NFL Playoff Scenarios: 15 Remaining Games That Will Decide Seeds and Matchups
Every division is still up in the air in the NFL, something that we rarely see. Normally, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are 11-0 at this point in the season and running away with the AFC South.
Last year, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints had a safe lead in their division, as did Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.
This year, though, that's not the case. Every division is still up for grabs, meaning there will be a lot of games down the stretch that will be crucial for teams who consider themselves contenders.
Note: I'm only focusing on matchups from Week 12 to Week 16. The last week of the season (Week 17) is full of division matchups, nearly all of which will impact division races. These are the games before Week 17 that will be the most important.
Week 12: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
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Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have the best record in the NFC at 8-2. The Green Bay Packers are right there with them though, one of five NFC teams with a 7-3 record.
The Packers need to keep pace with the Chicago Bears in the NFC North, while the Falcons need to hold off the surging New Orleans Saints in their division.
The winner of this game will take control of its division, while the loser will have to pick itself up quickly.
Week 12: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts
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Peyton Manning vs. Philip Rivers is a matchup of two quarterbacks who can put up big numbers no matter who their receivers are.
It's also a matchup of teams that need this win to stay in competition for their divisions.
The Chargers need the win to keep pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. The Colts need the win to keep pace with the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
Week 12: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
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How sad is it that a matchup of 3-7 teams is still a game that has playoff implications?
Whoever wins this game could find itself only one game back of the division-leading Seattle Seahawks if the Seahawks lose to the Chiefs this weekend.
We may see a 6-10 team make it to the playoffs from the NFC West.
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Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
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The Bears have been playing pretty good defense all year long, but they've never faced a quarterback quite like Michael Vick.
The Bears will need to get even more pressure on Vick than the New York Giants got on him last week if they want to stop the Eagles offense.
With the Packers playing the Falcons this week, a win for the Bears could help them take a one-game lead in the division.
For the Eagles, a win would ensure that they stay atop the NFC East for another week.
Week 13: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers
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The Raiders and Chargers both currently stand at 5-5, so no matter what happens this weekend, this game will still mean a lot in deciding the AFC West.
With every team within two games of the division lead, every AFC West matchup matters.
But if the Raiders lose this game, they won't be able to rebound and get back in the race.
Meanwhile, if the Chargers win, they'll likely end up overtaking the Chiefs and winning the division.
Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
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Back in Week 4 the Ravens went into Pittsburgh and handed the Steelers their first loss of the season.
Now, both teams have identical 7-3 records. Both teams will likely be 8-3 heading into this matchup.
The Ravens are 4-0 at home this year, but the Steelers are 4-1 on the road.
The winner of this game likely wins the AFC North, while the loser will probably have to settle for a wild card slot.
Week 13: New York Jets at New England Patriots
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The Jets and Patriots are tied for the best record in the AFC at 8-2. Both teams play on Thanksgiving (New England at Detroit, Cincinnati at New York).
That means these teams will have 11 days in between their Thanksgiving games and their Monday night showdown.
The winner of this game will win the AFC East, and the loser will be the other AFC wild card.
It promises to be a thrilling game with Tom Brady's intensity and Mark Sanchez's late-game heroics.
Week 14: St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints
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The St. Louis Rams haven't won on the road all year. That'll need to change if they want to make the playoffs, as their next three games are on the road at Denver, at Arizona and at New Orleans.
The Saints are probably looking at this game as an easy win since their next two games are at Baltimore and at Atlanta.
Thus, the Rams need to beat a good team on the road, while the Saints need to win a home game before going on the road to face two division leaders.
Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
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Kansas City looked like it was going to run away with the AFC West, but now they've started coming back down to earth.
They do hold one big advantage as the weather starts to turn though: They have the best rushing attack in the league in Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
They'll have to ride those two down the stretch if they want to make the playoffs.
But first, that road goes through San Diego, where the weather will be nice. They'll need to win this game over their division rival if they want to prove that they are a legitimate playoff team.
If they lose, they won't be able to hold off the Chargers.
Week 15: New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens
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The Saints have won three games in a row and could very well be riding a six-game winning streak when they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
This is one of the biggest remaining NFC-AFC matchups, and it could decide both the AFC North and NFC South.
The loser will likely be a wild card in its conference playoffs, and the winner will have a good chance of winning its division.
Plus, Drew Brees vs. Ed Reed and Joe Flacco vs. Darren Sharper will be fun matchups to watch.
Week 15: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
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The Giants won't have to wait too long for a rematch against the Eagles.
Eli Manning will be out for revenge after losing a costly fumble in last week's game that cost the Giants a chance at victory.
However, Michael Vick also had a bad game for him, losing a fumble and getting knocked around by the Giants defense.
There will be no love lost during this rematch of NFC East powers.
Week 15: New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
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This game will likely decide who gets a first-round bye in the playoffs. As with many of these late season AFC matchups, the winner will be in a great position to win its division, and the loser will most likely be relegated to wild card status.
It seems probable that the top two seeds in the AFC will come from the North and the East, so this game between top teams from those two divisions will be crucial.
The Steelers should be careful not to give Mark Sanchez the ball with a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter.
Week 15: Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots
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This game should be a fun rematch of Super Bowl XXXI, a game that the Packers won 35-21 for Brett Favre's only Super Bowl victory.
The Packers have a very tough schedule down the stretch, so they need to steal victories wherever possible. If they can win this game against arguably the best team in the NFL, they'll likely seal their ticket to the playoffs.
Week 16: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
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This game could feature two teams fighting for their playoff lives. The Giants have fallen a game back of the Eagles in the NFC East and could be in a similar situation in Week 16.
Meanwhile, the Packers have one of the league's toughest schedules down the stretch, so who knows where they'll be at this point?
No matter what, though, this game will have playoff implications. I'm just not sure whether it will be for the No. 1 seed or a wild card spot.
Week 16: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
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This Week 16 matchup should decide the winner of the NFC South.
However, depending on how the Buccaneers fare down the stretch, this game could mean so much more. The loser might not only lose the division but might also miss out on the playoffs altogether.
Unfortunately for the Saints, the Falcons will be playing this game at home, where they are very tough to beat. So far this year, they are 5-0 at home.
The Saints are 3-1 on the road this year though.
It should be a very great game to watch, as both teams will be playing their "A" games.
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