FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/29/15 http://twitter.com/nfl345

IT’S ALL ON THE LINE IN FINAL WEEKEND OF REGULAR SEASON

It’s the final push for NFL teams as the regular season ends on Sunday, January 3. All 16 games are division contests. And with one week to go, there are still 14 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl 50. Entering Week 17, 11 of the 16 games have playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved.

“This is what football is all about,” says ERIC DECKER, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Jets’ overtime win over New England. “We control our own destiny now. If you take care of business, you allow yourself to keep playing into January.”

In the AFC, New England (12-3) has clinched a first-round bye and can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or a Denver loss. The Broncos (11-4) can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Patriots loss. Denver can secure a first- round bye with a win or losses by Cincinnati and Kansas City. The Bengals (11-4) can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.

Two AFC division winners have been determined: New England (AFC East) and Cincinnati (AFC North). Denver can lock up the AFC West with a win or a Kansas City loss. The Chiefs (10-5) can clinch the division title with a win and a Denver loss. In the AFC South, Houston (8-7) can secure the division title with a win or an Indianapolis loss or by clinching the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts. In order to win the division, Indianapolis (7-8) needs a win and a Houston loss and to tie the Strength of Victory tiebreaker with the Texans and clinch the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over Houston.

Denver and Kansas City have both clinched at least a playoff spot. One of those teams will win the AFC West and the other will be a Wild Card entrant. The New York Jets (10-5) can earn the other Wild Card spot with a win or a Pittsburgh loss. The Steelers (9- 6) can advance to the postseason with a win and a Jets loss.

In the NFC, Carolina (14-1) and Arizona (13-2) have clinched first-round byes. The Panthers can secure home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win or a Cardinals loss. Arizona can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Carolina loss.

Three of the four NFC division winners have been determined: Carolina (NFC South), Arizona (NFC West) and Washington (NFC East). The NFC North will be determined on Sunday night in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC) at Lambeau Field when Green Bay (10-5) hosts Minnesota (10-5). The NFC North winner will be the No. 3 seed and Washington is locked in as the No. 4 seed.

The two Wild Card teams in the NFC will be the loser of Sunday night’s Minnesota-Green Bay game and Seattle (9-6), who has already clinched a playoff berth. The Seahawks can end up as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.

“Late in the season, you want to control your destiny,” says Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON. “You don’t want to rely on other teams. You want to be able to control your destiny and do it yourself. Now we have a chance to take another step forward and hopefully we can take care of business.”

Some of the key games in Week 17 with playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved:

NEW YORK JETS (10-5) at BUFFALO BILLS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Jets are in with a win. New York defeated New England 26-20 in overtime last week and the Jets are now in control for a postseason berth. New York can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a loss by Pittsburgh.

“It’s great that we are in this position,” says Jets RYAN FITZPATRICK, “but we have to win this game. I’m excited that we do control our own destiny but we have to take care of business.”

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-3) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-10) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Patriots are in control for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. New England has already clinched the AFC East division title and a first-round bye. With a win or a Denver loss, the Patriots will earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-10) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-4) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

The Bengals have clinched the AFC North division title and can secure a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-6) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Steelers are still alive for a playoff berth but are not in control. Pittsburgh needs a win and a loss by the New York Jets to clinch a postseason spot.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-10) at HOUSTON TEXANS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win or an Indianapolis loss. Houston can also claim the division title if the Texans clinch the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts.

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-12) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Colts remain alive for the AFC South division title. Indianapolis can secure the division title with a win and a Houston loss and the Colts tying the Texans in the Strength of Victory tiebreaker and clinching the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Texans.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (7-8) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

The Chiefs have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win and a Denver loss.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-11) at (11-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

The Broncos have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win or a Kansas City loss. Denver can lock up a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Kansas City and Cincinnati. And the Broncos can earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a New England loss.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-6) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (13-2) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

Seattle has clinched a Wild Card spot and will be either the No. 5 or 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Arizona has already clinched the NFC West division title and a first-round bye. With a win and a Carolina loss, the Cardinals will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

“We’re playing really good football at the right time,” says Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD. “This is the time of season you want to be playing well. That’s a good feeling.”

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-9) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (14-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

Carolina is in control for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Panthers have already clinched the NFC South division title and a first-round bye. With a win or an Arizona loss, Carolina will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-5) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-5) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

The final game of the 2015 regular season will decide the NFC North division.

“We are exactly where we want to be, in position to win the NFC North,” says Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who leads the league in rushing with 1,418 yards. “They flexed this game so it’s going to be in primetime. This is what we envisioned for ourselves at the beginning of the season. The opportunity is right here in front of us.”

Both the Vikings and Packers have already clinched a playoff berth. But the division title and a home playoff game are at stake.

“Everything is in front of us as far as winning the division,” says Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS. “I know what we’re capable of. We have guys who have played in big games and in the playoffs and you have to rely on that. We’ve won a lot of games. I have confidence in those guys and myself. That’s the beauty of the NFL.”

2015 NFL STANDINGS

American Football Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 12 3 0 .800 455 295 7-1 5-2 9-2-0 4-1-0 Lost 1 New York Jets 10 5 0 .667 370 292 6-2 4-3 7-4-0 3-2-0 Won 5 Buffalo Bills 7 8 0 .467 357 342 4-3 3-5 6-5-0 3-2-0 Won 1 Miami Dolphins 5 10 0 .333 290 379 2-5 3-5 3-8-0 0-5-0 Lost 3

North Division

Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Cincinnati Bengals 11 4 0 .733 395 263 5-2 6-2 8-3-0 4-1-0 Lost 1 Pittsburgh Steelers 9 6 0 .600 395 307 6-2 3-4 6-5-0 2-3-0 Lost 1 Baltimore Ravens 5 10 0 .333 312 377 3-5 2-5 4-7-0 3-2-0 Won 1 Cleveland Browns 3 12 0 .200 266 404 2-5 1-7 2-9-0 1-4-0 Lost 2

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Houston Texans 8 7 0 .533 309 307 4-3 4-4 6-5-0 4-1-0 Won 2 Indianapolis Colts 7 8 0 .467 303 384 3-4 4-4 5-6-0 3-2-0 Won 1 Jacksonville Jaguars 5 10 0 .333 370 418 4-4 1-6 5-6-0 2-3-0 Lost 2 3 12 0 .200 275 393 1-7 2-5 1-10-0 1-4-0 Lost 3

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Denver Broncos 11 4 0 .733 328 276 5-2 6-2 7-4-0 3-2-0 Won 1 Kansas City Chiefs 10 5 0 .667 382 270 5-2 5-3 9-2-0 4-1-0 Won 9 Oakland Raiders 7 8 0 .467 342 376 3-5 4-3 7-4-0 3-2-0 Won 1 San Diego Chargers 4 11 0 .267 300 371 3-5 1-6 3-8-0 0-5-0 Lost 1

National Football Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Washington Redskins 8 7 0 .533 354 356 6-2 2-5 7-4-0 3-2-0 Won 3 Philadelphia Eagles 6 9 0 .400 342 400 3-5 3-4 3-8-0 2-3-0 Lost 2 New York Giants 6 9 0 .400 390 407 3-4 3-5 4-7-0 2-3-0 Lost 2 Dallas Cowboys 4 11 0 .267 252 340 1-6 3-5 3-8-0 3-2-0 Lost 3

North Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Green Bay Packers 10 5 0 .667 355 303 5-2 5-3 7-4-0 3-2-0 Lost 1 Minnesota Vikings 10 5 0 .667 345 289 6-2 4-3 7-4-0 4-1-0 Won 2 Detroit Lions 6 9 0 .400 334 380 4-4 2-5 5-6-0 2-3-0 Won 2 Chicago Bears 6 9 0 .400 315 373 1-6 5-3 3-8-0 1-4-0 Won 1

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Carolina Panthers 14 1 0 .933 462 298 7-0 7-1 10-1-0 4-1-0 Lost 1 Atlanta Falcons 8 7 0 .533 322 325 4-3 4-4 5-6-0 1-4-0 Won 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 9 0 .400 332 379 3-5 3-4 5-6-0 3-2-0 Lost 3 New Orleans Saints 6 9 0 .400 388 459 4-4 2-5 4-7-0 2-3-0 Won 1

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Arizona Cardinals 13 2 0 .867 483 277 6-1 7-1 10-1-0 4-1-0 Won 9 Seattle Seahawks 9 6 0 .600 387 271 5-3 4-3 6-5-0 2-3-0 Lost 1 St. Louis Rams 7 8 0 .467 264 311 5-3 2-5 6-5-0 4-1-0 Won 3 San Francisco 49ers 4 11 0 .267 219 371 3-4 1-7 3-8-0 0-5-0 Lost 3

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS DECEMBER 24, 26-28 (Home Team in Caps)

Thursday, December 24 Sunday, December 27 (cont’d) OAKLAND 23, San Diego 20 (OT) Indianapolis 18, MIAMI 12 NEW YORK JETS 26, New England 20 (OT) Saturday, December 26 Houston 34, TENNESSEE 6 Washington 38, PHILADELPHIA 24 Chicago 26, TAMPA BAY 21 NEW ORLEANS 38, Jacksonville 27 Sunday, December 27 ARIZONA 38, Green Bay 8 ATLANTA 20, Carolina 13 St. Louis 23, SEATTLE 17 BALTIMORE 20, Pittsburgh 17 MINNESOTA 49, New York Giants 17 BUFFALO 16, Dallas 6 DETROIT 32, San Francisco 17 Monday, December 28 KANSAS CITY 17, Cleveland 13 DENVER 20, Cincinnati 17 (OT)

2015 NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 (All times local)

Sunday, January 3 Sunday, January 3 (cont’d) New Orleans at Atlanta, 1:00 PM New England at Miami, 1:00 PM New York Jets at Buffalo, 1:00 PM Philadelphia at New York Giants, 1:00 PM Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1:00 PM Seattle at Arizona, 2:25 PM Detroit at Chicago, 12:00 PM Tampa Bay at Carolina, 4:25 PM Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM San Diego at Denver, 2:25 PM Washington at Dallas, 12:00 PM Oakland at Kansas City, 3:25 PM Jacksonville at Houston, 12:00 PM St. Louis at San Francisco, 1:25 PM Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM Minnesota at Green Bay, 8:30 PM (NBC)