NFL Playoff Scenarios: Which Spots Are Still Up For Grabs Heading Into Week 17?

There is just one more week left in the NFL season and most of the playoff spots that were up for grabs prior to Week 16 have been taken and now all that’s left is a little positioning to see where teams will play when the playoffs open up in just a couple of weeks.  There are some division championship spots that have yet to be filled and teams are still fighting for seeding as we move into the final week of the 2010 NFL season.

Let’s take a look at each division as we head into the 17th week of the NFL season and see where teams are at in regards to the playoffs and whether or not they will make it and what position they could be in when the season is over next Sunday night.

(Note: At the time of this writing, the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings hadn’t been played).

The AFC East

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: LaDainian Thomlinson #21 of the New York Jets runs against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots have clinched the AFC East as well as home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The New York Jets are in as a wild card.

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins have been eliminated.

The AFC North

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Mike Wallace #17 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the game on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Ima

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore have both secured playoff spots but there is no division winner as of yet.

In order for Pittsburgh to win the division, they would have to win or tie their game against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday.  They can also win the division if the Ravens lose.

Baltimore can win the division if they win this Sunday at home against Cincinnati and the Steelers lose or tie.  They can also clinch the AFC North with a tie and a Steelers loss.

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati are eliminated from contention.

The AFC South

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins is pressured by Tyson Alualu #93 and Jeremy Mincey #94 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (P

The Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars are still vying for the AFC South title.

The Colts can win the title if they beat or tie the Tennessee Titans this Sunday or if the Jaguars lose to the Houston Texans or tie.

The Jaguars can win the division if the Colts lose and if they win this Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans are eliminated from playoff contention.

The AFC West

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West.

The Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos have been eliminated.

The NFC East

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles have clinched the NFC East title.  If they win their next two games (against the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys) they still have an outside shot at earning a bye in the playoffs.  If they lose any one of those two games they will not earn a playoff bye or the second seed in the playoffs.

The New York Giants can clinch a wild card spot if they beat the Washington Redskins and the Packers lose or tie the Bears or if they can win, the Packers can lose and the Buccaneers lose or tie in their game against the Saints this Sunday.

The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys have been eliminated. 

The NFC North

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rolls out of the pocket against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears have clinched the NFC North and can clinch the second seed in the playoffs with a win over the Packers (and one loss by the Philadelphia Eagles).  They can clinch the number one seed in the NFC with a loss by both the Atlanta Falcons (playing the Carolina Panthers on Sunday) and the New Orleans Saints (playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday).

The Green Bay Packers can clinch a wild card berth with a win over the Chicago Bears or a tie and a Giants loss or tie and a Buccaneers loss or tie or both a Giants and a Buccaneers loss.
The Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions are eliminated from playoff contention.

The NFC South

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Falcons have clinched a playoff berth and can clinch their division with a win against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday.  They can also clinch home field advantage and a first round bye with a win.

The New Orleans Saints have clinched a playoff spot by virtue of their win against the Falcons on Monday night.  They can win the NFC South, a first round bye and home field advantage if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this coming Sunday and if Atlanta loses to Carolina.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch a playoff spot by beating the New Orleans Saints on Sunday plus a loss or tie by both the Packers and the New York Giants.  They could also clinch a spot with a tie and loss by both the Giants and the Packers.

The Carolina Panthers are eliminated from playoff contention.

The NFC West

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst #6 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

This is probably the most simple playoff spot to figure out.  The NFC West will be won by the winner of the game between the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.  The Rams could win the West if they tied that game also.

The San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals are out of playoff contention.

Want More?

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears catches a pass against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

To see just how things changed from Week 16 to this week, take a look at last week’s playoff scenarios in this article HERE.