Around the League
As the NFL hits week 14, the teams that still have a shot at the post season realize that now is the time when they cannot afford to lose. They realize that if they want to play with the best and have a shot at playing in the biggest game of the year they have to win and they have to win now.
This holds true for every game this week to include the Thursday night showdown between the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings. The Cardinals are an essential lock to make the playoffs, but they want to make sure that they get a playoff game at home. With the Carolina Panthers in the lead for the home field advantage, the Cardinals cannot afford to lose. The Vikings are in a more desperate position. They have not played well of late and they are in a dog fight with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. The Vikings want to win the division, but a recent slide has this teams post season hopes in jeopardy. Losing this game will not help their cause.
The AFC South is another division that is close coming down the stretch. The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts are fighting to win the division, because finishing in second place means an exit out of the playoffs. The Colts travel to Florida to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Texans host the New England Patriots in the Sunday night football game of the week.
The NFC east is in similar shape as all four teams still have a shot to claim the title. All teams will be in action this week in the NFC East to include the New York Giants who will wrap things up against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night football. This could be the week where teams rise to the occasion, while others fall out of the playoff race.