The playoff picture can be a tough one to draw as the NFL’s regular season winds down each year, so we’ve scoured the standings, head-to-head match-ups, strength of schedules and tiebreakers to break it all down in a more-digestible form. Well, somewhat. Continue reading to learn which teams are in, which teams are out and which teams can still punch their ticket to the playoffs in Week 17.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Ravens (13-2) – AFC North Champions, Clinched Home-Field Advantage
2. Patriots (12-3) – AFC East Champions, Clinched Division Title
- Clinch first-round bye with a win over the Dolphins “OR” a Chiefs loss to the Chargers
3. Chiefs (11-4) – AFC West Champions, Clinched Division Title
- Clinch first-round bye with a win over Chargers + Patriots loss to Dolphins
4. Texans (10-5) – AFC South Champions, Clinched Division Title
5. Bills (10-5) – Clinched Playoff Berth, Wild Card (Locked into 5-Seed)
6. Titans (8-7) – Wild Card, Better Strength of Schedule than Steelers
- Clinch playoff berth with a win over the Texans “OR” a Steelers loss + Colts loss
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7. Steelers (8-7)
- Clinch playoff berth with win over Ravens + Titans loss “OR” Titans loss + Colts win + Raiders loss “OR” Titans loss + Colts win + tie strength of victory vs Raiders (losses by all 4 of Bears, Lions, Chargers, Patriots)
8. Raiders (7-8)
- Clinch playoff berth with a win over the Broncos + Titans loss + Steelers loss + Colts win + clinch strength of victory over Steelers (win by 1 of Bears, Lions, Chargers, Patriots)
AFC TEAMS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS: Bengals, Jaguars, Chargers, Jets, Broncos, Colts, Browns
AFC SEEDING SCENARIOS
1. Ravens – Clinched
2.
Chiefs – win + Patriots loss
Patriots – win “OR” Chiefs loss
3.
Chiefs – win + Patriots win “OR” loss + Texans loss
Patriots – loss + Chiefs win
Texans – win + Chiefs loss
4.
Chiefs – loss + Texans win
Texans – loss “OR” Chiefs win
5. Bills – locked into 5-Seed
6.
Raiders – win + Titans loss + Steelers loss + Colts win + win by 1 (Bears, Lions, Chargers, Patriots)
Steelers – win + Titans loss “OR” Titans loss + Colts win + Raiders loss “OR” Titans loss + Colts win + Raiders win + losses by all 4 (Bears, Lions, Chargers, Patriots)
Titans – win “OR” Steelers loss + Colts loss
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. 49ers (12-3) – NFC West Leader, Clinched Playoff Berth
- Clinch NFC West and home-field advantage with a win over Seahawks
2. Packers (12-3) – NFC North Champions, Clinched Division Title
- Clinch first-round bye with win over Lions “OR” Saints loss
- Clinch home-field advantage with win over Lions + 49ers loss
3. Saints (12-3) – NFC South Champions, Clinched Division Title
- Clinch first-round bye with win over Panthers + 49ers loss “OR” win over Panthers + Packers loss “OR” Packers win + Seahawks win
- Clinch home-field advantage with win over Panthers + 49ers loss + Packers loss
4. Eagles (8-7) – NFC East Leader
- Clinch NFC East with win over Giants “OR” Cowboys loss
5. Seahawks (11-4) – Clinched Playoff Berth, Wild Card
- Clinch NFC West with win over 49ers
- Clinch first-round bye with win over 49ers + Packers loss
- Clinch home-field advantage with win over 49ers + Packers loss + Saints loss
6. Vikings (10-5) – Clinched Playoff Berth, Wild Card
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7. Cowboys (7-8) – Only Alive in NFC East Race
- Clinch NFC East Title and playoff berth with win over Redskins + Eagles loss
NFC TEAMS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS: Giants, Falcons, Cardinals, Lions, Redskins, Panthers, Buccaneers, Bears, Rams
NFC SEEDING SCENARIOS
1.
49ers – win
Packers – win + 49ers loss
Saints – win + 49ers loss + Packers loss
Seahawks – win + Packers loss + Saints loss
2.
Packers – win + 49ers win “OR” loss + Saints loss
Saints – Packers win + 49ers loss “OR” win + 49ers win + Packers loss
Seahawks – win + Saints win + Packers loss
3.
Packers – loss + Saints win
Saints – 49ers win + Packers win “OR” loss + Packers loss
Seahawks – win + Packers win
4.
Eagles – win “OR” Cowboys loss
Cowboys – win + Eagles loss
5.
49ers – loss
Seahawks – loss
6. Vikings – locked into 6-Seed