Week 17 NFL Playoff Scenarios - FanIQ (blog)

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NFL Playoff Scenarios: Whos In, Whos Out and Who Still Has a Chance

Yesterday in NFL   |   GeorgeMon   |   106 respect

The Playoff scenarios entering the final week of the NFL season are always a bit confusing, and require following a train of logic that could make your head burst. Fortunately, for sports fans, this year's playoffs scenarios are easier to follow than in years past. So, let's take a quick look at the playoff possibilities for each team still in contention during Week 17.

 
 
AFC
 
Houston Texans (12-3): Can lock up the No. 1 seed with a win against the Colts or a loss by both the Broncos and Patriots. Can fall to the No. 3 seed with a loss, and a Broncos and Pats win on Sunday.
 
Denver Broncos (12-3): Would become the No. 1 seed with a win and a Texans loss. Would fall to the No. 3 seed with a loss and a Patriots win on Sunday.
 
New England Patriots (11-4): Would become the No. 1 seed with a win and a Denver and Houston loss on Sunday.  The Patriots would drop to the No. 4 seed with a loss to the Dolphins, and a Ravens win against the Bengals on Sunday.
 
Baltimore Ravens (10-5): Can move up to the No. 3 seed with a win and a Patriots loss, otherwise everything stays the same.
 

Wild Card
 
Indianapolis Colts (10-5)/Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): Neither team can move up or down and have the No.5 and No. 6 seeds already locked up.
 

 

 
NFC
 
Atlanta Falcons (13-2): Have locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
 
Green Bay Packers (11-4): Will stay in the No. 2 seed with a win against the Vikings on Sunday. A loss coupled with a 49ers win, will pushed the Packers into the No. 3 seed.
 
San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1): The 49ers can end up as high as the No. 2 seed and as low as the No. 5 seed. A San Francisco win and a Packers loss will move the team into the No. 2 spot. A San Francisco loss and a Seahawks win would drop the 49ers into the first wild card spot.
 
Washington Redskins (9-6): Can clinch the NFC East with a win against Dallas on Sunday. Can clinch at least the No. 6 seed with a Vikings and Bears loss on Sunday.
 
Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Can clinch the NFC East with a win against the Redskins on Sunday. Dallas cannot make the playoffs via the wild card.
 

Wild Card
 
Seattle Seahawks (10-5): The Seahawks can still win the NFC West with a win and a San Francisco loss. Seattle already has the No. 5 seed locked up.
 
Minnesota Vikings (9-6): Would clinch the No. 6 seed with win against the Packers on Sunday. Minnesota could still make the playoffs with a loss, if the Bears, Giants and Cowboys all lose on Sunday as well.
 
Chicago Bears (9-6): Would clinch the No. 6 seed with a win and a Vikings loss. A Chicago loss eliminates them from the playoffs.
 
New York Giants (9-7): Would clinch the No. 6 seed with a win and a Vikings, Bears and Cowboys loss on Sunday.