Adrián Basilio / Reform Agency
Mexico City
The places in the NFL Playoffs are practically full and now some wild cards and teams that will finish as leaders of their respective Divisions need to be defined.
With two weeks to go in the regular calendar, there are eight teams already with their pass secured to the final battles.
In the National Conference, Philadelphia and Dallas, qualified for the Postseason, are fighting for the top of the Eastern Division, while San Francisco and Minnesota, already in the Playoffs, have tied first place in the West and North, respectively.
In the American League, Cincinnati and Baltimore, also classified, are fighting for number one in the North Division; Buffalo leads in the East and Kansas City in the 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
The win over Miami improves Green Bay’s record to 7-8, the same as Seattle and Detroit, and is a half-game behind Washington for the final NL playoff spot.
A victory for NFL-leading Philadelphia (13-2) or a loss for Dallas (11-4) in the last 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 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 1, while the LA Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers. It will take place at 4:25 p.m.
The Ravens have already clinched a playoff berth and can still finish top of their industry, while the Steelers are required to win to maintain any hope of qualifying, otherwise they’re out and would end their first season with a losing record since 2003.
The Chargers are still looking for a wild card spot and play Indianapolis today. The Rams are already out.
Steelers-Ravens move to prime time
With the playoffs drawing ever closer, the NFL announced yesterday that it will make a scheduling change for Week 17.
The match between the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) and 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 at 12:00 noon.
As a result, the Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers game that was originally scheduled for that time will now be played at 3:25 p.m. that 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 they need to win their final two games of the regular season to clinch what would be their first division title in three years, plus play 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 good run in which they have four wins in their last five games.
After visiting the Ravens, the Steelers will close the season at home by hosting the Cleveland Browns.
Beginning in 2006, the NFL implemented a “flex scheduling” procedure for Sunday Night games to ensure quality matchups in prime time.
The Ravens will hold a key matchup once morest the Steelers next Sunday.
They pay tribute to Franco Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers players arrived at Heinz Field dressed in jersey 32, the number that immortalized Franco Harris, who died last Tuesday.
The historic Acereros runner received the first tribute, prior to the duel between the Steelers and Raiders, which was played on Christmas Eve.
Players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith, Kenny Pickett, among others, were caught in the stadium tunnel, where they wore a jersey with the mythical number.
Similarly, the Steelers’ social networks also paid tribute to Harris by posting “32” on their profile photos.
The architect of the “Immaculate Homecoming” in 1972, Harris died at the age of 72, racked up 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.
Day 16 Results
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 – 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