NFL Playoffs 2016: Projecting AFC, NFC Bracket Before Final Games

The NFL's playoff picture will gain clarity once and for all in Week 17, but there is still plenty left to be settled in the final week of the regular season.

Any number of different combinations can play out with regard to the Wild Card Weekend schedule, and there is no shortage of intrigue surrounding the potential matchups, as many look to be extremely even on paper.

One or two surprising results in Week 17 could throw the wild-card picture for a loop, but here is a look at the projected brackets for both the AFC and NFC, as well as a breakdown of four wild-card clashes that may very well take place next weekend.

Projected AFC Bracket

Seed	Team	W	L
1	New England Patriots	13	3
2	Denver Broncos	12	4
3	Cincinnati Bengals	12	4
4	Houston Texans	8	8
5	Kansas City Chiefs	11	5
6	Pittsburgh Steelers	10	6

Projected NFC Bracket

Seed	Team	W	L
1	Carolina Panthers	15	1
2	Arizona Cardinals	14	2
3	Green Bay Packers	11	5
4	Washington Redskins	9	7
5	Minnesota Vikings	10	6
6	Seattle Seahawks	9	7

Projected Wild Card Weekend Matchups

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

There is no love lost between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, and if things break the right way, then they could meet for the third time this season in the first round of the playoffs.

Cincinnati is already locked in as the AFC North champion, while Pittsburgh needs some help in the form of a win over the Cleveland Browns coupled with a New York Jets loss to the Buffalo Bills. If those things happen, then fans will be treated to what promises to be a heated battle.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Bengals cornerback Pacman Jones made some disparaging remarks regarding the Steelers after a Week 14 loss in an Instagram video that was later deleted.

Steelers offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert countered with a series of tweets that were eventually deleted, including one that poked fun at Cincinnati for its lack of playoff success in recent years, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk: "All I want for Christmas is the Bengals. Would love to see them in the playoffs where they choke. The talking is done between the lines."

If the Steelers do face the Bengals, they may have the benefit of Cincinnati being without quarterback Andy Dalton, who has not played since leaving that Week 14 loss to the Steelers with a thumb injury.

That means Pittsburgh may go up against inexperienced signal-caller AJ McCarron, which could potentially make the Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the favorites to progress despite playing on the road.

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

While every team wants to finish as high as possible in the standings, getting a wild-card berth rather than winning the AFC West title could prove to be a major coup for the Kansas City Chiefs.

If the Denver Broncos win or if KC loses Sunday, the Chiefs will be on the road in the first week of the playoffs. Provided they net the fourth seed, though, they will have an extremely advantageous matchup against the winner of the AFC South.

The Indianapolis Colts have the slightest of chances to get in, but they need a win, a Houston Texans loss and several other results to go their way, which is why Houston will almost certainly find itself in the No. 4 spot.

Kansas City will likely be favored in that situation, but things are looking up for Houston, as quarterback Brian Hoyer is set to return from a concussion, according to ESPN's Tania Ganguli.

"I feel great," Hoyer said. "No reservations or anything like that. I'm ready to go play and play like I always do."

Hoyer's return is a welcome sight for a Texans team that has cycled through a number of quarterbacks in his absence, but even that may not be enough to get past the Chiefs.

In addition to riding a nine-game winning streak, KC may be on the verge of getting superstar pass-rusher Justin Houston back in the lineup, per NFL Network's Albert Breer.

Houston hasn't played since Nov. 29 because of a knee injury, and getting him back would be huge for a Chiefs defense that is seemingly already firing on all cylinders.

Kansas City is on an absolute roll right now, and it is a team the Texans—or any other for that matter—likely don't want to see in the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers

The Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers have developed a fairly intense rivalry in recent years, and it could continue in the Wild Card Round.

If the Pack beat the Minnesota Vikings at home in Week 17 to clinch the NFC North and the No. 3 seed and the Seahawks lose on the road to the red-hot Arizona Cardinals, then a rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game will be on tap.

While playing at Lambeau Field in January isn't necessarily ideal, it could be a good matchup for Seattle considering Green Bay's recent struggles.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was constantly under siege in a 38-8 loss to the Cards in Week 16, which has become a disturbing trend, according to ESPN's Ed Werder:

A lack of protection has prevented Rodgers from having a customary monster year statistically, but the likely future Hall of Famer isn't concerned with that, per Mike Spofford of the official Packers site:

"

We've accomplished a lot. The individual stuff, I've kind of been there, done that. I've had those types of years you can be really proud of. This year I'm very proud of as well. I'm proud of the way we've competed and I'm proud of the way we've kept it together through adversity and through the ups and downs of everything that's come at us this year. At this point, it's all about winning games and making a run in the playoffs.

"

Conversely, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is on a tear, and he may have the benefit of running back Marshawn Lynch's services during the Wild Card Round if head coach Pete Carroll's estimation is correct, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times:

"

The latest update today is that he's doing really well and he's done about all he can do at that end of it. So it's great to hear. We'll see what that means here in the next couple of days. But he's really tried to get back as soon as possible. He's having the kind of success in the workouts not setting him back.

"

Lynch's return would be huge for Seattle in terms of adding some balance to the offense, although Green Bay did beat the Seahawks earlier in the season with Lynch in the lineup.

Even so, Seattle looks like the more complete and dangerous team, which would give it a great chance to come through on the road.

Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

In what would arguably be the least expected playoff game should it happen, the NFC East champion Washington Redskins are in line to host the Minnesota Vikings, providing the Vikes do not win the NFC North.

Washington was the one team few gave a chance to win the wide-open NFC East, while many were lukewarm on Minnesota's playoff prospects because of the youth of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and uncertainty surrounding running back Adrian Peterson.

Both teams have defied the odds, and one of them could be among the final four teams remaining in the hunt for a Super Bowl berth in the NFC.

Based on the way Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has been playing lately, Washington may be favored. As pointed out by ESPN's Matthew Berry, the former Michigan State standout has performed at an elite level in the second half of the season:

Minnesota has a superior defense and running game, but Washington has a ton of momentum, and quarterbacks tend to rule the day in the playoffs.

Few predicted the Redskins would win a playoff game this season, but a matchup with Minnesota would give them a golden opportunity to do precisely that.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.