NFL Playoff Scenarios 2014-15: AFC, NFC Week 17 Picture, Postseason Predictions
Only four teams were assured of playoff berths entering Week 16. Well, that sure changed quickly.
Following Sunday's action, a total of nine teams have secured passage into January, leaving only three spots up for grabs. However, as the postseason positions were filled, teams began to drop out of contention. There was a total of 17 playoff hopefuls before Week 16, but we're down to just seven.
Monday night's game between the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals could make things even slimmer on the AFC side. A win by Denver would lock up the other available first-round bye, and a Cincinnati victory would secure one of the conference's two remaining playoff spots.
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So, after all of the madness that ensued on a busy NFL Sunday, here's the burning question: What are the clinching scenarios for the regular season's final week? Before we delve into that realm, let's first take a peek at the updated playoff picture.
Updated Playoff Picture
Week 17 Clinching Scenarios
New England Patriots
It's really pretty easy for the Patriots. One more victory will assure them of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This team is 7-0 at Gillette Stadium in 2014, and finishing the regular season with a blemish-free record at home would keep them in Foxborough for the foreseeable future.
Due to owning a tiebreaker over the Broncos on a head-to-head win, a Denver loss would also clinch home field for New England.
Denver Broncos
Denver still has a clinching scenario remaining in Week 16 since it has yet to play. If the Broncos beat the Bengals, they get a first-round bye. That would give them just one way to claim home-field advantage in Week 17—a win and a Patriots loss.
If Denver loses to Cincinnati, it will still be able to clinch a first-round bye with a win in the final week.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are the only other team that has yet to play in Week 16. Cincinnati can punch its ticket to the postseason with a win over the Broncos on Monday Night Football, but it must defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 to obtain the AFC North and play at least one playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium.
Losing the last two games could be a death sentence for this team, as it can still miss out on the playoffs entirely.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh's only scenario in Week 17 is to unseat the Bengals for the AFC North crown. A victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 clinched a playoff spot for the Steelers, so improving their position in the AFC's postseason picture is the team's only option now.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers made a miraculous comeback against the San Francisco 49ers to keep their playoff hopes alive. Once the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Houston Texans, San Diego catapulted into the No. 6 seed heading into Week 17. Now, all the team needs is a victory over Kansas City to maintain that position.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore needs help to get back into the playoff picture. At 9-6, the Ravens need a Week 17 victory over the Cleveland Browns and a loss by the Chargers to jump back into the playoff picture. Two consecutive losses by the Bengals would also punch Baltimore's ticket if it wins in the season's final week.
Houston Texans
After defeating Baltimore, the Texans are just barely alive. They must defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars and also need both the Chargers and Ravens to lose to gain entry into the postseason. It's a slim possibility, but there's a chance.
Kansas City Chiefs
Since the Chiefs play the Chargers in Week 17, they still have a shot to clinch a playoff spot. If they defeat San Diego, they'd be doing both Baltimore and Houston a big favor; however, if both of those teams also lose, then Kansas City would jump into the No. 6 seed.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle already clinched a playoff berth before even playing in Week 16, thanks to a loss by the Philadelphia Eagles and a win by the Dallas Cowboys. However, a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night propelled the Seahawks to the top of the NFC West.
In Week 17, a win over the St. Louis Rams or a Cardinals loss would give Seattle the division crown. However, there's plenty more at stake for this team.
If Seattle wins, it not only gets a first-round bye, but it clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That's a pretty scary thought considering how dangerous this team can be at CenturyLink Field.
Detroit Lions
The Lions will take the NFC North with a Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers. That victory will also clinch a first-round bye, and, should Seattle fall to St. Louis, it would also give Detroit home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas already won the NFC East, but at 11-4, it can still improve its position in the NFC's playoff picture. The Cowboys can't earn home-field advantage due to both NFC North teams owning a tiebreaker over them, but if both Seattle and Arizona lose, they will move into the No. 2 seed and earn a first-round bye.
Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons
The winner of this Week 17 matchup clinches the NFC South and enters the playoffs as the NFC's No. 4 seed.
Green Bay Packers
A win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned the Packers a playoff berth, but they can still win the NFC North with a victory over the Lions in Week 17.
The win will also come with a first-round bye, and Green Bay could even get home-field advantage with a win and a loss by the Seahawks. Judging by how impeccable Aaron Rodgers has been at Lambeau Field this season, the rest of the NFC is probably hoping that doesn't happen.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, and a loss would keep them as the NFC's No. 6 seed. However, if they win, they could take back the NFC West along with a Seahawks loss.
That scenario would also propel the Cardinals into a first-round bye, as they own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cowboys. Since Arizona also owns a head-to-head tiebreaker over Detroit, a Lions loss would move the Cardinals into the No. 5 seed.
Postseason Predictions
| 1 | New England Patriots (13-3) | 1 | Seattle Seahawks (12-4) |
| 2 | Denver Broncos (13-3) | 2 | Green Bay Packers (12-4) |
| 3 | Indianapolis Colts (11-5) | 3 | Dallas Cowboys (12-4) |
| 4 | Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) | 4 | Atlanta Falcons (7-9) |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) | 5 | Arizona Cardinals (11-5) |
| 6 | San Diego Chargers (10-6) | 6 | Detroit Lions (11-5) |
All playoff scenarios courtesy of CBSSports.com and ESPN.com and current as of December 22 at 1:30 a.m. ET.
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