Driven for the Division

    
      As we enter the final weekend of NFL regular season, three games are on schedule in which the winner will win their division and proceed to host at least one game in the postseason.  Fortunately, five of the six teams in these games have already locked in a playoff berth, but that shouldn't stop them from playing this next game like it’s all or nothing. 


Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons

    Both teams have somewhat recent playoff experience.  It was only last year that Carolina had a first round bye as the number two seed in the NFC.  Boy have things changed and by the end of this game we’ll be looking at our second 7-win playoff team in four seasons.
    Matt Ryan and his offense haven’t been able to put the type of production they’re capable of, mostly due to the season long o-line issues.  On the other side of things, Cam Newton has been up and down all season, but the recent emergence of a running game with Jonathan Stewart has brought more life to the Panthers as they try to close out the year with 4 straight victories.   Home field plays such a huge advantage in games like this and I don’t expect things to change.  With a tandem like Julio Jones and Roddy White, Matt Ryan should continuously attack the young corners of Josh Norman and Bene Benwikere. 

Prediction: Carolina 20 Atlanta 28

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

    Another year, another Week 17 NFC North title game for the Packers.  This time they face one of the league’s best defenses and perhaps the single best receiver.  Their first meeting in late September won’t likely translate over to this week’s game.  Green Bay was held to 223 total yards of offense and put up 7 points in their 12 point defeat to Detroit.
    Now they’re in Lambeau field, where the Pack Attack are not only undefeated, but they are putting up stupid numbers.  It isn’t likely Eddie Lacy is held to under 40 yards on the ground, but slowing him down will still be Detroit’s first priority, forcing Green Bay to become one-dimensional. 
    Most people aren’t giving the Lions a shot in this one and while that seems reasonable, I can’t see either team breaking this game open.

    Prediction:  Detroit 17 Green Bay 23

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers


    Cincy could not enter this game in a much better fashion, following a strong victory at home against the #2 seeded Denver Broncos.  Paul Guenther has done a great job coordinating this defense as of late and it makes things much easier for an offense that has had their elite wide receiver banged up.
    Well, AJ Green says he’ll be back this week and that makes this Sunday night prime time matchup slated to be a good one.  Pittsburgh’s Big-3 of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown has simply torn apart teams this season and other AFC contenders might rather see the Bengals victorious, especially considering their recent playoff woes. 
    Ultimately, I think the Steelers come out with a hard, mixed attack that will continue to keep Cincinnati on their heels the whole game. 

    Cincinnati 13 Pittsburgh 31