NFL Playoff Scenarios: What Each of Top 18 Teams Must Do to Make the Playoffs

Here we are, folks. With four weeks left, we're entering the final quarter of the 2010 NFL season.

As we get ready for the fourth quarter (See how I did that? Final quarter? Fourth quarter?), there is still a lot to be determined in the NFL playoff picture.

Will the Packers, considered by many to be an elite team, even make the playoffs? Will the up-and-coming Bucs? How bout the Chargers, Raiders and Colts? Will the Jaguars and Chiefs lose their division leads? Who will be the best of the worst in the NFC West?

Here is What Each of the Top 18 Teams Must Do to Make the Playoffs.

The top 18 teams are based on the standings through Week 13.

AFC: New England Patriots (10-2)

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates after BenJarvus Green-Ellis #42 scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachu

At 10-2, the AFC East division leaders have won four straight games and just won a huge game against division rivals the New York Jets (9-3).

It appears all this team really needs to do is keep letting Tom Brady throw the ball.

The Patriots' next two games will be their toughest opponents, as they face the Bears (who beat the Eagles) and the Packers, who have a very strong team at 8-4.

Winning these games would be huge in capturing the division.

NFC: Atlanta Falcons (10-2)

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after watching a replay during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

At 10-2, the Falcons are considered by many to be the No. 2 team in the NFL right now, trailing only the Patriots in pundit esteem.

They are the current NFC South division leaders and should be able to come away with the division.

In their next four games, they have only one game against a tough opponent (the Saints) and two games against the 1-11 Carolina Panthers.

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Pitts

Winners of their last three, at 9-3 the Steelers are in prime position to win the AFC North.

They have one game against a tough team and seemingly easy games against the Bengals, Panthers and Browns.

They have only a one-game lead over the Ravens, but they hold the tiebreaker after a 13-10 win in Week 13.

NFC: Chicago Bears (9-3)

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver against of the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The current NFC North leaders, the Bears got a huge win against the Philadelphia Eagles but still have a tough road ahead.

They face the Patriots, Jets and Packers in the final quarter.

Their last game against the Packers could determine who wins the NFC North and possibly who gets shut out of the playoffs.

AFC: Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)

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SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Tony Moeaki #81 after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks to take a 20-7 lead at Qwest Field on November 28, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The

Leaders of the AFC West, the Chiefs are two games ahead of division foes the Chargers and the Raiders, who are 6-6.

They still have to play the Chargers and Raiders once more, but they play the Titans and Rams beyond that.

A win against either the Chargers or Raiders could give them the division.

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Eagles are in first place in the NFC East, holding the tiebreaker over the 8-4 New York Giants.

However, they play the Giants again, and they also play an inspired Dallas Cowboys team twice.

A tough road for the division crown, but a doable one.

The Giants game will be huge.

AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 05: Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on December 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are probably the team with the most precarious division lead—one game ahead of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.

They play the Colts in Indianapolis during Week 15, but they hold the tiebreaker due to a 31-28 win in Week 4.

This is the year the Jags need to make the playoffs. You can't expect Peyton Manning to struggle like this every year.

If they lose the division, they will likely not make it into the playoffs.

NFC: St. Louis Rams (6-6)

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams scrambles to pass the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeate

The St. Louis Rams are leaders in the NFC West with a 6-6 record.

Their biggest threat comes from the Seattle Seahawks, who also own a 6-6 record.

The Rams play the 49ers and Seahawks in their final two games of the regular season.

A win against both would pretty much solidify their first division crown since 2003. But a win in Seattle is the big one.

AFC: New York Jets (9-3)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets runs against the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

At 9-3, the Jets hold one of two Wild Card spots in the AFC.

Their loss against the Patriots in Week 13 will likely cost them the division, but they are in prime position for a Wild Card berth.

Whether they hold their No. 5 seed is a different story. The Ravens are at No. 6 in the AFC and hold the tiebreaker at 8-4.

The Jets play the Bears and Steelers in the final stretch.

NFC: New Orleans Saints (9-3)

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 05: Dree Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints looks to throw a pass during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Saints won 34-30. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

The Saints are the current holders of the No. 5 spot in the NFC.

They still have a legitimate shot to take the NFC South away from the Falcons, as they are only a game behind in the division, hold the tiebreaker and play Atlanta again in Week 16.

I don't, however, see them failing to making the playoffs one way or another.

AFC: Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Anquan Boldin #81 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his touchdown with teammate running back Willis McGahee #23 during the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on Decemb

The Ravens are the bottom seed in the Wild Card picture.

The only team over .500 the Ravens play the rest of the way is the Saints.

They hold a commanding two-game lead for the Wild Card.

It's going to be hard for them NOT to make the playoffs.

NFC: New York Giants (8-4)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 05: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants in action against the Washington Redskins during their game on December 5, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Giants have a huge game against the Eagles, which should determine the division winner, and a huge game against the Packers the following week, which could determine whether the Giants make the playoffs altogether.

The Giants have the No. 6 spot in the NFC over the Packers despite having an identical record because they have a better conference record.

A loss against the Packers, however, erases that.

AFC: Oakland Raiders (6-6)

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Jason Campbell #8 hands the ball off to Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 7, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed

The Raiders are two games behind the Ravens for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC, and two games behind the Chiefs for the AFC West title.

It doesn't look good. However, their best chance is to win the AFC West.

If the Chiefs lose to the Chargers, then it could set up a matchup with the Raiders in Week 15 with them holding only a one-game lead.

The Raiders have the tiebreaker.

NFC: Green Bay Packers (8-4)

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rushes upfield away from Corey Peters #91 of the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Packers have a very steep hill to climb to grab a playoff spot.

After the Detroit Lions in Week 14, they play the Patriots, Giants and Bears to close out the season.

The season finale against Chicago could indeed determine the Packers' fate. It's probably a "must" for them to beat the Lions, Giants and Bears.

AFC: San Diego Chargers (6-6)

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SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05: The bloody elbow of quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers is seen in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Ra

The Chargers are two games back in the AFC West and in even worse position than the Raiders.

They were on a roll and looking like division favorites before they ran into the Raiders last week. They lost 28-13, and now, even if they win their last four games, there's still a good chance they won't make the playoffs.

They absolutely have to win their Week 14 matchup against the Chiefs.

NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 21: Mike Williams #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is congratulated by Josh Freeman #5 after he scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by E

The Buccaneers are at 7-5 and pretty much have to win their next four games to have a chance at the Wild Card.

Their close losses pretty much doomed the team, and it could be attributed to their youth.

Regardless, they are an up-and-coming team to look out for in 2011.

AFC: Indianapolis Colts (6-6)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts hands off as he trips against the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

The Colts, after a five-game Peyton Manning slump in which they went 1-4, aren't looking too good.

They are only a game back in the AFC South, but the South-leading Jaguars hold the tiebreaker after beating the Colts in Week 4.

That means the Colts have to win two more games—including probably the rematch with the Jags—to win the division.

A Jags loss to the Raiders in Week 14 would do wonders for the Colts. Of course, though, the Colts have to face the Raiders in Week 16, and the Raiders have shown they are not pushovers.

Good luck, Colts—you're gonna need it this year.

NFC: Seattle Seahawks (6-6)

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks passes against the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Seahawks started the season going 4-2, including 2-1 in the NFC West, and looked like the front runners for the division.

Then they were exposed for the team they were.

They've done the exact opposite in their last six games, going 2-4.

The Seahawks' chances are slim—but they still have one.

Seattle would have to get to its Week 17 rematch with the division-leading Rams tied because the Rams hold the tiebreaker.

Unfortunately for them, they face the Falcons and Bucs before squaring off with the Rams.