NFL Round-up: Week 16...

Welcome to Week 16. What’s new in NFL land? Well, let me tell you: the AFC is all sewn-up. Take a look at the seeding below:

1st The New England Patriots (Winners of AFC East)
2nd The Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens
3rd The Indianapolis Colts (Winners of AFC South)
4th The Kansas City Chiefs (Winners of AFC West)
5th The Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens
6th The New York Jets (Runners-up in AFC East)

So the Patriots and either the Steelers/Ravens will sit out week one of the playoffs with the Chiefs playing the runners-up of the AFC North at home. They should lose to either road team, which will set-up a rematch between the two tough-nosed tusslers. And I believe it will be one of two intra-divisional matchups in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Colts are due to play the Jets. Manning has never lost to Rex Ryan, but the bold and brash coach is determined to change that. I think he will. The Colts are favourite at home and in the playoffs, but the Jets are a solid, run-first team, tailor made in the old school mould for a deep run in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised in the Jets make it through to face the cruising Pats, who just can’t wait to make the season series 2-1 over their biggest rivals.

Ouch and smash! The Seahawks got beat by the Buccaneers, which means Tampa Bay are still clinging to an outside shot of making the playoffs. If the Giants and Packers lose next week and the Bucs top the World Champion New Orleans Saints.

So what does that mean for the Seahawks, who are locked in a tight battle for the NFC West? Nothing, really: the Seahawks still have to win next week. A win at the last will tie up their record with St. Louis, who hold a meaningless one game lead in the division, and hand them the fourth seed and homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs.


Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.

E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.