Week 17 NFL Preview

Greetings! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanza! Happy Festivus! I hope everyone's day was better than mine (long story, not getting into it).

I'm going to preview both the NFL and the Eagles game today, but first, the NFL as a whole. Aside from the Pats-Giants game last year, there really was not a whole lot to be determined Week 17. This year, however, let's just say, prepare for a wild ride. From The506

Fox 1 PM (Map)

Carolina @ New Orleans: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
New York Giants @ Minnesota: Dick Stockton and Brian Baldinger (To be shown on Philly Fox 29, WTXV-TV)
St. Louis @ Atlanta: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan
Chicago @ Houston: Matt Vasgersian and J.C. Pearson
Detroit @ Green Bay: Chris Rose and John Lynch

CBS 1 PM (Map)

New England @ Buffalo: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Oakland @ Tampa Bay: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon (To be shown on Philly CBS 3, KYW-TV)
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh: Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker
Tennessee @ Indianapolis: Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots
Kansas City @ Cincinnati: Bill Macatee and Beuerlein

Fox 4 PM (Map)

Dallas @ Philadelphia: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman (To be seen on Philly Fox 29, WTXV-TV)
Seattle @ Arizona: Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick
Washington @ San Francisco: Ron Pitts and Tony Boselli

CBS 4 PM (Map)

Miami @ New York Jets: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms (To be shown on Philly CBS 3, KYW-TV)
Jacksonville @ Baltimore: Dick Enberg and Randy Cross

Sunday Night Football (NBC 8:15 to be seen nationally)

Denver @ San Diego: Al Michaels and John Madden

Several games are very meaningful this week. In the NFC, all the Cowboys need to do is win and they are in the playoffs. However, if they lose, they will not be advancing to the post-season. The NFC North is still up for grabs. If the Vikings lose and the Bears win, the Bears have come from the depths of nowhere to be NFC North champions. If Tampa wins and Dallas loses, the Bucs are in the wildcard. If Carolina loses and Atlanta wins, the Falcons are NFC South champions and the Panthers go from having a shot at home-field advantage to the 5-seed (which is like a bye, seeing as they would play Arizona). And as if that's not exciting enough, history could be made on Sunday! The Detroit Lions could be the first team in NFL history to become 0-16. All they have to do is lose to Green Bay, something that well, may be difficult to do.

If that was head-scratching, then I have bad news. The AFC is even more complicated! Let's start with the AFC West Championship game though, that's simple. The winner of Denver-San Diego will claim the title of AFC West champions and become the 4-seed in the AFC and will host the 5-seeded Colts. The loser will miss the playoffs. Now to the AFC East. If the Dolphins win, they are in, no matter what. If the Pats lose, then the Dolphins-Jets game becomes an AFC East Championship game. But if the Pats win and the Jets win, the New England Patriots would become AFC East champions. The Jets are not solely dependent on the Pats though. The Bretts can clinch a wild-card with a Patriots win and a Baltimore Ravens loss (assuming they beat Miami, if they lose they are done). Aspeaking of Baltimore, they can lock up a playoffs spot by beating Jacksonville. But if they lose, they are not done. A loss gets them into the playoffs if the Bills and Dolphins both win.

Well then, how's everyone's brains? Are they fried like mine are? We know one thing is for sure, expect some dramatic moments and epic heartbreaks, and if the rest of this season is any indication, maybe even a little controversy.

I'll be back later for your Eagles Week 17 preview.