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Dissecting the road to the NFL postseason
We have reached the final quarter of the NFL season. Thus far, 2017 has been highlighted — or lowlighted, more fittingly — by injuries to superstars and a lot of bad play. There are just 12 teams with winning records three-fourths of the way through the year, while the Cleveland Browns still find themselves winless.
Still, there is plenty of intrigue as we head down the stretch, and there are some teams that are playing very well. Let’s look at the key storylines in the final four weeks of the season:
Best division race: NFC South
There are only 12 teams in the NFL with winning records. A quarter of those winning teams reside in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints are 9-4, the Carolina Panthers are 8-4 and the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons sit at 8-5. The Saints separated themselves with a win over Carolina (winning any tiebreaker over the Panthers) in Week 13, though dropping Thursday's game against the Falcons has kept Atlanta alive in the race.
Runner-up: NFC West
The 9-3 Rams are one of the best stories in the NFL this season. The Rams haven’t won more than eight games in a season since 2003. The Seattle Seahawks loom at 8-4 and are used to recent competition in the division, but it has come from the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. Now, it’s the Rams’ turn. There is a colossal meeting between L.A. and Seattle in Week 15 in Seattle.
Best weak division race: AFC West
We have a three-team mess, er, race in the AFC West. The Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders are all 6-6. This is a division where K.C. and Oakland tied at 12-4 last season. It was expected to be a great division in 2017 again. It is not — but someone has to win this race.
Worst race: AFC East
The Patriots are 10-2 and have a four-game lead over Buffalo. This division is a bore. As usual, New England has won its division every season since 2003 except 2008—the season Tom Brady was lost for the season in Week 1.
Key team in AFC: Pittsburgh
The Steelers are 10-2. They are probably New England’s only competition in a lousy AFC. They are stacked, so perhaps this is their year.
Key team in NFC: Vikings
Minnesota is 10-2 and tied with Philadelphia for the best record in the tough NFC. That means the Vikings have a legitimate chance to become the first team ever to play a Super Bowl on its home field.
Best AFC team currently not in playoff position: San Diego
The Chargers are tied for first place in the AFC West, but they currently don’t hold a tiebreaker. Still, this team may be in good shape either in the division or as a wild card. The conference stinks, and the Chargers don’t. They have won six of the past eight games since starting 0-4. We still don’t know if we can trust the Chargers because they get in their own way so often, but they are hot right now and loaded.
Best NFC team currently not in playoff position: Atlanta
No one will want to play this team in the postseason. The Falcons have had a predictable Super Bowl hangover (28-3, anyone?), but they could make some noise if they get into the tournament.
Best remaining AFC regular-season game: New England at Pittsburgh, Week 15
The Steelers have it set up. They win out, and the road to the Super Bowl goes through Heinz Field. That, truly, is their only way of getting to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh must face New England at home in the playoffs or it could be just a bit to much to ask the Steelers to win on the road in Foxboro. This game is huge.
Best remaining NFC regular-season game: Philadelphia at Los Angeles Rams, Week 14
There are a lot of important games remaining in this conference, but this may have home-field and bye-week ramifications. Plus, it’s Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz. The top two picks of the 2016 draft will play many important games against each other. This is the first of the biggies between these two.
More must-reads:
- The NFC playoffs will be loaded from top to bottom
- NFL Week 14 predictions
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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Green Bay Packers: NFL Insider Shares '1 Clear Observation' Regarding Offense So Far in Training Camp
As the Green Bay Packers busily prepare for the 2025 NFL season, there is a big focus on quarterback Jordan Love and his new weapons in the wide receiver room. For the first time since 2002, the Packers used their first round pick in the NFL Draft on a wide receiver, selecting Matthew Golden, who has turned heads so far early in training camp. Additionally, Green Bay added Savion Williams in the third round of the NFL Draft this year, and signed Mecole Hardman in free agency. Indeed, the way the wide receiver room will be determined is something that many fans are keeping an eye on as there simply are not enough roster spots to keep everyone. That being said, there seems to be a recent development in the offense that may see a different position group getting more attention once the season starts. NFL Insider Says the Green Bay Packers Will Be Utilizing Tight Ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave a Great Deal Over the course of the offseason, Love has dropped hints about targeting his tight ends more in the offense. And according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who was present at training camp in Green Bay last week, it appears that is exactly what is happening, at least during these early practices: “One clear observation: Love is very comfortable throwing to his tight ends, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, who were featured prominently during this particular session. Part of that was by design, as at least two receivers were on rest days when I visited. “Injuries limited Musgrave to seven games last season, which resulted in a Kraft breakout season but a lack of the potent two-TE attack the Packers envisioned. That plan is now back on. “‘What’s cool is they are both fully capable of doing a lot of cool stuff,’ LaFleur said. ‘It definitely gives you a lot more flexibility on offense, the athleticism you’re looking for in both the run and the pass game. It makes you a lot more unpredictable.'” Back in 2023, the Packers drafted both Kraft and Musgrave, hoping that both would play significant roles on offense. However, as Fowler notes, Musgrave has been severely hampered by injuries over his first two NFL seasons. Many forget, though, that as a rookie, he tied Green Bay’s franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end. But both are healthy in camp and both are looking to take the roles the team envisioned for them. Kraft, especially, is looking at becoming one of the more noteworthy tight ends in the NFL. Last season, he had 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. If both players take strides forward in 2025, opposing defenses will be hard-pressed to figure out the best way to approach the Packers offense.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Seattle Mariners Send Right-Handed Reliever Outright to Triple-A Tacoma
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners added to their minor league bullpen depth by sending a familiar face to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Sunday. Mariners right-handed reliever Collin Snider was designated for assignment on July 30 following the club's trade acquisition of left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson. Snider cleared waivers and he was sent to Tacoma outright. Snider hasn't made an appearance for Seattle in the majors in nearly two months. He was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain June 4. He began a rehab assignment with Tacoma on July 5 and made nine appearances with the club. Snider was activated off the injured list the same day he was designated for assignment. Snider posted a 5.47 ERA with the Mariners with 24 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched across 24 appearances this year. While with the Rainiers, he had a 5.06 ERA with nine strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Seattle claimed Snider off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Feb. 6, 2024, and had a career resurgence with the M's in 2024. Snider had a 1.94 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched across 42 outings with the Mariners last season. Snider will provide Seattle with crucial reliever depth in the minors for the final two months of the season. The Mariners lost right-handed reliever Trent Thornton with a torn left Achilles tendon Thursday. Snider's will join many other Tacoma relievers who have made major league appearances for Seattle this season, including Troy Taylor, Tayler Saucedo, Casey Lawrence, Jesse Hahn, Jhonathan Diaz and others.
Best MLB trades from the last decade: National League
With MLB's trade deadline now behind us, Yardbarker's MLB writers got together this week to identify the best trade each club has made in the last decade (more or less). (Records and stats are entering play on Monday.)
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