NFL Playoff Picture Week 17: AFC, NFC Scenarios, Predictions for 2022 Postseason

The 2022-23 NFL playoff picture is filling up fast.

After Week 16, nine different teams have already punched their postseason tickets. Several of the remaining spots could be claimed during Week 17.

We'll start by laying out the latest standings, then dig into the clinching scenarios for the upcoming week before making a few playoff predictions.

Latest Standings, Playoff Picture

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers before the game against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Commanders 37-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

American Football Conference

AFC East

z-Buffalo Bills: 12-3-0

Miami Dolphins: 8-7-0

New England Patriots: 7-8-0

New York Jets: 7-8-0

AFC North

x-Cincinnati Bengals: 11-4-0

x-Baltimore Ravens: 10-5-0

Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-8-0

e-Cleveland Browns: 6-9-0

AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-8-0

Tennessee Titans: 7-8-0

e-Indianapolis Colts: 4-10-1

e-Houston Texans: 2-12-1

AFC West

z-Kansas City Chiefs: 12-3-0

y-Los Angeles Chargers: 9-6-0

Las Vegas Raiders: 6-9-0

e-Denver Broncos: 4-11-0

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National Football Conference

NFC East

x-Philadelphia Eagles: 13-2-0

x-Dallas Cowboys: 11-4-0

New York Giants: 8-6-1

Washington Commanders: 7-7-1

NFC North

z-Minnesota Vikings: 12-3-0

Detroit Lions: 7-8-0

Green Bay Packers: 7-8-0

e-Chicago Bears: 3-12-0

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8-0

Carolina Panthers: 6-9-0

New Orleans Saints: 6-9-0

e-Atlanta Falcons: 5-10-0

NFC West

z-San Francisco 49ers: 11-4-0

Seattle Seahawks: 7-8-0

e-Los Angeles Rams: 5-10-0

e-Arizona Cardinals: 4-11-0

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z-clinched division

y-clinched playoff berth

x-clinched wild card

e-eliminated from playoff contention

Clinching Scenarios for Week 17

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 25: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The AFC playoff bracket won't budge much during Week 17, but it can move in a few critical ways.

The Bills, for instance, can lock up the No. 1 seed with a win and a Chiefs loss. The Bengals, meanwhile, can secure the AFC North division title with a win and a Ravens loss or tie. If both Cincinnati and Baltimore tie, that would get the job done for Cincy as well.

Finally, the Dolphins are the only AFC team that can clinch a playoff spot this weekend. If the Dolphins win and the Jets lose or tie, then Miami is in. The Dolphins could also get there with a tie coupled with a Jets tie and a Steelers loss or tie.

The NFC has more at stake.

The Eagles can clinch both the NFC East division and the NFC's top seed with a win. A Cowboys loss or tie would also give Philly the division crown. The Eagles could also get that No. 1 seed with a tie and a Vikings loss or tie, while an alternate path would include a Vikings loss plus losses or ties by both the Cowboys and 49ers.

If the Buccaneers beat the Panthers at home, the NFC South is theirs. If not, the division champ won't be crowned until the campaign's final week.

The Giants, meanwhile, can secure their playoff spot with a home win over the Colts. If New York doesn't win that game, though, it still has six other ways in which it can punch a playoff ticket.

Lastly, the Commanders will officially be playoff participants with a home win against the Browns and some help: a Seahawks loss, a Lions loss and a Packers loss or tie.

Postseason Predictions

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 24: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Bills will win the AFC

No, this isn't the boldest prediction you'll find, but boldness is overrated. Accuracy trumps it, at least.

Buffalo is playing great football, having won six consecutive contests. It has the NFL's best point differential at plus-157. The Bills are also the league's only team sitting top-five in scoring offense (28 points per game, fourth) and scoring defense (17.5, second).

The 49ers will win the NFC

Again, the key here is not overthinking things.

The 49ers have won eight straight games. That's not merely the NFL's longest active winning streak, it's also five games better than the NFC's next-hottest team, the Packers, winners of three straight.

Rookie seventh-rounder Brock Purdy must continue proving himself, but at this point, it's growing increasingly difficult to doubt this summer's Mr. Irrelevant. Surrounded by perhaps the league's best group of offensive playmakers and backed by the league's stingiest defense, Purdy doesn't have to do too much for this group to be great.

San Francisco will win the Super Bowl

As good as Purdy has been so far, he's not Josh Allen. That's not a knock on the rookie signal-caller but rather a reflection of Allen's dominance. This is already his third consecutive campaign with better than 30 touchdown passes and 4,000 passing yards, and, as per usual, he's also adding ample value with his legs, rushing for 746 yards and another seven scores.

Normally, in today's NFL, it makes sense to side with the team that has the superior option at quarterback, yet a San Francisco-Buffalo championship collision might be an exception to that rule. The 49ers simply hold enough advantages elsewhere to succeed even without winning the quarterback battle.