As per recent custom, the NFL has scheduled 16 divisional games for the final Sunday of the 2014 regular season.
Here is the entire slate of Week 17 games to be played on December 28, with a quick initial take on each of the contests. The NFL will “flex” one of these games to be televised on NBC on the final Sunday of 2014:
1 p.m. Eastern games
Carolina at Atlanta — The Panthers swept this series a season ago.
Cleveland at Baltimore — The Browns haven’t won a season finale since 2009.
Dallas at Washington — The Cowboys have played for the NFC East title in regular season game No. 256 in each of the last three seasons.
Indianapolis at Tennessee — The Titans hope to play beyond the final regular season game for the first time since 2008.
Detroit at Green Bay — The teams haven’t met in Green Bay in a season finale since 2011. Does the term “The Matt Flynn Game” mean anything to you?
Jacksonville at Houston — The Jaguars have lost their last seven Week 17 road games dating back to 2005.
San Diego at Kansas City — These teams played two competitive, enjoyable games a season ago.
N.Y. Jets at Miami — Both teams are clearly under pressure to pick it up in 2014. This seems like it will be an interesting matchup no matter the circumstances.
Chicago at Minnesota — Don’t forget — the Metrodome is gone, and these teams are meeting outdoors in Minneapolis on the last Sunday in December. Snow game? Yes — yes, please.
Buffalo at New England — The Patriots have been quite skilled at taking care of business before Week 17 commences.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants — The Giants finish at home for the fourth straight year. They are 3-0 in those season finales.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh — This figures to be a bear of a game for the Bengals no matter the circumstances. Cincinnati faltered in its trip to Heinz Field a season ago.
New Orleans at Tampa Bay — The Buccaneers have lost six straight to New Orleans.
4:25 p.m. Eastern games
Oakland at Denver — If the Raiders are in striking range of a playoff spot, their offseason plan will have been a success. But if they are playing out the string once again . . .
Arizona at San Francisco — This is the kind of game the Cardinals will need to win to break through in the ultratough NFC West.
St. Louis at Seattle — This is the kind of game the Rams will need to win to break through in the ultratough NFC West.