The end of the season is an interesting time. As teams clich playoff spotsor get eliminated entirelystarters' playing time can be affected. We'll take a look at which teams are playing meaningful games. These teams should player their starters as they normally would. Teams not playing for playoff seeding, however, might rest their starters for the playoffs. For teams already eliminated, they might put some young guys on the field as they look to the 2017 season.
Teams Most in the Driver's Seat
Atlanta
- Can clinch the division with:
- Atl win and TB loss or tie OR
- Atl tie and TB loss
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- Atl win and Atl taking strength of victory tiebreaker over Det OR
- Atl win or tie and GB loss or tie OR
- Atl win and Det loss or tie OR
- Atl tie and Det tie OR
- Was loss or tie and GB loss OR
- Was loss or tie and GB tie and Det loss
Dallas
- Clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs
- Nothing to play for
Detroit
- Can clinch division with:
- Det win and GB loss or tie OR
- Det tie and GB loss
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- Det win and TB loss or tie OR
- Det tie and TB loss OR
- Det tie and TB tie and Atl win OR
- Was loss or tie and TB loss and Atl win or tie
Green Bay
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- GB win and and Was or tie and TB loss and Atl win or tie and GB taking strength of victory tiebreaker over TB
Houston
- Can clinch division with:
- Hou win and Ten loss
Kansas City
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- KC win or tie OR
- Bal loss or tie
Miami
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- Mia win and Den loss or tie OR
- Mia tie and Bal loss and Den loss and Hou loss or tie OR
- Mia tie and Bal loss and Den loss and Ten loss or tie
New England
- First-round bye clinched
- Can clinch home-field throughout the AFC playoffs with:
- NE win and Oak loss or tie OR
- NE tie and Oak loss
NY Giants
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- Det loss or tie OR
- GB loss or tie OR
- TB loss or tie OR
- Atl loss
Oakland
- Clinched playoff berth
- Can clinch division and a first-round bye with:
- Oak win and KC loss or tie OR
- Oak tie and KC loss
Pittsburgh
- Can clinch division with:
- Pit win
Seattle
- Clinched playoff berth
- Clinched division
- Can clinch a first-round bye with:
- Sea win and Det loss and Atl loss or tie
Tampa Bay
- Can clinch a playoff berth with:
- TB win and GB loss and Det loss and Was loss OR
- TB win and GB loss and Det loss and Was tie and TB taking strength of victory tiebreaker over Det
Still mathematically alive, but need lots of help
Baltimore
Buffalo
Carolina
Denver
Indianapolis
Minnesota
New Orleans
Tennessee
Washington
Nothing to play for, except draft order
Arizona
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Jacksonville
Los Angeles
NY Jets
Philadelphia
San Diego
San Francisco