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

The Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth. Their remaining video games — towards 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’ outcome of their sport on Sunday towards the Patriots.

The Payments have gained 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 outside playoff sport at Buffalo in January — in the event that they win each video games.

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

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

The Ravens, contemporary off a convincing victory over the 49ers (11-4), seem like the perfect group 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 gained 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 must 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 are going to most probably must win their remaining video games, each towards 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 slender path to the playoffs. Successful their remaining video games would very probably be sufficient to get in. However their season concludes with a sport towards 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 group. Their most vital sport is their final one, in Week 18, towards the Titans (5-10).

They host the group 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 must win their remaining video games.

Their matchup with the Texans, in Week 18, is the extra vital of the 2 for the Colts. However their Week 17 opponents, the Raiders (7-8), are coming off a shocking win over the Chiefs, they usually too can 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 probability at a playoff berth of the three.

Two wins would safe a playoff berth and probably 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, probably, 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 is not going to be determined till Week 18. If the Eagles win their remaining video games — each towards groups with dropping data — they are going to win the division. In the event that they win just one, they’ll want the Cowboys (11-5) to lose their final sport, towards the Giants (5-10).

The Eagles can nonetheless get the No. 1 seed. A win this week and a 49ers loss — unlikely as it might 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 night time over the Lions bolstered their probabilities of profitable 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 certain 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 not possible, however not going.

Having gained the N.F.C. North already, and coming off a heartbreaking loss on Saturday night time 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 dropping document, have a transparent path to the playoffs. They merely must beat two divisional opponents with dropping 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 seems to be rather a lot just like the Packers’: They in all probability must 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 chance.

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 significantly 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 may 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 may do no worse than the No. 3 seed.

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

The Rams have gained 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 must win certainly one of their remaining video games to be within the playoffs; two losses would most probably remove 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.