considered, and I would agree, a

Three AFC teams and two NFC teams will have a chance this week to book their ticket to playoffs and, for two clubs, a first round bye. The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts will have a chance to secure half of the six playoff spots this weekend with wins, or with help. In the NFC, both the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers can secure postseason berths with a win and a little help from teams within the conference. Below are the playoff scenarios for Week 15 via NFL Communications. AFC DENVER BRONCOS (at San Diego Chargers) Denver clinches AFC West division with: 1) DEN win or tie Denver clinches a first-round bye with: 1) DEN win + IND loss + CIN loss + PIT loss or tie OR 2) DEN win + IND loss + CIN loss + DEN clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over PIT Denver clinches a playoff spot with: 1) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss OR 2) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + CLE loss or tie OR 3) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT win NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (vs. Miami Dolphins) New England clinches AFC East division with: 1) NE win or tie New England clinches a first round bye with: 1) NE win + IND loss + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR 2) NE win + IND loss + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss New England clinches a playoff spot with: 1) BUF loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie OR 2) BUF loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss + KC loss or tie + SD loss OR 3) BUF loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss + BAL loss INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (vs. Houston Texans) Indianapolis clinches AFC South division with: 1) IND win or tie NFC ARIZONA CARDINALS (at St. Louis Rams) Arizona clinches a playoff spot with: 1) ARI win + DAL/PHI game does not end in a tie OR 2) ARI win + DET loss + ARI clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over GB OR 3) ARI win + DET loss + GB win or tie GREEN BAY PACKERS (at Buffalo Bills) Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with: 1) GB win + DAL loss + GB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over DAL Alonzo Mourning Jersey . The Canadian Football Leagues all-time passing leader said he has not made a final decision, but he will discuss his future with Montreal Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall on the weekend. Kelly Olynyk Jersey . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. http://www.cheapheatjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-josh-richardson-jersey . The Suns termed Fridays surgery by team doctor Thomas Carter a success. No timetable was given for Bledsoes return but the team said in a news release that he "will pursue a possible return to action during the second half" of the season. Tyler Johnson Jersey . Forward Iker Muniain scored the winner in the 70th minute after Bilbaos incessant pressure recovered the ball and sparked a counterattack inside Barcelonas half. Neymar was once again tagged to pick up Messis goal-scoring duties, but when he wasnt frustrated by slippery footing Bilbaos defence got the better of him. Glen Rice Jersey . Phoenix originally signed Barbosa to a 10-day contract on Jan. 8 after Eric Bledsoe injured his knee and then signed him to another 10-day deal.BOSTON - The Boston Bruins dont expect to make a major signing in free agency. A player drafted from a mediocre crop this week likely wont make an immediate impact. So general manager Peter Chiarelli plans some small changes to improve the team that exited the playoffs earlier than expected. "We had a very good team and, with a little bit of tweaking, I feel well be right back where we were in the past," he said Monday. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2010-11, reached the Cup finals in 2012-13, led the NHL in regular-season points in 2013-14 then eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in a five-game series. But they lost the next round to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games after going up 3-2. Chiarellis big task now is to re-sign Jarome Iginla after he tied for the team lead with 30 goals in his first season with Boston. "Im not going to comment specifically on negotiations," Chiarelli said in a conference call. "Wed like to sign Jarome and thats what I can say. I mean, he has been a valuable player for us. I think there is a good fit." Iginla is one of five Bruins who can become unrestricted free agents when the signing period begins July 1. The others are backup goalie Chad Johnson, defencemen Andrej Meszaros and Corey Potter, both late-season acquisitions, and forward Shawn Thornton, who has been told by Chiarelli he wont be re-signed. "There may be one or two more" among those free agents who he wont re-sign, Chiarelli said. Forward Reilly Smith and defenceman Torey Krug can become restricted free agents. Top free agents from other teams include forwards Marian Gaborik, Thomas Vanek and Paul Stastny. "There are good players available," Chiarelli said. "Were not going to go full force into the free agency. Were probably going to take a step back and look at what may be lesser deals, meaning not high-profile deals, might be available, parrtially due to (salary) cap reasons, partially due to chemistry reasons.dddddddddddd" A few hours later, Chiarelli announced that the Bruins had signed goalie Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. He played the only NHL game of his career in a 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Jan. 2. With the Bruins AHL team in Providence last season, he was 25-15-4 with a 2.63 goals-against average. He had 37 wins for Providence the previous season. The Bruins have the 25th pick in the two-day draft starting Friday in Philadelphia. With four solid lines, a capable defence and young players bidding for playing time, any players drafted arent likely to help the Bruins next season. The draft "is generally considered, and I would agree, a thinner draft," Chiarelli said. "So there is not as much value, relatively speaking, placed in these picks. So teams will probably be more apt to move those picks around" through trades. Thornton spent seven seasons with the Bruins, providing toughness and leadership. He might not be the only player to leave who is part of the teams successful veteran core. "The decision on Shawn was a very hard one. Hes been here and part of this group for a long time and that would apply to all these guys who have been here and who have given us good service and that have been part of winning teams and Cup-winning teams," Chiarelli said. "So there will be hard choices, but it may be that we dont make hard choices and we keep as many people as we can and we go into the year and maybe we do make those hard choices as the year progresses." For now, Chiarelli is focusing on the draft. "I read about a bunch of (solid) centermen and were not in the market for any centerman," he said. Defencemen also "are becoming a major topic of conversation." He might even trade his first-round pick. "Everything is always available," Chiarelli said. ' ' '