The Top 10 NFL season finale games of the past decade
By Erik Lambert
For two-thirds of the NFL teams, Week 17 is merely the conclusion to a down year. However, for some, it can be a moment where playoff magic lives or dies.
The season finale can often be a place to find great football drama. Teams are battling for their seasons and often have to go through others in the same exact situation to do it. This can lead to some memorable clashes with all sorts of big moments. With so many playoff implications still in play for 2018, it might be a fun time to ask this question.
What have been the best season finale games witnessed by fans in the past 10 years? After some deep research, here are the ones who cracked the top 10 due to a variety of factors including: stakes, excitement, and long-term implications.
10. Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (2012)
Fun things tend to happen when these two division rivals go head to head. One would think that might not be the case given the Panthers are traditionally a defensive team while the Saints are offense to the core. Usually when styles clash, it can create some rather bland games. Such is not the case here. Setting aside their thriller a couple of weeks ago, this clash in 2012 was memorable if for no other reason than it had what modern fans supposedly want more than anything.
Points.
The two teams combined for 82 points on the day in an exhausting shootout that saw those clashing style actually mesh. Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes as was typical of him. However, the Panthers responded by rushing for an unprecedented five touchdowns with two from DeAngelo Williams and three from Mike Tolbert. Carolina prevailed 44-38, causing New Orleans to have their first losing record since 2007.