NFL Playoff Picture: The 15 Biggest Games Left That Will Determine the Field

With just two weeks to go, we're getting close to seeing who is going to be in the playoffs.

But despite a whole 15 weeks of football, only three teams have clinched a playoff spot: the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.

In light of this, I hereby bequeath to you the 15 Biggest Games Left That Will Determine the Field.

Still a lot on the table, so a lot can still happen, between who wins the divisions and who gets into the playoffs.

Read on, fellow playoff-starved fans, this will feed your hunger...for now.

15. Patriots-Bills, Week 16

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots gains yards as defenders Drayton Florence #29 and Leodis McKelvin #28 of the Buffalo Bills give chase in the second half at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Mass

The New England Patriots, at 12-2, only need one win to capture the AFC East and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

In Week 16, they face the Buffalo Bills, a 4-10 team that lost by eight points to the Patriots in Week 3.

The Bills have further demonstrated they aren't pushovers by coming within a fumbled catch in the end zone of beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12.

A Patriots loss against the Bills would give the New York Jets hope of capturing the division.

14. Jaguars-Texans, Week 17

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 19: David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars hands off to Maurice Jones-Drew #32 against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

After the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Colts in Week 15, both teams are 8-6, but the Colts have the tiebreaker.

Therefore, the Colts have to lose a game in the final two games for the Jaguars to have a chance of getting into the playoffs via the AFC South.

If the Colts lose to the Raiders in Week 16 and the Jaguars beat the Redskins, then the Jaguars will have a chance to win the division with a win against the Houston Texans in Week 17.

13. Colts-Raiders, Week 16

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 19: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

The Indianapolis Colts took care of business in Week 15 against the Jaguars, and now they lead the AFC South.

A win against the 7-7 Oakland Raiders in Week 16 would put them on track to win the AFC South, even if the Jaguars win, as well.

If the Jaguars win in Week 16, then the next important game for the Colts would be against the 6-8 Tennessee Titans.

I see the Raiders giving them the most trouble.

12. Ravens-Browns, Week 16

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens enters the field prior to the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Pittsburgh won 13-10. (Photo by Geoff Burke

The Baltimore Ravens have situated themselves pretty well with a win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 15.

They currently sit at the No. 5 seed in the AFC Wild Card picture.

Two games ahead of the next possible contender for a Wild Card spot, the Ravens would have to lose their last two games to miss out on the playoffs.

They face the Browns and Bengals in the final two weeks. The Browns are the better of those two teams.

If the Browns play the way they were playing in the beginning of the season and not lately, they could make this a game.

Not likely, but possible.

11. Giants-Redskins, Week 17

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants hands the ball off to Ahmad Bradshaw #44 against the Philadelphia Eagles at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty

The New York Giants, after a devastating loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, are now 9-5 and just a game ahead of the Packers and Buccaneers for the No. 6 seed in the Wild Card picture.

If they lose to the Packers next week, they have to beat the Washington Redskins in Week 17 as the Packers would have control of the No. 6 seed.

The Packers play the Bears in Week 17, so if they lost and the Giants won against the Redskins, then the Giants would regain control of the No. 6 seed and thus make the playoffs.

If the Giants win against the Packers, then they capture the No. 6 seed regardless of if they lose in Week 17.

10. Eagles-Vikings, Week 16

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs in the game winning touchdown on a punt return against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ni

With their season sweep of the New York Giants on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles need just a win or a New York Giants loss to win the NFC East.

I'm guessing they'd rather just not worry about the Giants and beat the Vikings in Week 16.

Beating the Vikings would give them the NFC East crown.

Note: I'm not sure what Giants coach Tom Coughlin is doing in this picture, but I'm pretty sure he's saying some bad, bad words.

9. Saints-Falcons, Week 16

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 12: Drew Brees #9 and Marques Colston #12 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on December 12, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated t

Sure, both these teams are probably getting into the playoffs, barring some unforeseen catastrophe for the Saints.

But what's interesting about this game is the Saints still have a chance to win home-field advantage.

If they beat the Falcons in Week 16 and beat the Bucs in Week 17, and the Falcons lose their last game against the Carolina Panthers, the Saints win home-field advantage.

Also, if the Saints lose to the Falcons in Week 16 and lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, the Buccaneers would then knock them out of the playoffs if the Bucs win in Week 16 against Seattle.

Confusing? Yeah.

8. Packers-Bears, Week 17

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers, inactive due to an injury, looks on during warm-ups before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (

Keep in mind, this was written before the Bears-Vikings game concluded on Monday night.

If the Bears lose to the Vikings on Monday night, then the Packers are still in the race for the NFC North, a game behind the Bears.

In this case, the Bears would still have to lose their next game and the Packers win their next one, but if that happens, then it sets up a Packers-Bears matchup for the NFC North in the final game of the season.

7. Jets-Bears, Week 16

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 19: Mark Sanchez #6 and Ben Hartsock #84 of the New York Jets celebrate after Sanchez ran for a touchdown during their game against Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 19, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by

If the Bears lose in Week 15 against the Vikings, then they would have to win a game to clinch the NFC North.

I'm guessing the Bears don't want to face the Packers in Week 17 at Lambeau Field for the division, so they are going to want to beat the Jets in Week 16.

If the Bears beat the Vikings in Week 15, however, they win the NFC North.

But the Jets aren't out of hot water.

The Jets have the No. 6 Wild Card spot in the AFC, two games ahead of the Chargers and Jaguars.

A win here would clinch a playoff spot for them.

6. Saints-Bucs, Week 17

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 19: Running back LeGarrette Blount #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers straight-arms safety C.C. Brown #39 of the Detroit Lions during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Im

If the Saints lose to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 (entirely possible) and the Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks, then it sets up a showdown between the two teams for a possible Wild Card spot in Week 17.

If it comes down to that, which it very well might, look for a great game in New Orleans in Week 17.

5. Chiefs-Raiders, Week 17

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 19: Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs up field after catching a pass against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on December 19, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Chiefs beat the Rams 27-13. (Photo by Dilip V

This is a hypothetical, but if the Chiefs lose to the Titans in Week 16 and the Raiders beat the Colts, then it could set up a matchup for the division in Kansas City.

The Raiders have the tiebreaker, so if the Raiders beat the Chiefs in this case, they'd win the AFC West.

4. Packers-Giants, Week 16

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Matt Flynn #10 of the Green Bay Packers and teammates celebrate a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

If the Packers beat the Giants in Week 16, they both will have the same record and the Packers will win the tiebreaker for the No. 6 Wild Card spot based on the head-to-head tie-breaker.

Of course, the Packers would still have to beat the Bears in Week 17, while the Giants would only have to beat the Redskins, but, hey, this would be a big first step for the Packers.

3. 49ers-Cardinals, Week 17

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Believe it or not, the 5-9 San Francisco 49ers are only a game out in the NFC West race.

If they beat the 6-8 Rams in Week 16, then they have a chance to win the division in Week 17 against the lowly Cardinals.

This would surely be one of the worst division wins in NFL history.

2. Rams-49ers, Week 16

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown while defended by Ron Bartell #24 of the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ez

The NFC West-leading St. Louis Rams go head-to-head with the 5-9 Niners in Week 16, which could determine the division winner in 2010.

If the Niners win this game, then the Rams may be out of the picture and the Niners may officially be in it.

This won't be the most entertaining game, but it's one with the greatest playoff implications.

1. Rams-Seahawks, Week 17

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 3: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams scrambles against the Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome on October 3, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the Seahawks 20-3. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

If the Rams beat the Niners in Week 16 and the Seahawks beat the Bucs, it sets up a showdown for the division in Week 17.

If the Rams lose to the Niners in Week 16 and the Seahawks lose to the Bucs, it still could set up a showdown, as there's still a chance the Niners could lose to the Cardinals in Week 17 (hey, no one's safe in this division).

Either way, I could see this being the game for the NFC West in the final game of the season.

But don't watch it to be entertained; watch it to see who wins the West (if you even care at this point).