Week 17 N.F.L. Playoff Picture: A Team-by-Team Guide

The Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth. Their remaining video games — in opposition to the N.F.L.-leading Ravens (12-3) and the surging Payments (9-6) — will decide whether or not they’re as excessive because the No. 1 seed or as little as the No. 6 seed.

Two wins ensures the No. 1 seed, with a bye week and home-field benefit all through the playoffs.

One win — in both sport — would clinch the A.F.C. East, and possibly the No. 2 seed.

Two losses would in all probability imply a wild-card berth, relying on the Payments’ consequence of their sport on Sunday in opposition to the Patriots.

The Payments have received three video games in a row and now characterize the No. 6 seed within the A.F.C. playoff image. Only one win of their subsequent two video games would virtually actually be sufficient to make the playoffs, however in addition they have a path to the division title — internet hosting an out of doors playoff sport at Buffalo in January — in the event that they win each video games.

If the Payments win in opposition to the Patriots (4-11) on Sunday and the Dolphins (11-4) fall to the Ravens (12-3), the Payments-Dolphins matchup in Week 18 will probably be for the division.

That stated, the Payments may nonetheless miss the playoffs with a pair of losses.

The Ravens, contemporary off a convincing victory over the 49ers (11-4), seem like the most effective staff within the N.F.L. They’ve clinched a playoff berth.

They face the Dolphins (11-4) on Sunday. In the event that they win, they’ll clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit all through the playoffs.

Any Ravens win or a Browns loss in Week 18 would clinch the A.F.C. North.

The Browns have received 4 straight, every of them led by their fourth beginning quarterback of the season: Joe Flacco.

They’ve clinched a playoff berth. Realistically, the Browns are headed for the postseason with a wild-card berth, most probably because the No. 5 seed, visiting the No. 4 seed (in all probability the Jaguars, Texans or Colts) within the first spherical.

The Browns can technically nonetheless win the division, however they’d have to win their remaining sport and hope the Ravens lose each of theirs.

The Bengals are on the perimeter. After final Saturday’s loss to the Steelers, they’ll most probably have to win their remaining video games, each in opposition to powerful opponents: the Chiefs and the Browns.

But when they do handle to win these, the Bengals will in all probability make the playoffs because the No. 6 or No. 7 seed.

Just like the Bengals, the Steelers have a slim path to the playoffs. Profitable their remaining video games would very probably be sufficient to get in. However their season concludes with a sport in opposition to the A.F.C.-best Ravens (12-3).

The Jaguars are on high of the A.F.C. South however share their document (8-7) with two different members of their division, the Colts and the Texans.

They’re in good place to make the playoffs, both as division champion or as a wild-card staff. Their most necessary sport is their final one, in Week 18, in opposition to the Titans (5-10).

They host the staff with the worst document within the N.F.L. — the Panthers (2-13) — on Sunday.

The Colts’ loss to the Falcons complicates their playoff path; they now in all probability have to win their remaining video games.

Their matchup with the Texans, in Week 18, is the extra necessary of the 2 for the Colts. However their Week 17 opponents, the Raiders (7-8), are coming off a stunning win over the Chiefs, they usually too will probably be enjoying to maintain their (a lot dimmer) playoff hopes alive.

The Texans share the identical document — and face the identical path, roughly — as two different groups within the A.F.C. South: the Jaguars and the Colts. However they’re third within the division (because of tiebreakers) and have the slimmest likelihood at a playoff berth of the three.

Two wins would safe a playoff berth and presumably the division title. One win would in all probability not be sufficient.

The Raiders’ unlikely win over the Chiefs in Week 16 has brightened their playoff image. A loss nonetheless eliminates them, however two wins would in all probability put them within the playoffs.

They go to the Colts (8-7) subsequent.

The Eagles have clinched a playoff berth already; their remaining video games will decide whether or not they win the division (and, presumably, whether or not they earn a bye week and the No. 1 seed).

The Cowboys’ win over the Lions on Saturday means the N.F.C. East won’t be determined till Week 18. If the Eagles win their remaining video games — each in opposition to groups with shedding data — they’ll win the division. In the event that they win just one, they’ll want the Cowboys (11-5) to lose their final sport, in opposition to the Giants (5-10).

The Eagles can nonetheless get the No. 1 seed. A win this week and a 49ers loss — unlikely as it could be, as they face the Commanders (4-11) — would put the Eagles in place to safe it in Week 18.

The Cowboys’ wild win on Saturday evening over the Lions bolstered their probabilities of successful the division (they’ve already clinched a playoff berth). If the Cowboys win on the Commanders, and the Eagles lose both of their two remaining video games, the Cowboys will take the division, and sure the No. 2 seed.

For now, the Cowboys stay in rivalry for the No. 1 seed and the bye week that comes with it. They would wish to complete the season with a greater document than each the 49ers and Eagles. Not unimaginable, however not going.

Having received the N.F.C. North already, and coming off a heartbreaking loss on Saturday evening in Dallas, the Lions appear headed towards the No. 3 seed, internet hosting the No. 6 seed within the first spherical.

The Packers, regardless of their shedding document, have a transparent path to the playoffs. They merely have to beat two divisional opponents with shedding data: the Vikings and the Bears. In the event that they do this, they’ll in all probability be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, visiting the No. 2 or No. 3 seed within the first spherical.

The Vikings’ path to the playoffs appears quite a bit just like the Packers’: They in all probability have to win each their remaining video games.

Sadly, they face a way more difficult schedule than the Packers, as they end up at Detroit (11-5).

A loss eliminates the Bears.

Even with two wins, they would wish a slew of different outcomes to go their manner, however the playoffs stay a mathematical risk.

The Bucs are on high of the N.F.C. South. A win in both of their subsequent two video games clinches the division. In the event that they lose each, they’re in all probability out.

The Saints are in bother. Even two wins wouldn’t make a playoff berth notably probably. A loss eliminates them.

The Falcons are in the identical straits because the Saints, who share their document. They face the Bears (6-9) subsequent.

They might nonetheless win the division with an 8-9 document so long as they beat the Saints (7-8) in Week 18, although they’d want the Bucs to lose their remaining video games.

The 49ers have clinched the N.F.C. West and might do no worse than the No. 3 seed.

They are going to clinch the No. 1 seed in the event that they win their remaining video games. But when they lose even one, they’re prone to end with the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

The Rams have received 5 of their final six video games and sit because the No. 6 seed, which might be the place they’ll find yourself.

They in all probability have to win one in all their remaining video games to be within the playoffs; two losses would most probably get rid of them. They face the Giants (5-10) subsequent.

The Seahawks occupy the final spot within the N.F.C. playoffs, with a path similar to the one for the Rams. Even one win of their subsequent two video games would in all probability be sufficient to safe a berth; two would assure it.

Their best-case situation in Week 17 is a win and a Rams loss.