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SPORTS Saturday 9 december 2017
We’ll learn plenty about NFL

playoff contenders this week

By BARRY WILNER easy way. They’ve already finish off the schedule
AP Pro Football Writer played New Orleans, Pitts- against each other. The Ti-
Call it “December Defini- burgh, Baltimore, Atlanta, tans are the only franchise
tion.” Green Bay and the Rams never to have played at
We’ll learn plenty about — none of which has a los- University of Phoenix Sta-
the various playoff con- ing record. Most of those dium. In their visit Sunday,
tenders this week when the teams will make the play- they bring a potent running
Eagles visit the Rams, the offs. Now, a trip to Caroli- game of DeMarco Murray In this April 28, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Rams’ Jared Goff, left,
Vikings take on the Pan- na, which also is in the NFC and Derrick Henry, who’s and Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz, greet fans at Selection
Square in Grant Park after the quarterbacks were selected No.
thers, the Seahawks meet mix. A victory in Charlotte, coming off his second 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the NFL football draft in Chicago.
the Jaguars, the Raiders with Cincinnati, Green Bay career 100-yard rushing Associated Press
are at the Chiefs, and the and Chicago remaining, game, including a 75-yard
Ravens head to Pittsburgh. would stamp the Vikings as run against Houston.
The Eagles, Rams, Jag- a conference favorite. And Tennessee hasn’t allowed
uars, Vikings and Steelers remember, the Super Bowl an opponent to run for
all have ways of clinching will be played in Minneap- more than 100 yards in
postseason berths. So do olis in February. eight straight games, the
the Patriots, who visit Mi- The Panthers must improve longest streak in NFL this
ami. Most intriguing might late in games: Carolina season, which doesn’t
be Philadelphia (10-2) at has been outscored 75-58 bode well for Arizona’s
Los Angeles (9-3). in fourth quarter. They are Adrian Peterson.
The Eagles had their nine- hopeful that standout tight Jacksonville has a much
game winning streak end Greg Olsen can con- tougher task, even at
snapped at Seattle, then tribute more in his return home. Although Seattle has
stayed out west trying to from a broken foot. some key injuries in its sec-
figure out why an offense Baltimore (7-5) at Pittsburgh ondary, the defense has
that had been dominant (10-2) stepped up and shut down
was shut down. Now they Pittsburgh’s victory over Philadelphia last week.
take on the Rams, with an Cincinnati on Monday The offense, as sensational
equally dangerous offense night was brutal, marred QB Russell Wilson states his
and, like Philly, a division by malicious hits, launching case for league MVP, has
leader. and taunting on both sides. been dynamic, particularly
“I think sometimes ... win- Now, the Steelers get their now that TE Jimmy Graham
ning can kind of cover biggest rival in what always has become a major force.
up or mask some things, has been a physical affair. With a series of occurrenc-
some deficiencies,” Eagles “When you play Baltimore es, the Jags can clinch a
coach Doug Pederson said. you are going to get your playoff spot.
“A little chink in your armor, head knocked off, they’re Oakland (6-6) at Kansas
if there is any. And coach- going to knock your head City (6-6)
es and players fall into the off, you’re going to try to Washington (5-7) at Los An-
same boat sometimes. We knock theirs off, but you’re geles Chargers (6-6)
need games where we going to help them up If it’s not the best rivalry in
get hit in the mouth and and respect it, and say pro football, Raiders-Chiefs
we have to fight and bat- ‘Hey great job, let’s go at is top three. That it has so
tle and scratch. ... You just it again,” Steelers quarter- much meaning Sunday is
have to understand that back Ben Roethlisberger like adding a tasty dessert
there’s no substitute for the says. to some delicious Kansas
preparation and the hard The Steelers need to step City BBQ.
work.” up their game, despite Raiders coach Jack Del Rio
The coolest of matchups having won seven in a row. explains the AFC West situ-
has Rams QB Jared Goff , They are barely getting by ation best.
the top selection in the 2016 inferior opponents, and “There’s a better feel when
draft, against Eagles QB the Ravens — no matter you’re winning and doing
Carson Wentz, who went the situation — are always things well. For us, it’s about
second overall that year. dangerous for Pittsburgh. the next game,” Del Rio
Both have matured rapidly, Preventing the Steelers says. “We went through,
sparking turnarounds that from winning the AFC North we had our stretch. ... The
could lead to, well, the Su- is almost as prime a goal for Chargers had theirs the first
per Bowl. Baltimore as remaining in four games. We had ours,
A Philadelphia win gives it front for a wild-card berth. four in a row after winning
the NFC East title. So does Seattle (8-4) at Jacksonville two. The Chiefs have had a
a Dallas loss. (8-4) little bit of a spell. Yet we all
Should the Rams win, a Tennessee (8-4) at Arizona sit here at 6-6 with an op-
complicated formula gives (5-7) portunity.
them a playoff spot. The AFC South race, with a The Chargers have racked
Minnesota (10-2) at Caro- huge dose of NFC West. up more than 400 yards in
lina (8-4) Tennessee holds the tie- three straight games while
The Vikings haven’t gotten breaker right now over outscoring opponents 101-
to the top of the NFC the Jacksonville, but the teams 40.q