Four teams that didn't make the playoffs a year ago already have clinched a postseason berth this season. Only one more is needed in the final week of the regular season to give the league at least five new playoff participants for the 18th time in 19 seasons.

It very well could happen because half of the six teams still fighting for two spots are teams that didn't make the playoffs a year ago.

In the AFC, one spot is available for Houston, Baltimore, Kansas City and San Diego. The Texans and Ravens didn't make the playoffs a year ago.

Meanwhile, in the NFC, the only playoff berth left to decide is the NFC South title. The Falcons (6-9), who didn't make the playoffs last season, face the defending division champion Panthers (6-8-1) in a game that will crown a sub-.500 division champion for only the second time in NFL history.

The 2010 Seahawks (7-9) had been the only team with a losing record to win a division.

Here's another nugget in terms of NFL turnover from year to year: With the Lions having already clinched a playoff berth, the league has now gone eight consecutive seasons with a playoff team that fired its head coach the year before. Jim Caldwell replaced Jim Schwartz as the Detroit Lions coach after last season.

The Texans, who replaced Gary Kubiak with Bill O'Brien, could join that group if they make the playoffs this weekend.

THIRD-AND-2

Three observations

• If Jay Cutler is such a gunslinger, why does he rank 26th in yards per attempt (6.93). A horrible stat, especially for someone with a league-high 18 interceptions.

• The Bears are last in points allowed (28.6 per game). They would need to surrender at least 51 points to match the 30.0 average the Vikings had while ranking last in 2013.

• The Texans have a league-high 34 takeaways and yet only eight wins.

Two predictions

• The Panthers will rush for over 200 yards to beat the Falcons and win the NFC South.

• The Chargers will pass for 350 yards, beat the Chiefs and claim the final AFC playoff spot.

MARK CRAIG