Week 17 could be a decisive week with the AFC playoff pecking order falling into place, but it serves as a warm-up act to the expected grand finale in the NFC.
The NFL made numerous schedule changes for Week 17 official on Tuesday.
That includes a tripleheader Saturday (Dec. 28) of games expected to matter in the playoff race.
Chargers (8-6) at Patriots (3-11), 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Broncos (9-5) at Bengals (6-8), 4:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Cardinals (7-7) at Rams (8-6), 8:15 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Denver can clinch a playoff spot this week by beating the Chargers. But if Los Angeles wins this week, the entire slate of Saturday games take on a massive meaning.
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The NFL schedule release offered only a mention of five TBD Saturday games to make it possible for the league to stack the deck.
One of those games is now the Sunday night matchup on NBC: Falcons (7-7) at Commanders (9-5). Atlanta could close the gap on Washington in the wild-card race by beating the Giants this week if the Commanders lose to the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2). Should that scenario become reality, the Sunday night game winner takes control of the wild-card race in the NFC.
Homefield is up for grabs in either conference entering Week 16. Kansas City (13-1) can wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC but the Chiefs need a win over the Houston Texans (9-5) and a loss or tie by the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo (11-3) has two games remaining against the New England Patriots (3-11), including Sunday.
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