Week 17 is finally here. For teams still in the hunt, this is their last chance to get themselves into the playoffs. For teams that have clinched the playoffs, they can let the backups play and hope there are no injuries. Here’s what to look for in this week’s matchups.
Can Christian Kirk become the Star that he was meant to be and get his team in the playoffs?
The Arizona Cardinals control their own destiny. A win and they’re in the playoffs, a loss and they’re out. While playing against the Rams is good for the Cards’ defense as Qb Jared Goff will not play, it also means that Kyler Murray will not be able to use Deandre Hopkins as much as he would like. In the previous matchup between these two, Hopkins caught 8 of 13 target for just 52 yards and a touchdown. This was in part due to star corner Jalen Ramsey’s efforts to keep the All-Pro receiver at bay. To add insult to injury, Hopkins and number two Larry Fitzgerald have been dealing with injuries all week. That is why it’s time for Kirk to step up and prove that he can be a franchise receiver down the line. It will be difficult if both Hopkins and Fitzgerald are ruled out, but I think Kirk will still get a more than usual amount of targets regardless.
Can the Dolphins go from the 5th overall pick to a playoff team?
The Dolphins have been one of the biggest turnarounds in the NFL. Ryan Fitzpatrick got the Dolphins off to a hot start, and then Tua took over and somewhat kept riding the wave of success. The Dolphin defense has become a monster and, I think is a top 5 defense. However, needing a win against the Bills, I think Tua and the offense will still need to do some work. The offense isn’t what it was when Fitzmagic was at the helm, and it will be interesting to see if Tua gets pulled out earlier if the Dolphins are facing a big deficit. It is a big day for the young QB, and getting a few playoff wins could set him apart from Herbert and Burrow.
Can the Cowboys somehow make the playoffs?
After losing their Franchise QB in Dak Prescott, we all thought the Cowboys were done for. Now, three QBs later, they have a chance to make the playoffs. Andy Dalton has never won a playoff game in his 9-year career. Now in what is most likely his last shot, he will need to get a win against the Giants. If the Cowboys pass rush can get going, I think the Giants will respond with a lot of aggressive defense of their own, and that could let Dalton make a few big plays. I think if he can put around 20-30 points, they should be good. However, a win isn’t the only thing the Cowboys need. They will need the Eagles to also defeat the Washington Football Team.
That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.
