NFL Playoff Picture 2016: Dissecting AFC, NFC Scenarios Before Final Games

The final day of the NFL regular season brings with it as much drama, intensity and passion as any Hollywood entertainment. 

Heading into Week 17, 10 of the 12 playoff teams have been decided, with the final two playoff spots open in the AFC. The only thing that can be said with any certainty at this point is the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals have clinched byes for the wild-card games. 

Seeding is still up for grabs for 11 playoff teams, so don't expect to see many stars sitting on the sidelines on Sunday with so much at stake. 

Playoff Seeding

Brad Penner/Associated Press

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have the inside track on the top two seeds in the AFC. The Patriots would lock up the top spot with a win over the Miami Dolphins, but a loss would force them to root for the San Diego Chargers against the Broncos. 

The Broncos must win and have New England lose if they want the No. 1 seed. The Cincinnati Bengals can't get it, though they still have a chance at a bye with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens and a Broncos loss. 

However, the Broncos can fall all the way down to the No. 5 seed with a loss because the Kansas City Chiefs still have a shot at winning the AFC West with a victory over the Oakland Raiders and a Broncos loss.

Things are much more clear in the NFC, which is to say there are three teams that at least know when and where they will be playing. The Cardinals and Panthers can't be knocked out of the top two spots, though Arizona still has a shot at the No. 1 seed with a win over the Seattle Seahawks and a Carolina loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Washington is locked into the No. 4 seed after winning the NFC West. It will be hosting a playoff game on Wild Card Weekend, though the opponent could one of three teams. The Seahawks will be the No. 5 seed if they win and the Green Bay Packers defeat the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings-Packers game is also for the NFC North title, which will determine the No. 3 seed. A Packers win in Week 17 will set up a wild-card rematch between the two teams that would also be played at Lambeau Field. 

Teams That Can Clinch Playoff Berth

Brad Penner/Associated Press

The New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are the four teams still fighting to lock up a playoff berth. 

The Jets and Texans have the simplest path because all they have to do is win their respective games against the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jets already got an advantage heading into their game against the Bills with running back LeSean McCoy ruled out with a knee injury, according to SportsCenter.

Rich Cimini of ESPN did issue a warning to the Jets about being overconfident in this situation, even bringing up the team they are competing against for that final wild-card spot as a cautionary tale:

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This is a dangerous spot for the Jets, because even when there's every reason to believe something will happen, sometimes it doesn't, and it can't be explained. Did anybody think the moribund Baltimore Ravens would upset the surging Pittsburgh Steelers last week? That shocker certainly resonated with Todd Bowles.

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The Steelers are going to be beating themselves up all offseason if they get left in the cold. They had the inside track for a wild-card spot with the Ravens and Cleveland Browns, who have a combined record of 8-22 this season, as their last two opponents.

Yet somehow, some way, the Ravens were able to hold Pittsburgh's vaunted offense to just 17 points in Week 16, marking the first time since Nov. 1 the Steelers didn't score at least 30 points. 

There's no reason to think the Steelers won't beat the Browns on Sunday, but the Jets have found something that's working after reeling off five straight wins entering Week 17. 

New York's wide receiver tandem of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker has certainly been part of the team's rise, with NFL.com's Alex Gelhar noting the pair set a new NFL record in Week 16:

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has found a rhythm, throwing for 13 touchdowns and one interception during this five-game winning streak. 

Given how the Jets are playing, there's no reason to think they will experience a let down in a must-win situation. Bills head coach Rex Ryan will want revenge on his former team, but they just don't have the offensive firepower to score enough in this game.

The AFC South is a mess the Texans have at least helped look better by getting over .500 with back-to-back wins over the Colts and Tennessee Titans. Brian Hoyer isn't going to make opposing defenses nervous, but he's been efficient with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions this year. 

Honestly, though, the Texans are going to win the AFC South because the Colts are out of bodies to play at quarterback. They are without Andrew Luck and Matt Hasselbeck on Sunday against the Titans, so they had to sign Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley off the scrapheap. 

The Titans won't have Marcus Mariota, giving the Colts hope, but they still need to win and hope the Jaguars can end the season on a high note against the Texans after losing four of their last five games.