Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran, USA Today Sports
Before we get started on this, there are more scenarios involving ties, but ties are so rare we won't waste our time writing about them nor your time reading about them. To that end, here's a graphic offering a quick glance at the scenarios outlined below.
Here is a look at the playoff teams. Some have clinched and are locked into their playoff spot. Most, however, have something to play for in Week 17. There are six teams trying to squeeze into the last three playoff spots.
The AFC Picture
New England Patriots
- Clinched the AFC East and a first-round bye
- Still playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and need:
- A New England win OR
- A Pittsburgh loss
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Clinched the AFC East and a first-round bye
- Still playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and need:
- A Pittsburgh win AND a New England loss
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Clinched the AFC South
- Nothing to play for - locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC
Kansas City Chiefs
- Clinched the AFC West
- Nothing to play for - locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC
Baltimore Ravens
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- A Baltimore win OR
- A Buffalo loss OR
- A Tennessee loss
Tennessee Titans
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- A Tennessee win OR
- A Buffalo loss AND an LA Chargers loss
Los Angeles Chargers
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- An LA Chargers win AND a Tennessee loss AND a Buffalo loss
- An LA Chargers win AND a Tennessee loss AND a Baltimore win
Buffalo Bills
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- A Buffalo win AND a Baltimore loss
- A Buffalo win AND an LA Chargers loss AND a Tennessee loss
The NFC Picture
Philadelphia Eagles
- Clinched the NFC East, a first-round, and home-field throughout the playoffs
- Nothing to play for - locked into the No. 1 seed in the NFC
Minnesota Vikings
- Clinched the NFC North
- Still playing for a first-round bye and need:
- A Minnesota win OR
- A Carolina loss OR
- A New Orleans win OR
- An LA Rams win
Los Angeles Rams
- Clinched the NFC West
- Still playing for the No. 3 seed and need:
- An LA Rams win OR
- A New Orleans loss AND a Carolina loss
New Orleans Saints
- Clinched a playoff spot
- Still playing for the NFC South and need:
- A New Orleans win or
- A Carolina loss
Carolina Panthers
- Clinched a playoff spot
- Still playing for a first-round bye and need:
- A Carolina win AND a New Orleans loss AND a Minnesota loss AND an LA Rams loss
- Still playing for the NFC South and need:
- A Carolina win AND a New Orleans loss
Atlanta Falcons
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- An Atlanta win OR
- A Seattle loss
Seattle Seahawks
- Still playing for a playoff berth and need:
- A Seattle win AND an Atlanta loss
Early Games that Matter
- New York Jets at New England Patriots
- Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
- Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Late Games that Matter
- San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
- Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans
- New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
- Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Tags:Timeless
