NFL Playoffs 2016: NFC Wild Card race Week 17
By Adam Stocker
Three teams will be battling for the last NFC Wild Card spot in Week 17
The NFC Wild Card race will be decided in Week 17. The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will play for the NFC North title but the loser may also be able to get the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. While the New York Giants have already locked up the fifth seed and play a Washington team that is desperate for a win.
The winner of the Packers and Lions game will clinch the NFC North and potentially as high as the number two seed in the NFC playoffs if Seattle and Atlanta both lose. The loser at 9-7 can still make the playoffs, if both Washington and Tampa Bay lose.
The Washington Redskins have two advantages in their playoff scenarios. The first advantage is the tie the Redskins have. The second advantage the Redskins have is that they play a Giants team with nothing to play for. If the Giants choose to rest their starters, the Redskins should win. And after seeing Derek Carr break his leg, expect a lot of NFL teams to be extremely cautious with their starters this week. If the Redskins win, they will finish with a 9-6-1 record. As long as the Packers and Lions do not tie, the Redskins will make the playoffs.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to beat Carolina in week 17, and the Giants beat the Redskins. A win in week 17 and the Bucs finish 9-7. At 9-7, the Bucs will finish tied with the loser of the NFC North title game. But that is just the start of what the Bucs need to make the playoffs. The Bucs need to win a tie breaker. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay fans, they need a lot of results to go their direction to win a tie breaker with the Green Bay and Detroit loser.