Playoff Picture: Week 17

AFC

1. DENVER BRONCOS (12-3) -x

Remaining Schedule

at Kansas City Chiefs

vs Los Angeles Chargers

Denver controls their own destiny for the AFC West & the #1 seed.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Kansas City & Chargers loss clinches AFC West.

2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-3) -x

Remaining Schedule

at New York Jets

vs Miami Dolphins

Patriots have a favorable closing schedule.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs NY Jets & Bills loss clinches AFC East.

3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

at Indianapolis Colts

vs Tennessee Titans

Jaguars got a statement win & stayed in the hunt for the #1 seed.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Indianapolis & Texans loss clinches AFC South.

4. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-6)

Remaining Schedule

at Cleveland Browns

vs Baltimore Ravens

Steelers are peaking at the right time.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Cleveland or Ravens loss clinches AFC North.

#5 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

vs Houston Texans

at Denver Broncos

Chargers clinched a playoff spot and still have eyes on the division title.

6. BUFFALO BILLS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

vs Philadelphia Eagles

vs New York Jets

Bills are in, but still looking to improve their seed.

7. HOUSTON TEXANS (10-5)

Remaining Schedule

at Los Angeles Chargers

vs Indianapolis Colts

Texans nearly stumbled, but they’re on the verge of clinching a playoff spot and still have a shot at the division.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs LA Chargers or Colts loss clinches a playoff berth.

8. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-7)

Remaining Schedule

vs Jacksonville Jaguars

at Houston Texans

Colts playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

9. BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-8)

Remaining Schedule

at Green Bay Packers

at Pittsburgh Steelers

Ravens playoff chances are on life support.

Games to Watch

Week 17Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers

Houston clinches with a win. Both teams need a win to keep their division hopes alive.

Week 17Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers

Baltimore is eliminated with a loss. Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with a win.

Week 17Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills

Buffalo needs a victory to keep their division hopes alive.

Week 18Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos

This one has the potential to decide the AFC West & the number one seed.

Week 18Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The AFC North always seems to come down to these two and it certainly appears as if this final week matchup will settle it once again.

My AFC Picks

  1. New England Patriots (14-3) AFC East Champions
  2. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) AFC South Champions
  3. Denver Broncos (13-4) AFC West Champions
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) AFC North Champions
  5. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
  6. Houston Texans (12-5)
  7. Los Angeles Chargers (12-5)

NFC

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-3) -x

Remaining Schedule

at Carolina Panthers

at San Francisco 49ers

Seahawks have vaulted into the driver’s seat in the NFC.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Carolina & Rams loss & 49ers loss clinches NFC West.

2. CHICAGO BEARS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

at San Francisco 49ers

vs Detroit Lions

Bears are in, now they look to sew up the division.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs San Francisco or Packers loss clinches NFC North.

3. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-5) -y

Remaining Schedule

at Buffalo Bills

vs Washington Commanders

Eagles have clinched NFC East.

4. CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-7)

Remaining Schedule

vs Seattle Seahawks

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina has the edge in the NFC South, for now.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Seattle & Buccaneers loss clinches NFC South.

5. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

vs Chicago Bears

vs Seattle Seahawks

Niners control their own destiny for the division and the number one seed.

6. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4) -x

Remaining Schedule

at Atlanta Falcons

vs Arizona Cardinals

Rams have fallen all the way down to sixth and made their playoff road that much harder.

7. GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-5-1)

Remaining Schedule

vs Baltimore Ravens

at Minnesota Vikings

Packers may have lost their chance at the division, but they should still make the playoffs.

Clinching Scenario- Win vs Baltimore or Lions loss clinches a playoff berth.

8. DETROIT LIONS (8-7)

Remaining Schedule

at Minnesota Vikings

at Chicago Bears

Detroit is on life support.

9. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-8)

Remaining Schedule

at Miami Dolphins

vs Carolina Panthers

Tampa is still in decent shape to win the NFC South.

Eliminated This Week

10. DALLAS COWBOYS (6-8-1)

Games to Watch

Week 17Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers

This game has huge seeding implications for both teams.

Week 17Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers

Packers are in with a win & Baltimore and Detroit are eliminated.

Week 17Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers

Both teams looking to strengthen their grasp on their respective divisions.

Week 18Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This game likely decides the NFC South and the final playoff spot.

Week 18Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers

This one could decide the NFC West and determine the #1 seed.

My NFC Picks

  1. San Francisco 49ers (13-4) NFC West Champions
  2. Chicago Bears (12-5) NFC North Champions
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) NFC East Champions
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) NFC South Champions
  5. Seattle Seahawks (13-4)
  6. Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
  7. Green Bay Packers (11-5-1)

x- denotes clinched playoff berth

y- denotes clinched division

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