NFL

The 49ers and Colts are among the favorites in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

Mike Shanahan was fired by Washington, while Leslie Frazier, Greg Schiano and Jim Schwartz were also let go.

The NFL wild-card weekend schedule begins on Saturday with the Colts and Chiefs.

A wild NFL Week 17 ended with some surprise results.

The stakes couldn’t be more simple for Dallas and Philadelphia. Win and take home the NFC East and a playoff spot. Unfortunately for the Cowboys they’ll have to do that without quarterback Tony Romo, whose season is over after undergoing back surgery on Friday.

Returning from a broken collarbone, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers tangle with Jay Cutler and the Bears for the NFC North title.

The Dolphins need a victory over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at Sun Life Stadium, and a loss or tie by Baltimore or a win by the San Diego Chargers.

Baltimore needs a victory, and for Miami or San Diego to lose. However the Ravens could also lock up the final Wild Card spot should the Dolphins, Chargers, and Pittsburgh all lose.

San Diego will need both Miami and Baltimore to lose or tie before kick-off for a shot at a wild card berth, while the Chiefs already have a playoff spot secured.

The Week 17 NFL schedule was changed because of the playoff picture.

The San Francisco 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 of the 2013 NFL season.

There is a very slim chance that Tony Romo will start for Dallas against Philadelphia on Sunday.

The Cardinals, Seahawks and Bengals have the best records against the point spread as the NFL enters Week 17.

The winner of the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will win the NFC North.

The Dallas Cowboys could host the Philadelphia Eagles without Tony Romo in Week 17.

Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers are on the Week 17 injury report, as their teams try to clinch division titles.

The Cowboys, Packers, Eagles and Saints are among the teams fighting for an NFC playoff spot.

The Saints and Broncos are the biggest favorites of Week 17, according to the betting odds at most Las Vegas casinos.

The NFL Network and ESPN, meanwhile, were reporting that Romo had a herniated disc that could require surgery.

The San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons close out Week 16 on Monday Night Football.

The Ravens, Steelers, Chargers and Dolphins are all alive for the final AFC wild card spot.

With one week remaining, the NFL playoff picture is looking clearer.

Should Dallas fall to Washington, Philadelphia will automatically clinch its first division title since 2010 in head coach Chip Kelly’s inaugural season. However the Eagles could also use a victory to keep their standing as the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and host a playoff game.

The Cardinals have won six of their last seven games behind quarterback Carson Palmer, whose calmed down to toss 13 touchdowns to four interceptions during the run compared to eight touchdowns and 14 picks to start the season.

Dallas 7-7 has no room for error and has to win its last two games in order to make the playoffs, with no chance for a Wild Card spot due to last week’s 37-36 meltdown against the Green Bay Packers.

More than half of the league has a chance to reach the playoffs entering Week 16.

The San Francisco 49ers host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 on Monday Night Football.

There’s plenty of wiggle room with all four bye week and home field slots up for grabs, with pivotal games between the Chiefs and Colts, Dallas at Washington, Carolina at New Orleans, Arizona at Seattle, New England at Baltimore, and Chicago at Philadelphia on Sunday night.

The Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Redskins in Week 16 of the 2013 NFL season.