NFL Playoff Picture and Scenarios after Week 17

NFL Playoff Picture and Scenarios after Week 17

NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 17

If you handicap the games this late in the season, you need to know the NFL playoff scenarios. It’s a must to know and we have them for you after Week 17. We have all the latest playoff situations before the final week.

As of Jan. 2, here are the teams eliminated from the playoffs

*Arizona Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, LA Chargers, Las Vegas New England, NY Giants, NY Jets, Tennessee, Washington,

(some information from NFL.com)

NFC Playoff Picture

1)San Francisco (12-4). They clinched the NFC No. 1 seed.

2)Dallas (11-6). Has clinched a playoff berth and the NFC North. The Cowboys face rival Washington on the road.

They can clinch the NFC East division title with:

  • 1)A win or a Philly loss (or both teams tie).

3)Detroit (11-4). They’ve won the NFC North and now they can win the NFC. They face Dallas on the road and Minnesota at home.

4)Tampa Bay (8-8). The Bucs face Carolina on the road to end the season after losing at home to New Orleans. They can clinch the NFC South with:

  • 1)A win at Tampa Bay tie+NO loss or tie.

They can clinch a playoff berth with:

  • 2)TB tie+SEA loss+ GB loss or tie.

Wild Cards

5)Philadelphia (11-5). They were shocked by Arizona and now have Giants coming up again. They can clinch the NFC East Division title with a

  • 1)Philadelphia win+ Dallas loss or tie or a Philadelphia tie + Dallas loss.

6)LA Rams (9-7). Clinched a playoff berth.

7)Green Bay (8-8). Has Chicago on the road to end the season. They get in as a wild card with:

  • 1)A win over the Bears OR a bunch of other scenarios including a tie and a Minnesota loss+ Seattle loss + New Orleans loss.

In other words, just beat Chicago. They have the better conference record tiebreaker over the Saints and the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Saints.

Outside the playoffs but still with a chance.

8)Seattle (8-8). Has Arizona on the road left on their schedule. They need to beat or tie Arizona and then essentially and realistically need a Green Bay loss or tie.

9)New Orleans (8-8). Has Atlanta at home to end the season. They need help to get in. It’s all about beating Atlanta and then getting help…

They clinch the NFC South division title:

  • 1)NO win+TB loss or tie OR
  • 2)NO tie+TB loss.

10)Minnesota (7-9). Has Detroit on the road left.

Vikings can clinch the NFC South division title with:

  • 1)NO win+TB loss or tie OR
  • 2)NO tie+ TB loss.

They can clinch a playoff berth with:

  • 1)MIN win + GB loss+Sea loss+TB loss OR
  • 2)MIN win+GB loss+Sea loss+NO loss

11)Atlanta (7-9) needs help to win the NFC South.

To clinch the NFC South division title, it’s simple:

  • 1)Beat NO + TB loss

AFC Playoff Picture

1)Baltimore (13-3). Earned the AFC No. 1 seed.

2)Miami (11-5). Clinched a playoff berth. Can win the AFC East if they beat Buffalo this week

3)Kansas City (10-6). Clinched the NFC West for the 8th straight season and are locked into 3rd seed.

4)Jacksonville (9-7). Faces Tennessee this week Clinches the AFC South Division title if:

  • 1)They can beat the Titans
  • 2)JAX tie +IND-HOU tie
  • Clinches playoff berth with:
  • 1)JAX tie+PIT loss or tie OR
  • 2)PIT loss+DEN loss or tie+ HOU-IND doesn’t end in a tie.

Wild cards

5)Cleveland (11-5). The Browns end the season Cincinnati at home, but they are locked into the No. 5 seed.

6)Buffalo (10-6). Bills face Miami on the road to end the season.

Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:

  • 1)Buffalo win.
  • Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
  • 1)BUF tie OR
  • 2)PIT loss or tie OR
  • 3)JAX loss or tie OR
  • 4)HOU-IND TIE.

7)Indianapolis (9-8). The Colts face Houston in a huge game.

Indy clinches AFC South division title with:

  • 1)IND win+JAX loss or tie OR
  • 2)IND tie+JAX loss
  • Indy clinches playoff berth with:
  • 1)IND win OR
  • 2)Ind tie+ PIT loss or tie.

Outside the playoffs but still with a chance.

8)Houston (9-7). The Texans face Indy on the road to end the season.

They clinch the AFC South division title with:

  • 1)HOU win+ JAX loss or tie
  • Houston clinches playoff berth with:
  • 1)HOU win OR
  • 2)HOU tie+JAX loss+PIT loss or tie

9)Pittsburgh (9-7). The Steelers face Baltimore on the road to end the season and the Ravens have clinched everything so they get a break because they should rest most of their starters.

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:

  • 1)PIT win+BUF loss OR
  • 2)PIT win+JAX loss or tie OR
  • 3)PIT win+HOU-IND tie OR
  • 4)PIT tie+JAX loss+HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie OR
  • 5)JAX loss+DEN win+HOU-IND doesn’t end in a tie.

Author Profile
Ben Hayes

Ben has been a sports writer for over 35 years, dabbling in college and pro basketball, college and pro football, baseball, college lacrosse, minor league baseball and even college gymnastics. He's also been involved in the gaming industry for nearly 30 years and has been looking to beat the books since he was 13! Ben has had great success in handicapping college football, the NFL, college basketball, the NBA and MLB for 27+ years. His Twitter handle is @BenHayesWAW