2012 - 2013 NFL Football Scoreboard

[khongquan2]

Giants, Cowboys, Redskins win in tight NFC East

[Cowboy72A]

This week game is a wash for the NFC East since all 4 teams won. We are back to square one again ....
Both Cowboys and Redskins are still in the hunt for the wildcard slot, and only one of them may have a chance, but not both.
Cb

[khongquan2]

2012- 2013 NFL Football Week 15 Scoreboard

[khongquan2]

2012- 2013 NFL Football Week 16 Scoreboard

[khongquan2]

2012- 2013 NFL Football Week 17 Scoreboard

[Cowboy72A]

2012- 2013 NFL Football Week 17 Scoreboard

Week 17 can be a tough one for predicting N.F.L. games. Some teams have playoff futures on the line, or at least a significant seeding advantage, and they may face teams with nothing to play for. This can create mismatched motivation levels and personnel decisions for which a purely mathematical model cannot account.

In the N.F.C., Chicago will need a win (or a tie) at Detroit to qualify for a wild-card berth. The Lions have little to play for beyond padding Calvin Johnson’s record-setting receiving yardage. So although the model gives a slight edge to Detroit, realistically it’s more likely that Chicago will gut out a win.

Minnesota needs a win, too, but it is hosting a Packers team that can gain a first-round bye with a win. It’s safe to keep the Packers as the favorites in this game.

San Francisco and Seattle are in a race for the N.F.C. West and possibly a first-round bye, and both are playing at home against teams with nothing on the line. The model is probably underestimating their chances.

The Sunday night game between Dallas and Washington could be a classic, as the winner takes the N.F.C. East crown and gets a first-round home game. But it’s possible Washington will have already clinched a wild-card berth before kickoff, if Chicago and Minnesota both lose. Either way, the Redskins and the Cowboys should be pulling out all the stops to win.

In the A.F.C., the playoff field is set, with only seeding up in the air. Houston, Denver and New England are vying for the top two seeds and a bye. All three are playing teams with nothing on the line, but the Houston game at Indianapolis is a little different because the Colts have clinched the fifth seed and have the option of resting their starters.

When Baltimore visits Cincinnati, neither team will have much incentive to win; both have (virtually) clinched their seeds. Cincinnati has the sixth seed, and Baltimore currently has the fourth. The only way that would change would be if the Ravens won and the Patriots lost, which would bump Baltimore into the third seed, forcing a rematch with the Bengals in the first round. With the Ravens’ numerous injuries, we shouldn’t be surprised to see many of their starters on the sideline Sunday. The winner of this one is anybody’s guess.