NFL Playoff Scenarios: Projecting Seeds and Postseason Matchups

With Week 16 almost in the books, it's time to start looking at who's going to soar into the playoffs and whose season is going to end early.

Week 16 of the NFL season was just as wild and unpredictable as it has been all season.

The New York Giants, after getting beat up by the Washington Redskins in Week 15, destroyed the New York Jets and completely changed the playoff picture.

Tim Tebow's Denver Broncos got manhandled by the Buffalo Bills, keeping their postseason hopes in check.

And the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers were dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, respectively.

Did I mention the Houston Texans lost to the Indianapolis Colts?

There's still quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the playoff picture, but here are my projected seedings and postseason matchups.

Note: I have the Patriots and Ravens capturing the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the AFC, respectively, as the Packers and 49ers capture the top two seeds in the NFC.

AFC Wild Card Round: No. 3 Texans vs. No. 6 Raiders

The Houston Texans have locked up the third seed after clinching the AFC South en route to a 10-5 record.

I see them remaining with the No. 3 seed after the No. 2 Baltimore Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 and finish with a 12-4 record.

As for the Oakland Raiders, I see them capturing the No. 6 seed. In Week 17, I expect the Raiders to beat the San Diego Chargers, the Denver Broncos to beat the Kansas City Chiefs and capture the AFC West, the Bengals to lose to the Ravens and the Tennessee Titans to lose to the Houston Texans.

That would give the Raiders the final wildcard spot in the AFC.

AFC Wild Card Round: No. 4 Broncos vs. No. 5 Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already locked up the No. 5 seed in the AFC, and after the Ravens beat the Bengals in Week 17, I see the Steelers remaining here.

After the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs and capture the AFC West, they'll grab the No. 4 spot in the AFC and gear up for a wildcard matchup with the defending AFC champions in Denver.

NFC Wild Card Round: No. 3 Saints vs. No. 6 Lions

I expect the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

That would clinch the NFC South and lock up at least the No. 3 seed.

Given I see the San Francisco 49ers beating the St. Louis Rams to end the season, I'm giving the 49ers the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

As for the Detroit Lions...after their win over the San Diego Chargers on Saturday, even if they lose to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, they will at least lock up the No. 6 seed in the NFC.

If the Falcons lose their remaining two games, the Lions will grab the No. 5 seed, even with a loss to the Packers.

NFC Wild Card Round: No. 4 Giants vs. No. 5 Falcons

I admit, I've flip-flopped regarding the NFC East champion this season more than I probably ever have in my life...and that includes outside of sports writing.

But the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have been so inconsistent, you really have no idea what they're going to do next.

At this point, after the Giants destroyed the New York Jets and the Cowboys lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, I'm giving the NFC East to the Giants. I expect them to beat the Cowboys at home in Week 17, thus putting an end to this madness.

As for the Falcons, I see them capturing the No. 5 seed by losing to the Saints in Week 16 and beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.