NFL Whip Around: What we're watching in Week 17

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will take career-highs in catches – his first year with more than 100 – and yards as he heads into free agency this spring.

That is, if the Broncos let him get there.

Thomas is the most likely candidate to get the Broncos' franchise tag, allowing the team to keep him under contract while continuing to negotiate a long-term deal for the 2010 first-round draft pick. While some players balk at the franchise tag because it takes them off the open market and reduces bargaining power, the Broncos have a history of using the tag as a means to get the new deal done -- most recently in 2013, with left tackle Ryan Clady, who received the tag in March and a new contract in July.

Thomas has surpassed 1,500 receiving yards for the first time in his career and needs 99 in today's regular season finale against the Oakland Raiders to break the Broncos' single-season record of 1,602, set by Rod Smith in 2000. Thomas had 11 catches for 108 yards in the Broncos' first game against Oakland, last month.

Though Thomas had more than 100 receiving yards in the last two games, he told Paste BN Sports this week he hasn't been as effective as he could be because of a sore ankle. The injury hasn't forced him to miss any playing time, but it has affected his ability to make sharp cuts and reduced the explosive plays.

"Those injuries come and go for him, and if he ever had a full healthy season – where he was able to full practice all the time – it would be interesting to see how high he could go with that," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. "But the level he's playing at right now is pretty good."

Now on to the NFL Whip Around, our guide to today's best story lines:

Seeds determined

Need to know: Five of the six NFC playoff teams are set – Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys -- but not the order they will be seeded for the playoffs. Today's games, which include a head-to-head NFC North title game between the Packers and Lions, there are so many permutations for playoff seeds and matchups that it takes a statistics expert to sort it all out. The Seahawks (who host the St. Louis Rams), Cardinals (who play at the San Francisco 49ers), Packers and Lions each remain in play for the No. 1 seed, and each have three potential seedings. The Cowboys, who play at the Washington Redskins, will be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

What to expect: The Seahawks, who have won five consecutive games, have the easiest path to the No.1 seed – just beat the Rams at home (or have the 49ers beat the Cardinals) and once again the road to the Super Bowl will go through CenturyLink Field. The No.2 seed should wind up going to the NFC North champion. If the Packers beat the Lions at home, it could set up a Packers-Seahawks NFC championship game rematch of the season opener.

Charging ahead

Need to know: The San Diego Chargers are again in position to play their way into the postseason, and again, they'll have to beat the Kansas City Chiefs' backup quarterback to do it. Alex Smith suffered a lacerated spleen last week against the Steelers Pittsburgh and will not play in the season finale. Smith didn't play in last year's finale, either, but that was because the Chiefs rested nearly all of their starters in preparations for the playoffs. Smith's backup, Chase Daniel, went 21-for-30 for 200 passing yards, with one touchdown last year against the Chargers, a game San Diego won to get into the playoffs.

What to expect: The Chargers were in a tailspin after back-to-back losses to the New England Patriots and Broncos, but the offense was rejuvenated in a comeback win last week against San Francisco to keep their playoff hopes alive. Philip Rivers and the Chargers somehow seem to play their best when everything is at stake, so it would not be a surprise to see them win at Arrowhead for the second year in a row, and earn another wild card bid.

Who will win the South?

Need to know: A seven-win team will win the NFC South, and it comes down to the 6-8-1 Carolina Panthers against the 6-9 Atlanta Falcons. The last sub-.500 team to make the playoffs was the 2010 Seahawks – who went on to pull a first-round upset against the New Orleans Saints. The NFC South has played some ugly football this year, but at least the division has been wildly competitive.

What to expect: The Panthers are the hotter team right now, with three consecutive wins. But Carolina needs to find some offense and figure out a way to score to beat the Falcons at home. The Panthers are averaging just 20.3 points this season but haven't reached the 20-point threshold in the past two weeks. Either way, look for this game to be close. The Falcons won the first meeting last month by two points, and four of their last six games have been decided by single digits.

Game-time decision: The Cincinnati Bengals have listed five players as questionable for tonight's AFC North title game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of an illness that ravaged the locker room this week. The secondary was the hardest hit, with corners Adam Jones and Chris Lewis-Harris and safety Reggie Nelson among those whose playing status is in doubt.

Fantasy play: Most season-long fantasy leagues are over, but if you're still playing, don't be scared off by the questionable designation for Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders against Oakland. Sanders was limited in practice because of a hip injury, but he is almost a certainty to play – and he has motivation to play well. He is just five catches from his first 100-catch season, and he's a crucial part of the Broncos' plan to get their passing game back on track.

For entertainment purposes only: Several individual titles are up for grabs, with the most interesting race for the sack champion. The top three pass rushers are separated by just one sack – Kansas City's Justin Houston with 18, the Houston Texans' J.J. Watt with 17.5 and the Baltimore Ravens' Elvis Dumervil at 17. According to betting site Bovada.com, Watt has even odds to finish with the NFL lead, followed by Houston, then Dumervil. If Watt does wind up leading in sacks, it would be a boost for his MVP candidacy.