Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
With their string of narrow, last second victories, the AFC's current #1 overall seed from Buffalo (11-1, 3-1 AFC East) play in what seems to be their first unofficial 'playoff game' of the 2016 season.
The Steelers (7-5) are in desperate need of a victory to remain in the AFC's Wild Card picture with the hard-charging New York Jets close behind.
Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who are locker neighbors for the Steelers, in unison declared this game a "must win."
"It's win or be done now time for us," Roethlisberger said. "At this point, the road to the playoffs goes through Buffalo - our playoffs begin today."
With a winnable matchup against the hapless Browns next week before a pair of compelling games against the Dolphins and Jets, don't expect Rex Ryan's squad to overlook the importance of beating the Steelers.
"All season it's been a race for home field," Ryan said. "We are not going to get this close and just give it away."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: James Harrison has made it very clear that he expects the middle of the field to be a no-fly zone. Harrison has repeatedly offered to "punish" Buffalo's smallish receivers who have made a living in the intermediate passing game.
PREDICTION: Steelers win 29-24
Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins
Although the Cardinals have underperformed for the most part during their 2016 campaign, the talent-level is still there making Arizona a perfect team to spoil Miami's (11-1, 2-1 AFC East) dreams of carrying home-field advantage into the playoffs.
"You can't overlook anybody in this league," Earl Thomas said. "Especially a team with that many playmakers over there."
The Dolphins have continued to put forth impressive defensive efforts as the calendar has turned towards the winter months, but Jacoby Brissett and Chris Ivory have been taking longer to get going, making the once invincible-seeming team look very beatable.
"We need to keep grinding," Ivory said. "We still gotta commit to the run and set that physical tone early."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The speed of the Arizona linebackers and defensive backs will cause all kinds of trouble for Miami's inside-out rushing attack. Ivory and Thomas Rawls have made a living pounding the ball inside before bouncing it to the edges; This won't be easy against Arizona.
PREDICTION: Cardinals win 23-20
New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
If the New York Jets (6-6, 1-2 AFC East) controlled their own destiny in the AFC, it would be easy to label them as Super Bowl contenders at this point in the season.
The team is angry, hungry, and easily the youngest & most talented team in the NFL.
It seems disrespectful to tell the Jets' faithful to 'wait until next year,' as this year's version seems poised to make a deep playoff push.
"It's all on us," Todd Bowles said. "We gave away too many early season games and now the future is not in our hands."
The San Francisco 49ers, favorites to earn a top-3 NFL Draft pick, look to be the unlucky team this week to face off against the buzzsaw that is the New York Jets.
"We aren't going to just phone it in," Carlos Hyde said. "We will do our best to try to ruin their postseason dreams."
With Jimmy Garoppolo again set to start for the Jets, the team (behind their mammoth offensive line) should start quicker than the games started by the oft-benched Sam Bradford.
Bradford has had the propensity to turnover the ball early and often (typically for scores).
David Johnson, who is quietly becoming one of the NFL's top players, will be set for a big day in northern California.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Fifty to fall. It would surprise no one if the Jets get to 50 points against this San Francisco team.
PREDICTION: Jets win 49-7
