NFL Playoffs 2016-17: Updated Standings, Bracket Picture and Scenarios

The Green Bay Packers are charging, and the Detroit Lions can hear their footsteps.

It wasn't easy or pretty for the Packers (8-6) as they went to brutally cold Chicago in Week 15, but they pulled out an exciting 30-27 triumph over the last-place Bears.

PK Mason Crosby connected on a game-winning 32-yard field goal as time expired, and that kick came one play after Aaron Rodgers hit wideout Jordy Nelson with a 60-yard completion.

While the Packers fought tooth and nail to beat their ancient rivals, the first-place Lions (9-5) could not solve the New York Giants (10-4) defense and dropped a 17-6 decision. Detroit's lead in the NFC North was cut to one game, and the regular-season finale between the Packers and Lions at Ford Field appears likely to decide the division. 

The only way that won't happen is if the Lions defeat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 while the Packers lose to the Minnesota Vikings.

Going into the Sunday night game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5), the Dallas Cowboys (11-2) have a 1 1/2-game lead in the NFC East over the Giants. However, if the Giants win out and the Cowboys lose two of their last three games, the Giants would win the NFC East based on their 2-0 record against Dallas this season.

The Atlanta Falcons (9-5) kept the pressure on the Bucs in the NFC South with their victory over San Francisco 49ers. If the Falcons finish the regular season with victories over the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, they will win the division title.

However, the Bucs are still in a position to make the playoffs as a wild-card team, just as the Giants are if both teams continue to win. The Bucs can also win the AFC South if the Falcons stumble in their closing two games.

Conference	Team	Record	Playoff Position
AFC	New England Patriots	12-2-0	AFC East champion, No. 1 seed
AFC	Oakland Raiders	11-3-0	Clinched playoff spot, No. 2 seed
AFC	Pittsburgh Steelers	9-5-0	AFC North leader, No. 3 seed
AFC	Houston Texans	8-6-0	AFC South leader, No. 4 seed
AFC	Kansas City Chiefs	10-4-0	No. 1 wild-card, No. 5 seed
AFC	Miami Dolphins	9-5-0	No. 2 wild-card, No. 6 seed
NFC	Dallas Cowboys	11-2-0	NFC East leader, No. 1 seed
NFC	Seattle Seahawks	9-4-1	NFC West champion, No. 2 seed
NFC	Atlanta Falcons	9-5-0	NFC South leader, No. 3 seed
NFC	Detroit Lions	9-5-0	NFC North leader, No. 4 seed
NFC	New York Giants,	10-4-0	No.1 wild-card, No. 5 seed
NFC	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8-5-0	No. 2 wild-card, No. 6 seed

If the Bucs slip up, the Washington Redskins (7-5-1) are in an excellent position to pass them and earn the No. 2 wild-card spot. In addition to hosting the Panthers on Monday night, the Redskins close the year with games against the Bears and the Giants.

The Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1) clinched the NFC West title when they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-3 Thursday night. The Seahawks moved into the No. 2 spot in the NFC behind the Cowboys as a result of Detroit's loss to New York.

The New England Patriots (12-2) clinched the AFC East title for the eighth consecutive season with a 16-3 road victory over the Denver Broncos (8-6). 

The Patriots also clinched a first-round bye with the victory and are holding down the No. 1 spot in the AFC Playoff structure.

The Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) took a major hit in Week 15 in their 19-17 home loss to the Tennessee Titans (8-6). Ryan Succop hit the game-winning 53-yard field goal on the game's final play to give the Titans their only lead of the game and the victory.

The Chiefs surrendered first place in the AFC West to the Oakland Raiders (11-3) with the loss, and the Raiders responded to that break with a hard-fought 19-16 road victory over the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders clinched a playoff spot with the win while the Chiefs are in the AFC's No. 1 wild-card spot. 

The Raiders will win the AFC West if they can close out the season with wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Broncos, no matter how the Chiefs finish. However, if the two teams finish with the same record, the Chiefs will take first place because they swept the season series against the Raiders.

Tennessee remained tied with the Houston Texans (8-6) for first place in the AFC South. While the Texans have the current tiebreaker edge since they beat the Titans earlier this season, those two teams will close the season with a showdown at Tennessee. The winner has the inside track on the AFC South title.

The Texans and the Indianapolis Colts (7-7) were both victorious in Week 15. The Texans benched starting quarterback Brock Osweiler and came from behind to beat the Jaguars, while the Colts pulled out a dominant 34-6 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

John Grieshop/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) registered a come-from-behind 24-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, and they have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (8-6). Those two teams will meet in Pittsburgh in Week 16, and the Steelers will clinch the division if they win that game.

The Ravens would move back into first place if they win in Pittsburgh, because that would give them a 2-0 record against the Steelers this season.

The Miami Dolphins (9-5) are currently holding onto the No. 2 wild-card spot in the AFC. They defeated the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Saturday night, and they close the season with games against the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots.

The Broncos loss to New England knocked them out of the playoff structure, but they could regain a playoff position if they can move ahead of the Dolphins in the final two weeks.