Unless this is your first season following the NFL, you already know that the final week of the regular season is quite different from the other 16. Some teams have already locked up their playoff position and have nothing to play for. These teams generally rest their star players. Some have a playoff spot but are jostling for seeds. These teams generally give complete effort and play as normal. Some are fighting for their playoff life. These teams always play at 100% effort. Most teams, however, have no chance at playoffs and are simply playing because the game is on the schedule. These teams the toughest to get a handle on as some play as normal but others want to get a look at their younger players.
In this article, we'll give a rundown of which category each team falls in. Throughout the week, we'll update with any news to give you a better understanding on how each team will approach their Week 17 game.
Team-by-team Rundown
Arizona Cardinals
- Will clinch the #6 seed with one of the following
- A win AND a New Orleans loss or tie
- A tie AND a New Orleans loss
Atlanta Falcons
Out of the playoffs
Baltimore Ravens
- Will clinch the #6 seed with one of the following
- A win AND a San Diego loss or tie
- A win AND a Miami loss or tie
- A tie AND a Miami loss AND a San Diego loss or tie
- A tie AND a Miami tie AND a San Diego loss
- A loss AND a Miami loss AND a San Diego loss AND a Pittsburgh loss
Buffalo Bills
Out of the playoffs
Carolina Panthers
Clinched a playoff spot
- Will clinch the #2 seed and the NFC South with one of the following
- A win or tie
- A New Orleans loss or tie
- Will clinch the #1 seed and the NFC South with all of the following
- A win AND a Seattle loss AND a San Francisco win
Chicago Bears
- Will clinch the #3 seed and the NFC North with both of the following
- A win or tie AND a Dallas win
- Will clinch the #4 seed and the NFC North with both of the following
- A win or tie AND a Philadelphia win
Cincinnati Bengals
Clinched AFC North
- Will clinch the #2 seed with both of the following
- A win AND a New England loss
Cleveland Browns
Out of the playoffs
Dallas Cowboys
- Will clinch the #3 seed and the NFC East with both of the following
- A win AND a Green Bay win
- Will clinch the #4 seed and the NFC East with both of the following
- A win AND a Chicago win
Denver Broncos
Clinched AFC West and a first-round bye
- Will clinch the #1 seed with one of the following
- A win or tie
- A New England loss or tie
Detroit Lions
Out of the playoffs
Green Bay Packers
- Will clinch the #4 and the NFC North with the following
- A win
Houston Texans
Out of the playoffs
Indianapolis Colts
Clinched AFC South
- Will clinch the #2 seed with all of the following
- A win AND a New England loss AND a Cincinnati loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars
Out of the playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs
Locked into the #5 seed
- With nothing to play for, head coach Andy Reid has already stated that he will play a mix of starters and backups.
Miami Dolphins
- Will clinch the #6 seed with one of the following
- A win AND a Baltimore loss or tie
- A win AND a San Diego win
- A tie AND a Baltimore loss AND a San Diego loss or tie
- A tie AND a Baltiomre tie AND a San Diego tie
Minnesota Vikings
Out of the playoffs
New England Patriots
Clinched AFC East
- Will clinch the #2 seed with one of the following
- A win or tie
- A Cincinnati loss or tie AND an Indianapolis loss or tie
- Will clinch the #1 seed with both of the following
- A win AND a denver loss
New Orleans Saints
- Will clinch the the #2 seed and the NFC South with the following
- A win AND and Carolina loss
- Will clinch the #6 seed with one of the following
- A win
- A tie AND an Arizona tie
- An Arizona loss
New York Giants
Out of the playoffs
New York Jets
Out of the playoffs
Oakland Raiders
Out of the playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles
- Will clinch the #3 seed and the NFC East with the following
- A win or tie
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Will clinch the #6 seed with all of the following
- A win AND a Miami loss AND a Baltimore loss AND San Diego loss
San Diego Chargers
- Will clinch the #6 seed with one of the following
- A win AND a Miami loss or tie AND a Baltimore loss or tie
- A tie AND a Miami loss AND a Baltimore loss
Note that the Chargers could already be eliminated when their game begins as they need Miami and Baltimore to lose or tie in order to get into the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers
Clinched a playoff spot
- Will clinch the #2 seed and the NFC West with both of the following
- A win AND a Seattle loss
- Will clinch the #1 seed and the NFC West with all of the following
- A win AND a Seattle loss AND a Carolina loss or tie
Seattle Seahawks
Clinched a playoff spot
- Will clinch the #1 seed and the NFC West with one of the following
- A win or tie
- A San Francisco loss or tie
- Will clinch the #2 seed and the NFC West with the following
- A loss AND a San Francisco loss or tie AND a Carolina win
St. Louis Rams
Out of the playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Out of the playoffs
Tennessee Titans
Out of the playoffs
Washington Redskins
Out of the playoffs
Game-by-game Rundown
Games That Matter
(teams in bold have something to play for)
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM Eastern
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM Eastern
NY Jets at Miami, 1:00 PM Eastern
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM Eastern
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM Eastern
Carolina at Atlanta, 1:00 PM Eastern
Denver at Oakland, 4:25 PM Eastern
Buffalo at New England, 4:25 PM Eastern
Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 PM Eastern
St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 PM Eastern
San Francisco at Arizona, 4:25 PM Eastern
Green Bay at Chicago, 4:25 PM Eastern
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 4:25 PM Eastern
Philadelphia at Dallas, 8:30 PM Eastern
Games That Do Not Matter
Detroit at Minnesota, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington at NY Giants, 1:00 PM Eastern
Houston at Tennessee, 1:00 PM Eastern
