unfortunately for the players on this team, they chose to take the field on Sunday Night in uninspired and sloppy fashion and the end result of their lackadaisical attitude was a blow out loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on national television, that effectively ended any chance they had at making the playoffs this year. That means that General Manager John Elway will no doubt enact his ‘Kicking and Screaming’ edict and make some sweeping changes to the offensive side of the ball, which was awful on Sunday night and all season long. He will likely decline the option on OT Russell Okung and jettison OT Donald Stephenson and anyone else he deems necessary and I don’t think the changes end there. Expect a big time housecleaning when it comes to the offensive coaching staff as well as Elway works toward building a team that can contend for the title in 2017.
 
Only two spots remain available in the 2016 NFL Playoffs.
The playoff picture is becoming all the more clear as the weeks progress and it’s so incredibly close to coming together that only two open spots remain for the tournament and both of them are in the NFC. Yes, that’s right, the AFC slots are all filled with Kansas City and Miami locking up a spot with their respective wins, with the seeding to be decided after Week 17 and speaking of seeding, the NFC North and the #4 seed in the NFC will be decided by the Packers Lions game on Sunday night and the number six seed is still up for grabs depending on how the proverbial dominoes fall this weekend. Either way, we are all the more closer to finding out who will be competing for the Lombardi Trophy and since there are still seeds and spots on the line…we are still going to be in for some great games next Sunday.

It's going to be an interesting weekend of football for a couple of reasons. For starters, the schedule is broken up over four days instead of three. But above and beyond enjoying NFL football on a Saturday for a change, the other big reason this weekend will be so interesting, is because of how many teams still remain on the playoff bubble.

​Only four teams are officially in, which means teams that still have a chance are going to battle hard for every single win, making for some fascinating football and those are the games we will be keeping an eye upon this weekend, ones filled with intense playoff drama as eight more teams fight to fulfill their dream of making the playoffs and maybe, just maybe...hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. 

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Vikings were 5-0, in control of the NFC North and the playoffs seemed to be a foregone conclusion for this team. But something went terribly wrong, the streak ended, losses mounted and the Vikings are now on the outside looking in. But there is still hope for them to reach the tournament, they'll need some help from a few other teams...and they'll definitely need a win over the surging Green Bay Packers. In order to pull off this feat, they'll need to return to their old ways from earlier in the season and play stout defense and move the ball on offense, but it won't be easy. The Packers have found their groove late in the season and with the playoffs and the NFC North possibly within their grasp, they will do everything they can to secure a win and when all is said and done, I expect Green Bay to be the victor in this one. 

This is an AFC North matchup, with some massive implications for the AFC playoff picture. If Pittsburgh wins, they are division champions and earn a spot in the tournament. If Baltimore wins, they play the spoiler and need to beat the Bengals in Week 17 to wrap up the AFC North. That means a matchup that is traditionally nasty as is, is about to get all the more intense. After all, Baltimore boasts one of the finest defenses in the league and Joe Flacco will no doubt be looking for an opportunity to exploit the so-so Steeler defense. But considering how Pittsburgh pulled themselves out of a hole against Cincinnati last week, expect them to give as good as they get and as much as I can see Baltimore ruining Pittsburgh's day...I get the funny feeling the Steelers are going to surprise the Ravens and play some lights out football on their way to another division title...and the playoffs. 

The Denver Broncos season now sits on the brink because after two big losses they have to win this game, their season finale against Oakland and hope for a little bit of luck to make it into the playoffs. But really, this game goes beyond simply making a playoff run for the Broncos...this game serves as a referendum on the team's biggest flaw in 2016, the offensive line. We know the defense will do its part in slowing down the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, but if Trevor Siemian...or someone on the offensive side of the ball can't get the line to come together and play as one...than the offensive woes for this team will continue and unfortunately for the Broncos...I get the funny feeling it's going to be an ugly night for them in Arrowhead Stadium because if that offensive line hasn't played well over the course of  14 weeks...why the heck would they start now? 

This particular game is fascinating for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the Dallas Cowboys in essence have nothing to play for, since the Giants' loss on Thursday night handed Dallas the NFC East division title, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, the Detroit Lions have everything to play for. The Packers are nipping at their heels in the NFC North and a win here would help move them one step closer to the playoffs and their own division title. Which means, Dallas has some tough choices to make, do they put Dak and Zeke out on the field and risk injury, or do they send in Romo and the second team and whatever happens...happens? It's a tough call for certain simply because Dallas has an opportunity to get their first team players plenty of reps and solidify their record, but on the other hand, resting their starters and having them fresh and ready for the tournament isn't a bad thing either. My guess is...if Dallas rolls with all their starters, they win this one, and if they decide to give the first team a rest...Detroit snags their tenth win of the season. 

Two weeks. That's all that remains in the NFL regular season and that means this weekend's slate of games are going to be outright incredible, filled with captivating stories and stunning play as teams make their final push to either secure a spot in the playoffs, or finish the season with pride. So without further ado, let's take a look at the stories that are looming large over Week 16 in the NFL. 

Can the Miami Dolphins continue their playoff push?
Miami has been quite the pleasant surprise this season, coming together as a team after a rocky start, winning games when it matters most and it has them in prime position to make the playoffs. They simply have to keep winning and well, I don't see that being a problem for them considering the fact that they're playing the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Sure, there's some talent on the Bills, but they're a team without direction or focus right now and that will only be compounded by the talk that Rex Ryan is on his way out as Head Coach. So as long as the Dolphins play their game, there is a good chance they will walk away from this game as the victor and in fine control of their playoff destiny.

Can the Denver Broncos come together as a team and win?
Whether they want to admit it or not, the Denver Broncos are a team divided, with a defense that knows they are elite and that they have to carry the weight for a listless and downtrodden offense. It's already led to one big argument in the locker room and unfortunately this divide has come at exactly the wrong time, mere days before they face off against the mighty Chiefs in Kansas City, which begs the question...can this team finally find unity in order to win another important game? Honestly...I simply don't know. The offensive line is a disaster, and it's not getting any better and unless some sort of incredible inspiration strikes this team out of the blue to allow for that line to finally give Siemian and the tailback-of-the-week a chance to score, then it's going to be business as usual in this game and a decisive victory for the Chiefs.

Will Tom Savage lead the Texans to victory once again?
Coach Bill O'Brien made one gutsy call last Sunday by benching Brock Osweiler in favor of Tom Savage and it's one that paid off in spades. While Savage didn't exactly go all Peyton Manning during his time on the field and drop touchdowns left and right...he didn't turn over the ball, he managed the game nicely and walked away with the win and the nod to start against Cincinnati this weekend, which begs the question...can he lead them to victory once again? Absolutely. All he has to do is repeat that stellar  performance and not turn over the ball and he will do just fine against a depleted Bengals defense, and as an added bonus...if he wins this game, you know darn well that the Texans will keep him at the helm for the rest of the season...and likely the playoffs.

Can the Steelers win the AFC North?
Sunday features a huge game between two bitter AFC North rivals when the Baltimore Ravens head to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers and for Pittsburgh, this game is for all the AFC North marbles. A win and they're into the playoffs and they secure the division. However, a win won't come easy, because Baltimore is still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot and a win here, and a win over Cincinnati next week would net them the North and a home game come Wild Card Weekend. So you know this one is going to be an absolute Battle Royale through and through. But when all is said and done, I think Pittsburgh will indeed claim the AFC North once again simply because they have been in tough games like this before, heck just look at last week, and there are vulnerabilities when it comes to  Baltimore that  they can exploit to their advantage...

Will the Detroit Lions rebound against the toughest team in the NFC?
Monday night features one incredible matchup between the Lions and Cowboys and this may well turn out to be the game of the week simply because there's so much on the line for both teams going into this one. Detroit needs to rebound from an ugly loss so they can work toward locking up the NFC North and Dallas...well they want home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But...can Detroit bring down this juggernaut of a team? It is possible, if they study what the Giants did closely. But truth be told, as much fun as the Lions are to watch this year, they're no match for the Dallas offense and I fully expect the Cowboys to roll over the Lions on their way to the playoffs.

Change is a necessity when it comes to life in the NFL. Every year, rosters are altered, game plans updated and sometimes...coaches are swapped out due to the fact that they simply couldn't get the job done. It's a harsh reality in the football world and one so important and franchise altering that the usual day when coaching changes occur has earned it's own nickname...Black Monday. But,  as the season winds down, we thought we would take a moment and look at a few other teams around the league that might be making some changes in the next week or two and identify which coaches and executives are sitting on the hot seat.

Rex Ryan - Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills
The prevailing thought when Rex Ryan took over the Head Coaching gig for the Buffalo Bills a couple of years ago was that Rex had received quite the raw deal with the New York Jets. He didn't get the right personnel in place from the front office so perhaps a fresh start would show off his talents as a coach. Unfortunately, the past couple of years in Buffalo have proven that the issue in New York was Rex, not the players because the same mediocrity the Jets suffered from now plagues the Bills. The team just has not improved under Rex's watch, if anything it feels as though they've taken a step back and because of that, it's safe to assume that Rex Ryan will be relieved of his coaching duties come Black Monday, if not sooner. 

John Fox - Head Coach of the Chicago Bears
Coach Fox has quite the reputation around the league for coming in and fixing teams that have lost their way and for proof, look no further than his time in Carolina and Denver, where he took both teams to the Super Bowl, and that excellent resumé is precisely why Chicago wanted him once he became available. However, the Midas Touch that often comes with John Fox's arrival seems to have disappeared with the Bears, in fact, his tenure with this team has been an outright disaster. His first year with the Bears, they finished 6-10 and this year they're sitting at an ugly 3-11. Granted Fox has dealt with injury issues on this team since his arrival as Head Coach, but ownership is no longer looking for excuses, they want the Bears to win and win now, so don't be surprised if Coach Fox is sent packing at the end of the season and the Chicago Bears start over fresh...again...

Hue Jackson - Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns
Truth be told, I feel bad for Hue Jackson. He's an offensive genius, one that managed to put together some impressive game plans in Cincinnati and you can already see how much that team has struggled without him since he left to take the head coaching gig in Cleveland. But the reason I feel a sense of pity for Hue is that he took over a team that has a handful of talented players on the roster, and the 'football minds' making all the personnel decisions truly have no idea what the heck they are doing and sadly...since the team is 0-14, I get the funny feeling that someone is going to have to have to take the fall for this mess...and I think Hue is going to be that scapegoat. Yes, I understand a coach's job is to bring the best out of his players, but what do you expect a coach to do with the worst roster in the NFL? But you never really know what will happen when it comes to the fickle Browns, so there is a chance that Hue might stay, but more than likely, I see this team making yet another coaching change at the end of the year.

Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke - Head Coach and General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers
It's simply been an ugly season for the San Francisco 49ers. They have the second worst record in the NFL this year and they went 5-11 the year prior and well, I get the funny feeling the York family is going to do a little housecleaning this offseason. It will likely begin with their General Manager since he's the one that made the call on hiring the woefully under qualified Jim Tomsula last year, followed by the inept Chip Kelly one year later when the opportunity was there to hire a proven winner in Mike Shanahan and once Trent is gone, more than likely Chip is next since once again his special brand of football has led to titanic failure and the new General Manager will want to hire their own coach to go with a brand new roster but either way, the reset button is about to be hit in Santa Clara again and considering how badly the last couple of seasons have gone for this team...that's not a bad thing.

​Rick Smith - General Manager of the Houston Texans
The NFL can be a forgiving place when it comes to poor personnel decisions, simply because there's so much due diligence in place before a player signs with a team. There's tape study, face to face meetings with the coaching staff, all that good stuff to make sure they'll mesh with the team. But sometimes, grave mistakes are made, like the one Rick Smith made when he signed Brock Osweiler to his roster. There was no face to face meeting, just a seventy-two million dollar contract, handed over to a guy who turned out to be the biggest free agent bust of 2016, and when you look at Brock's performance this season and take into account that he had to be benched in order for the team to win an important game...there's a chance that Owner Bob McNair may hold Rick Smith accountable for this disaster of a deal and send him packing.

Every single fan of the NFL has openly questioned whether or not winning matters to their favorite team when things simply aren't going right. It's a question that often arises during a losing streak, but if you have ever believed that a team, or a coach or an owner truly has no desire to win, reflect upon this weekend to understand just how much it means to all of them. Because this weekend featured some gutsy calls that saw players ride the bench, and a coach lose his job...all in the name of winning and these powerful decisions made for some incredible storylines so without further ado, let's reflect upon Week 15 in the NFL and the amazing stories that came out of it.

The Gus Bradley era has finally come to an end in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief because after several excruciating years filled to the brim with losses, Head Coach Gus Bradley was relieved of his duties on Sunday afternoon shortly after the Jags lost to the Texans and all I can say about this move is...it's about time. I totally get the need for consistency at the position and to give a new coach time to put together their particular scheme...but let's be honest, Bradley's teams were always awful on a fundamental level, even after the front office handed him talented players through free agency and the draft, making this a sound football decision from the franchise and hopefully the next man to take over the job can finally bring out the potential in this talented squad and get the Jaguars back to their winning ways.

The Houston Texans benched Brock Osweiler at last.
It's been a tough season for Houston Texans fans for one reason and one reason alone...Brock Osweiler. The supposed 'savior' of the franchise at QB has been an outright disappointment from day one and thankfully Head Coach Bill O'Brien finally had enough of his underperforming quarterback and after Brock threw a pair of interceptions during Sunday's game...O'Brien made one tough call and sent Osweiler to the bench, and well...it was a brilliant decision on his part. In Osweiler's stead, Tom Savage led the Texans to a comeback win over the Jaguars and he did such a fine job that he was also announced as the starter for Saturday's game against Cincinnati. Either way, this is quite the shake up in Houston, one that demonstrates just how badly Coach O'Brien wants this team to win and one that leaves Osweiler's future in Houston uncertain...

A divide is growing in the Denver Broncos locker room.
Once again, the Denver Broncos defense did their job on Sunday, holding Tom Brady and the Patriots to a paltry 16 points on offense, and once again the Denver Broncos offense squandered away every opportunity to put points on the board, courtesy of their usual litany of issues. Poor o-line play, no run game, etc. and well...it would seem the defensive players on this team have had enough of doing their part and not getting any help from the O since after the game, Coach Kubiak had to take a moment to cool down a shouting match between CB Aqib Talib and OT Russell Okung. Granted the official line to the press has been there is no divide on this team but let's be honest...it's there and it's growing quickly and the only way to solve this problem, is for the offense to finally do their job and put up points. Either way, this is a story to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks because another awful performance from the offense will only make things worse...

The Playoff Picture is finally coming together.
Some years it's pretty obvious as to who will be playing in January when the playoffs roll around and then there are years like this one...where the teams are so competitive it all comes down to the wire. But thankfully this week's slate of games cleared up some of the fog surrounding the playoff picture. In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks are not only in, they also locked up the NFC West with their victory over the Los Angeles Rams and in the AFC the Oakland Raiders secured their first playoff berth since 2002 with a win over the San Diego Chargers and New England's victory over Denver secured the AFC East and a first round bye for the Patriots. Which means congratulations are in order for these teams for making their way into the tournament and it should be interesting to see how the rest of the brackets fill out after this weekend's games.

It's time to switch all of the Referees in the NFL to full time status.
Referees take a lot of heat in the NFL and sometimes deservedly so. They don't always get the call right and while we can usually write that off to the fact that hey, they're only human, this season has left us with some baffling calls from the officials to the point where I've started to wonder...is it truly human error...or do these guys and gals simply do not care? Case in point, Sunday's game between the Lions and the Giants, where Odell Beckham Jr. clearly dropped the ball...and the refs called it a catch. Yup. You read that right and well after watching that unfold on live television and after the shock of such a bad call finally wore off...it hit me...the officials, to a certain degree don't care if they get it right or not because this isn't their full time gig. They go back to other careers in the offseason and well...I think the time has come to move all NFL referees to full time status. Yes, I'm fully aware of the debate for and against this but if the NFL was their sole source of income, I think a little more care would go into each call and they would dedicate more time to watching film to make sure they get things right. Regardless, something has to change because calling a play as a catch when the ball is clearly on the ground is completely unacceptable.

Perhaps the best part about being a football fan this late in the season, is that we are treated to some incredible games as teams that are on the bubble, or already headed to the postseason are doing their best to give us perfection on the field.

They know they have to be sharp. They know they cannot make mistakes, because those are the kinds of things that send teams home rather than to the Super Bowl and those are the kinds of games that will be fascinating to watch this weekend. Because these are the matchups that feature teams that have to be perfect or watch as everything they've worked so hard to accomplish this season slip away, meaning that we are in for some spectacular games this weekend and here are the ones revolving around perfection that we will be keeping an eye on come tomorrow.

This is a game filled to the brim with some fascinating storylines. On one hand, the New England Patriots want a big time win to help move them toward the AFC East Division Title and Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs and on the other hand...the Denver Broncos are about to play their biggest game of the year. They're a team that has struggled through fourteen games to get the offense going with any sense of consistency and a loss here would be outright devastating to their playoff chances. Which means that if there was ever a time for the Broncos offense to come together and play well this would be it. That would mean the offensive line has to play as a collective unit and protect their quarterback and help generate the run. If they can pull that off, then the Broncos will have plenty to celebrate, but truth be told, it's more likely that New England will walk out of Denver with the win.

It's been quite a while since I've heard the phrase 'Trap Game' used in the NFL and well, I think that phrase is due for a comeback, because this game has that written all over it. Sure, the Chiefs are a darn good football team and sure they will send bombs to their receivers all day long to take advantage of Tennessee's porous secondary, but upon further review, maybe it would be unwise to write off the Titans in this game. After all, they did manage to attack every weakness the Broncos have on offense last week, and it wouldn't shock me to see them do the same to Kansas City and potentially upset the delicate playoff picture in the AFC. Either way, I suddenly have the feeling this game might be a little more difficult than the Chiefs are expecting it to be and don't be surprised if Tennessee manages to pull off quite the upset in this one.

Speaking of perfection, this game personifies the word. Both of these teams are 9-4, and looking to improve their playoff standings. For the Lions, it's all about locking up the NFC North and a victory over the Giants would help them with that. The Giants on the other hand are looking to keep themselves in the playoff hunt since they're the #5 seed and their only way into the contest is that all important Wild Card berth. Which means both of these scrappy squads are no doubt going to give it their all on the field and this is another one of those games that could either turn into a wild shootout, or a defensive Battle Royale, but either way it should be one heck of a game and truth be told, this is a tough one to call, but if I had to guess who might win this one I would have to say Detroit, simply because they have done a phenomenal job of finding ways to win all season long.

A week ago I would have said point blank that there was no way the Buccaneers were going to win this game in the slightest considering the way Dallas was playing. But then the Giants came along and surprised everyone by upsetting the mighty Cowboys on national television, meaning...there is a chance that Tampa Bay could win this game and shock Dallas once again and the formula for that is simple...do what New York did. They confused Dak Prescott all night long with coverages he had never seen before, and they flat out put an end to the run game, leaving the Cowboys without an answer on offense. If Tampa Bay's defense can pull that off then expect another incredible upset to happen on Sunday Night Football. But in reality, I get the feeling Dallas will right the ship in this game and walk away with the victory.

One of the biggest reasons that football fans everywhere are so passionate and invested in this sport, is the sheer fact that fans can truly share in the emotional experience of the game. Players often wear their hearts on their sleeves and with 70,000 plus people surrounding them, their passion, or their heartbreak somehow spreads throughout the stadium…or through the television set and well…as we approach the final three games of the season, you can already feel the intensity that comes with this final push toward the playoffs. We know our boys are hungry to win, and desperate to prove to everyone that they’re the best and because we feel what they do, we know they are going to give us their absolute best when they take the field as we join them on a rollercoaster ride of thrills and emotion that will give us plenty to talk about long after these games have come to an end, because football is an experience, a living story if you will and here are the top stories that we will be keeping an eye on this weekend.
 
Can the Denver Broncos win what could be their biggest game of the year?
The Broncos have undoubtedly spent the last week doing some soul searching after their devastating loss to the Tennessee Titans and well…hopefully something good comes out of all that reflection. Because on Sunday, they take on their greatest challenge to date this year, the New England Patriots and if they want to have any shot at making the playoffs, they have to beat them, but the question is...can they? Truth be told the odds don’t seem to be leaning in their favor. While their defense is strong and will harass Tom Brady all day long, the offense is an absolute mess. They can’t run the ball. The offensive line is akin to Swiss cheese and they love to turn over the ball. The only way they stand a chance is to correct those mistakes, the same issues they had when they faced the Patriots in the playoffs last year…so yes it is possible. But considering the lack of leadership on this team and the players inability to come together to play as a unit, there’s a fair chance the Patriots leave Denver with the win.
 
Will the coaching change in Los Angeles provide the team with a spark?
The Los Angeles Rams will take the field with a new head coach on Sunday since Jeff Fisher was relieved on his duties earlier this week and you know that every single fan of this team is hoping that this coaching change will finally give the Rams the spark they so desperately need, however…those same fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high about something magical coming out of this. Unfortunately, this late in the year, bad habits have settled in when it comes to this team, to the point where it’s a fundamental to them so a lot of the ugly play we’ve been accustomed to when it comes to L.A. will continue, but it’s not all bad news. A new coach means a fresh set of eyes and new ideas to bring to the gameplan so we can definitely expect this team to try some new things and possibly see some points come out of it, but until they get a permanent head coach and a new scheme and start fresh in the offseason…these last three games are going to be rough.
 
Will the Kansas City Chiefs tighten their grip on the AFC West?
Kansas City has defeated both the Broncos and the Raiders to claim the coveted number one spot in the AFC West, but seeing as to how the lead in this division has changed hands several times, can they maintain their status as king of the mountain? The answer is absolutely. They are going up against a mediocre Tennessee pass defense, so the gameplan will most likely involve a heavy dose of Travis Kelce and any other receiver that finds themselves open, with a side of punishing defense since you know Eric Berry and the bunch will do their best to shut down the Titans run game. Sure the Titans will get in a few good plays here and there but in the end, the Chiefs are the better team and they will walk away from this one with a decisive win.
 
Will the San Diego Chargers play spoiler again?
There is nothing that the Chargers enjoy doing more this time of year than surprising elite teams with painful losses because hey…why not? If they can’t enjoy the playoffs, then why should anyone else? It’s that ‘we don’t give a damn’ mentality that makes them dangerous late in the season and they face off against a strong Raiders team, but one that is also licking their wounds after that ugly loss to Kansas City. So you know that Philip Rivers is chomping at the bit to throw some touchdowns and make Oakland rue the day. Unfortunately, I don’t think San Diego will win this game since they have been devastated by injuries this year, but they will make a game of it and probably keep the score close and who knows, I could be wrong and they’ll overcome the injuries and deliver another loss to the Raiders.
 
Will the Dallas Cowboys rebound from their loss to the Giants?
Dallas is a darn good football team and I have to say I was quite surprised to see the ‘sky is falling’ mentality pour out from the fans over the fact that New York figured out how to beat this incredible team and well, the good news is, Dallas gets the opportunity to quiet any doubters by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, that may not be an easy feat since Tampa Bay is playing some lights out football right now and they will no doubt follow the playbook that the Giants did in order to improve their own playoff standing. Which means that there’s a good chance this game is going to be a hard fought battle for sixty minutes, one that I think the Cowboys will come out of as the victor.

Storylines galore exist as we sit at a quarter of the way into hockey season. The usual suspects are off to a hot start, with the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins leading their divisions. In the middle of the pack, just a handful of wins separate potential Wild Card teams. Down in the cellar, a number of teams may have already begun to look to the future as their potential playoff hopes are sinking fast. In this roundup we look at risers, fallers, and hockey in the desert.
 
Oh, Canada! The Return of the North.
As American as apple pie and baseball? As Canadian as poutine and hockey. Well, not so much in 2016. Hopefully Canadians were all stocked up on fries, gravy, and cheese curds last year, because they didn’t have any hockey to watch after the regular season. For the first time since 1969-70, not a single team from north of the border made the Stanley Cup playoffs. Things are looking up so far this season though! As of right now, five of the seven teams based in Canada have rebounded and are in a position to make the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens are leading their division, with the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Ottawa Senators not far behind in theirs. The Winnipeg Jets are holding their own in the ridiculously stacked Central division, doing enough to hang onto the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. Things aren’t all bad in Toronto either, as the Maple Leafs’ rookie sensation Auston Matthews has burst onto the scene showcasing his outstanding scoring ability and delivering the beginning of a bright future for the franchise.
 
Big Scoring in The Big Apple.
The New York Rangers are putting the biscuit in the basket at a rate that has to have the team’s equipment managers heading to Costco to stock up on replacement goal nets in bulk. They have already scored 105 goals in their first thirty games. Oh, and New York is only allowing 2.30 goals per game, tied for sixth-best in the league. That’s a recipe for success that has the Broadway Blueshirts’ faithful wondering if this might be the year they find a way to win it all, ending a trend of disappointing playoff exits and a twenty-four year Stanley Cup drought.
 
Rocky Mountain Low: The Downfall of the Colorado Avalanche.
Once a feared and revered franchise, the Colorado Avalanche are now a doormat for the entire league. Dead last in the NHL standings, the Avs look hopeless and lost on any given night. Both McNichols Arena and Pepsi Center used to be a place where opposing teams hated to play. Now, Colorado’s home games are a welcome sight on the schedule for traveling teams looking for an easy W. After getting blown out 5-1 at home by the Nashville Predators on November 1st, many Avalanche players vowed that they would not get embarrassed in their own house like that again. That didn’t last long and the empty promises have led to a paltry 4-8-1 home record. They aren’t much better on the road either, recently suffering one of the most embarrassing losses in team history: a 10-1 blowout at the hands of Montreal. Many believed that Colorado’s collapse over time was due to poor coaching, that the right personnel was needed to transform a “young” “talented” core into Stanley Cup champions. That belief lead to the departure of head coaches Joel Quenneville, Tony Granato, Joe Sacco, and, most recently, Patrick Roy. Things are not getting better under current head coach Jared Bednar, leaving many wondering if the problem lies within the common denominator (the aforementioned core group of players) after all. Dark days are upon Denver hockey. The superstar players aren’t delivering. They haven’t for years. Blowing up the roster and starting fresh may be the only thing that brings Lord Stanley back to the Mile High City.
 
Is the Red Wings Streak in Jeopardy?
Death. Taxes. The Red Wings make the playoffs. Detroit hasn’t missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in a quarter of a century. It may just be wishful thinking from a bitter Avalanche fan, but 2016-17 might finally be the year that the streak ends. Detroit is currently in twelfth place out of sixteen in the Eastern Conference. The eleven teams in front of them are all looking extremely formidable and may be tough to outpace. On top of that, the Wings have struggled to generate much offense, ranking twenty-first in the league in goals scored. The season is still young and Detroit is too good of a franchise to rule out now, though. While Detroit currently sits behind eleven good teams, many of those teams are neck and neck, only separated by a few points. Detroit looked doomed in the 2015-16 season too, but a late-season push boosted them into third in their division and into a playoff spot, via a tiebreaker with the Boston Bruins. A short winning streak would put Detroit back into contention.
 
Westward Expansion: What Las Vegas’ New Team Means for the Rest of the League.
Matching Baskin Robbins, the National Hockey League is rolling out its thirty-first flavor for the 2017-18 campaign. The new squad has been met with lots of local support. Season ticket sales exceeded 15,000 in June, well before the team even had a name or logo. Those finally came on November 22nd when the new team unveiled its identity: the Vegas Golden Knights. In the midst of all the fanfare, there are a few large implications for the rest of the league to keep an eye on, namely roster moves and league growth. Above all else, the most pressing issue for the other thirty teams in the league is the loss of talent that comes with the addition of a franchise. At the end of the 2016 season, the NHL will hold the 2017 Expansion Draft where the Golden Knights will select thirty players for their roster, one from each existing team. The league has a few rules in place to prevent the expansion draft from becoming a fantasy draft. Each team can protect a certain number of players: either a) seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie, or b) eight total skaters (forwards and defensemen) and one goalie. Additionally, all rookies, second-year players, and players with “No Movement” clauses in their contracts are off-limits. Teams have between now and June 21st to analyze their rosters and begin to make some tough decisions about who they need to protect and who they are willing to leave vulnerable. Additionally, this should create more movement prior to the trade deadline, as teams will look to ship off players that they don’t have room to protect, in an effort to gain something in return rather than to risk losing them for nothing in the draft. A secondary and more distant ramification for the league is the NHL’s overall growth. With the addition of the Golden Knights, the NHL sits at an unbalanced thirty-one teams, with sixteen in the Eastern Conference and fifteen in the Western Conference. This likely means that a thirty-second team could be added to the league in the coming years. Seattle and Quebec City are currently both in the market for a hockey team. If either receives a team, more shuffling would be necessary within conferences and divisions, but the league would ultimately become more balanced. 

What a wild and incredible weekend of football. The playoff picture took quite the hit as underdog after underdog toppled the elite, giving license to the age old saying that anything can happen on game day and these incredible games, made for some incredible stories so let's not waste any time today and get right down to taking a closer look at those particular stories and discuss what we learned from Week 14 in the NFL. 

​The Kansas City Chiefs are scary good right now.
Normally at this time of year, the Chiefs are a team on the bubble, fighting for their playoff lives. But in a wild and crazy 2016 season, Kansas City is now sitting atop the AFC West, and they did it by pulling off one incredible feat...they beat the Oakland Raiders and they did it in impressive fashion. After building an early 21 point lead on the Raiders they let the defense do their thing, neutralizing the Oakland offense and the KC offense played mistake free football, chewing up the clock on their way to this incredible upset and well...this team is firing on all cylinders right now, at just the right time and every team that has to face this team needs to bring their A game because the Kansas City Chiefs are clearly ready to do whatever it takes to win.

The Jeff Fisher era has come to an end in Los Angeles...but the Rams still have lingering issues.
Not that long ago, the entire league took a moment and scratched their heads in collective surprise when the Rams signed Jeff Fisher, the master of mediocrity, to a two year contract extension. It simply didn't make any sense to give a coach who was guiding his team to another losing season more money and well...clearly the extension was merely a symbolic gesture because following Los Angeles' blow out loss to the Falcons this weekend, Jeff Fisher was relieved of his coaching duties yesterday afternoon. But while the move makes sense and well...was necessary for certain, it doesn't fix one burning fact; the Los Angeles Rams front office is an absolute mess. Firing a guy after giving him a contract extension he didn't deserve in the first place speaks to loads of dysfunction, and a lack of communication and direction so my hope is that Owner Stan Kroenke cleans house in the offseason and starts over fresh with a group of solid football minds that are all on the same page, otherwise this same kind of mediocrity will persist.

The New York Giants did what they do best on Sunday Night; dismantle an elite team.
For the most part, the Giants are quite the fickle football team. They can take the field and stun their opponent with some lights out play, or take the field and embarrass themselves. But if there's one thing the Giants are consistent at, it's toppling titans. After all, we can't forget that this is the team that spoiled the New England Patriots dream of a perfect 19-0 season in Super Bowl XLII, and they upset New England once again in Super Bowl XLVI and Sunday Night...they went ahead and did it again, snapping the Dallas Cowboys 11 game win streak in impressive fashion. In fact they did what no other team has been able to do this season, they confused Dak Prescott enough that he couldn't find a rhythm and they finally shut down the Cowboys powerhouse run game. It was truly an upset for the ages and kudos to the Giants for their fearless play and for once again proving that no team is invincible.

The Houston Texans finally played like a team and pulled off an important win.
I'll be the first to admit, that I've been extremely hard on the Houston Texans this year and with good reason. They're a team filled with talent, that has yet to realize their potential. Yes, one of the big problems on this team is their quarterback, but the great teams, the ones that are talked about for years to come, are the ones that come together as a team to overcome their deficiencies and find a way to win and with the Playoffs on the line, the Texans did just that. It wasn't a pretty victory by any means, but hey, they got the job done, they played like a team at long last and that's a huge deal, and a stepping stone for the future and here's to hoping we see more unity from this squad in the future.

The Denver Broncos are a team without inspiration right now. 
Denver's loss to Tennessee this weekend has made some serious waves in the Mile High City. In fact my social media feeds were filled to the brim with one constant theme, that Gary Kubiak was to blame for all of the Broncos woes right now and some even called for him to be fired. That's quite the turnaround from the fans seeing as to how this team you know, won a Super Bowl in February but hey...that's how it goes in this town from time to time. But while there are indeed some coaching issues with this team, it's not their biggest problem, their real glaring issue is that this team takes the field every week without an ounce of heart. Last year, during their championship run this team took the field with a chip on their shoulder, they played with inspiration and well...that's just not present this year...and that's rarely something a coach can give life to. It begins and ends with the players and with their season in the balance, maybe it's time for a players only meeting...to find that swagger once again and to finally discover who on this team is a true leader that everyone on this team can look to...