It’s “Bones” time for the Rams, beginning with Thursday night’s game against the Seahawks.
Rams special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel, the lanky son of former Giants coach Jim Fassel, was promoted to interim head coach after Monday’s firing of Jeff Fisher. Fassel’s first task: trying to win in Seattle in a short week.
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The Seahawks (8-4-1) can clinch the NFC West with a win over a Rams team that has lost eight of nine and four straight.
“I can’t even imagine what that does for those guys, in terms of turning the corner and getting moving ahead forward,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I’m sure that they’ll do it and John will do a good job of directing that. He’s a terrific coach. That’s a big transition.”
Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who has thrown for 744 yards and four TDs with five interceptions in four starts, faces a Seahawks defense minus Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers carved up Seattle's secondary last week in a 38-10 Packers victory.
The Cal connection aside, Goff isn’t Rodgers, and the Seahawks will undoubtedly come after the rookie.
The Rams (4-9) actually have won twice this season without scoring a touchdown, including a 9-3 over the Seahawks in Week 2. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was hobbled by an ankle injury in that game, but he’s healthy now. He'll look to bounce back after throwing a career-high five interceptions against the Packers.
As surprising as it may seem, the Rams have won three straight and four of five against the Seahawks, who are one of seven teams with the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
Titans (7-6) at Chiefs (10-3), 1 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)
The Chiefs can clinch a spot with a win over the visiting Titans, who are in a battle with the Texans (7-6) and Colts (6-7) for control of the AFC South.
The Chiefs, who lead the AFC West thanks to their season sweep of the Raiders, are seeking their first division title since 2010.
K.C. rookie Tyreek Hill has dazzled this season with 56 catches for 547 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also returned a punt and a kickoff for scores and has a rushing touchdown to his credit, the first rookie to score four ways since Gale Sayers in 1965.
Lions (9-4) at Giants (9-4), 1 p.m. Sunday (Fox)
The Lions and Giants are the two most improbable 9-4 teams in the league. The Giants, on paper, are nothing spectacular but have handed the Cowboys their only two losses. The Lions have rallied from fourth-quarter deficits eight times, the most in NFL history.
Both teams would like to see the Packers (7-6) lose to the lowly Bears (3-10) at Soldier Field.
Detroit can clinch a playoff berth with a win and a Packers loss. The Giants need a win but also need the Vikings to lose to the Colts and the Panthers to beat the Redskins to clinch a berth.
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Patriots (11-2) at Broncos (8-5), 4:25 p.m. Sunday (CBS)
It’s pretty simple for the Patriots: beat the Broncos and clinch the AFC East and a first-round bye. Another win by quarterback Tom Brady would be the 53rd of his career in December, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Brett Favre for the most career wins in any month.
Meantime, the Broncos are in danger of missing the playoffs. The defending Super Bowl champions finish with a gauntlet of Patriots, Chiefs and Raiders, making them the first team to play its final three games against opponents with 10 or more wins since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
Broncos linebacker Von Miller is tied for the league lead with 13 1/2 sacks. He had 2 1/2 sacks and an interception the last time the Patriots visited Mile High, a 20-18 Broncos victory in last season's AFC championship.
Panthers (5-8) at Redskins (6-6), 8:30 p.m. Monday (ESPN)
Josh Norman has been looking forward to this game since the Panthers cut him loose in April. The Pro Bowl cornerback is having another fantastic season and will get to face his old team in prime time.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said this week that he recognized Norman’s talent, but the Panthers became frustrated with him. Norman and his eccentric personality sometimes clashed with Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. The two famously were involved in a training camp fight in 2015.
The Panthers would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. The Redskins are in the thick of the NFC wild-card race, a half-game behind the Bucs for the final spot.
Should the Panthers and Broncos miss the playoffs, it would be the first time since 2003 (Bucs-Raiders) that the teams from the previous Super Bowl failed to make the playoffs.