This is it folks. The last week of the regular season is here, and the final pieces to the playoff puzzle will be put in place. A few of the games that were played in week 16 helped to give us a clearer idea of which teams would be taking part in the postseason, but for several teams, there is still unfinished business to take care of as far as punching their playoff tickets are concerned.

Meanwhile, for a few teams that are out of the playoff race, they will be looking to play spoiler, in their regular season finales.

Before we get to the playoff scenarios, I must tip my hat to quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, who during his team’s 45-16 beatdown of the Falcons on Monday night, passed former Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino, as the NFL’s all-time single season passing leader. Brees surpassed Marino’s 5,084-yard mark set in 1984, and is now at 5,087 on the season, still with a game to go. Suffice it to say, Brees has been tremendous, and is fully deserving of the record, especially in light of the fact that he fell just 16 yards short of this same record back in the 2008 season.

On the not so good side, we had the Cowboys, falling 20-7 to the Eagles, to put their playoff hopes further in jeopardy. Sadly, it’s a case of too little, way too late for the Eagles, who are out of playoff contention. But what is up with the boys from ‘Big D’? To make matters worse, Romo injured his throwing hand in that game and had to leave early in the first half. Can the Cowboys even make the postseason this year? If they don’t, will it be curtains for Tony Romo in Dallas? Will Jason Garrett survive as coach?

In the NFC, the 14-1 Green Bay Packers, with a 35-21 win over the slumping Bears last week, have locked up the number one overall seed in the conference, and with it, a first round playoff bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This will give them the opportunity to rest their starters against the 10-5 Detroit Lions this week, who have also locked up a playoff spot, but will be looking to win and stay as a fifth seed, instead of falling to sixth and facing the prospect of a wildcard match-up against the 49ers or Saints.

On that note, San Fran and New Orleans face very winnable games in their respective regular season finales, the 49ers away to the 2-13 Rams and the Saints at home to the 6-9 Panthers. Victories for both teams would give the 49ers the number two seed and a first round bye along with the Packers, while the Saints would lock up the number three seed and host a home playoff game in the wild card round.

But where the drama will unfold is in the NFC East, where the Giants and Cowboys have set up a do-or-die showdown on Sunday night, in the final game of the regular season. The scenario is simple: Both teams are 8-7 and have been ridiculously inconsistent all season long. The winner of Sunday’s game takes the division crown and with it, a spot in the playoffs as the fourth seed, and the rights to host a wildcard playoff game. The loser on the other hand goes home. The teams met back in week 14 in Dallas, with the Giants rallying from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit, to emerge victorious 37-34. Can the Giants work some magic again, or will the Cowboys exact their revenge? It’s all on the line in this one folks. It should be a good one.

Over in the AFC, the New England Patriots at 12-3 have secured a first-round playoff bye as at worst a number two seed, but will try to lock up the top spot in the conference and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, with a win over the Bills. The Baltimore Ravens at 11-4 are currently the number two seed and would need to beat the Bengals (currently the sixth seed) and hope the Patriots lose, in order to leapfrog them into the number one position.

The Texans have locked up the number three seed, but are riding a two-game losing streak, with a lot of questions emerging as to whether or not they will even win a game in the postseason with all the injuries they have had to contend with. Then it gets really interesting. The battle for the AFC West division title will go down to the wire with the 8-7 Broncos, currently the fourth seed, knowing that a win over the Kansas City Chiefs (led by former Broncos QB Kyle Orton, who was cut from the team in favour of ‘The Saviour’ Tim Tebow) will secure them the division crown and a playoff spot.

The Raiders, also 8-7, need to beat the disappointing San Diego Chargers, and hope that Denver lose, to get into the postseason. Meanwhile, the Steelers and their injured quarterback Roethlisberger, could jump from their current position as a number five seed, all the way to a number two seed, if they beat the Cleveland Browns, and the Ravens lose (thus clinching the AFC North title). And of course, the Bengals are in with a shot at making the postseason, if they can somehow beat the Steelers, or if the Jets and Raiders or Broncos lose. Speaking of the 8-7 Jets…what a disaster. Their coach Rex Ryan ran his mouth in the preseason predicting a Super Bowl appearance for his team. Now they need a miracle to even make the playoffs. But hey, that’s life in the NFL.

As for my colleagues and I who have been making weekly picks against the spread all season long, the competition has been intense, and will come down to the wire. So of course, there is no margin for error this week and a few of these picks are going to be tricky. May the best man win!

I can’t wait for the playoffs. In this do or die format, drama and excitement are guaranteed, heroes and villains will emerge, and one thing is for certain — there will be upsets.

Have a great time ringing in the New Year folks, enjoy your family and friends and of course, enjoy the games!

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EXPERTS’ PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD

Tony Scott’s

Week 17 Picks (in bold)

Packers v Lions, Texans v Titans, Jaguars v Colts, Dolphins v Jets, Vikings v Bears, Patriots v Bills, Saints v Panthers, Eagles v Redskins, Rams v 49ers, Cardinals v Seahawks, Falcons v Buccaneers, Bengals v Ravens, Browns v Steelers, Broncos v Chiefs, Raiders v Chargers, Giants v Cowboys

Last week: 8-8

Season to date: 129-111

Andre Hutchinson’s

Week 17 Picks (in bold)

Packers v Lions, Texans v Titans, Jaguars v Colts, Dolphins v Jets, Vikings v Bears, Patriots v Bills, Saints v Panthers, Eagles v Redskins, Rams v 49ers, Cardinals v Seahawks, Falcons v Buccaneers, Bengals v Ravens, Browns v Steelers, Broncos v Chiefs, Raiders v Chargers, Giants v Cowboys

Last week: 8-8

Season to date: 127-113

Andrei Roper’s

Week 17 Picks (in bold)

Packers v Lions, Texans v Titans, Jaguars v Colts, Dolphins v Jets, Vikings v Bears, Patriots v Bills, Saints v Panthers, Eagles v Redskins, Rams v 49ers, Cardinals v Seahawks, Falcons v Buccaneers, Bengals v Ravens, Browns v Steelers, Broncos v Chiefs, Raiders v Chargers, Giants v Cowboys,Last week: 6-10

Season to date: 121-119

Peter Lindo’s

Week 17 Picks (in bold)

Packers v Lions, Texans v Titans, Jaguars v Colts, Dolphins v Jets, Vikings v BearsPatriots v Bills, Saints v Panthers, Eagles v Redskins, Rams v 49ers, Cardinals v Seahawks, Falcons v Buccaneers, Bengals v Ravens, Browns v Steelers, Broncos v Chiefs, Raiders v Chargers, Giants v Cowboys

Last week: 6-10

Season to date: 120-120