NFL Playoff Picture Week 17: AFC, NFC Scenarios Ahead of Sunday's Games

Heading into Week 17, much of the NFL playoff picture is unclear. Sunday's results should clear it up considerably, though.

Most impactfully, the Baltimore Ravens host the Miami Dolphins in a pivotal battle for the AFC's top seed. It's also possible that every single division except for the NFC East is clinched by the time Sunday's action is done, too.

But there are still plenty of undecided races.

Along with providing the Week 17 schedule, we've set the stage with updated scenarios for division and wild-card races.

NFL Week 17 Schedule

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Patrick Mahomes

Completed Games

Cleveland Browns 37, New York Jets 20
Dallas Cowboys 20, Detroit Lions 19

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Sunday's Slate

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
San Francisco 49ers at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m. ET

Current Playoff Standings

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Jalen Hurts

AFC Standings

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-3, clinched playoff berth)
2. Miami Dolphins (11-4, clinched playoff berth)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6, leading AFC West)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7, leading AFC South)
5. Cleveland Browns (11-5, clinched playoff berth)
6. Buffalo Bills (9-6)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

In the hunt: Houston Texans (8-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7), Cincinnati Bengals (8-7), Las Vegas Raiders (7-8), Denver Broncos (7-8)

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NFC Standings

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-4, clinched NFC West)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4, clinched playoff berth, leading NFC East)
3. Detroit Lions (11-5, clinched NFC North)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7, leading NFC South)
5. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, clinched playoff berth)
6. Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

In the hunt: Minnesota Vikings (7-8), Atlanta Falcons (7-8), Green Bay Packers (7-8), New Orleans Saints (7-8), Chicago Bears (6-9)

AFC Scenarios

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 24: Tua Tagovailoa #1 and the Miami Dolphins takes the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Hard Rock Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Big One in Baltimore

Oh, just a massive amount of storylines here. Not only would the Ravens seal the AFC North with a win over Miami, they'd lock in home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the postseason. On the other side, a victory for the Dolphins—or a Buffalo loss, which seems unlikely at New England—means Mike McDaniel's squad takes the AFC East.

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Potential Division Champions

Along with Miami's possibility of winning the East, both the AFC South and West could be wrapped up Sunday.

Despite losing four straight, games Jacksonville still has an opportunity to seal the AFC South with a victory plus losses from Indianapolis and Houston. Kansas City's simplest path is to beat Cincinnati but also would secure an eighth straight AFC West crown if both Las Vegas and Denver lose to Indianapolis and the LA Chargers.

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The Lone Wild Card

Thanks to Cleveland's win on Thursday, the Bills are the AFC's solo possible wild-card clincher on Sunday. Buffalo has five combinations with a victory (or nine with a tie). We'll focus on the wins: Losses by Pittsburgh and Cincinnati; losses by PIT and Jacksonville; losses by PIT, Houston and Indianapolis, losses by CIN and JAX; or losses by CIN/HOU/IND.

NFC Scenarios

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Baker Mayfield

Maybe the No. 1 Seed, San Francisco?

Detroit's loss at Dallas on Saturday checked off Part 1 of San Francisco's three-prong path to the NFC's top seed. Sunday, the 49ers lock in home-field advantage and that coveted first-round bye with a victory at Washington plus a Philadelphia loss to Arizona.

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Tampa's Win-and-In Showdown

Baker Mayfield's resurgent year has placed the Bucs in a fantastic spot: Win at home against rival New Orleans, and the NFC South belongs to Tampa for a third consecutive season. The bright side for the Buccaneers is, even with a loss, a victory at Carolina in Week 18 gets it done, too.

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Huge Wild-Card Weekend in NFC

Both the LA Rams and Seattle can clinch a wild-card berth with victories and if Sunday night's showdown between Green Bay and Minnesota ends in a tie. So, you know, not terribly likely. Still, if Los Angeles defeats the New York Giants, the Rams are postseason-bound. Seattle's lone scenario includes a win over Pittsburgh but hinges on a deadlock in Minnesota.