It's not very often that the final week of the NFL Season has as much on the line as we will see this week. After sixteen weeks, the 2013 NFL Regular Season come to a close, and contrary to popular belief, the New Orleans Saints are currently set to participate in the Postseason. No one can deny that the Saints, once again, came up short in a big moment on the road last week. Now the Saints hopes for attaining the #2 seed in the NFC have turned from an inevitability to extremely unlikely. The silver lining this week is that the Saints follow their two game road losing streak with a return home to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where they are a different team altogether, a drastically better team. Now let's take a look at the Saints' crucial game as well as all of the pivotal matchups in the final week of the 2013 NFL Season. Last week I went 6-10 (Dear Lord!), Season record 147-93 I told you so: 49ers over Falcons! What do I know: Bucs over Rams? WEEK 17 Sunday, December 29th - Early Games Browns(4-11) at Steelers(7-8) Pittsburgh keeps their unlikely playoff hopes alive with a close win at home. Pick: Steelers *** Redskins(3-12) at Giants(6-9) The 2013 season comes to a merciful end to the least of the east. Pick: Giants *** Ravens(8-7) at Bengals(10-5) Cincy playing for a shot at the AFC's #2 seed, likely ends Baltimore's playoff hopes. Pick: Bengals *** Texans(2-13) at Titans(6-9) With the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Houston… wait they still have to play one more game?! Pick: Titans *** Jaguars(4-11) at Colts(10-5) Indy is also playing for a shot at the AFC's #2 seed, Jacksonville prepares for a top seven pick in the draft. Pick: Colts *** Jets(7-8) at Dolphins(8-7) Miami looks to clinch the #6 seed in the AFC (with a little help). Pick: Dolphins *** Lions(7-8) at Vikings(4-10-1) Minnesota puts an end to Detroit's disappointing season. Pick: Vikings *** Panthers(11-4) at Falcons(4-11) Carolina with a chance to win the NFC South, on the road, against a bitter divisional rival, sounds reasonable enough. This one won't be remotely close. Pick: Panthers *** Sunday, December 29th - Late Games Bills(6-9) at Patriots(11-4) New England is playing for a shot at the AFC's #1 seed while also looking to avoid the #4 seed. Pick: Patriots *** Rams(7-8) at Seahawks(12-3) Seattle will clinch the NFC's #1 seed with a win at home. Pick: Seahawks *** Broncos(12-3) at Raiders(4-11) Denver will clinch the AFC's #1 seed with a win in Oakland. Pick: Broncos *** Chiefs(11-4) at Chargers(8-7) While Kansas City is locked in at the AFC's #5 seed, San Diego can get the #6 seed with a win (and a little help). Pick: Chargers *** Packers(7-7-1) at Bears(8-7) - NFC North Championship Game Aaron Rodgers leads Green Bay to the NFC North title and the NFC's #4 seed in a frozen Soldier Field. Pick: Packers *** 49ers(11-4) at Cardinals(10-5) - Game of the Week San Francisco still has an outside shot at the NFC's #1 seed, Arizona is fighting for a chance at the #6 seed. This should be a good one. Pick: 49ers *** Buccaneers(4-11) at Saints(10-5) Where's this game being played? Oh, right. Saints easily win what likely may be their penultimate game of the 2013 campaign. Pick: Saints *** Sunday Night Football Eagles(9-6) at Cowboys(8-7) - NFC East Championship Game Philly will win the NFC East title and the NFC's #3 seed. Oh, Dallas. Pick: Eagles *** There you have it, the final week of the 2013 NFL regular season. It's been said you can never go home again, and for the Saints, that may very well be the case this season. Let's all hope for the unlikely #2 seed becoming a surprising reality once again, who knows, stranger things have happened. Leave us your picks, comments, and insight below. For the final time in 2013, WHO DAT! More from Canal Street Chronicles Follow @CSCtweet Follow @SBNationNFL Fifty-Five Seconds from the Playoffs Saints Place Kenny Vaccaro on Injured Reserve, Sign Terrence Frederick Saints vs. Buccaneers Preview and Matchup History Saints vs. Panthers Player Snap Counts By Position: Mark Ingram Should Have Played More The Saints Are Playing Not to Lose Source: Continue reading...
