Some Teams Will Experience a Happy Christmas

With only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, six playoff spots are still open and up for grabs.

And there are plenty of teams trying to do the grabbing.

There are 24 clubs still in Super Bowl contention, the second most ever (26 in 2004) since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978. That means that in two of the past three seasons, more clubs have been in such contention than in any other time in history.

Here's the playoff lowdown so far:

In the AFC, Baltimore, Indianapolis and San Diego have won division titles. The Chargers can clinch home field with a victory, while the Colts can clinch a first-round bye with a win. Cincinnati and Denver can get a playoff berth this week with a win and some help.

Buffalo, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New York Jets, Pittsburgh and Tennessee are still alive but need tons of help.

In the NFC, Chicago and New Orleans have won division titles with the Bears getting home field throughout the playoffs. The Saints can clinch a first-round bye with a victory.

Dallas has already secured a playoff spot but can win the division with a victory over Philadelphia, who can get in the playoffs with a win as well. Seattle can win the NFC West with a victory.

The New York Giants can secure a playoff berth with a win and some help, while Atlanta, Carolina, Green Bay, Minnesota, St. Louis and San Francisco are still alive but need tons of help.

December is fun time for NFL fans and almost every game this week has some kind of meaning, which makes it even better.

Here's the Corners predictions for week 16 in the NFL:

Kansas City at Oakland
The Chiefs are fighting for the playoffs but have struggled as of late, losing three straight. Kansas City is only 3-7 against conference teams, one reason they face long odds to claim one of the two wild-card berths. One way to get better is to face the Raiders, who along with Detroit, are fighting for the number one pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Chiefs are 26-8 against the Raiders since 1990, including playoffs. Winner: Chiefs.

Tampa Bay at Cleveland
Both teams have been eliminated from the playoff and will be playing for pride. Tim Rattay makes his first start this season, while Derek Anderson is still in for the injured Charlie Frye in Cleveland. The Browns own a 5-1 record against the Bucs, but Cleveland is ranked 28th against the rush and Cadillac Williams could have a big day. Winner: Bucs.

Tennessee at Buffalo
Tennessee enters with a five-game winning streak - its longest since a six-game run in 2003 - after an unusual 24-17 victory against Jacksonville last week. The Titans managed only 98 yards of total offense, but got three defensive touchdowns that each covered at least 60 yards. The Bills look to have a big game from Willis McGahee against a Tennessee defense is last in the NFL. Tennessee has won three of the past four matchups, including the memorable 22-16 victory in a 1999 AFC Wild Card Game that is better known as the Music City Miracle. Winner: Bills.

Carolina at Atlanta
The Falcons have lost three in a row at home for the first time since a six-game slide in 2003. They are 3-4 at the Georgia Dome this season, and are 1-6 on their home field in November and December over the past two years. Mathematically, the 6-8 Panthers have not been eliminated from the playoff race. However, a four-game losing streak, including an embarrassing 37-3 home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 17, has all but ruined a once-promising season. Chris Weinke will once again start in place of injured QB Jake Delhomme. Winner: Carolina.

Washington at St. Louis
With each team coming off victories to snap two-game losing streaks, the Rams will try to keep their faint postseason hopes alive on Sunday when they host the Redskins, who have been eliminated from the playoff hunt. St. Louis is 0-4 at home against the Redskins since relocating from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995. Washington has won three straight and six of seven overall in the series, including a 24-9 victory last season as Jackson was held to 24 yards rushing. Winner: Rams.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh
The Baltimore Ravens locked up the AFC North title last week. With quarterback Steve McNair expected back, they'll turn their attention toward a first-round bye. The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers are making another late-season push, winning five of their past six games to jump back into the playoff picture. Pittsburgh is 7-7 and mathematically alive for a wild-card spot, but needs several scenarios to play out in order to defend its title. McNair is 9-4 lifetime against Pittsburgh. Winner: Ravens.

New Orleans at New York Giants
After clinching the NFC South title, the Saints can earn the conference's second seed when they take on New York, which is hoping to boost its chances of earning a wild-card spot. New York is 7-2 against New Orleans at Giants Stadium. Only 32 of the 133 teams that started 6-2 since the 1970 merger have missed the playoffs and New York could be added to that list. Winner: Saints.

New England at Jacksonville
The Patriots look to wrap up the AFC East and put a damper on the Jaguars' playoff hopes when the teams meet in Jacksonville. New England (10-4) can clinch its fourth straight division title with either a win or a tie on Sunday or a New York Jets loss or tie on Monday in their game against Miami. The Patriots own the fourth-best record in the AFC and have won four of their last five. New England has won all three regular-season meetings between these teams and two of three matchups in the playoffs. Winner: Patriots.

Indianapolis at Houston
Indianapolis had already clinched its fourth straight AFC South title before beating Cincinnati 34-16 on Monday night, thanks to Jacksonville losing to Tennessee the day before. A Colts victory Sunday, combined with a Baltimore loss to Pittsburgh, would give them a first-round bye. Houston has assured itself of a fifth straight losing season, and quarterback David Carr has continued to struggle. Winner: Colts.

Chicago at Detroit
No one knows how long or if the starters for the Bears will play after clinching home field throughout the playoff last week. The Lions will have a losing record for the sixth consecutive season and are tied with the Oakland Raiders for the worst record in the NFL. Chicago is looking for its fourth consecutive victory against Detroit after losing the three previous meetings between the teams. Winner: Bears.

Arizona at San Francisco
The 49ers kept their slim hopes for a division title alive with a big road victory in their last outing. They'll now try to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention when they host the Cardinals. San Francisco has won three division games for the first time since going 5-1 in 2002. Despite their fifth straight season with at least 10 losses, the Cardinals put two players in the Pro Bowl - wide receiver Anquan Boldin and safety Adrian Wilson - and have shown improvement over the last five games. Winner: 49ers.

San Diego at Seattle
The Chargers have won nine straight and the soon-to-be-named MVP in LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson has set single-season league records with 31 touchdowns and 186 points this season, and comes into Sunday with eight straight 100-yard rushing efforts. He's also set an NFL mark with eight consecutive games with at least two touchdowns, and the league's leading rusher is 57 yards shy of his career-high and club-record 1,683, set in 2002. San Diego, which has already clinched the AFC West, can secure a first-round bye with a victory or a loss by Indianapolis. The Chargers can gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win and a loss by Baltimore. The Seahawks have beaten the Chargers five straight times. Winner: Seahawks.

Cincinnati at Denver
The Bengals and Broncos are among four AFC teams at 8-6 vying for the two wild-card spots. They could each clinch a playoff berth this week with a victory and help from two other teams, or they could make the postseason by winning their final two games. The Bengals have lost their last seven trips to Denver, getting outscored 186-109 in that span. The Broncos won the last meeting in Denver 38-20 on Sept. 21, 1997, boosting their record in the series to 10-2 at home and 15-8 overall. Winner: Broncos.

Philadelphia at Dallas (Monday night)
The NFC East title is on the line when the Eagles visit their division rival in a game with many playoff implications. While Philadelphia can take control of the NFC East only by winning this game, Dallas will clinch the division crown for the first time since 1998 with a victory. The Cowboys already have wrapped up a playoff berth, and Philadelphia can do the same with a victory. The Eagles would win the division with victories in their final two games -- they will play host to the Atlanta Falcons next week. Throw T.O. into the mix and you have an edge of your seat game on Christmas day. Winner: Cowboys.

New York Jets at Miami (Monday night)
The second game of a Christmas day double dip. New York has won three of its past four games, including a 26-13 victory against the Minnesota Vikings last week, to keep its postseason hopes alive. At 8-6, the Jets are two games behind New England in the division and among four AFC teams vying for two wild-card spots. New York has won its past three Monday night appearances and is an impressive 5-2 on the road this season, including three consecutive victories there. New York has lost three of its past four trips to Miami, but has taken 13 of the past 17 overall matchups. Winner: Jets.

The Corner Lowdown
Last week: 10-5
Overall: 130-72


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