It seems like the 2016 NFL season just started, but the final week of the regular season will take place this Sunday. All six AFC playoff tickets have been punched, but the seeding could change after Week 17. Only four teams in the NFC have claimed a playoff spot, meaning two slots are up for grabs in Week 17. Below are the playoff scenarios entering the final week of the regular season.
NFL 2017 Playoff Scenarios Entering Week 17 of the 2016 Regular Season
AFC
Current seeding
- New England Patriots
- Oakland Raiders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins
Scenarios
The six teams listed above will all make the playoffs this season, but only the Steelers and Texans are locked into their seeds, number three and four, respectively. Below are the scenarios for the other four AFC teams.
Patriots
New England can do no worse than the number two seed. If Bill Belichick’s team wins against the Dolphins OR if the Raiders lose to the Denver Broncos they will be the number one seed. If the Patriots lose AND the Raiders win, New England will be the number two seed.
Raiders
Oakland will be the number one, two or five seed. The Raiders will clinch the number one overall seed if they beat the Broncos AND the Dolphins beat the Patriots. Oakland will clinch the AFC West with a win against Denver OR a Kansas City loss to the San Diego Chargers. If the Raiders are the AFC West champions they would be the number two seed. If they fail to win the division and are the wild card they will be the five seed.
Chiefs
The Chiefs will be the two, five or six seed in the playoffs this season. If Kansas City wins at San Diego AND Denver beats Oakland at home, the Chiefs would be the number two seed and get a first-round bye. If the Chiefs lose to the Chargers OR the Raiders beat the Broncos, Kansas City will be the number five or six seed. A loss by the Chiefs AND a Dolphins win would have Kansas City drop to the number six seed.
Dolphins
Miami has secured a playoff spot for the first time in eight years, after a 1-4 start to the season. The Dolphins will most likely be the number six seed, but can climb to number five with a win AND a loss by the Chiefs.
NFC
Current Seeding
- Dallas Cowboys
- Atlanta Falcons
- Seattle Seahawks
- Green Bay Packers
- New York Giants
- Detroit Lions
In the Hunt
- Washington Redskins
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Scenarios
Of the six NFC teams listed above four have secured a playoff berth (Cowboys, Falcons, Seahawks and Giants). Below are the scenarios for the NFC.
Cowboys
Dallas has clinched the number one seed and home field throughout the playoffs regardless of anything that happens in Week 17.
Falcons
Atlanta will be the number two, three or four seed. The Falcons will secure the number two seed with a win OR a Seahawks loss OR a Seahawks loss or tie AND a Lions loss or tie.
Seahawks
Seattle will be the number two, three or four seed. The Seahawks will be the number two seed with a win AND a Falcons loss or tie.
Packers
Green Bay will be the number three, four or six seed. They could also miss the playoffs. Green Bay gets in as the NFC North champion with a win. If the Packers lose AND the Redskins beat the Giants Green Bay will be eliminated. A wild scenario would be if the Packers and Lions tie, both Green Bay and Detroit would make the playoffs and Washington would be left on the outside looking in.
Giants
The Giants are locked into the number five seed.
Lions
Detroit will be the number two, three, four, five or six seed. The Lions will be the number two seed with a win over the Packers AND a Falcons loss AND a Seahawks loss. A Lions loss AND Redskins victory over the Giants would eliminate Detroit from the playoffs.
Redskins
Washington will either be the six seed or miss the playoffs. They get in with a win AND the Packers vs. Lions game does not end in a tie.
Buccaneers
Tampa Bay will also either be the six seed or miss the playoffs. Mathematically they are still in the hunt, but it’ll be difficult for the Bucs to make the playoffs. Tampa Bay will get in if they win AND the Indianapolis Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars AND the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles AND the Lions beat the Packers AND the Tennessee Titans beat the Texans AND the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seahawks AND the Redskins and Giants tie.
NFL fans will get to see how it all plays out this Sunday.
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