"Week 16 results feel weightier, mainly because there isn't much time left to fix problems that result from them. The Rams might well be better than the Seahawks, but now all Seattle has to do is win two games to keep Los Angeles in a wild-card spot. The Packers might be better than the Bears, but they could theoretically miss the playoffs completely as a result of Saturday night's meltdown."
"On and on it goes. The only reason Tampa Bay's loss to Carolina wasn't completely devastating is that they play again in Week 18. But still, if the Bucs lose and the Panthers win next week, that rematch won't matter. The way the Jaguars played against the Broncos put a lot of pressure on a sleepy-looking Texans team to get it together against the Raiders ( it did). Week 16 is a serious reality check."
Week 16 produced dramatic, high-stakes outcomes that reshaped playoff landscapes across the NFL. Seattle's fourth-quarter comeback over the Rams handed Seattle control of the NFC race while Chicago's similar rally over Green Bay flipped control of the NFC North. Late losses and narrow outcomes have immediate consequences because little time remains to recover. Tampa Bay's loss to Carolina leaves the Buccaneers' fate contingent on Week 18 results. Jacksonville's performance against Denver increased pressure on Houston to respond, which it did against Las Vegas. Week 16 functions as a stark reality check for contenders and underdogs alike.
Read at ESPN.com
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