The Arizona Cardinals (yes, the same franchise that has never won two playoff games in the same season) are playing the Philadelphia Eagles (yes, the same franchise that tied Cincinnati earlier this season and was left for dead when they were 5-5-1) in the NFC Championship game. I suppose Philadelphia isn’t that big of a surprise when you consider their four previous NFC Championship game appearances this decade. But the Cardinals? The pathetic, moribund Cardinals? Can it really be so?

Oh, it be so — and I for one think it is going to be a great game on Sunday.

Quickly, as has become our custom in these playoff preview posts, here are the particulars to get you ready for the game:

NFC Championship Game

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 3:00 ET on FOX
• Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Season Series: Philadelphia Eagles 1 | Arizona Cardinals 0
• Point Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3 1/2
• Over-Under: 47 (point spread courtesy of BetUs.com)

Now, let’s have a little fun. 2008 was a most unlikely year, with plenty of occurences that no one ever would have thought possible a 365 days before the NFC Championship game on January 18, 2008. For instance, who would have thought…

• The United States would elect a black President? It happened.
• The Miami Dolphins would go from 1-15 to AFC East champions? It happened.
• The Atlanta Falcons, behind a rookie QB and a rookie head coach, would make the playoffs? It happened.
• The Baltimore Ravens, behind a rookie QB and a rookie head coach, would make not only the playoffs, but the AFC Championship game? It happened.
• The city of Philadelphia would win a championship? It happened.
• Fans of Indiana University would seriously contemplate their team going 0-16 in the Big Ten after ethics violations in their basketball program? It is, sadly, happening right now.
• Brett Favre would be playing for someone other than the Packers? It happened.
• That I would have moved from Indiana to Dallas and started a blog about Midwest sports and then stayed up late to write a preview of a game that does not involve any teams from the Midwest? It happened.

And I could go on and on.

When you take into account all of the crazy, unlikely occurences that we have already seen during this calendar year, maybe we should not be all that surprised that the Eagles and Cardinals are playing this weekend for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

It seems to be just one of those years.

But enough of all this. The Eagles and Cardinals are playing this weekend and you, my faithful readers, are counting on me to provide you with a prediction that will most likely be proven horribly false. 99% of my other predictions have gone that way this season. (At least one thing happened that wasn’t a surprise!)

Before I get into a prediction, let’s run down the current injury status of the key players in this game:

Philadelphia Eagles Injury Updates

• Brian Westbrook is listed as probable and will play.

What, do you need to know any more about the Eagles’ injury report?

Arizona Cardinals Injury Updates

• Anquan Boldin is questionable, and says that he wants to practice a few times this week leading up to Sunday’s game. He will definitely be on the field and give it a go — we’ll have to wait and see how much he has in him.
• TE Stephen Spach is out for the season with a torn right ACL.
• The Cardinals are hopeful that Ben Patrick can serve as the #2 TE.

I’ll update this as the week goes on.

Now, let’s get down to business. Three reasons why the Eagles can win, three reasons why the Cardinals can win, and then a prediction.

Three Reasons Why the Philadelphia Eagles Can Win:

1 — Their defense is playing outstanding. The Eagles are known for their “exotic” blitz schemes and they have been harassing quarterbacks as of late. Just ask Tony Romo and Eli Manning, among others. We all know that Kurt Warner is subject to fumblitis when he gets pressure in the pocket. The Eagles are the kind of team that can do it consistently.

2 — Brian Westbrook is healthy. No, Westbrook did not have a great statistical game against the Giants, but his mere presence means everything for the Eagles’ offense. And while Arizona’s defense did a great job last weekend against Carolina, they are not a dominant unit. On the ground and through the air, Brian Westbrook will get a lot of touches. If the Cardinals cannot contain him — and remember, the Cardinals did not exactly shut down the Panthers running game, Jake Delhomme did — Westbrook could have a huge night.

3 — Asante Samuel and Donovan McNabb are capable of making game-changing plays on every snap. Samuel always seems to come up with interceptions at opportune times, and it will be strength-v-strength with him matched up on the Cardinals’ excellent receivers, a tougher match than Carolina’s DBs. And Donovan McNabb is playing some of the best football he has played in years. He is not always accurate, but he seems much more comfortable with DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis. With a healthy Westbrook, McNabb will have his opportunities to make plays down the field.

Three Reasons Why the Arizona Cardinals Can Win:

1 — They have the best player on the field: Larry Fitzgerald. Even with Anquan Boldin out, Fitzgerald was a man among boys last weekend. He dominated, and is capable of making big plays in double and even triple coverage. With Philadelphia sure to pressure Kurt Warner, and the old gray-beard QB being forced to get rid of the ball quickly, he will most likely look to Larry Fitzgerald early and often regardless of the coverage. Fitzgerald is capable of making it work.

2 — Ken Whisenhunt is on a roll pushing the right buttons. He chastised his team after a horrible performance against New England and they responded. He called Edgerrin James’ number early and often in the first round of the playoffs, and the Cardinals actually had a competent running game for once. Having a head coach who is perfectly in sync with his team is crucial at this point in the season, and Whisenhunt is proving to be one of the special young head coaches in the NFL.

3 — The Cardinals defense is playing its best football of the season. They contained the Falcons’ vaunted rushing attack in the the wild-card round. Then last week, they forced 412 turnovers against Jake Delhomme and — whoop! Delhomme just threw another pick as I am typing this. Donovan McNabb can be inaccurate with his throws, and the Cardinals can obviously take advantage. If they can force a few turnovers, it may help neutralize the occasional devastation their blitzing D will surely cause for the Cardinals offense.

So who wins?

I honestly have a strange, nagging gut feeling that this game is going to go into overtime. And no, it has nothing to do with the big story from earlier this year in which Donovan McNabb said he did not know games could end in a tie. It just feels like that close of a game, and it probably should considering that these two teams have nearly identical records. I think Philadelphia is a little bit better and more experienced overall, but the Cardinals are playing home.

In the end though, I can’t pick against the Philadelphia. This season just seems to be shaping up to be one of those storybook season for Donovan McNabb. He’s had plenty of adversity and is now 8 quarters away from cementing his legacy as one of the 15 or so best QBs in NFL history. After the benching fiasco, the overtime hubbub, and the poor overall play of the Eagles, to have led his team to the doorstep of a Super Bowl — well, it just seems like one of those perfect scripts that we see unfold all to often in the NFL.

I think the script continues, and that McNabb and Westbrook do enough to complement a great performance from the Philly D. Look for a Kurt Warner fumble to change the momentum of the game at some point in the second half. A big-play TD in overtime wins it for the Eagles.

Eagles-Cardinals Prediction

Philadelphia Eagles 27 | Arizona Cardinals 21

What do you think?

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1 – Skydive without a parachute.

2 – Get into a sidewalk scuffle with Ray Lewis and his friends on Super Bowl weekend.

3 – Ride on the back of a motorcycle with Kellen Winslow or Ben Roethlisberger.

4 – Be an airborne football, thrown over a pit of boiling lava, heading towards the outstretched hands of Braylon Edwards, certain to melt in less than a second if you are dropped. 5 Hour Energy! Yeah! (Side note: How about 4 Quarter Concentration? Can someone make sure that Braylon gets signed up for that endorsement deal when it comes along?)

5 – Be strapped to a chair and forced to watch The Drive over and over again for 24 straight hours.

Okay, with the exception of that last one, I don’t think there would be much of a debate for any Browns fan. But unfortunately, our nightmare has come true and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are in fact playing this weekend for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

Please excuse me while I locate some Pepto Bismol so I can finish this post.

Before we delve into a brief and nauseating analysis of the Steelers-Ravens AFC Championship game, here are the particulars you need to know:

AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 6:30 ET on CBS
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Season Series: Pittsburgh Steelers 2 | Baltimore Ravens 0
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2 (Courtey, Sports Betting Champ Review, as of Tuesday night. Follow the link for advice and current spreads if you are so inclined.)
• Over-Under: 34

Here are the key injuries to keep an eye on as the week goes along:

Baltimore Ravens Injuries (Updated 1/15):

• Terrell Suggs hurt his shoulder in the Tennessee game last weekend and missed the entire second half. He also missed practice on Wednesday — this coming on the heels of John Harbaugh sounding less than optimistic after MRI results were revealed Monday.  Suggs will most likely be a game-time decision for Sunday.
• Samari Rolle limped off the field late in the 4th quarter and did not return.  He did not practice Wednesday either
• Tood Heap, Ed Reed, Matt Stover, and Derrick Mason were all listed as questionable last week but played against Tennessee.  These guys all missed practice Wednesday or practiced on a limited basis but are expected to play.

Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries (Updated 1/15):

• Ben Roethlisberger was the only person on the injury report before last week’s game, and he looked okay. So, despite being both a drama queen and a girl, unless Big Ben goes joyriding on his motorcycle, he’ll be good to go again this weekend.
• Troy Polamalu has been hindered by a calf injury he suffered last weekend.  He will play this weekend, but could be less than 100%.
• Center Justin Hartwig missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury.
• The Steelers rested a handful of starters Wednesday to give them an extra day of rest leading up to this weekend’s bloodbath.

And now, three reasons why each team will win this weekend’s AFC Championship Game and move onto the Super Bowl:

Three Reasons Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win:

1 – They have the better quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger is battle tested, he has won a Super Bowl, and has proven that he put his team on his back to win a game when necessary. For all of his promise, and his obviously strong arm, Joe Flacco is still just a rookie playing in his first playoffs. I know that Flacco has beaten veterans like Chad Pennington and Kerry Collins thus far in the playoffs, but neither of them is as good in big games and bad weather as Ben Roethlisberger. Big edge here for the Steelers that should not be understated.

2 – They have the better defense.

For all the talk about how great the Baltimore Ravens defense is — and it is great — the Steelers, at least statistically, had the best defense in the NFL this season. The Steelers finished 1st in scoring defense, as well as total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards allowed. Baltimore wins games with their defense, but what happens when they face a better defense? Considering they are 0-2 against Pittsburgh this year, I guess we know the answer.

3 – Willie Parker looked like Fast Willie Parker again last week.

Baltimore’s defense is outstanding and intimidating, and Ben Roethlisberger will have to keep the ball away from the weekly game-changer Ed Reed, but the Ravens are susceptible to speed. Chris Johnson showed it last week in the first half, and the Ravens may just be watching from home this weekend had Johnson not gotten hurt. If Willie Parker brings the speed and quickness he showed last week against San Diego after suffering through nagging injuries all year, the Steelers will have a solid answer for the Ravens D.

Three Reasons Why the Baltimore Ravens Will Win:

1 – They may be “destiny’s darling”.

It seems like we see it every year in the NFL: an unsung team gets hot late in the season, carries momentum into the playoffs, and the combines great play with fortunate bounces all the way to the Super Bowl. The Ravens could not have been more fortunate last week with Johnson getting hurt and the Titans turning the ball over multiple times in the red zone. In a game that will be hotly contested and probably very close, a bounce here or there could decide it. The Ravens seem to be getting the bounces right now.

2 – The Ravens big players make big plays in big games.

Maybe it’s a “U” thing, as we invoke the immortal words of Santana Moss. We know about all of the big plays made by former Miami Hurricane Ed Reed. And we know about the passion and intensity that Ray Lewis leads with in big moments. And don’t forget about Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain in the backfield. They iced away the Ravens’ late season win over the Cowboys with two 70+ yard TD runs. And McClain had a long TD run late against Miami. Even Joe Flacco came up with a few key big plays against the Titans.

3 – The Steelers have already beaten the Ravens twice.

It is an age-old sports cliche that it is incredibly difficult to beat a team, especially a good team, three times in a row. Ben Roethlisberger even said as much yesterday when asked about this weekend’s game. The Ravens are an intense team led by their defense and opportunistic play-makers. Are the Steelers really that much better than the Ravens that they could go 3-0 against them this season?

I say yes they are.

And the first reason is because Reason #3 directly above is bunk. Doug at Pro-Football-Reference provides a great breakdown of the myth that it is “impossible” to beat a team three times in one season:

Since the merger, there have been 17 instances of a team trying to beat another team thrice in a season. In 11 of those cases, the team succeeded.

Doug’s analysis was done in January of last year, so it does not take into account whatever happened in last year’s playoffs. Still, the numbers don’t lie. An 11-6 record for teams looking to complete a three-game sweep in the playoffs, and that record improved to 9-3 at home. The Steelers are at home, which is even more reason why the conventional wisdom and cliches do not apply.

Plus, Reason #1 cited above why the Ravens will win is not all that compelling. The Ravens were lucky to get out of Tennessee with the victory. Sure, maybe they will get lucky again. Against a team as solid as the Steelers though, with the #1 defense in the NFL, I would not feel too confident relying on being “destiny’s darling.”

So, as much as it pains to say this, I think that the Steelers will wi–

Screw that. I don’t feel like actually making the affirmative statement. Let’s just say that the Ravens will lose, take some solace in the fact that Ray Lewis and the boys will go home crying, and try not to think about the Steelers fans waving their damn towels in joy.

Steelers-Ravens Prediction:

Pittsburgh Steelers 16 | Baltimore Ravens 12

What do you think?

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Had Pittsburgh not held off San Diego earlier tonight, all four road teams would have won the Divisional Round playoff games. As it was, three of the teams that earned byes during the regular season earned themselves a seat on the couch for next weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship games.

I have to say, I am ecstatic for next weekend. No, neither the Browns nor Dolphins are still playing. But at least the Dolphins got into the playoffs to give me a little bit of excitement. And I am disappointed that Darren Sproles and the Chargers are not moving forward, but he and the team made a valiant charge from 4-8 all the way to the Divisional Round. But look at the matchups!

In the AFC, we get this season’s most heated rivalry: the Steelers and the Ravens. The Steelers took both of the first two meetings, but that only adds to the intrigue. Baltimore is on fire right now, and we all know how difficult it is to beat a good team three times in a row — at home, or otherwise. Plus, you have the whole subplot of the alleged bounty that the Ravens players placed on Hines Ward. Mix in some typical AFC North physical play, some bad weather, Ray Lewis, Big Ben, Mike Tomlin, Ed Reed…look, I’m a Browns fan so I hate both of these teams, but I can’t wait to watch them engage in a knock down, drag out fight to get to the Super Bowl.

The question is, will either team have enough left for the Super Bowl when all is said and done? Luckily for the winner, they’ll have two weeks to recover.

In the NFC, who would have thought that the Philadelphia and Arizona would be playing? Both teams won just 9 games in the regular season, meaning that a 9-win team will be playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in a non-strike shortened season since 1979. Philly spanked Arizona in their one meeting this year, but Arizona is a different team right now. They played well against Atlanta, took it to Carolina in the Panthers’ house, and might have Anquan Boldin back.

It is going to be a fun weekend. Here is a quick look at the schedule for next Sunday, complete with the early point spreads and announcer lineups. (As we do with the majority of the sports odds we bring here at MSF, they are courtesy are DocSports.)

AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 6:30 ET on CBS
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Season Series: Pittsburgh Steelers 2 | Baltimore Ravens 0
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2 (updated 1/13)
• Over-Under: 34
• Official Midwest Sports Fans Ravens-Steelers Preview and Prediction

NFC Championship Game

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 3:00 ET on FOX
• Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Season Series: Philadelphia Eagles 1 | Arizona Cardinals 0
• Point Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3 1/2 (updated 1/13)
• Over-Under: 47
• Official Midwest Sports Fans Eagles-Cardinals Preview and Prediction

A wild and crazy NFL season has come down to just two games to determine the Super Bowl participants. I don’t know who could have possibly predicted that these would be the two games we would get, but that’s what makes the NFL such a great, crazy, unpredictable sport.

We’ll have further analysis of each game later in the week.

During today’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the Eagles and Giants, which the Eagles won 23-11 to advance to the NFC Championship game next weekend, Donovan McNabb was flagged for a taunting penalty late in the game after picking up the telephone on the Giants’ sidelines.

I actually missed this play when it happened, but heard Joe Buck and Troy Aikman talking about it afterwards. Luckily for McNabb and the Eagles, the game had already been iced away and the penalty did not have any adverse effect on the outcome.

Courtesy of BSO, here is the video:

And as Littal points out in his post about McNabb picking up the phone on the Giants sideline and getting penalized, Troy Aikman had a pretty good like after it happened: “Sometimes I don’t know what is running through that guy’s head.”

In a related story, football fans across the country still have no idea what was running through the head of Donovan McNabb earlier this season when he made these infamous comments about the NFL’s overtime rules.

We do, however, know exactly what is running through Donovan McNabb’s head right now: he and his Eagles are heading to their fifth NFC Championship game this decade to take on another 9-win team, the Arizona Cardinals. And as Mike Florio at PFT points out, this season will be the first time in a non-strike season since 1979 that a 9-win team will be going to the Super Bowl.

Wow. A crazy NFL season just gets crazier. And if San Diego can win at Heinz Field today (behind the inspirational running of Darren Sproles), it will mean that all four home teams, and all four teams who had byes, lost in the Divisional Round.

I guess “bye” had a much different meaning than usual this season.

Being the home team and the favorite in this year’s NFL Playoffs has not provided the advantage one might expect. The Titans turned the ball over twice inside the redzone in their loss against the Ravens while the Panthers and Jake Delhomme turned the ball over pretty much every time they had it.

In today’s early game, the Philadelphia Eagles travel to New York to play the GIants. The NFC East rivals split their two meeting earlier this year, and most people have been pointing to this game as the marquee matchup of the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Below is a quick breakdown of this weekend’s Eagles-Giants NFC Divisional Round playoff game:

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)

• Sunday, January 11, 2009
• TV Schedule: 1:00 ET on FOX
• Announcer Pairing: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Point Spread: New York Giants -4 1/2
• Over-Under Odds: 40

Let’s run down some of the quick keys to the game real game, taken straight off the top of my head:

First, it is imperative that the Giants be able to establish a consistent passing game. Eli Manning and the passing attack of the Giants has been wildly inconsistent since Plaxico Burress was suspended following the infamous incident in which he shot himself in the leg. If you haven’t seen the hidden camera footage of the incident, or the untold story of how Plaxico was actually trying to shoot Tiki Barber, reported by Flash Sports Tonight, it’s rather interesting:

(BTW, if you can’t see the video, just head over to the FST website and watch it there.)

Anyway, guys like Domenik Hixon and Amani Toomer are going to have step up and give Eli Manning consistent targets on 3rd down — and catch the ball. Hixon has had trouble shaking the dropsies, and will need to correct that for the Giants to be able to threaten the Eagles defense in multiple ways. We know the Giants will be able to run the ball, and they have Brandon Jacobs back healthy and ready to play, but they will need balance against the Eagles D and Jim Johnson, who are playing at an extremely high level right now.

On the flip side, Philadelphia’s offense needs to be balanced as well. It goes without saying that Brian Westbrook needs to stay healthy and play the entire game for Philly to have a chance. He is the motor that makes the Eagles go and provides a dynamic threat to any defense. But he can’t beat a team like the Giants all by himself. The Eagles will throw the ball, and they will throw it a lot, and they need to threaten the Giants downfield to open up the inside running and short passes to Westbrook out of the backfield. For this to happen, Donovan McNabb needs to be accurate and they need a big game from DeSean Jackson.

A couple quick links to give you more info and better analysis that I’m capable of providing:

Giants-Eagles Preview — (Pat Kirwan, NFL.com)

Giants D-Line must pressure McNabb — (Thomas George, NFL.com)

And now, before I give you my prediction, chime in with yours:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Now, it’s time to offer up a prediction that you can take to the bank to be absolutely and terribly wrong.

The Giants have been an outstanding team all year long, and obviously have the better pedigree having won the Super Bowl last year. Philadelphia always seems to be that team that is just dangerous enough to win some games in the playoffs, but never can quite get over the hump. I like how Philly’s D is playing, and the fact that Brian Westbrook appears healthy and is providing that dynamic running/receiving threat gives them a fighting chance.

But I’m going with the defending champs. Having Brandon Jacobs back means that the great trio of Jacobs-Ward-Bradshaw and can pound away at the Eagles D and take some pressure off of Eli Manning and his undermanned received corps. I think the threat of the run, combined with play-action, will allow Eli to spread the ball around effectively to Hixon, Toomer, Steve Smith, and Kevin Boss.

I agree with Pat Kirwan of NFL.com and pretty much everyone else who thinks that this game will go down the final drive and be an outstanding, exciting viewing experience. In the end, I like the Giants to make the one or two plays that will decide the game, and to ride their running back trio into the NFC Championship game next week.

New York Giants 24 | Philadelphia Eagles 20

Maybe next year Cowboys fans. But this weekend, you’ll have to watch the two best, most consistent, and most well-run franchises in the NFC East duke it out. And it should be one hell of a game to watch.

(Editor’s note: This story was written before the Chargers’ strong late season run came to an end in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.)

The San Diego Chargers have made an improbable run from a 4-8 start all the way to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. One of the team’s most valuable players during their five-game run, and unquestionably their most valuable player in the team’s first round win over the Indianapolis Colts, has been RB Darren Sproles.

Just as the Chargers have overcome intense odds to still be alive in the playoffs, Darren Sproles has overcome odds and challenges of his own to become one of the team’s leaders as they prepare to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sproles has overcome the death of his mother and a pervasive stuttering problem to become not only an outstanding professional football player, but most importantly, an inspiring role model for football fans and non-football fans alike.

Tomorrow afternoon at 4:45 the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the San Diego Chargers in the final game of the NFL’s Divisional Round Playoff weekend. The winner of Chargers-Steelers will face the winner of the Baltimore-Tennessee game today in next weekend’s AFC Championship game.

Here is a quick rundown of the particulars and some relevant links to get you ready for the game:

San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

• TV Schedule: 4:45 ET on CBS
• Announcer Pairing: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2
• Over-Under: 38
• Chargers-Steelers Game Canter — (NFL.com)
• Spotlight could find Scifres, Sproles again in Pittsburgh — (Vic Carucci, NFL.com)

As any sports fan not living in a cave knows, Chargers superstar RB LaDainian Tomlinson has been hobbled by an injury that leaves his highly doubtful for Sunday game after limiting him to standing on the sideline during the Chargers’ wild card round victory over the Indianapolis Colts. In LT’s absence, Chargers backup RB Darren Sproles stepped in to produce one of the most impressive individual performances of 2008.

The diminutive and spritely Sproles, a former Kansas State Wildcat, exploded for 328 all-purpose yards, which is the third highest total in NFL playoff history. The Chargers will be counting on Sproles once again this weekend, as the team faces the unenviable task of trying to move the ball against the 2008 version of the Steel Curtain.

James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, and the rest of the Steelers’ outstanding defense will be gearing up to stop Darren Sproles in his swift and agile tracks; but it most likely won’t faze Sproles, who has made an ability to overcome odds and challenges one of his defining attributes.

The most immediately obvious challenge that Darren Sproles has overcome is his size. He is listed at 5′6, 181 pounds, but makes up for it with head-spinning speed and quickness. More importantly, Sproles has displayed heart and toughness throughout his football career, which has allowed him to plow through the roadblocks of questions about his size.

The following is a quick rundown of Darren Sproles’ most impressive football accomplishments. (To see a complete rundown, visit his player page at Chargers.com)

• Named Kansas Player of the year by USA Today as a high school senior in Olathe, Kansas.
• Holds virtually every school record at Kansas State for career, single-season, and single-game rushing and all-purpose yards.
• Big 12 Player of the Year by College Football News in 2003.
• 5th in Heisman Trophy voting in 2003.
• 4th round draft choice by the San Diego Chargers in 2005 draft.
• Multiple selections as AFC Special Teams Player of the Week throughout career.
• Has a yards per carry average of 5.0 during his NFL career.
• Had third highest single-game all-purpose yards total in Chargers’ recent victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Not bad for a guy that was told at pretty much every level that he was too small to play, huh?

The amazing thing about Darren Sproles is that his football accomplishments pale in comparison to what he has accomplished and overcome off the field.

On April 25, 2004, Darren Sproles’ mom Annette passed away at the age of 41 after battling cancer for five years. Despite his top-5 finish in the Heisman voting, and the certainty of being drafted in the 2004 NFL draft, Sproles bypassed the 2004 Draft to honor his mother and return to Kansas State for his senior year. This allowed to him to complete his degree in speech pathology.

The beautiful irony of Darren Sproles’ degree in speech pathology is that Sproles has dealt with a stuttering problem his entire life. While at Kansas State, Sproles was uncomfortable doing media interviews because of his stuttering, and Kansas State officials arranged for him to work with a speech pathologist to help him more effectively deal with his stuttering and become more comfortable speaking publicly.

And Sproles has turned his challenge with stuttering into an opportunity to help and inspire others who are dealing with the same issue. An article at FanHouse by Ryan Wilson discusses a comment to a post about the Colts-Chargers game that was left by an inspired fan. Follow the link to view the complete comment, but here is an excerpt:

I have stuttered my entire life and I can not tell you how proud I am of Darren Sproles for not being afraid to speak his mind to others, no matter how the words come out. I watched his interview after he scored the winning touchdown at last week’s game – that was awesome by the way – and when I heard hiim speak, I almost lost my breath. It is not every day we see someone as successful as he is stuttering on TV and it was refreshing to see. He has no idea how many people he has inspired and how great of an example he is to the thousands of kids and teens who stutter who are afraid to speak because of their stutter.

–Cathy O, from comment at FanHouse

Below is the interview that Cathy O is talking about:

Like Wilson explains in his article, I also saw this interview immediately after the game and did not necessarily think a lot of it. I was peripherally familiar with the fact that Darren Sproles had dealt with stuttering, and honestly my first reaction was to be feel bad for him while being simultaneously impressed by willingness to at least do the interview.

But after reading Cathy O’s comment and some of the other stories about how Sproles has inspired other people who stutter, I realized that the last thing Darren Sproles needs or deserves from me is pity. What he does deserve is both admiration and exposure.

Darren Sproles is a shining beacon of hope and inspiration in so many different ways while playing in a league in which he gets overshadowed by players who run their mouths, feed their own egos, and get into trouble off the field. Something is wrong when Pacman Jones is more famous and exposed than Darren Sproles.

If the NFL is smart, it will do more to market that amazing stories of guys like Darren Sproles, while putting more safeguards in place to keep the Pacman Joneses out of the headlines.

While researching for this post, I came across an article about Darren Sproles on the website for the Stuttering Foundation, an organization with a simple goal: to help those who stutter. I do not know if Sproles has an official affiliation with the Stuttering Foundation, but the article includes quotes that provide insight into who inspired Sproles on his journey to overcome stuttering:

Sproles said he learned to take his time while answering questions during an interview. “I don’t have to be in a hurry to say something.”

“I remember a long time ago my grandpa told me “don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do anything because you stutter.” Sproles said. “I always remembered that and worked hard at improving my speech.”

To read the entire article, and to find out other famous people who have dealt with stuttering problems (like Bill Walton, for instance), follow the link to the Stuttering Foundation article about Darren Sproles.

(Update: Just found this after posting, but the Stuttering Foundation also has a Q&A with Darren Sproles
on their website. Sproles was also featured on a poster distributed by the Stuttering Foundation during National Stuttering Awareness Week, May 12-18.)

If you read this site regularly, you know that I am a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan, and also root for the Miami Dolphins. Obviously the Browns fell flat on their faces this year, while the Dolphins’ magically surprising 2008 season came to end last weekend against Baltimore. I figured I would just be watching the remainder of the playoffs with the general interest of a football fan, hoping for good games but not really having a team to root for.

After deciding to sit down an explore this story as a post idea, and then writing this post, I can emphatically say that my mindset has changed. Not that I really needed more reason to root against the Steelers, but I will be a full-fledged San Diego Chargers fan this weekend and for as long as they are in the playoffs.

Stories like Darren Sproles are what make sports such a wonderful form of entertainment, and such a wonderful source of inspriation. The injury to LaDainian Tomlinson has allowed Darren Sproles to step onto a national stage and prove that neither size nor stuttering are challenges too difficult to overcome.

He has inspired me, and I’m sure many others; and I’m hoping that the journey of Darren Sproles continues to inspire football fans, athletes who face challenges because of their size, and people who struggle with stuttering, all the way to the biggest stage of them all: the Super Bowl.

I do think that the Chargers will get a step closer to the Super Bowl this weekend. The Steelers have a great defense, but their offense has struggled thanks to injuries to, and inconsistent play from, Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker. The Steelers O-line is going to have a hard time blocking a Chargers defense that harassed NFL MVP Peyton Manning all game long last week. With Philip Rivers playing the best football of his career, and Darren Sproles providing a multi-purpose threat in LT’s absence, the Chargers have what it takes to pull off the upset at Heinz Field.

I think they will.

Prediction: Chargers 24 | Steelers 20

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

As it is, we will have to adopt a team that is kind of in the Midwest…but not really: The Tennessee Titans.

As everyone knows, the Titans used the mustache voodoo of Jeff Fisher to jump out to a great start this season before falling back to the pack a bit. Led by a great game with rookie RB Chris Johnson and LenDale White, efficient QB play by Kerry Collins, and one of the most dominant defensive lines in the NFL, the Titans were able to secure the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

And their reward?

The Baltimore Ravens, whose defense and running game are absolutely hitting on all cylinders right now. The Ravens and Titans will duke it out this weekend for the chance to go to the AFC Championship game, in what should be a physical, smash-mouth type of game that may make you sore just watching it from your couch.

Here are the particulars of the game, including TV schedule, announcer lineup, and point spreads. (As usual, point spread and over-under odds sponsored by the NFL Football Handicapping experts at DocSports.)

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans

• Saturday, January 10, 2009
• TV Schedule: 4:30 ET on CBS
• Announcer lineup: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
• Point Spread: Tennessee Titans -3
• Over-Under: 34 1/2

(Follow the link to see the TV schedule, announcer pairings, and point spreads for the other NFL Divisional Round Playoff games this weekend.)

Before I give you mine, what is your prediction?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

And some good links as you get ready for gameday:

Ravens-Titans GameCenter with stats, team, info, etc. – (NFL.com)

Don’t forget that the Titans have a great defense too – (Thomas George, NFL.com)

Ravens-Titans Scouting Report – Expect a physical game (Pat Kirwan, NFL.com)

Injury News: Haynesworth practices, but Ed Reed, Todd Heap, and Derrick Mason do not — (Pro Football Talk)

I am really excited for this game. While I hate the Ravens, of course, there is no denying that the star power and play-making ability of their defense makes them an intriguing team to watch. What has been surprising about Baltimore this season has been the proficiency of their offense.

I think people are going a little too overboard in their praise of Joe Flacco — he is managing games and not making critical mistakes, but is by no means winning games — but the consistency of their run game has been deadly in recent weeks. Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee have used huge 4th quarter bursts to salt games away against Dallas and Miami, and it will be imperative that Tennessee stop these two guys in the second half and give Kerry Collins and the offense a chance to win the game.

I do think that Tennessee will somewhat put the clamps on Baltimore’s run game, but they won’t stop it completely. And I’m not sure I totally trust Joe Flacco to stay out of trouble against a physical, ball-hawking D.

However, I just can’t pick against the Ravens D. Ed Reed is a one man wrecking crew in the secondary, Ray Lewis has been playing great, and Terrell Suggs has been a monster rushing the passer. Tennessee has a right to demand respect for their defense, but they don’t have the proven big-game playmakers that the Ravens do. If Chris Johnson can break some runs, and Kerry Collins can hit some passes downfield, Tennessee has a chance.

But I think Baltimore is coming out ahead in this one, and moving on to face Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

And if that happens, at least the Browns can take some pride that they played in the division with the two best teams in the AFC. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t compete with them. This weekend will be another reminder of why.

Baltimore Ravens 20 | Tennessee Titans 13

Wild Card Weekend of the NFL Playoffs has ended, and now its time for the final eight teams to square off in the Divisional Round.

Unfortunately, the two teams that I was rooting for in the AFC, the Dolphins and Colts, both fell short. However, both Baltimore and San Diego are exciting teams who should provide solid matchups to the top seeds, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

In the NFC, the Eagles win over the Vikings sets up the marquee matchup of the Divisional Round when Philadelphia travels to NFC East division rival and #1 seed New York. If you can only watch one game this weekend, I would think that would be the one you would watch.

Well, as we always do here at Midwest Sports Fans, we get you ready for the matchups of this upcoming weekend’s action with the TV Schedule, announcer lineups, point spreads, and over-under odds for the Divisional Round games.

As usual, the point spreads are provided by BetUs.com. And my projections for the announcer lineups were correct, as confirmed by Awful Announcing.

Divisional Round Matchups | TV Schedule – Announcer Pairings – Point Spreads

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Divisional Round Playoff Games on Saturday, January 10, 2009

Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at Tennessee Titans (13-3)

• TV Schedule: 4:30 ET on CBS
• Announcer Pairing: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
• Point Spread: Tennessee Titans -3 1/2
• Over-Under Odds: 34 1/2
• Ravens-Titans Preview and Prediction

Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)

• TV Schedule: 8:15 ET on FOX
• Announcer Pairing: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
• Point Spread: Carolina Panthers -10 1/2
• Over-Under Odds: 48 1/2

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Divisional Round Playoff Games on Sunday, January 11, 2009

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)

• TV Schedule: 1:00 ET on FOX
• Announcer Pairing: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Point Spread: New York Giants -4 1/2
• Over-Under Odds: 40

San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

• TV Schedule: 4:45 ET on CBS
• Announcer Pairing: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2
• Over-Under Odds: 38

There is one clear marquee matchup this weekend though, and it will take place Saturday night at 8:00 in San Diego, California when the Indianapolis Colts take on the San Diego Chargers.

Why is this game the marquee matchup of the weekend?

1. These are the two hottest teams in the NFL. The Colts started 3-4 and then won 9 straight to finish 12-4 and capture the Wild Card. The Chargers started 4-8 and then reeled off four straight wins to finish 8-8 and win the AFC West. That’s 13 straight victories between the two, and proof that I have elementary math skills.
2. The game features superstars on both sides of the ball for each team. Peyton Manning is now a three-time MVP winner, while the Chargers have a former MVP of their own in LaDainian Tomlinson. Bob Sanders is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Philip Rivers rubs some people the wrong way, but has had an outstanding season. Antonio Gates, Antonio Cromartie, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney…yeah, there are stars all over the field.
3. The Colts and Chargers have a history of playing great, meaningful games against eachother in both the regular season and the playoffs. Earlier this season, the Colts beat the Chargers 23-20 in a game that helped turn the Colts season around. They have played three times in the last two seasons, and each game has been decided by four points or less.
4. It is possible that this could be Tony Dungy’s last game on an NFL sideline if the Colts fall short Saturday night.

There are plenty more reasons, but there is no need to state the obvious any more. Everyone knows that this will be the best game of the weekend, and I can’t wait to park myself on the couch and watch it Saturday night.

If you are looking for some solid analysis of the game, here are a few relevant links for you:

USA TODAY Colts-Chargers Preview and Prediction

Scouts, Inc Colts-Chargers Preview and Prediction

Stampede Blue – a great source for up-to-the-minute Colts news and notes

Now, let’s discuss for a minute one of the most important factors leading up to this game: injuries. The Colts have been hampered by injuries all season long, but are relatively healthy heading into this game. Oft-injured superstar SS Bob Sanders will play, as will RB Joseph Addai, although he only has one carry over the last three weeks. As of right now, only Gary Brackett is listed as out on the injury report. CB Keiwan Ratliff is questionable, but participated fully in the most recent practice.

On the San Diego side, the injury outlook is a little less clear and positive. Both Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson are questionable as of the most recent updates on the injury report. According to ProFootballTalk.com, they both have a 50-50 chance of playing. Obviously, the availability of stars like Tomlinson and Gates will have a huge impact on the game.

(Update: Just heard John Clayton say on ESPN that Tomlinson should be able to play, despite not practicing all week. Antonio Gates, however, is “more questionable.” Norv Turner was reportedly more pessimistic after the most recent practice and Gates will be a game-time decision.)

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. It’s prediction time. I will come right out and say that I think the Colts are winning this game. Who do you think will win?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Here are my reasons for liking the Colts on Saturday night:

1. The Colts’ superstars are healthier. Playoff games are won by stars, and with Tomlinson and Gates hindered, it is a huge advantage to a Colts team that has gotten healthy at just the right time.
2. Who do you have more confidence in: Tony Dungy or Norv Turner? I thought so.
3. Who do you have more confidence in: Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers? I thought so. (And let me just say, this is no disrespect to Philip Rivers, who is proving to be an outstanding quarterback. But Peyton Manning won the MVP for a reason, and he has proven more in the postseason than Rivers.)
4. The Chargers are 3-7 against teams outside the AFC West. And remember, the AFC West sucks. If the Chargers were in any other AFC division, they most likely would not even be in the playoffs.

However, this is not going to be any type of cake walk for the Colts, regardless of whether Gates and Tomlinson play. Peyton Manning has always struggled against the Chargers defense, and the gap between Manning and Rivers is actually closer than you might think. Plus, you have to give San Diego a slight bump because of the homefield advantage.

Still, in close games, I always go with the coach and QB I trust more. And regardless of whether you think Manning or Rivers is playing better right now, I don’t think anyone can argue that Tony Dungy is a better coach, and specifically a better big-game coach, than Norv Turner. For that reason in particular, I’m taking the Colts.

Colts-Chargers Prediction:

Indianapolis Colts 31 | San Diego Chargers 30

(And this, of course, means that you should go run and put money on the Chargers. I would say that my success predicting games this year has been bad, but I don’t want to overstate my abilities.)

Enjoy the game everyone, and then get ready for the Dolphins to upset the Ravens on Sunday. It’s happening.

Wild Card weekend is now over. Follow the link for the Divisional Round Playoff Matchups, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads.

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I am getting excited just thinking about it. The NFL playoffs are here! And while my #1 team the Browns were nowhere close to the playoffs, I can take solace in the fact that the team I grew up rooting for, the Dolphins, made one of the biggest turnarounds NFL history and will be hosting a playoff game on Wild Card Weekend. As we always do, we will serve you up the TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads for the weekend of action in the NFL. Today, special thanks go out to Awful Announcing, who posted the announcer pairings on their site. The point spreads are courtesy of our friends at BetUs.com. So here you are, everything you need for Wild Card Weekend: TV Schedule, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads.

Wild Card Weekend: Saturday, January 3, 2009

__________ Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

• TV Schedule: 4:30 on NBC
• Announcer Pairing: Tom Hammond, Cris Collinsworth, and (ugh) Tiki Barber
• Point Spread: Atlanta Falcons -2 1/2
• Over-Under: 51 1/2

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers

• TV Schedule: 8:00 on NBC
• Announcer Pairing: Al Michaels, John Madden, and Andrea Kremer
• Point Spread: Indianapolis Colts -1 1/2
• Over-Under: 51

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Wild Card Weekend: Sunday, January 4, 2009

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Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

• TV Schedule: 1:00 on CBS
• Announcer Pairing: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Point Spread: Baltimore Ravens -3 1/2
• Over-Under: 37 1/2

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

• TV Schedule: 4:30 on FOX
• Announcer Pairing: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Point Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3 1/2
• Over-Under: 42

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Have a great weekend watching football everybody. The game of the week clearly is a rematch of old playoff foes the Colts and the Chargers. And they are perhaps the two hottest teams in the NFL right now. It should be an outstanding game. Indianapolis is favored, and probably deserve to be. You can’t favor Philip Rivers and Norv Turner over Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning in a playoff game. But like the Giants last year, the Chargers may be getting hot at just the right time. Would anyone really be surprised if they get on a roll and make a deep playoff run?

I wouldn’t. But I’d still put my money on the Colts eeking this one out…and then going on a deep playoff run of their own.

Wild Card weekend is now over. Follow the link for the Divisional Round Playoff Matchups, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads.

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The Week 17 action is in the books, and so is the 2008 regular season for the NFL. As always, it was exciting and filled with twists and turns, and now we are left with 12 playoff teams to battle it out in the NFL playoffs for a chance to win the Super Bowl.

Quickly, here is a look at the playoff seedings:

AFC Playoff Teams by Seed: 1 – Tennessee Titans (13-3) 2 – Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) 3 – Miami Dolphins (11-5) 4 – San Diego Chargers (8-8) 5 – Indianapolis Colts (12-4) 6 – Baltimore Ravens (11-5) NFC Playoff Teams by Seed: 1 – New York Giants (12-4) 2 – Carolina Panthers (12-4) 3 – Minnesota Vikings (10-6) 4 – Arizona Cardinals (9-7) 5 – Atlanta Falcons (11-5) 6 – Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) AFC Playoff Matchups and Schedule (all specific dates and times to be announced) Wild Card Round, January 3rd and 4th:

#6 Baltimore Ravens at #3 Miami Dolphins

#5 Indianapolis Colts at #4 Denver Broncos/San Diego Chargers

Divisional Round, January 10th and 11th:

(both games will be televised on CBS)

Lowest seed remaining at #1 Tennessee Titans

Highest seed remaining at #2 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Playoff Matchups and Schedule

(all specific dates and times to be announced)

Wild Card Round, January 3rd and 4th:

#6 Philadelphia Eagles at #3 Minnesota Vikings

#5 Atlanta Falcons at #4 Arizona Cardinals

Divisional Round, January 10th and 11th:

(both games will be televised on FOX)

Lowest seed remaining at #1 New York Giants

Highest seed remaining at #2 Carolina Panthers

The AFC and NFC Championship Games are on January 18th, and the Super Bowl is on February 1st.

Wild Card weekend is now over. Follow the link for the Divisional Round Playoff Matchups, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads.

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On Sunday night, I posted the AFC Playoff Picture and Scenarios as we head into Week 17, the final week of the regular season.

Now that the Monday Night game is over, we can take a look at how the NFC Playoff Picture and Scenarios line up with all of the Week 16 action in the books.

First off, here are the NFC teams that have clinched playoff spots as of today:

• The New York Giants have clinched the NFC East title and a first-round bye, along with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
• The Arizona Cardinals have clinched the NFC West and a first round home game.
• The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons have both clinched playoff berths.

If the season ended today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Minnesota Vikings would be in the playoffs, but their spots are not guaranteed. The Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles all still have a chance.

In my AFC post, I tried to break down each of the potential Week 17 scenarios and what it would mean for the playoff picture. Because I failed to read through the tie-breaker procedures properly before posting, my projections were full of errors (that were later corrected in the comments section — thanks to those to who pointed them out.)

The NFC is much more up in the air than the AFC, so instead of trying to break down every scenario, let’s just go team-by-team and figure out what needs to happen for them to get in:

Playoff Scenarios for NFC East Teams Still Alive:

New York Giants: In with home-field advantage, as mentioned above.

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are in the playoffs if they win. It’s that simple. Should the Cowboys lose to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, they are out. However, should the game result in a tie, the Cowboys could still sneak in if Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago all choke in Week 17.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles need to beat the Cowboys and have Tampa Bay lose to Oakland. Additionally, one of the following must happen: Chicago or Minnesota must lose.

Playoff Scenarios for NFC North Teams Still Alive:

Chicago Bears: The Bears win the NFC North if they win and Minnesota loses or ties. If the Bears tie Houston, they need Minnesota to lose. Additionally, the Bears can clinch a wild-card spot with a win if both Dallas and Tampa Bay lose or tie. If the Bears tie Houston, they can still clinch a wild-card spot if both Dallas and Tampa Bay lose.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings win the NFC North if they beat the Giants. If they tie the Giants, and the Bears lose or tie, the Vikings still win the NFC North. If the Vikings tie the Giants, they could still claim a wild-card spot if both Dallas and Tampa Bay lose.

Playoff Scenarios for NFC South Teams Still Alive:

Carolina Panthers: They have already clinched a playoff spot, and can clinch the NFC South title and a first round bye if they beat New Orleans in Week 17. If they lose in Week 17, Carolina still wins the NFC South and a gets a bye if Atlanta loses to or ties St. Louis.

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons have also clinched a playoff spot already, and can still win the NFC South and get a bye if they beat St. Louis and Carolina loses to New Orleans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If Tampa Bay beats Oakland in Week 17, they need Dallas to lose to Philadelphia. If so, they’re in. If Tampa Bay ties Oakland in Week 17, then a bunch of different iterations of the Cowboys, Vikings, and Bears losing or tying will still get the Bucs in. The chances of them tying Oakland are pretty slim, so I’m not wasting any more time writing about it. Tampa Bay needs to beat Oakland. If they don’t, they don’t deserve a spot.

Wild Card weekend is now over. Follow the link for the Divisional Round Playoff Matchups, Announcer Pairings, and Point Spreads.

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There is one week of football left to be played in the 2008 NFL regular season. Let’s take a quick peek at the AFC playoff picture, along with a look at the potential scenarios that could play out in Week 17.

(Update: If you’re interested, I just posted the NFC Playoff Picture and Scenarios.)

First, here is the current AFC playoff picture, if the season ended today:

The first round byes would go to the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers, who are locked into the #1 and #2 seeds, regardless of what happens in Week 17.

The Miami Dolphins (10-5) would be the #3 seed and host a first round playoff matchup against the #6 seed Baltimore Ravens (10-5). Interestingly, Baltimore is the only team that the Dolphins beat last year during their 1-15 campaign.

The Denver Broncos (8-7) would be the #3 seed and host a first round playoff game against the #5 seed Indianapolis Colts (11-4), who have already clinched a playoff spot.

Amazingly, the two worse teams, the Dolphins and Broncos, would be hosting playoff games by virtue of winning their divisions.

Okay, so that’s the picture as of right now. However, the New England Patriots (10-5), the New York Jets (9-6), and the San Diego Chargers (7-8) are still alive. Remember, only the Titans, Steelers, and Colts have clinched playoff spots.

The San Diego Chargers play the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 17 in San Diego. If the Chargers win, they capture the AFC West crown and the #4 seed. If the Broncos win, they capture the AFC West crown and the #4 seed. Easy enough, right?

In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets square off in Week 17, while the New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills. If the Dolphins beat the Jets, they win the AFC East and are in the playoffs. If the Jets beat the Dolphins, and the Patriots lose to the Bills, the Jets capture the AFC East and are in the playoffs. If the Jets beat the Dolphins and the Patriots beat the Bills, the Patriots win the AFC East and are in the playoffs.

If the Baltimore Ravens beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, they clinch a wild card berth regardless of what else happens. If the Baltimore Ravens lost in the Week 17, they would still make the playoffs (for certain) with a Dolphins win over the Jets and a Patriots loss to the Bills. Beyond that, all kinds of tie-breaker stuff gets involved for who gets the final AFC wild card spot.

Here are the potential scenarios and, to the best of my knowledge, the outcomes:

AFC Playoff Scenario #1:

If the Jets beat the Dolphins, the Patriots beat the Bills, and Baltimore loses to Jacksonville, all four team are 10-6. The Patriots would win the AFC East and be in. The Jets and Dolphins would be determined by the first division tie-breaker, head-to-head, and the Jets would win out because they beat the Dolphins twice. Between the Jets and Ravens in this scenario, the Jets would advance because the second tie-breaker to determine the wild card between non-division opponents in conference record. The Jets would be 8-4, while Baltimore would be 7-5.

For the record, here is a breakdown of the NFL tiebreaker rules.

AFC Playoff Scenario #2:

(edited from my original post, in which I had this wrong.)

If the Dolphins beat the Jets, the Patriots beat the Bills, and Baltimore loses to Jacksonville, then the Dolphins win the AFC East and the Patriots are 11-5, while Baltimore is 10-6. So the Patriots would win the wild cared.

AFC Playoff Scenario #3:

If the Jets beat the Dolphins, the Patriots lose to the Bills, and Baltimore loses to Jacksonville, then the Jets are AFC East champs and the Dolphins, Patriots, and Ravens are all 10-6. Miami and New England would match up in the division tie-breaker and it would go all the way to third tie-breaker of W/L record in common games. Whoever won that tie-breaker would then face off against Baltimore in the non-division-opponent tie-breaker rules. Miami and Baltimore would tie in conference record, so it would move onto winning % against common opponents. Baltimore would beat New England in terms of conference record.

My goodness, what a headache. Glad I edited this, and thank you to Epic Fall Guy in the comments below for pointing out that I had erred in my first attempt. I do not guarantee any of these analyses…but I think what I’ve said above is how it will go.

And again, Baltimore can make all of this very easy simply by beating a terrible Jacksonville team. Of course, this is the NFL, so does anyone really expect that to happen?

After the Bears-Packers game on Monday night, I’ll break down the NFC playoff picture and the scenarios for Week 17.