Now is when things get sort of tricky. Because not only do those predicting NFL results have to account for talent, momentum, injuries, weather conditions, chaos theory and 7,374 other factors, but now they're left considering whether certain teams or players will try hard.
Entering Week 16, 41 percent of the NFL has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Four of the league's 13 eliminated teams will play each other when the New York Jets host the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos. Good luck with those. But it's also fair to wonder what out-of-contention teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals will have in them for matchups with teams that are still in contention.