DIY Pigskins

Last night, Patriots fans were rooting for the Jets. If the Dolphins had lost, the Patriots would've clinched the AFC East. Today, Dolphins fans will be rooting for the Patriots as a Broncos loss would give them inside position for a Wild Card spot over the reigning Super Bowl champs.

The NFL. It's an emotional roller coaster that ends with most of us throwing up.

As if I needed the reminder, the NFL is a do it yourself league. Of course counting on the Jets last night was a fool's play. Generally speaking, Jets schadenfreude is one of the pigskin things I live for but my rooting interests got in the way, if only for the first half. I guess I can console myself with the inevitable blowing up of the NYJ once the season is over; GM, coaches and about 43 of the 53-man roster all should go. Assuming rumors about Rex Ryan's future unemployment are true, half the AFC East will be in rebuild mode in 2017. And you don't think Brady can play till he's 45?

Perhaps I can hope for a small QB controversy in Miami after journeyman Matt Moore threw 4 TD passes?

Probably not.

No, the Patriots will need to take care of business themselves in Denver today. It most certainly will not be easy. The Broncos are playing for their playoff lives and unlike past performance, desperation is a good indicator of future results.

Speaking of desperation, who isn't this time of year?

The Packers have been playing well of late but they're so far on the outside they need to use binoculars to see the playoffs. Luckily for them, they'll be playing the Bears today. Unfortunately for them, extreme weather has a way of leveling the playing field. It's going to be Arctic Circle-level frigid in Chicago and the Bears have the better running back in Jordan Howard.

The Texans need a win at home against the Jaguars to retain their tenuous hold on the AFC South. Today, Blake Bortles will be the best quarterback on the field. I feel like that last sentence might trigger a seizure if you're a Houston fan.

The Bills' Marcell Dareus guaranteed a win over the winless Browns. Bold talk, bruh.

The Ravens are teetering on the edge of playoff elimination. Playing the Eagles today will likely leave them thinking they still have a chance. There's a fine line between desperation and delusion, I guess.

The Titans travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs with playoff implications on the line for both teams. The Texans hold a tenuous tiebreaker over the Titans while the Chiefs hold the equally slim tiebreak over the Raiders. The Chiefs are rock solid at home and they've convinced some pigskin pundits and bobbleheads they are the most complete team in the AFC all of which leads me to believe they will lose to an inspired Titans team that knows Blake Bortles will be the best quarterback on the field in Houston today.

The Lions roadie in the Meadowlands against the G-Men looks like the marquee game of the day. Think about that. Who had this game circled back in the dog days of training camp? Both teams are 9-4-0. It definitely qualifies as a playoff preview type of game and yet I just can't get excited about it. It just feels like one of those games where Eli Manning throws as many TD passes to Lions' defenders as he does to Odell Beckham, Jr.

The Steelers need a win to maintain their one-game edge over the Ravens and will need to travel to Cincinnati to make it happen. This should feel like one of those "throw out the records" games. There's plenty of bad blood between these division rivals but the Bengals have a stranglehold on 3rd place in the AFC North at 5-7-1 and their best and only offensive threat, A.J. Green, is playing hurt. Sure, they'd like nothing better than to throw some icy cold water on the Steelers playoff hopes but it's hard imagining that happening. The Steelers coming into the Queen City and settling grievances seems much more likely.

The Buccaneers need a win in Big D to hold onto the second Wild Card spot in the NFC bracket. A win over the Cowboys would give the Bucs and Jameis Winston a signature win and the confidence they can make some noise in the playoffs. The Cowboys and Dak Prescott need to win and play well following their second loss to the Giants. By the way, do not play a drinking game where you take a shot every time Tony Romo's name is mentioned or Romo is shown on the sideline but if you do, make sure you get out to the liquor store to stock up before kickoff. You're going to need it.

Go Pats!