FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/22/15 http://twitter.com/nfl345

NFL TEAMS PREPARE FOR FINAL STRETCH

Time is running out. With two weeks to go in the NFL regular season, it’s time for teams to make their final playoff push.

“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to take care of your own business,” says ERIC DECKER. “We’ve got two big games ahead of us against two opponents. We’ve got to come out and play our best.”

Through the first 15 weeks, six postseason berths have been clinched. Carolina (NFC South, first-round bye), New England (AFC East, first-round bye) and (NFC West) have each won its division. Cincinnati, Green Bay and Seattle have all secured a playoff berth. And with two weeks left, there are still 18 teams in contention for a trip to 50.

“We have to keep living week in and week out,” says Pittsburgh . “We don’t take wins for granted in this league and hopefully succeeding in the face of adversity strengthens us for the battles that await.”

There are six playoff spots up for grabs, including five division titles.

In the AFC, New England can secure home-field advantage this week. Cincinnati has a chance to lock up the AFC North and earn a first-round bye. Denver can wrap up a playoff berth and the AFC West title. Houston can win the AFC South. And Pittsburgh and Kansas City can each secure a postseason spot.

In the NFC, Carolina can clinch home-field advantage this week. Arizona can lock up a first-round bye. Green Bay can win the NFC North. Washington can secure the NFC East. And Minnesota can clinch a postseason berth.

Week 16 kicks off on Thursday night when the Oakland Raiders host the San Diego Chargers (NFL Network, 8:25 PM ET). It continues on Saturday night when the Washington Redskins visit the Eagles in a key NFC East showdown (NFL Network, 8:25 PM ET).

Some of the key games in Week 16 with possible playoff clinching scenarios:

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-7) at (6-8) (Saturday, NFLN, 8:25 PM ET)

First place in the NFC East is on the line when the Eagles host the Redskins on Saturday night. With two games remaining, Washington (7-7) enters Week 16 with a one-game lead over Philadelphia (6-8) and the (6-8).

The Redskins defeated Buffalo last week 35-25 as threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. Washington will clinch the division with a victory over the Eagles.

The Eagles, however, can take the NFC East with wins in each of their final two games against the Redskins and the Giants.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (14-0) at (7-7) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

Carolina is the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to start 14-0 and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory on Sunday at Atlanta. Last week, the Panthers defeated the New York Giants 38-35 as quarterback became the first player in NFL history to have at least 300 passing yards (340), five touchdown passes and 100 rushing yards (100) in a single game.

The Falcons remain alive in the NFC at 7-7 and will look to keep their playoff hopes alive with wins over Carolina and New Orleans to close out the regular season. Last week, Atlanta won at Jacksonville 23-17 as wide receiver had nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-5) at (4-10) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Steelers rallied back from a 27-10 deficit by scoring 24 unanswered points in the team’s 34-27 win over Denver last week. With the victory, Pittsburgh improved to 9-5 and can clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a victory and a New York Jets loss. In the win over the Broncos, Steelers quarterback passed for 380 yards and three touchdowns while wide receiver had 16 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-11) at (9-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

Kansas City defeated Baltimore 34-14 last week and is the only team in NFL history to win eight consecutive games immediately following a five-game losing streak in the same season. At 9-5, the Chiefs can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and a loss by either Pittsburgh or the New York Jets.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-2) at NEW YORK JETS (9-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Patriots, who defeated Tennessee 33-16 last week, can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win over the Jets. New England is the second team in NFL history to win at least 12 games in six consecutive seasons (Indianapolis, 2003-09).

The Jets won at 19-16 in Week 15 and improved to 9-5 as quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK passed for 299 yards and a touchdown. New York is currently tied with both Kansas City and Pittsburgh at 9-5 in the AFC Wild Card race.

HOUSTON TEXANS (7-7) at (3-11) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Texans moved into sole possession of first place in the AFC South with last week’s 16-10 win at Indianapolis. Houston quarterback came on in relief and threw the game-winning touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver JAELEN STRONG in the fourth quarter. The Texans can clinch the division title this weekend with a win and an Indianapolis loss.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-4) at (12-2) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

Green Bay defeated Oakland 30-20 last week to clinch a playoff berth and leads the NFC North by one game. In the win at Oakland, rookie had his first career interception-return touchdown as the Packers used two early interceptions to set up a 14-0 lead. Green Bay can secure the division title this weekend with a win and a Minnesota loss. The Packers and the Vikings will meet in Week 17.

The Cardinals have won a franchise-record 12 games and clinched the NFC West last week with a 40-17 win at Philadelphia. Arizona rookie DAVID JOHNSON rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first player in franchise history to rush for at least 180 yards and three touchdowns in a game. With a victory over Green Bay, the Cardinals will secure a first-round bye.

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-8) at (9-5) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

The Giants enter Week 16 one game behind Washington in the NFC East. New York is currently tied with Philadelphia, whom the Giants will face in Week 17. The Giants can still win the division title but will need to win their remaining two games and get help along the way.

Minnesota knocked off 38-17 in Week 15 to improve to 9-5 and move one step closer to a postseason berth. Vikings quarterback became the second quarterback in NFL history – and first since 1964 (FRANK RYAN) – to complete at least 85 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions and rush for a touchdown in a single game. The Vikings will clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a win. Additionally, if Minnesota wins this week and defeats Green Bay in Week 17, the Vikings will win the NFC North division title.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-3) at (10-4) (Monday, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET)

Cincinnati improved to 11-3 with a 24-14 win at San Francisco last week as quarterback AJ MC CARRON posted a 115.6 passer rating in his first NFL start and running back JEREMY HILL rushed for two touchdowns. The Bengals can clinch the AFC North division title and a first-round bye with a win on Monday night.

The Broncos can secure a playoff spot in Week 15 with a win and a loss by either Pittsburgh or the New York Jets. Denver will clinch the AFC West division title with a victory over Cincinnati and a loss by Kansas City. 2015 NFL STANDINGS

American Football Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 12 2 0 .857 435 269 7-1 5-1 9-1-0 4-0-0 Won 2 New York Jets 9 5 0 .643 344 272 5-2 4-3 6-4-0 2-2-0 Won 4 6 8 0 .429 341 336 3-3 3-5 6-5-0 3-2-0 Lost 2 5 9 0 .357 278 361 2-4 3-5 3-7-0 0-5-0 Lost 2

North Division

Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 11 3 0 .786 378 243 5-2 6-1 8-2-0 4-1-0 Won 1 9 5 0 .643 378 287 6-2 3-3 6-4-0 2-2-0 Won 3 Baltimore Ravens 4 10 0 .286 292 360 2-5 2-5 3-7-0 2-2-0 Lost 3 3 11 0 .214 253 387 2-5 1-6 2-8-0 1-4-0 Lost 1

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 7 7 0 .500 275 301 4-3 3-4 5-5-0 3-1-0 Won 1 6 8 0 .429 285 372 3-4 3-4 4-6-0 3-2-0 Lost 3 5 9 0 .357 343 380 4-4 1-5 5-6-0 2-3-0 Lost 1 Tennessee Titans 3 11 0 .214 269 359 1-6 2-5 1-9-0 1-3-0 Lost 2

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Denver Broncos 10 4 0 .714 308 259 4-2 6-2 6-4-0 3-2-0 Lost 2 Kansas City Chiefs 9 5 0 .643 365 257 4-2 5-3 8-2-0 4-1-0 Won 8 Oakland Raiders 6 8 0 .429 319 356 2-5 4-3 6-4-0 2-2-0 Lost 1 San Diego Chargers 4 10 0 .286 280 348 3-5 1-5 3-7-0 0-4-0 Won 2

National Football Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Washington Redskins 7 7 0 .500 316 332 6-2 1-5 6-4-0 2-2-0 Won 2 Philadelphia Eagles 6 8 0 .429 318 362 3-4 3-4 3-7-0 2-2-0 Lost 1 New York Giants 6 8 0 .429 373 358 3-4 3-4 4-6-0 2-3-0 Lost 1 4 10 0 .286 246 324 1-6 3-4 3-8-0 3-2-0 Lost 2

North Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 10 4 0 .714 347 265 5-2 5-2 7-3-0 3-2-0 Won 3 Minnesota Vikings 9 5 0 .643 296 272 5-2 4-3 6-4-0 4-1-0 Won 1 5 9 0 .357 302 363 3-4 2-5 4-6-0 2-3-0 Won 1 5 9 0 .357 289 352 1-6 4-3 2-8-0 1-4-0 Lost 3

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak 14 0 0 1.000 449 278 7-0 7-0 10-0-0 4-0-0 Won 14 Atlanta Falcons 7 7 0 .500 302 312 3-3 4-4 4-6-0 0-4-0 Won 1 6 8 0 .429 311 353 3-4 3-4 5-5-0 3-2-0 Lost 2 5 9 0 .357 350 432 3-4 2-5 4-4-0 2-3-0 Lost 1

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak Arizona Cardinals 12 2 0 .857 445 269 5-1 7-1 9-1-0 4-1-0 Won 8 9 5 0 .643 370 248 5-2 4-3 6-4-0 2-2-0 Won 5 St. Louis Rams 6 8 0 .429 241 294 5-3 1-5 5-5-0 3-1-0 Won 2 4 10 0 .286 202 339 3-4 1-6 3-7-0 0-5-0 Lost 1

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS DECEMBER 17, 19-21 (Home Team in Caps)

Thursday, December 17 Sunday, December 20 (cont’d) ST. LOUIS 31, Tampa Bay 23 Carolina 38, NEW YORK GIANTS 35 WASHINGTON 35, Buffalo 25 Saturday, December 19 Green Bay 30, OAKLAND 20 New York Jets 19, DALLAS 16 SEATTLE 30, Cleveland 13 PITTSBURGH 34, Denver 27 Sunday, December 20 SAN DIEGO 30, Miami 14 Kansas City 34, BALTIMORE 14 Cincinnati 24, SAN FRANCISCO 14 Houston 16, INDIANAPOLIS 10 Arizona 40, PHILADELPHIA 17 Atlanta 23, JACKSONVILLE 17 MINNESOTA 38, Chicago 17 Monday, December 21 NEW ENGLAND 33, Tennessee 16 Detroit 35, NEW ORLEANS 27

2015 NFL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 26-28 (All times local)

Thursday, December 24 Sunday, December 27 (cont’d) San Diego at Oakland, 5:25 PM (NFLN) Indianapolis at Miami, 1:00 PM New England at New York Jets, 1:00 PM Saturday, December 26 Houston at Tennessee, 12:00 PM Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 PM (NFLN) Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM Jacksonville at New Orleans, 3:05 PM Sunday, December 27 Green Bay at Arizona, 2:25 PM Carolina at Atlanta, 1:00 PM St. Louis at Seattle, 1:25 PM Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1:00 PM New York Giants at Minnesota, 7:30 PM (NBC) Dallas at Buffalo, 1:00 PM San Francisco at Detroit, 1:00 PM Monday, December 21 Cleveland at Kansas City, 12:00 PM Cincinnati at Denver, 6:30 PM (ESPN)