NFL Week 17: What We Learned from the Season's Final Day

The NFL regular season has drawn to a close, which means no more spending Sunday glued to your television set watching games all day long. But that's OK! Because now the intensity is geared up to another level, as it's win-or-go-home time for the remaining 12 teams.

With the playoffs starting this coming weekend, it's only natural we take a look back at what was learned over the final weekend of the regular season and how that could shake up the playoffs.

1. Division winners might not be the winners at all.

For most teams, winning the division is a celebrated feat, one that typically leads to an easier road to the Super Bowl.

But for the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, the division crown might have resulted in a more difficult path through the playoffs.

Denver had three potential playoff seeds entering its game on Sunday afternoon, and thanks to a New England Patriots loss in Miami, the Broncos were able to take the No. 1 overall seed with a sloppy win over the San Diego Chargers.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The No. 1 seed and a first-round bye don't sound bad at all, but the matchups looming after that bye are reason for concern.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers beat AJ McCarron and the Cincinnati Bengals once again, they will head to Denver and look to pull off exactly what they did just a few weeks ago.

The bevy of weapons at Ben Roethlisberger's disposal makes the Steelers a nightmare to prepare for, especially when trying to figure out a way to stop one of the league's best wide receivers in Antonio Brown.

The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, won their 10th straight game on Sunday, which earned them the fifth playoff seed and a wild-card berth, as they finished one game behind the Broncos.

As a wild card in the playoffs, the Chiefs must first head to Houston on Saturday to take on a Texans team that ranks 19th in the NFL in total offense, compared to the Steelers offense that ranks third in the same category.

Brian Hoyer is a much less imposing quarterback than Roethlisberger, as well, as he's never even taken a snap in the postseason.

No win is guaranteed, but the Chiefs appear to have a good chance at knocking off the AFC South's division champ, which would then set them up with a trip to New England.

That trip to New England during the playoffs is never a welcome sight, but this could be the ideal time to try and pull off an upset.

After the Patriots' uninspiring loss to end the season on Sunday, New England fell to 2-4 over the final six weeks of the regular season.

Much of that can be attributed to injuries, some of which are sure to heal up over this week's bye. However, if anyone can come up with a game plan to defeat the injury-ridden Pats, it's Kansas City's Andy Reid.

Pulling out a road win against Tom Brady won't be easy, but it certainly seems doable after the Patriots struggled to close out the regular season.

The Minnesota Vikings came out on top against their bitter rival, the Green Bay Packers, to end Sunday's action, yet their celebration will come to an end shortly, as they now must prepare for the two-time defending NFC champions, the Seattle Seahawks, in the first round of the NFC playoffs.

Minnesota has surprised many people this year, but drawing Pete Carroll's bunch in the first round hardly seems like a reward for its success.

The Seahawks enter the playoffs as winners of six of their last seven games, including an absolute destruction of the 13-3 Arizona Cardinals to end the regular season.

Russell Wilson is throwing the ball better than ever, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com, and Marshawn Lynch's potential return only adds another element to this dangerous offense.

To make matters even worse, the Vikings were demolished by the Seahawks at home just one month ago, so that could weigh heavily on Minnesota as it looks for answers this week.

Green Bay, by virtue of its loss to the Vikings, draws the Washington Redskins in the opening round, a 9-7 team led by a quarterback with only 10 career postseason pass attempts.

Aaron Rodgers holds the experience and talent edge in this playoff matchup, which could result in the NFC North's second-best team getting an easier path to the second round than divisional champ Minnesota.

With all due respect to Washington and Kirk Cousins, a 9-7 division winner is not nearly as worrisome as a 10-6 defending NFC champion.

While the Packers haven't been the same dominant offense as in years past, their playoff experience could heavily factor into Sunday's first-round result.

Winning your division in the NFL is never a bad thing, but for Minnesota and Denver, it just means a more difficult road to success. However, this league is full of surprises, so there are no guarantees once everyone takes the field this weekend.

2. New England could be in some trouble.

I understand it isn't wise to doubt the almighty Bill Belichick, especially in the playoffs, but the Patriots have not been themselves in recent weeks.

New England looked completely out of sorts against Miami on Sunday, racking up just 196 yards of offense despite Tom Brady playing a majority of the game. Miami's defense was the eighth-worst in terms of yards allowed per game, making the Patriots' struggles even more worrisome.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

In the second half of the season, New England broke the 30-point barrier just once, against the lowly Tennessee Titans.

While this isn't the most ideal way to measure a team's offensive efficiency, it does put into perspective how unimpressive the Patriots have been on that side of the ball, especially when compared to their usual greatness.

As long as Brady is under center in New England, the Patriots will always have a chance, but even he will be battling late-season injuries when the playoffs begin.

With a possible matchup against Cincinnati, Kansas City or Houston in the second round looming, New England will need to be closer to full strength against such imposing defenses.

Injuries to the receiving corps have been especially tough to overcome, with Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman all ailing throughout the year.

The Patriots appear to be limping into the playoffs (both literally and figuratively) more than any other team, but it is unwise to doubt the defending Super Bowl champions.

If there is any team in the NFL that isn't worried about playoff seeding and where it has to play, it's the New England Patriots. If they're able to get back to full strength,  their AFC foes will be on high alert.

If not, it could be a very quick playoff exit for the AFC's No. 2 seed.

3. Seattle is back to being one of the NFC's best.

Remember six weeks into the season when the Seahawks were 2-4 and it seemed like the sky was falling in Seattle? If not, it's OK because neither do they.

Since that slow start to open the season, the Seahawks have gone 8-2 and averaged 28.9 points per game.

For the season, they rank fourth in offensive yards per game while allowing the second fewest yards to opposing offenses. Seattle was one of only two teams (Arizona) that was able to finish in the top five on both sides of the ball.

The scariest part? Seattle just dominated those same Cardinals 36-6 on the road to finish the regular season on an extremely high note.

As of right now, the NFC runs through Carolina, and rightfully so. But even at 15-1, the Panthers have to be worried about this Seattle team that has appeared in two consecutive Super Bowls and seems poised to make it three in a row.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

Despite being the sixth seed in the NFC, Seattle should not be looked at as an underdog throughout the playoffs, writes Victor Mather of the New York Times.

In the end, predictions are only predictions, and success in the playoffs is never guaranteed in the NFL.

All that can be guaranteed is that football fans are due for some of the most hard-fought and competitive games this weekend, as teams will lay it all on the line for a chance at the Super Bowl.

This year seems as wide open as ever before, so it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy as the action unfolds on Saturday and Sunday.