THE NFL STORY: WEEK #17

So Tebowmania is dying down. Guess you gotta actually win to be a
pop culture icon.

THE SCORE:
Detroit (10-6) 41
GREEN BAY (15-1) 45
THE STATS: Green Bay QB Matt Flynn 31-44-380-1-6 TDs, 136.4 rating.
THE STORY: The Green Bay quarterback factory continues to turn them out.


THE SCORE:
TENNESSEE (9-7) 23
Houston (10-6) 22
THE STATS: Houston's first postseason.
THE STORY: How far can the Texans go behind T.J. Yates after losing quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart?


THE SCORE:
Indianapolis (2-14) 13
JACKSONVILLE (5-11) 19
THE STATS: Jacksonville just one penalty, one turnover.
THE STORY: Colts horrible season proves the value of losing a premium quarterback. Now let's see if Indy goes and drafts one.


THE SCORE:
NY Jets (8-8) 17
MIAMI (6-10) 19
THE STATS: Miami wins in spite of being outgained 210 to 374 yards.
THE STORY: After two consecutive runs to the AFC title game, the Jets took themselves out of the playoffs by losing their final three games to teams with a combined record of 23-25. Someone has some 'splainin to do, Lucy. I mean, Rex.


THE SCORE:
CHICAGO (8-8) 17
Minnesota (3-13) 13
THE STATS: Chicago snaps 5 game losing streak.
THE STORY: Good news for the Bears: the crowds in Florida are thin this time of year. Enjoy your vacations.


THE SCORE:
Buffalo (6-10) 21
NEW ENGLAND (13-3) 49
THE STATS: Buffalo 1-7 on 3rd down conversions.
THE STORY: Buffalo started the game 21-0, then gave up 49 straight points. Kind of a microcosm of their season (3-0, then 3-10 the rest of the way).


THE SCORE:
Carolina (6-10) 17
NEW ORLEANS (13-3) 45
THE STATS: New Orleans 617 total yards.
THE STORY: Carolina was actually 6-6 until you factor in their 0-4 against the division's two playoff teams, New Orleans and Atlanta. That's something to build on in Carolina, but shows how far they have to go.


THE SCORE:
Washington (5-11) 10
PHILADELPHIA (8-8) 34
THE STATS: Philadelphia TE Brent Celek 6-86-1 TD.
THE STORY: Eagles win their last 4 games, go 5-1 in the division, score the most points and give up the fewest in the division, but still miss the playoffs. How is that possible?


THE SCORE:
SAN FRANCISCO(13-3) 34
St. Louis (2-14) 27
THE STATS: San Francisco K David Akers 4-4 XP, 2-3 FG, 1-1-14-0-1 TD passing, 158.3 rating.
THE STORY: So 49ers kicker David Akers threw a touchdown pass to WR Michael Crabtree, who faked like he was leaving the field on a FG attempt. But why would the Niners roll out that play a week BEFORE the playoffs?


THE SCORE:
Tampa Bay (4-12) 24
ATLANTA (10-6) 45
THE STATS: Atlanta RB Michael Turner 17-172-2 TD.
THE STORY: Atlanta led 42-0 with 6:49 left. Not left in the game, but in the first HALF.


THE SCORE:
BALTIMORE (12-4) 24
Cincinnati (9-7) 16
THE STATS: Baltimore RB Ray Rice 24-191-2 TDs.
THE STORY: Baltimore secured the #2 seed, setting up a possible showdown in the 2nd week of the playoffs against #5 seed Pittsburgh. Just what we need, another matchup in this great rivalry.


THE SCORE:
PITTSBURGH (12-4) 13
Cleveland (4-12) 9
THE STATS: Pittsburgh time of possession: 39:11.
THE STORY: Pittsburgh needed to win to have a chance at winning the division, a first-round bye, and even home field. But they got no help from around the league, and settled for the #5 seed.


THE SCORE:
Seattle (7-9) 20
ARIZONA (8-8) 23
THE STATS: Tie game in regulation produces virtually tied statistics at the end of the game: Total Yards (Seattle Arizona): 369/388; First downs: 19/20; Turnovers 1/2; Total plays: 73/73; Passes: 35/40; Completions: 21/22; Punts 8/7; Penalties 7/9; Time of Poss: 33:42 / 35:19.
THE STORY: Last year, two teams with 7 wins in the NFC West would have been playing for the division title in Week #17.


THE SCORE:
KANSAS CITY (7-9) 7
Denver (8-8) 3
THE STATS: 2nd lowest scoring game in the NFL this season (Cleveland over Seattle, 6-3 in Week #7).
THE STORY: Denver's ride to the playoffs was like a Chris Berman home run call: "Back, back, back, back, BACKED IN".


THE SCORE:
SAN DIEGO (8-8) 38
Oakland (8-8) 26
THE STATS: Combined 983 total yards of offense.
THE STORY: Disappointing season for San Diego, which started 4-1 and finished 4-1. It was the 6-game losing streak in the middle that hurt. Even more disappointing was the Raiders, who could have made the playoffs if they had won, coupled with Denver's loss.


THE SCORE:
Dallas (8-8) 14
NY GIANTS (9-7) 31
THE STATS: Dallas 2 turnovers vs. 0 for New York, 7 penalties vs. 3, 6 times sacked vs. 2.
THE STORY: Playoffs began a week early for the Giants.


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