NFL 2010 Week 16 preview

1. Crazy eights » Last week Redskins coach Mike Shanahan surprisingly benched Donovan McNabb in favor of backup Rex Grossman. This week, the Jets may take their chances with the last Redskins player to wear No. 8 before Grossman: Mark Brunell. Jets coach Rex Ryan will have a better reason for sitting his starter, Mark Sanchez — torn shoulder cartilage — than Shanahan, who simply wanted to try something different. Brunell’s choice is a bit of a surprise considering the 40-year-old would get the nod over the much younger Kellen Clemens, who once was thought of as the quarterback of the future. So Ryan is counting on Brunell’s experience to combat a Bears defense that has been adept at creating turnovers as his team’s playoff hopes hang in the balance. – Leon Saffelle

2. NFC wild card chase » Everyone knows how wild the NFC West title “chase” has become with the possibility of a losing team actually winning it. The NFC’s final wild card berth will turn chaotic as well if the Packers beat the Giants this weekend and Tampa Bay beats Seattle. Then you’d have three teams tied at 9-6. Problem? Only the Packers and Giants have played each other, giving Tampa Bay an outside shot. That didn’t seem possible after its loss to Detroit last week. Under this scenario, the Buccaneers would enter the season’s final week with a 7-3 record against NFC opponents — the same as Green Bay and New York. It’s possible if both Bays win this weekend, the NFC will need to go to its fourth tiebreaker — winning percentage against common opponents — to determine the final spot. – Brian McNally

3. The horrendous West » The Browns won the AFC Central with an 8-8 record in 1985. San Diego won the AFC West with an 8-8 mark in 2008. But since the NFL split into the East and West divisions in 1933, no team has won a division title with a losing record. It could happen this year, however, in the NFC West, where the 49ers (5-9) are still alive. If San Francisco wins at St. Louis (6-8) on Sunday and Seattle (6-8) loses at Tampa Bay, no team in the division can finish at .500. In Week 17, the Niners host the Cardinals, while the Seahawks host the Rams. No team in the division has a positive point differential, and the NFC West as whole has been outscored by 300 points this season. Yet one of these teams will be in the playoffs. – Kevin Dunleavy

GAME OF THE WEEK

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers, 4:15 p.m., Fox
This is a must win game for Green Bay; it’s almost the same thing for New York. The Packers (8-6) will be eliminated from playoff contention with another loss and, in fact, can reach the postseason only with two straight wins. The good news for them: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to return. The Giants (9-5) still can make the postseason with a loss, but they would need help the following week. However, if they win Sunday, they’ll clinch a playoff spot. – John Keim

UPSET SPECIAL

Oakland Raiders over Indianapolis Colts
The Raiders have the second-best rushing attack in the NFL — averaging 157.5 yards a game. The Colts have the fifth-worst rush defense — allowing 135.8 yards a game. Oakland can control the tempo and keep Peyton Manning off the field by running the football. The Raiders also match up well against Indianapolis’ injured passing attack. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and the Raiders’ pass defense ranks fifth in the league. And Manning will be without receiver Austin Collie, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering his second concussion of the year last week. – Jeffrey Tomik

PLAYER TO WATCH

Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
There’s not much interesting to watch when Baltimore (10-4) plays at Cleveland (5-9). But in their first meeting, Hillis rushed for 144 yards in a near-upset. Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis recently said of Hillis’ day in the first game, “A blind cat will find a meal every once in a while.” Still, Hillis has posted four other 100-yard plus games, has rushed for 1,129 yards and is averaging 4.5 yards a carry. Baltimore, which ranks fifth against the run, needs to win to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the AFC North. – John Keim

FANTASY WATCH

Five to start
1. QB Tim Tebow » The former Heisman winner had a 40-yard touchdown run in his debut and faces the NFL’s worst pass defense in his second start.
2. RB Darren McFadden » After rushing for just 16 yards combined in two straight weeks, McFadden has had 339 yards in three games since.
3. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis » The Patriots back has the second-most touchdowns in the NFL among running backs. Green-Ellis has scored in four of the last five games.
4. WR Reggie Wayne » Peyton Manning seems to lose a different target every week to injury, but the one constant has been Wayne, who has 99 receptions this season.
5. QB/WR Joe Webb » The Vikings quarterback is actually wide receiver eligible. In leagues with six points for touchdown passes, this could be a key pickup.

Five to sit
1. QB Jay Cutler » The Bears may have a hard time scoring against the Jets’ defense, which ranks fifth in the league in points against.
2. RB Cedric Benson » The Bengals back is coming off a 150-yard performance against the Browns but will face the Chargers’ second-ranked run defense Sunday.
3. RB LaDainian Tomlinson » Last week, the Jets back rushed for under 50 yards for a fifth straight game and extended his scoreless streak to eight games.
4. WR Larry Fitzgerald » The Cardinals’ quarterback situation has killed Fitzgerald’s stock all season. He has one touchdown in the last seven games.
5. WR Marques Colston » The last time Colston faced the Falcons he was held to just four catches for 25 yards in a 27-24 loss in Week 3.
– Jeffrey Tomik

EXAMINER POWER RANKINGS

— Craig Stouffer