Titans, Cowboys Clinch Home Field Advantage In Playoffs

After scoring victories in their week 16 games, both the Tennessee Titans (14-1) and the Dallas Cowboys (15-0) secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

For the Titans though, week 16's hard fought victory over visiting San Diego came with a steep price. Chris Johnson went down with an injury on his 2nd carry of the game and never returned. X-rays revealed that Johnson, who many considered the leader for the NFL MVP race, had suffered an "upper arm fracture"and would be out 4 weeks. Backup RBs Lendale White and undrafted rookie Shagg Makino stepped in nicely for Johnson, but losing their star player left Coach UTVOL54 upset after the loss.

'We'd only planned on playing Chris, Kerry, and a few other offensive starters in the 1st half, to try to prevent injury," Coach UTVOL54 said after the game. "He got injured on his 2nd carry, just a routine toss sweep. It was a freak injury."

A freak injury that could reshape the entire playoff picture in the AFC.

In other news, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson now becomes the odds-on favorite to win this year's rushing title. Both Johnson and Peterson sailed past the previous record of 2,105, which was set by Eric Dickerson (1984, LA Rams). Heading into week 17, Peterson needs around 75 yards to pass the injured Johnson.

The Steelers all but locked up the #3 seed in the AFC with last night's overtime victory against Baltimore. Coach zeejaydee's team has flown under the radar all season, but as the playoffs approach, they could be a surprising team that could make a run in the playoffs behind Big Ben and their potent passing attack.

Updated Playoff Picture:
AFC -
1. Tennessee Titans (14-1) *home field adv. & 1st rd. bye
2. New England Patriots (12-2) * 1st rd. bye
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)
4. San Diego Chargers (11-4)
5. Indianapolis Colts (9-5)
6. Houston Texans (8-6) or Baltimore Ravens (8-7)
NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (15-0)*home field adv. & 1st rd. bye
2. Arizona Cardnals (13-2)* 1st rd. bye
3. Minnesota Vikings (11-4)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
5. New Orleans Saints (9-5)
6. Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers or Carolina Panthers (all are 8-6)