NFL Playoff Picture Week 17: Examining AFC, NFC Scenarios Before Sunday's Action

Ten teams have clinched playoff berths prior to Week 17, but very few postseason seeds have been solidified. In fact, Sunday features 10 games that will have an impact on the final playoff picture.

There are currently two teams that will not move from their respective positions no matter the outcome of their impending contests. They are the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Win or lose, the Patriots will enter the postseason as the AFC's No. 1 seed, and the Colts will remain the No. 4 seed.

Every other team residing in the Week 17 playoff picture has some kind of clinching scenario.

So as we impatiently await the final reveal of who's in and who's out, let's take one final look at the full AFC and NFC scenarios before Sunday's kickoff.

Updated Playoff Picture

Week 17 Clinching Scenarios

AFC

AJ Mast/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos enter the week as the favorite to lock up a first-round bye. A victory over the Oakland Raiders is all the team needs to clinch the No. 2 seed. If the Broncos fall to the Raiders, they can still maintain their standing if the Cincinnati Bengals lose.

Cincinnati has secured a playoff berth, but a Week 17 clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers will determine who will be crowed the AFC North champion. A victory secures the No. 3 seed and could potentially move the Bengals into the No. 2 seed with a loss by Denver.

The Steelers will remain in the No. 5 spot unless they defeat the Bengals. A win gives them the division and catapults them into the No. 3 seed due to a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts.

Four teams are in the mix for the final wild-card spot. The San Diego Chargers control their own destiny, as a win over the Kansas City Chiefs would earn the No. 6 seed. If the Chargers lose, the Ravens can overtake them with a victory over the Cleveland Browns.

If both the Chargers and Ravens lose, the Houston Texans can get in with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Houston also loses, the Chiefs will clinch.

NFC

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Not a single spot has been secured in the NFC, which could lead to plenty of alterations in the conference's playoff pecking order.

The Seattle Seahawks enter Week 17 as the top seed and will remain there with a win against the St. Louis Rams. That victory will give Seattle the NFC West title and a first-round bye. A loss by the Arizona Cardinals would also give the Seahawks the division.

For Seattle to earn the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, it needs a victory and either a loss by the Dallas Cowboys or a win by either the Green Bay Packers or Detroit Lions (that game cannot end in a tie).

The Lions enter the final week of the regular season in the No. 2 seed, and they can stay there with a win over the Packers. That would secure Detroit the NFC North title and a first-round bye. If the Lions win and both the Seahawks and Cardinals lose, they would jump to the No. 1 seed and gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Dallas already has the NFC East locked up and cannot drop any lower than the No. 3 seed. If both Arizona and Seattle loses, the Cowboys would move into the No. 2 seed and obtain a first-round bye. Clinching home-field advantage is possible for Dallas, but it isn't likely, as the scenario includes a Packers-Lions tie.

The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers face off in Week 17 with a pretty straightforward scenario: A win by either team earns the NFC South and the No. 4 seed. The game's loser is sent packing.

Green Bay may currently hold the No. 5 seed, but it has plenty of room to maneuver. A victory over the Lions clinches the NFC North and a first-round bye. A win coupled with a loss by the Seahawks propels the Packers into the No. 1 seed and gives them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Cardinals currently hold the No. 6 seed, but they have room to move as well. A win over the San Francisco 49ers and a Seahawks loss gives Arizona the NFC West and a first-round bye. If the Packers also lose, the Cardinals would claim home-field advantage over the Lions due to a head-to-head tiebreaker.

All playoff scenarios courtesy of CBSSports.com and current as of December 27.