NFC Playoff Picture 2014: Latest Outlook, Postseason Scenarios Ahead of Week 17

In just one week, the entire NFC playoff picture has completely shifted.

Wins for the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions have them firmly entrenched in the No. 1 and 2 spots heading into the final weekend. However, the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals all have 11-4 records prior to Week 17.

The Lions and Packers will face off for the division crown in the North, while the Seahawks simply need a victory over the St. Louis Rams to stave off the Cardinals. Meanwhile, the NFC South will come to a merciful end when the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers battle to decide a winner in the lowly division.

Before the final slate of games kicks off, here's a look at the full playoff picture and breakdown of the NFC scenarios.

Week 17 NFC Scenarios

Cowboys clinch home-field advantage throughout NFC with:

1. Dallas win + loss or tie by Arizona vs. San Francisco + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie OR
2. Dallas win + win by Seattle vs. St. Louis + Detroit vs. Green Bay  tie

Cowboys clinch first-round bye with:

1. Dallas win + loss or tie by both Seattle and Arizona OR
2. Dallas win + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie OR
3. Seattle and Arizona both lose OR
4. Dallas and Seattle both tie + Arizona loses or ties + Detroit vs. Green Bay does not end in a tie

Lions clinch NFC North with:

1. Lions win or tie

Lions clinch home field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1. Lions win + Seattle loss or tie + Arizona loss or tie OR
2. Detroit tie + losses by both Seattle and Arizona + Dallas loses or ties

Lions clinch first-round bye with:

1. Detroit win OR
2. Detroit tie + Dallas loss or tie OR
3. Detroit tie + both Arizona and Seattle lose

Packers Clinch NFC North and first-round bye with:

1. Green Bay win

Packers clinch home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1. Green Bay win + loss or tie by Seattle

Seahawks clinch NFC West with:

1. Seattle win OR
2. Seattle tie + loss or tie by Arizona OR
3. Arizona loss

Seahawks clinch home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1. Seattle win + Detroit vs. Green Bay does not end in tie OR
2. Seattle win + Dallas loss or tie OR
3. Seattle tie + losses or ties by both Arizona and Dallas + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie

Seahawks clinch first-round bye with:

1. Seattle win OR
2. Seattle tie + Arizona loss or tie + Dallas loss OR
3. Seattle tie + Arizona loss or tie + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie

Cardinals clinch NFC West with:

1. Arizona win + Seattle loss or tie OR
2. Arizona tie + Seattle loss

Cardinals clinch home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1. Arizona win + Seattle and Green Bay both lose or tie OR
2. Arizona tie + Seattle loss + Dallas loss or tie + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie

Cardinals clinch first-round bye with:

1. Arizona win + Seattle loss or tie OR
2. Arizona tie + Seattle loss + Dallas loss or tie OR
3. Arizona tie + Seattle loss + Detroit vs. Green Bay tie

Panthers clinch NFC South with:

1. Carolina win or tie vs. Atlanta

Falcons clinch NFC South with:

1. Atlanta win

NFC Playoff Analysis

Try as they might, the NFC South simply can't miss out on the playoffs. The entire division has been a dumpster fire this year—I live in North Carolina, so I can say that—but still has at least one berth into the tournament.

Carolina and Atlanta know the stakes as a win for either would secure a spot in the Wild Card Round and a home playoff game. The Falcons took down the Panthers earlier this season and currently stand at 5-0 in the division after sweeping the New Orleans Saints in Week 16.

Interestingly enough, either team that makes the playoffs will likely face another team that has struggled down the stretch. Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer points out what might be on tap for the NFC South winner:

Let's just say that the showdown in the South isn't exactly high on the list of huge games this weekend. It will decide a division, but it will also clinch at least one team with a losing record playing in January.

In the NFC West, the Seahawks completely turned the tables on the Cardinals in Week 16 and have a chance to clinch the top seed on Sunday. One of the biggest reasons for their turnaround has been the play of Russell Wilson and the Legion of Boom.

Wilson has been a catalyst for the Seahawks offense, accounting for a total of nine touchdowns to just one interception during the five-game winning streak. Rich Gannon of CBS Sports offered his take on Seattle's signal-caller:

Up in the North, there will be another all-out brawl for the division between the Packers and Lions. Unlike last year, when Green Bay and the Chicago Bears faced off, this time both teams are already promised a spot in January.

The Packers were able to lock things up last year and have the tools to get the job done again with Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy and a lethal receiving corps. Already going through the process last season, Mike McCarthy noted what goes into winning a crucial finale, via the Packers' official account:

On the other side of the ball stands Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and a stout defense that ranks second in points against (16.8) this season. Detroit dismantled Green Bay earlier in the year, 19-7, but both come in as completely different teams.

Regardless of the results on Sunday, the entire day promises to be captivating for NFL fans. When the picture is finally in focus, the NFC will have myriad teams with the potential to claim a Super Bowl for the third time in the last four years.

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