The Paydirt Report: Week 15One playoff spot remaining going into week 16. And it's only fitting that we're all waiting on the Wild Wild West to sort out amongst themselves. A shootout at the O.K. Corral with three of them and only one will walk away. Who is the quickest draw in the West? Home field advantage in the NFC will have to wait til the last week of the season as will the NFC North Championship. There were some interesting games in week 15 so lets get to it.
AFC West
We all know San Diego(11-4) wrapped up the West title last week but we are still waiting for that last dance ticket that will come from the west as well. Denver(9-6) is on a 2 game slide and will face Seattle who is battling for home field advantage in the NFC. Tough game. Kansas City(9-6) had a nice win streak in the middle of the season but has been wavering down the stretch. They will face San Francisco that might steady the ship. And Oakland(9-6) who has been on a late season tear to get back into a race when everyone had wrote them off as dead. They will play a struggling Arizona. As much as the Cards have been struggling this season, best not go to sleep on them.
East
Miami(12-3) has sealed the deal for home field advantage in the AFC. NY Jets(11-4) have clinched only their 2nd playoff appearance in franchise history. And the East rivalries are alive and well. Just ask Buffalo(7-8) and new England(6-9). They get the game of the week which was one of the best games in all of 1979. New England has been playoff type football down the stretch but Buffalo really didn't care, winning the game on a last second 51 yd field goal.
North
Rivalry you say? None gets better than Cincinnati(9-6) and Cleveland(7-8). Cleveland out of the playoffs and nothing to play for except............to beat their rival Bengals. The rivalry between these two franchises is one of the best in Paydirt's 10 year history.
South
Houston(11-5) is in a battle with the Chargers for that all important first round bye as they win their 4th in a row. Jacksonville(6-9) and Indianapolis(6-9) are still duking it out for that second spot. Tennessee(5-10) fades to the cellar.
NFCEast
Dallas(9-6) with a 1979 division banner to hang up is trying to get as many injured players healed up as they can before the dance starts next week. Philadelphia(6-8-1) wins and is having a much better year than seasons past. The Eagles might have turned the corner. Washington(3-12) has turn a corner too. But it has headed down a one way street and into the getto. NY Giants(2-12-1) win their second game of the season against lowly Los Angeles.
West
Seattle(14-1) has to balance getting players healthy and still try to win home field advantage throughout. The rest of the division with Arizona(5-10), Los Angeles(5-10) and San Francisco(4-11) is just along for the ride. Only one more week guys.
North
And we come to the real Game of the Week even before it is played. The Super Bowl of the North. Detroit(11-4) and Green Bay(10-5) will play each other for the North title. What a battle it's been and it will all come down to the last week in the season at the Silverdome.
South
With Tampa Bay(14-1) wrapping up their 5th division title and 4th in a row, they are battling Seattle for that home field. Carolina(13-2) has given the Bucs all they can handle. All season both the Panthers and New Orleans(9-6) have battled it out with Tampa Bay in the South. A Great race it was. Atlanta(3-12) after a rough year has just got rougher as GM Hellbringer is forced to step away from the game for a bit. The Falcons will be searching for a new GM to turn them back around and Paydirt looks forward to Hellbringers return we he can.
Games to Watch Week 16Green Bay @ Detroit -
Battle RoyaleKansas City @ San Francisco
Arizona @ Oakland
Denver @ Seattle
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
Los Angeles @ San Diego
Houston @ Indianapolis