Control their own destiny and will be motivated:
- Both LA Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders playing each other controlling their own destiny.
- LA Rams Wins the division with a win vs San Francisco and potentially take them out of the playoffs so both teams motivated. San Francisco might miss the playoffs if they lose and Saints win, so they certainly will be going for it.
- San Francisco gets in the Playoffs with a win vs the Rams and/or a Saints loss at Atlanta.
- The Colts will be motivated to win to get in because they don’t get the nod over the Raiders if both of them lose.
Needs a little help yet still motivated:
- Pittsburgh at Baltimore could get in with a win at Baltimore and a Colts loss.
- Saints win and 49ers loss gets the Saints in but they do not control that but at least they are favored and San Francisco isn’t.
- Tampa can get the number 2 seed with a Rams loss if they beat Carolina.
- Baltimore needs the world to turn upside down to get in the playoffs. They need to beat the Steelers, and have all losses from the Colts, Chargers, and Dolphins.
Gets to play the Spoiler:
- Atlanta hosting the Saints if one for sure!
- The Texans get to remove the Titans from the number 1 seed with a win this week.
- The Broncos could knock Kansas City down to the 4 seed
- Jacksonville could take out Indianapolis if Steelers win.
- Carolina will want to keep Tampa off the 2nd game home field advantage.
- The Jets could screw up the Bills division with a win and knock them down to Wild Card.
- Miami could hurt the Patriots seed with a win.
Questionable Motivation:
- New England remains the top wildcard spot with a win but does it matter to Bill or is rest more important?
- The Rest of all the teams not mentioned.
- Dallas – Dallas really can’t do much to improve their seed being that the teams above them have easy games. They might be able to jump the Rams if they lose, but they play on Saturday so they won’t know. What is very improbable is the Rams, Tampa and Arizona all losing for Dallas to get the 2 seed.
- Cincinnati if Kansas City wins on Saturday, they “could” move up to the 2 seed, but being that Tennessee is a 10 point favorite, it might be better to move down to the 4 seed to eventually play the Titans instead of Kansas City (should the wildcard games all lose). It is hard to predict where Patriots, Raiders and Colts will land but the best team to play there would be the Raiders if possible and the Colts are slotted in at the 6 spot which plays the 3 in the first round. Burrow was limping after the game last week. If I am Cinci, I am going for that 4 seed unless Houston is winning at the half.
No Motivation:
- Philadelphia. It’s pick your poison for Philadelphia.
