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December 24, 2006

Santa game: Patriots at Jacksonville, 1 p.m., CBS; Playoff geometry

Sizing up the NFL's playoff races: Ashley Fox of The Philadelphia Inquirer did the grunt work so you don't have to.

This is the time for giving and receiving, and - for many teams in the NFL - for pulling for your enemy.

No kidding. Jets fan Greg Wyshynski of SportsFan Magazine (The Jester's Quart: A Holiday Wish for Santa Belichick):

The Jets have two games left: at Miami on Christmas night and Oakland at home. They are 8-6, in a four-way dance for the two Wild Card slots in the AFC with Denver, Cincinnati, and Jacksonville. Thanks to Peyton Manning's laser rocket arm last Monday, the easiest path to an improbable playoff berth for Gang Green is to win out and have two of those three teams lose at least once. For the first time, the Football Gods have smiled upon us and Cincy faces the Broncos this weekend, all but guaranteeing a loss for either of them.

Here's where you come in, Coach. For one weekend, Jets fans will don the red, white and blue of Patriots Nation. Because we need your boys to take down the Jaguars in Jacksonville for us.

Buffalo Bills fans are rooting for the Pats, too:

Wins over Tennessee and Baltimore, Miami beating the Jets, Patriots over Jacksonville, and the Bengals to lose their last two. Which would mean PLAYOFFS. Can you imagine?

This is how weird it is, from the Philadelphia story:

With 17 teams vying for the six remaining playoff spots, the NFL's playoff picture is as messy as it's ever been. Twenty-three have a shot to play in the Super Bowl, the second-highest number this late in the season since the league adopted a 16-game regular-season schedule in 1978.

The playoff scenarios are so complicated that last week the league had to issue a correction to its detailed report.

...So much is riding on the Eagles-Cowboys game on Monday night. While Dallas already has clinched a playoff berth, the Cowboys can win the division with a victory. What seemed improbable three weeks ago, the Eagles can clinch a spot in the playoffs by beating Dallas.

Despite losing five of its last six games, New York isn't out of it yet. The Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a win over New Orleans, an Atlanta loss to Carolina, an Eagles win or tie against Dallas, and either a Seattle win or tie against San Diego or a San Francisco loss or tie to Arizona. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there is a scenario in which the Giants get in by losing their last two games.

On the AFC East:

Prediction: New England wins its fourth consecutive division crown and hosts a first-round game. The Jets win out and capture wild-card berth.

Today: Both Laurence Maroney, at right, and safety Rodney Harrison went to Jacksonville with the team; they're listed as questionable but don't be surprised if they play.

At Jacksonville.com, NOTEBOOK: Taylor ruled out with bad hamstring, from the (Florida) Times-Union:

Jaguars running back Fred Taylor missed practice Friday and won't play Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Listed earlier in the week as questionable, Taylor will miss his first game of the season after re-injuring a strained right hamstring that he originally tweaked during a Dec. 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

...As part of his contract, Taylor receives $40,000 for each game he dresses, and missing the contest likely will cause him to lose additional incentive pay.

Taylor has rushed for 1,120 yards this season, and he was set to receive an additional $140,000 for reaching 1,300 yards and another $140,000 for each 100 yards up to 1,600.

Posted by Sheila Lennon  at 6:55 AM | Permalink