The 49ers are only one win away from clinching the NFC West title something they have been chasing for the past five seasons with no luck. They are by far the most consistent team in the NFC and are right now the heavy favorite to win the Conference, but they have some obstacles to overcome. Their biggest is the loss of their star running back Delvin Williams. He has always been a major factor in their success and no one is quite sure how they will fair without him in the post season. The Rams are really struggling to hang on in the playoff race. They lost a critical game this last week to Chicago another rival for the wild card spots, something the Rams cannot afford to do. Their defense has completely collapsed here in the second half of the season and need to find their footing if they hope to make it back into the post season.
Detroit won a very convincing game over Minnesota this last week. It seems to now be down to them and the Bears. Detroit is by far the best team in the Central and should hold on to take the Division. With Landry and a healthy Dexter Bussey they may be real trouble in the playoffs. Not sure what to make of the Bears. They essentially have no passing game, but their defense and running game have been very solid lately and are obviously getting the job done. If they can hold on to make the playoffs they will have to get a big improvement from Bob Avellini if they hope to make any dent.
St. Louis still holds the lead in the NFC East with Dallas sitting even. The Redskins lost this week so they fell back a step. This is an odd race. None of these teams are really all that impressive, but there is a chance all three will make the playoffs because the NFC is quite weak this season. The Redskins are going to have a struggle with Mike Thomas sitting on the bench. He is the key to their offense and they are really flailing without him.
The Chiefs clinched the AFC West with their win over the Seahawks last week. Now they'll try and stay healthy and keep winning to get home field advantage. Meanwhile the Seahawks and the Chargers are fighting for the final wild card spot, and suddenly the Raiders are in range of making a shot at the playoffs, though they will have to probably win out to make it.
Houston took Pittsburgh this last week so they are now tied at the top. It's going to come down to their Division records. Pittsburgh right now is 4-1 in the Division with only one game left a trip to Cleveland. Houston is also 4-1 with a trip left to Cincinnati. In fact all three of Houston's final games are on the road, while Pittsburgh only has two on the road, but a much tougher schedule to close out the season with Miami and San Diego still left to play.
Miami and New York are left now to battle it out for the AFC East title. Both teams have tough road games this week and still have to play each other in Miami. Meanwhile the Colts have completely collapsed and seem destined to not make the playoffs. Especially since they have to play the Jets and the 49ers still. In order for them to make it they are going to have to completely turn things around.
Standings
AFC
East: Miami 10-3; New York 9-4; Baltimore 7-6; New England, Buffalo 5-8
Central: Houston, Pittsburgh 9-4; Cincinnati 4-9; Cleveland 3-10
West: Kansas City 10-3; Seattle, San Diego 7-6; Oakland 6-7; Denver 3-10
NFC
East: St. Louis, Dallas 8-5; Washington 7-6; Philadelphia 5-8; New York 3-10
Central: Detroit 8-5; Chicago 7-6; Green Bay 6-6-1; Minnesota 6-7; Tampa Bay 4-8-1
West: San Francisco 10-3; Los Angeles 7-6; Atlanta, New Orleans 4-9
Statistics
QBs
StL Jim Hart 93.7
Dal Roger Staubach 93.1
KC Greg Hendrickson 91.5
RBs
Phi Ricky Bell 1,223yds
Mia Benny Malone 1,135yds
Hou Ronnie Coleman 1,049yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 1,176yds
Sea Steve Largent 1,080yds
NYG John Jefferson 1,029yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
Miami 10-3
Kansas City 10-3
Houston 9-4
Pittsburgh 9-4
New York 9-4
Baltimore 7-6
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Seattle 7-6
San Diego 7-6
NFC
San Francisco 10-3
Detroit 8-5
St. Louis 8-5
Dallas 8-5
Chicago 7-6
Los Angeles 7-6
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Washington 7-6
Key Games of Week 14
Chicago 7-6 at Detroit 8-5
For the second week in a row the Lions have to fend off a division rival. The Bears have been very hot and beating some very good teams, so this should be a good game.
Dallas 8-5 at San Francisco 10-3
Dallas has a lot more on the line in this one. This could turn into a real shootout between Staubach and Plunkett.
Washington 7-6 at St. Louis 8-5
This is a must win game for the Redskins. Without Mike Thomas it's going to be a big upset. The Cardinals should win this one easily.
New York Jets 9-4 at Baltimore 7-6
It's now or never for the Colts. They need Bert Jones to step up his game as well as the defense. The Jets need to win to keep pace with the Dolphins who have a very tough road game this week themselves.
Miami 10-3 at Pittsburgh 9-4
This should be a very good game. The key will be how well the Dolphins can do without their star running back Benny Malone who is out for the rest of the regular season.
Detroit won a very convincing game over Minnesota this last week. It seems to now be down to them and the Bears. Detroit is by far the best team in the Central and should hold on to take the Division. With Landry and a healthy Dexter Bussey they may be real trouble in the playoffs. Not sure what to make of the Bears. They essentially have no passing game, but their defense and running game have been very solid lately and are obviously getting the job done. If they can hold on to make the playoffs they will have to get a big improvement from Bob Avellini if they hope to make any dent.
St. Louis still holds the lead in the NFC East with Dallas sitting even. The Redskins lost this week so they fell back a step. This is an odd race. None of these teams are really all that impressive, but there is a chance all three will make the playoffs because the NFC is quite weak this season. The Redskins are going to have a struggle with Mike Thomas sitting on the bench. He is the key to their offense and they are really flailing without him.
The Chiefs clinched the AFC West with their win over the Seahawks last week. Now they'll try and stay healthy and keep winning to get home field advantage. Meanwhile the Seahawks and the Chargers are fighting for the final wild card spot, and suddenly the Raiders are in range of making a shot at the playoffs, though they will have to probably win out to make it.
Houston took Pittsburgh this last week so they are now tied at the top. It's going to come down to their Division records. Pittsburgh right now is 4-1 in the Division with only one game left a trip to Cleveland. Houston is also 4-1 with a trip left to Cincinnati. In fact all three of Houston's final games are on the road, while Pittsburgh only has two on the road, but a much tougher schedule to close out the season with Miami and San Diego still left to play.
Miami and New York are left now to battle it out for the AFC East title. Both teams have tough road games this week and still have to play each other in Miami. Meanwhile the Colts have completely collapsed and seem destined to not make the playoffs. Especially since they have to play the Jets and the 49ers still. In order for them to make it they are going to have to completely turn things around.
Standings
AFC
East: Miami 10-3; New York 9-4; Baltimore 7-6; New England, Buffalo 5-8
Central: Houston, Pittsburgh 9-4; Cincinnati 4-9; Cleveland 3-10
West: Kansas City 10-3; Seattle, San Diego 7-6; Oakland 6-7; Denver 3-10
NFC
East: St. Louis, Dallas 8-5; Washington 7-6; Philadelphia 5-8; New York 3-10
Central: Detroit 8-5; Chicago 7-6; Green Bay 6-6-1; Minnesota 6-7; Tampa Bay 4-8-1
West: San Francisco 10-3; Los Angeles 7-6; Atlanta, New Orleans 4-9
Statistics
QBs
StL Jim Hart 93.7
Dal Roger Staubach 93.1
KC Greg Hendrickson 91.5
RBs
Phi Ricky Bell 1,223yds
Mia Benny Malone 1,135yds
Hou Ronnie Coleman 1,049yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 1,176yds
Sea Steve Largent 1,080yds
NYG John Jefferson 1,029yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
Miami 10-3
Kansas City 10-3
Houston 9-4
Pittsburgh 9-4
New York 9-4
Baltimore 7-6
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Seattle 7-6
San Diego 7-6
NFC
San Francisco 10-3
Detroit 8-5
St. Louis 8-5
Dallas 8-5
Chicago 7-6
Los Angeles 7-6
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Washington 7-6
Key Games of Week 14
Chicago 7-6 at Detroit 8-5
For the second week in a row the Lions have to fend off a division rival. The Bears have been very hot and beating some very good teams, so this should be a good game.
Dallas 8-5 at San Francisco 10-3
Dallas has a lot more on the line in this one. This could turn into a real shootout between Staubach and Plunkett.
Washington 7-6 at St. Louis 8-5
This is a must win game for the Redskins. Without Mike Thomas it's going to be a big upset. The Cardinals should win this one easily.
New York Jets 9-4 at Baltimore 7-6
It's now or never for the Colts. They need Bert Jones to step up his game as well as the defense. The Jets need to win to keep pace with the Dolphins who have a very tough road game this week themselves.
Miami 10-3 at Pittsburgh 9-4
This should be a very good game. The key will be how well the Dolphins can do without their star running back Benny Malone who is out for the rest of the regular season.
Eight NFL81 teams entered this week's games with injured starting running backs. Here are the statistics of the backups who are getting their big chance:
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Rolf Mequita, Dolphins, 506, 6.0, 5, 1
Vencie Simms, Dolphins, 149, 3.4, 1, 1
Horace Ivory, Jets, 528, 3.6, 1, 2
Mike Hogan, Eagles, 157, 3.4, 1, 0
Terry Miller, 49ers, 238, 3.9, 1, 2 (active despite a sore neck)
Mike Strahan, Cardinals, 225, 3.0, 2, 1
John Hill, Redskins, 233, 3.1, 2, 0