Week 16 of every NFL season usually has some games that impact the playoff race, but that’s particularly true this season. This playoff race is much tighter than anything ever seen before as at least 22 teams in the league have a great shot at making the playoffs.
With that in mind, there are a handful of games in Week 16 that either feature division rivals or have a pair of Wild Card teams set to do battle. The playoff races in each conference are going to look much different after Week 16 is over, but you can expect plenty of drama to extend into Week 17 as well.
Here is a look at some of the top games that you should be focusing on in Week 16.
Jump toHuge Game in the AFC East
There are a handful of big games in the NFL this week, but the biggest will be taking place in the AFC East as the New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills. New England currently leads the division by one game, but Buffalo will take complete control with a win on the road.
The Bills were the big betting favorites in the preseason, but the Patriots have had a terrific season. The Patriots beat the Bills in Buffalo just a few weeks ago, and another win could wrap up that division title.
Technically the Miami Dolphin still have a chance to win the AFC East this season, but you can expect the winner of this game to take home the title.
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Plenty of AFC North Drama
The AFC North Division race is extremely crowded this season with all four teams over the .500 mark, and the best team with a record of 8-6. These teams have all been changing positions in the division all season, and that could happen over the final three weeks as well.
The biggest AFC North game this weekend will take place in Cincinnati as the Bengals are set to host the Baltimore Ravens. Both the Bengals and Ravens come into this game with an 8-6 record and this game could determine the division champion.
The 7-7 Cleveland Browns are in Green Bay on Christmas Day and the 7-6-1 Pittsburgh Steelers face the mighty Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.
Games To Impact NFL Wild Card Races
There are two games in NFL Week 16 that feature a pair of 7-7 teams, and those matchups are going to have huge playoff implications. The .500 mark is really the cut off to remain in the playoff picture, and those 7-7 teams can’t afford to take a loss.
The Las Vegas Raiders host the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon for a huge matchup between AFC West teams. The other big game takes place on Monday Night Football as the New Orleans Saints host the Miami Dolphins.
