The gift of parity and/or mediocrity has been doled out this Christmas season to 10 teams that have both losing records and playoff possibilities, including the entire NFC South, three-fourths of the AFC South and a certain hated rival that resides roughly 278 miles east of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Six teams have clinched a playoff berth, including the Vikings, while five have been eliminated, including the Bears. Five teams, including surging Detroit and slumping AFC South leader Tennessee, are 7-7 and in the thick of a playoff race.
Tom Brady and the 6-8, NFC South-leading Buccaneers are the only team in that division that's favored. They play at Arizona on Christmas.
Meanwhile, the Panthers, Saints and Falcons are all 5-9 and favored to lose on Christmas Eve.
The guess here?
Brady will win, the rest of the division will lose, and the G.O.A.T. will take a two-game lead on everyone heading into the final two weeks. Tampa Bay finishes with games against a Carolina team it lost two and an Atlanta team that it beat.
- NFL scoreboard: Week 16 schedule, game previews, stats
Here are this week's games:
THURSDAY'S GAME
Jaguars (-2½) at Jets: Don't look now, but Trevor Lawrence is making a playoff push with 14 TDs and one INT as the Jags have mounted a 4-2 run. Jaguars 34, Jets 30