The end of the year and the 2024 regular season in the NFL is just around the corner, and with nearly every team having three games left to play, everyone's chances will depend on how well they can handle the pressure heading into the postseason.
This week we will have fundamental duels before the playoffs, and that is why in this article you will find an overview of the teams that are still in the fight and those that are already out of any possibility. We will also analyze the possible changes among the teams that have already secured their place in the title race.
Week 16 - NFL Overview ahead of the Weekend
American Conference
The Conference where the reigning NFL champions live has only three spots available to fight for the championship, as Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Houston have already secured their playoff berths. Baltimore and Chargers seem to be close to getting in -especially Chargers given their win on Thursday night-, while Denver will have to win at least one more game to take options away from Indianapolis, Miami and Bengals. The rest of the teams in this conference only hope not to make a fool of themselves in their remaining games.
Meanwhile at the National Conference...
The outlook in this conference is a little tighter, as only three teams have secured their playoff spots: Detroit, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Those aspiring to join this list are led by Tampa Bay, followed by the Rams, Green Bay and Washington. The fight for a place in the playoffs is so close that teams like San Francisco and Dallas, both with negative records, still aspire to sneak into the final phase, something that would be to the detriment of teams like Atlanta, Arizona or Seattle. Finally, the teams with no chance of making the playoffs are Chicago, Carolina and the New York Giants.
Games to watch this weekend
Texans vs Chiefs - Duel of divisional leaders that seems to favor Kansas, as home field advantage could be enough for Houston. Kansas has three straight wins facing Texans, including two wins at Arrowhead and one more in overtime in December 2022.
Steelers vs Ravens - The American North's top rivalry is in its second chapter of the season. Steelers won by the smallest margin in their previous meeting, which allowed Tomlin's team to extend their positive streak to four games against Ravens, also considering preseason games. A loss for the locals would seriously complicate their postseason chances, so Lamar Jackson and company urgently need to shake off the dominance that the Steelers have exerted over them, despite their turbulence at the Quarterback position in recent years.
Bucs vs Cowboys - The last train has arrived in Dallas, but it won't be easy for the Cowboys to make the postseason their destination. The last time they met was last season and it ended in a win for Texas, but two of their last three meetings have ended in victory for Tampa Bay, including a visit to Arlington in November 2022. It seems like too much of a prize for Dallas to keep fighting for the playoffs after such a mediocre season, but that will only be confirmed on Sunday night, when we will know the outcome of this game and if Tampa Bay manages to make up ground to win the South division.
Forecasts
Texans vs Chiefs - Mahomes and company enter this game as -185 favorites, compared to Houston's +160 prior to Saturday's first game.
Steelers vs Ravens - Contrary to what their record indicates, Baltimore comes in at -300 to beat the Steelers. On the other hand, Mike Tomlin and company are underdogs at +245, which makes Pittsburgh a bit dangerous in terms of betting, since a few weeks ago they were also underdogs and ended up winning.
Tampa Bay vs Dallas - The visitor comes to AT&T Stadium as a -200 favorite, which means that by honoring this line, the Bucs would practically assure a place in the playoffs. On the other side, Dallas will look to surprise and stay in contention for the postseason, although the +170 line does not seem to give them many options.
Remember that the lines are dynamic and may be different from those mentioned here when you enter your wager.