NFL Playoff Picture 2016: Week 17 Scenarios, Standings and Predictions

The New York Jets (10-5) have done everything right for the last five weeks, but if they don't come through on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, their opportunity to play postseason football could go right down the drain.

It will not be an easy game for rookie head coach Todd Bowles and his team. The Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills earlier this season, and they were routed by the Bills in two games last year. The Bills are coached by former Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who was given a vote of confidence on Thursday by owner Terry Pegula, relayed by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

"

#Bills owner Terry Pegula: “Kim, Russ & I look forward to working with Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan in forming a winning future."

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2015"

The Jets go into the final week of the season with a one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) for the second wild-card spot in the AFC. While the Jets have to go on the road and beat an up-and-down Buffalo team to assure themselves of the playoffs, the Steelers need to go on the road and beat the Cleveland Browns and hope the Jets come out of their game in Buffalo with a loss.

If that happens, the Steelers will get that final playoff spot and the Jets will miss out.

Team	Week 17 opponent	Predicted result	Playoff Position	Skinny
New England	at Miami	Win	No. 1 seed	Win AFC championship
Denver	vs. San Diego	Win	No. 2 seed	Lose in Divisional Playoff game to Kansas City
Cincinnati	vs. Baltimore	Win	No. 3 seed	Lose in wild-card round to N.Y. Jets
Houston	vs. Jacksonville	Win	No. 4 seed	Lose in wild-card round to Kansas City
Kansas City	vs. Oakland	Win	No. 5 seed	Lose in AFC Championship game at New England
N.Y. Jets	at Buffalo	Win	No. 6 seed	Lose in Divisional Playoff game at New England
Pittsburgh	at Cleveland	Win	Out of playoffs	Week 16 loss at Baltimore will haunt them
Indianapolis	vs. Tennessee	Win	Out of playoffs	Look for Colts to clean out coaching staff

That is the only playoff spot that is legitimately up for grabs going into the final weekend. The Indianapolis Colts (7-8) have a slight chance of taking the AFC South division title away from the Houston Texans (8-7), but for that to happen, the Colts would have to beat the Tennessee Titans and the Texans would have to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Those are just the first two steps. The Colts would also need seven other Week 17 games to go their way to get into the playoffs at the Texans' expense, as demonstrated by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

While all six spots in the NFC side have been decided and four AFC spots are locked up, there is room for plenty of movement in the standings, and that will have an impact on matchups in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Team	Week 17 opponent	Predicted result	Playoff position	Skinny
Carolina	vs. Tampa Bay	Win	No. 1 seed	Lose to Seattle in Divisional Playoff game
Arizona	vs. Seattle	Win	No. 2 seed	Win NFC Championshp
Green Bay	vs. Minnesota	Loss	No. 5 seed	Lose at Arizona in Division Playoff game
Washington	at Dallas	Win	No. 4 seed	Lose to Green Bay in wild-card game
Minnesota	at Green Bay	Win	No. 3 seed	Lose to Seatte in wild-card game
Seattle	at Arizona	Loss	No. 6 seed	Lose at Arizona in NFC Championship game

The most significant game in the NFC will take place in Lambeau Field, where the Green Bay Packers (10-5) will host the Minnesota Vikings (10-5) on Sunday night. The winner of that game will clinch the NFC North division, and the loser will remain in the playoffs as a wild-card team.

The Packers would secure the No. 5 seed if they lose, but the Vikings would take the No. 5 or 6 seed if they lose. The Seattle Seahawks (9-6) have the other wild-card spot, and the Packers have the tiebreaker edge over Seattle based on their head-to-head victory in Week 2. However, if Seattle and Minnesota end up with the same record, the Seahawks have the tiebreaker edge since they beat the Vikings in Week 13.

On the AFC side, the New England Patriots (12-3) will earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if they beat the Miami Dolphins in Florida. If they lose and the Denver Broncos (11-4) win at home against the San Diego Chargers, the Broncos can take the top seed on the AFC side.

However, the Broncos have not secured the AFC West crown yet. If they lose to the Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) beat the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead, the Chiefs will win the division. Kansas City is seeking its 10th win in a row.

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

The Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) may have problems in the playoffs if they don't get a major break and take the No. 2 seed and get a bye in the first round. They would need to beat the Ravens and have the Chargers upset the Broncos for that to happen.

The Bengals are not expected to have injured quarterback Andy Dalton back for the Wild Card Round. Cincinnati has not won a postseason game in the Marvin Lewis era, and it may be tough for the Bengals to get a victory this season if their star quarterback is not in the lineup.