Week 17 Motivation

Photo: Eric Hartline, USA Today Sports

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• This game does not matter for the Titans, who are out of the Wild Card hunt and can only make the playoffs by winning their division. Basically a playoff game with Jacksonville in Week 18 for the four seed. Might make sense to rest Derrick Henry and other key guys.
• A roughly 90% chance this game ends up meaningless for Dallas because it only matters should the Eagles lose their last two games. Otherwise, Dallas is five seed. Thursday kickoff before Eagles-Saints means they likely start everyone but might get backups in early depending on game script and whether the Titans are resting guys.

• Just playing for draft position.

• Basically a playoff game with NFC South on the line. Can bank on max motivation.

• Lions need to win out and get just a little bit of help to make playoffs. Full motivation.
• Bears have nothing to play for but are probably motivated to play spoiler to a division rival.

• Washington controls its own destiny. Need to win this week and beat Dallas in Week 18 (Cowboys may rest guys).
• Cleveland has nothing to play for but pride.

• Chiefs need to win out and hope the Bills drop a game to get the bye and home field. Max motivation.
• Denver has no first-rounder to worry about.

• Giants need to win one of their last two to make playoffs. Full motivation.
• Colts jockeying for rookie quarterback draft positioning.

• Jaguars have a 2% chance to get into the playoffs with a win this week and a loss in Week 18. Game matters only fractionally in comparison to the big one next week but probably have to play to win.
• Texans could lose the #1 pick with a win.

• Dolphins are in if they win both their last two (Jets in Week 18). Would need some help if they split but over 50% chance if they win either. Full motivation.
• Patriots eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. Control their own destiny if they also beat Buffalo in Week 18.

• Eagles need to win one of their last two to lock up the division and the one seed. Guessing Hurts plays and this is business as usual.
• Saints need to win out and get a ton of help - 20% chance even if they do win both - but assume full motivation

• Both teams need to win out and get a little bit of help. Full motivation.

• Raiders are technically still alive but would only have about a 7% chance even if they do win out. Should play everyone.
• 49ers are pretty much locked into the two or three seed (3% chance of a bye if they win out). Spot where we could see less than full motivation. Limited touches for McCaffrey?

• Rams don’t have a first-round pick to worry about.
• Chargers clinched a Wild Card and are currently the six seed. Could move up to the five seed if they win out and get some help or drop to seven if they lose out and other teams win. But is it worth the effort for a team that has been banged up all year to jockey for wild card positioning? Worried about guys like Ekeler and Williams.

• Packers will be fully motivated. Need the win to keep playoff hopes alive.
• If Philly wins their early game, it will clinch the bye, and Vikings will be locked into either two or three seed. I’m guessing the potential two seed combined with the chance to knock out the Packers matters enough that they will go all out.

• Steelers need to win out and get a ton of help but will be fully motivated. They still have a chance of keeping the non-losing season streak alive too.
• Ravens have a playoff spot locked up. Winning their last two would get them the three seed and a home playoff game. They should be relatively motivated, but probably not enough so to rush Lamar Jackson back.

• Bills need to win out to lock up the one seed and first-round bye. Full motivation.
• Bengals need to win out and hope the Chiefs drop one to win the one seed. A win this week and a loss by Baltimore would clinch the division. Fully motivated.

Motivation Table

A look at how motivated each team (and their Week 17 opponent) will be this weekend.