Its the final week of the 2019 NFL regular season, and you couldn’t ask for better match-ups to finish off another exciting year. In the final NFL games of 2019, the final playoff positions will be decided, and the hopes and dreams of 20 teams come to end after Sunday. Whether it is a huge NFC West showdown for the division crown, or the Packers looking to avoid a drastic upset, this Sunday will be full of plenty of exciting events. With that lets dive into the 5 things to watch in week 17 of the 2019 NFL Season.
Coaches on the Hot Seat
It’s the final week of the season, and there are plenty of teams sitting on the brink of a possible change at their head coach position. There are plenty of games where the outcome could implicate the future of coaches throughout the league. Doug Marrone of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to be one of the top candidates to be fired. A win for the Jags in week 17 might be able to give him another season at the helm. Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland could use a win to make sure the 1st year coach isn’t removed after an unimpressive first season. Anthony Lynn of the Chargers and Dan Quinn have been on the hot seat already. Yet it looks like the Falcons are happy with keeping him in Atlanta. None of these teams will be heading to the playoffs this season, but there is still plenty of intrigue around each of these teams.
Patriots are right where they want to be, aren’t they?
The last few weeks have been kind of brutal for not only the Patriots but for quarterback Tom Brady, who has struggled and with two losses in their last four weeks, don’t quite seem to be at the same level as previous seasons. They were able to respond with a huge win against rival Buffalo in week 16. Now they face the Miami Dolphins, where they are quite a heavy favorite. They could use a blowout victory heading into the playoffs. Can the Patriots capitalize on it, or will the Dolphins give them a surprise like last season?
Back-up Quarterbacks get an opportunity
Robert Griffin III will get a chance for Baltimore, as MVP favorite Lamar Jackson will rest in week 17. It marks Griffin’s first meaningful start in years. This is the ultimate gift for Griffin to prove he wasn’t a bust. For the Washington Redskins, Dwayne Haskins is done, so Case Keenum gets another shot. This is giving both Griffin and Keenum auditions for the future perhaps in Griffin’s case a shot somewhere else in the league. If he can come out and have a good performance, RGIII deserves a shot somewhere. If he struggles he could very well be out of the league in 2020. It makes for something to keep an eye on.
Which Team wants the final spot in the AFC?
It’s crunch time in the NFL, and with it being the final week, three teams will vie for the final spot in the AFC in the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans might be in the best situation, as they host AFC South winner and rival Houston. Can Ryan Tannehill make signing with Tennessee worth it? What about the Steelers chances against the Ravens with back-ups starting this week. Or can the Raiders defy the odds, and make the playoffs in their final season in Oakland? All three team’s games will be must-see games, as each team’s destiny lies before them.
The NFC West is on the Line
The Seahawks and 49ers clash in a game for the ages, as both are in a position to not only win the NFC West but are also in a position to be the top-seeded team in the NFC. Seattle was already able to beat San Francisco in their first meeting this season. The Seahawks could also be in a position to win this match-up as well as they face-off in Seattle. The Winner gets a bye and home-field advantage, but the loser will fall to the 5th seed and will be set for a trip to a team with a worse record. Everything could be on the line in this epic Sunday Night Football match-up.
