RSSNFL 2002 Week 17
12 Teams Fight for Final 5 Playoff Spots
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NFL FACTOID: ANOTHER SEASON OF TEN 10-WIN TEAMS?
Twelve clubs could finish the 2002 season with at least 10 wins, which would give the NFL four out of the past five seasons with at least ten 10-win teams (1998, 10; 1999, 8; 2000, 12; 2001, 11). There are six 10-win teams as the NFL enters Week 17.
One week . . . five spots . . . 12 teams.
That’s the equation as the NFL plays the 17th and final week of its 2002 season with the bedlam that has reigned throughout the first 16 weeks ratcheted up – if that’s possible – even higher.
Every player on the 12 clubs that are vying for the final five playoff berths agrees with the only rookie to be selected this year to the Pro Bowl, New York Giants tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY.
"We’ve got to take care of our business," says Shockey, "and we’ll be on our way to something special."
The uniqueness and complexity of the 2002 playoff race is shown by the following:
The five playoff spots open with a week to go equal the combined final-week total of the two previous seasons (three in 2000; two in 2001).
The 19 teams still in contention for Super Bowl XXXVI with one week to go are the most ever at that point since the 16-game schedule was instituted in 1978.
Twelve of the 16 games played this weekend have playoff implications.
It all starts off early, on Saturday with two playoff-implication games on national television – the Philadelphia Eagles at the New York Giants (FOX, 1:30 PM ET), and Kansas City Chiefs at the Oakland Raiders (CBS, 5:00 PM ET).
"We’re still in the hunt," says Chiefs head coach DICK VERMEIL. "Yes, it will take some help, but the No. 1 thing it will take is the best game we can put together."
What their "best game" can do for all 12 teams scrambling for the playoffs:
AFC EAST
No one has won the division yet and three teams can do so. Two play each other this week.
The Miami Dolphins (9-6), who play in New England, can win their second division title in the past three years with:
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MIA win or tie. |
The Dolphins can earn homefield advantage with:
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MIA win + OAK loss + TEN loss + PIT loss or tie + MIA wins strength of victory tiebreaker over OAK and TEN. Note: "Strength of victory" is the season-ending winning percentage of all the opponents a team has defeated. |
Miami clinches a first-round bye with:
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1. MIA win + PIT loss or tie + OAK loss, OR |
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2. MIA win + PIT loss or tie + TEN loss, OR |
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3. MIA win + TEN loss + OAK loss + MIA wins strength of victory tiebreaker over OAK and TEN. |
The Dolphins take a playoff berth with:
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1. NYJ loss or tie + DEN win, OR |
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2. NYJ loss or tie + KC loss or tie. |
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There are other scenarios in which Miami can clinch a playoff berth based on strength of victory. |
The New England Patriots (8-7) can capture their second consecutive division crown with:
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NE win + NYJ loss or tie. |
The Patriots can clinch a playoff spot with:
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1. NE win + CLE loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + KC win, OR |
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2. NE win + CLE loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + SD loss or tie, OR |
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3. NE tie + NYJ loss + CLE loss + DEN loss + SD loss + KC loss or tie. |
The New York Jets (8-7) can win their first division championship since 1998 with:
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NYJ win + MIA loss. |
The Jets can clinch a playoff berth with:
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1. NYJ win + CLE loss or tie + DEN win, OR |
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2. NYJ win + CLE loss or tie + KC loss or tie, OR |
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3. NYJ tie + NE loss or tie + CLE loss + DEN loss or tie + KC loss + SD loss or tie. |
Buffalo has been eliminated from playoff contention.
AFC NORTH
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5-1) have won the seventh division title in the 11-year tenure of head coach BILL COWHER.
Cleveland and Baltimore can clinch playoff berths.
The Steelers can earn homefield advantage with:
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PIT win + TEN loss + OAK loss. |
Pittsburgh can clinch a first-round bye with:
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1. PIT win + TEN loss, OR |
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2. PIT win + OAK loss. |
The Cleveland Browns (8-7) can clinch their first playoff spot since their return to the NFL with:
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1. CLE win + DEN win + NYJ win, OR |
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2. CLE win + KC loss or tie + NYJ win, OR |
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3. CLE win + DEN win + MIA win or tie, OR |
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4. CLE win + KC loss or tie + MIA win or tie, OR |
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5. CLE tie + NYJ loss or tie + NE loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + SD loss or tie + KC loss, OR |
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6. NE loss + NYJ loss + BAL loss or tie + DEN loss + SD loss + KC loss. |
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There are other scenarios in which Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth based on strength of victory. |
The Baltimore Ravens (7-8) can earn their third playoff spot in a row with:
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BAL win + NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss + DEN loss + SD loss + KC loss. |
Cincinnati has been eliminated from playoff contention.
AFC SOUTH
The Tennessee Titans (10-5) have won their second division championship in three years and can earn homefield advantage with:
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1. TEN win + OAK loss or tie, OR |
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2. TEN tie + OAK loss, OR |
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3. PIT loss or tie + Mia win + OAK loss + TEN wins strength of victory tiebreaker over MIA and OAK. |
The Titans can earn a first-round bye with:
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1. TEN win or tie, OR |
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2. MIA loss + PIT loss or tie, OR |
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3. OAK loss + MIA win + TEN wins strength of victory tiebreaker over MIA and OAK. |
The Indianapolis Colts (9-6) can capture their third playoff berth in the past four years with:
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1. IND win or tie, OR |
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2. NE loss or tie, OR |
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3. NYJ win, OR |
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4. CLE loss or tie + KC loss or tie, OR |
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5. CLE loss or tie + DEN win. |
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There are other scenarios in which Indianapolis can clinch a playoff berth based on strength of victory. |
AFC WEST
The whole division is in the playoff scramble, led by the division-champion Oakland Raiders (10-5), who host Kansas City on Saturday.
The Raiders can earn homefield advantage with:
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1. OAK win, OR |
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2. OAK tie + TEN loss or tie, OR |
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3. PIT loss or tie + TEN loss + MIA loss, OR |
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4. PIT loss or tie + TEN loss + OAK wins strength of victory tiebreaker over MIA and TEN. |
Oakland can clinch a first-round bye with:
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1. OAK tie, OR |
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2. MIA loss or tie + PIT loss or tie, OR |
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3. MIA loss or tie + TEN loss, OR |
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4. TEN loss + OAK wins strength of victory tiebreaker over MIA and TEN. |
The Denver Broncos (8-7) can clinch a playoff berth with:
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1. DEN win + CLE loss or tie + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie, OR |
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2. DEN win + CLE loss or tie + MIA loss + NYJ win, OR |
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3. DEN tie + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss + CLE loss + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie. |
The Kansas City Chiefs (8-7) can enter the playoffs with:
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1. KC win + DEN loss or tie + NE loss or tie, OR |
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2. KC win + DEN loss or tie + IND win or tie + NYJ loss or tie, OR |
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3. KC win + DEN loss or tie + IND loss + NYJ win + CLE win, OR |
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4. KC tie + NE loss + NYJ loss or tie + CLE loss or tie + DEN loss + SD loss. |
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There are other scenarios in which Kansas City can clinch a playoff berth based on strength of victory. |
The San Diego Chargers (8-7) can clinch a playoff spot with:
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1. SD win + DEN loss or tie + KC loss or tie + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie + CLE loss or tie, OR |
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2. SD win + DEN loss or tie + KC loss or tie + MIA loss + NYJ win + CLE loss or tie, OR |
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3. SD tie + DEN loss + KC loss + NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss. |
NFC EAST
The Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) have earned their second division championship in a row and a first-round bye, and travel to the New York Giants on Saturday. The Eagles can clinch homefield advantage with:
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1. PHI win, OR |
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2. PHI tie + GB loss or tie, OR |
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3. GB loss. |
The New York Giants (9-6) can earn a playoff spot with:
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1. NYG win, OR |
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2. NYG tie + NO loss or tie, OR |
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3. NO loss. |
Dallas and Washington have been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC NORTH
The Green Bay Packers (12-3) have won their first division title since 1997. They can take homefield advantage with:
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1. GB win + PHI loss or tie, OR |
|
2. GB tie + PHI loss. |
Green Bay earns a first-round bye with:
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1. GB win or tie, OR |
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2. TB loss or tie. |
Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota have been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC SOUTH
One team has clinched the division, two are vying for playoff berths.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) have won their first division crown since 1999. The Bucs can earn a first-round bye with:
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TB win + GB loss. |
The Atlanta Falcons (9-5-1) can capture their first playoff spot since their Super Bowl XXXIII season in 1998 with:
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1. ATL win or tie, OR |
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2. NYG loss or tie, OR |
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3. NO loss or tie. |
The New Orleans Saints (9-6) can earn their second playoff berth in the past three years with:
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1. NO win + NYG loss or tie, OR |
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2. NO win + ATL loss, OR |
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3. NO tie + NYG loss. |
Carolina has been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC WEST
The San Francisco 49ers (10-5) have won their first division title since 1997.
Arizona, St. Louis and Seattle have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Emmitt Smith's Career Statistics: Game by Game
NFL 2002 Standings, Schedule and Scores
Super Bowl Games & Super Bowl MVP History
- Super Bowl XLII: One of the Greatest
-
Super Bowl I
Green Bay Packers 35 Kansas City Chiefs 10 -
Super Bowl II
Green Bay Packers 33 Oakland Raiders 14 -
Super Bowl III
New York Jets 16 Baltimore Colts 7 -
Super Bowl IV
Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl V
Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 -
Super Bowl VI
Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3 -
Super Bowl VII
Miami Dolphins 14 Washington Redskins 7 -
Super Bowl VIII
Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl IX
Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Minnesota Vikings 6 -
Super Bowl X
Steelers 21 Dallas Cowboys 17 -
Super Bowl XI
Oakland Raiders 32 Minnesota Vikings 14 -
Super Bowl XII
Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XIII
Pittsburgh Steelers 35 Dallas Cowboys 31 -
Super Bowl XIV
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Los Angeles Rams 19 -
Super Bowl XV
Oakland Raiders 27 Philadelphia Eagles 10 -
Super Bowl XVI
San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 -
Super Bowl XVII
Washington Redskins 27 Miami Dolphins 17 -
Super Bowl XVIII
Los Angeles Raiders 38 Washington Redskins 9 -
Super Bowl XIX
San Francisco 49ers 38 Miami Dolphins 16 -
Super Bowl XX
Chicago Bears 46 New England Patriots 10 -
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 -
Super Bowl XXII
Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXIII
San Francisco 49ers 20 Cincinnati Bengals 16 -
Super Bowl XXIV
San Francisco 49ers 55 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants 20 Buffalo Bills 19 -
Super Bowl XXVI
Washington Redskins 37 Buffalo Bills 24 -
Super Bowl XXVII
Dallas Cowboys 52 Buffalo Bills 17 -
Super Bowl XXVIII
Dallas Cowboys 30 Buffalo Bills 13 -
Super Bowl XXIX
San Francisco 49ers 49 San Diego Chargers 26 -
Super Bowl XXX
Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 -
Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay Packers 35 New England Patriots 21 -
Super Bowl XXXII
Denver Broncos 31 Green Bay Packers 24 -
Super Bowl XXXIII
Denver Broncos 34 Atlanta Falcons 19 -
Super Bowl XXXIV
Saint Louis Rams 23 Tennessee Titans 16 -
Super Bowl XXXV
Baltimore Ravens 34 New York Giants 7 -
Super Bowl XXXVI
New England Patriots 20 Saint Louis Rams 17 -
Super Bowl XXXVII
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 Oakland Raiders 21 -
Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England Patriots 32 Carolina Panthers 29 -
Super Bowl XXXIX
New England Patriots 24 Philadelphia Eagles 21 -
Super Bowl XL
Steelers 21 Seahawks 10 -
Super Bowl XLI
Colts 29 Bears 17 -
Super Bowl XLII
New York Giants 17 New England Patriots 14
NFL Super Bowl History, Scores, Summaries & Super Bowl MVP Articles
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