NFL Playoff Scenarios 2016-17: AFC, NFC Week 14 Picture, Postseason Predictions
The Dallas Cowboys made the playoffs on Sunday.
With four weeks to go in the regular season, the 11-1 Cowboys became the first NFL team to cement their spot in the postseason. It became official when the NFC East rival Washington Redskins fell to the Arizona Cardinals, 31-23.
Rookie running back—and MVP candidate—Ezekiel Elliott was pumped:
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Outside of America's Team, the playoff picture is much fuzzier. Let's break it down.
Standings
NFC
| 1 | NFC East | Dallas Cowboys | 11-1 |
| 2 | NFC West | Seattle Seahawks | 8-3-1 |
| 3 | NFC North | Detroit Lions | 8-4 |
| 4 | NFC South | Atlanta Falcons | 7-5 |
| 5 | Wild Card | New York Giants (NFC East) | 8-4 |
| 6 | Wild Card | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South) | 7-5 |
| Washington Redskins (NFC East) | 6-5-1 |
| Minnesota Vikings (NFC North) | 6-6 |
| Green Bay Packers (NFC North) | 6-6 |
| Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) | 5-6-1 |
| New Orleans Saints (NFC South) | 5-7 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East) | 5-7 |
| Carolina Panthers (NFC South) | 4-8 |
| Los Angeles Rams (NFC West) | 4-8 |
| Chicago Bears (NFC North) | 3-9 |
| San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) | 1-11 |
AFC
| 1 | AFC West | Oakland Raiders | 10-2 |
| 2 | AFC East | New England Patriots | 10-2 |
| 3 | AFC North | Baltimore Ravens | 7-5 |
| 4 | AFC South | Houston Texans | 6-6 |
| 5 | Wild Card | Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) | 9-3 |
| 6 | Wild Card | Denver Broncos (AFC West) | 8-4 |
| Miami Dolphins (AFC East) | 7-5 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) | 7-5 |
| Buffalo Bills (AFC East) | 6-6 |
| Tennessee Titans (AFC South) | 6-6 |
| Indianapolis Colts (AFC South) | 5-6 |
| San Diego Chargers (AFC West) | 5-7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North) | 4-7-1 |
| New York Jets (AFC East) | 3-8 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South) | 2-10 |
| Cleveland Browns (AFC North) | 0-12 |
Postseason Predictions
Raiders retain No. 1 seed
Sometimes, it just feels like a given year belongs to a given team—or in this case, teams.
The Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys have been nearly invincible. Dallas has won 11 straight games after dropping the season opener against the New York Giants. The Raiders have won six in a row, with all but five featuring 30-plus-point explosions. (The outlier was 27.)
Oakland's last loss came against this week's opponent, the 9-3 Kansas City Chiefs.
Andy Reid's team scored in every way imaginable in Sunday’s 29-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Running back Spencer Ware scored twice, once on a run and once on a pass. Safety Eric Berry had a pick-six, then sealed the game after picking off Matt Ryan on a late two-point-conversation attempt that should've put Atlanta up a field goal with about four minutes to go. Alex Smith threw for 270 yards on 21-of-25 passing. Travis Kelce racked up 140 yards on eight catches.
Kansas City flexed its entire arsenal. But even that won't be enough to beat the Raiders on Thursday.
Every Chiefs game makes fans sweat. Though they've won seven of their last eight, the Chiefs' margins of victory have been narrow lately:
- Week 6: 16 (26-10 win)
- Week 7: 6 (27-21 win)
- Week 8: 16 (30-14 win)
- Week 9: 5 (19-14 win)
- Week 10: 3 (20-17 win)
- Week 11: 2 (19-17 loss)
- Week 12: 3 (30-27 OT win)
- Week 13: 1 (29-28 win)
Derek Carr and the Raiders have thrived in those situations. ESPN's Adam Schefter passed along an unreal stat that showed off how cold the MVP candidate's blood has been:
Thursday night will likely be ugly. It'll be close. And sure, you could make the argument that the Chiefs thrive in those airtight contests, too.
But the Raiders offensive line should neutralize Kansas City's pass rush. Cornerback Marcus Peters can't cover both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Whoever is covered by Phillip Gaines, who missed Sunday's win, is likely in for a big day.
Should Oakland's offense play its normal game and knock off the Chiefs, the Raiders' next two contests are much easier: at the San Diego Chargers and home against the Indianapolis Colts.
They play the Denver Broncos after that, but the top seed could be locked up by then. The New England Patriots have to host the Baltimore Ravens before visiting Denver in Week 15. Without Rob Gronkowski, it's not hard to envision the Pats dropping one of those.
That would all but hand the No. 1 seed to Oakland.
Steelers capture AFC North
"We're trying to focus on being inside our own stadium and taking care of what we need to take care of. We'll see them soon enough."
That's what Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier said about the Ravens after his team dismantled the New York Giants, 24-14, per ESPN's Dan Graziano.
He's right.
Baltimore is currently the AFC North's top dog, but Pittsburgh mirrors its record at 7-5. Two weeks from now, it's possible their records will be identical heading into a Week 16 clash on Christmas.
Pittsburgh has a much better chance of entering that game in control of the division, though, despite losing to Baltimore in Week 9. (Remember this?) Fresh off a commanding win over the curiously underrated Giants, Mike Tomlin's team gets the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on the road.
Neither team is a pushover by any means, but the Ravens have to take on the Patriots in Foxborough next week. Then they face the Eagles, Steelers and Bengals to the close the season. In Week 17, the Steelers get the Cleveland Browns.
It's clear who has the smoother schedule.
Everything is lined up for a Steelers run here. With Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell healthy and Antonio Brown dominating every matchup he's given, Pittsburgh figures to be a team nobody wants to play come January.
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