NFL Playoff Picture: Scenarios and Predictions for NFL Postseason

Once the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers put Week 15 to bed, there are only going to be two weeks left to decide everything as far as the NFL playoff picture is concerned.

In other words, you should get ready for a crazy last two weeks of regular-season football. There are a lot of things that need to be decided, and there are a lot of teams that are still in the mix.

To make sure everyone is well informed, I figure I'll go ahead and break down where we stand in terms of the eight division races, the wild-card races and how the seeding in either conference is shaping up.

While I'm at it, I'll make a few predictions about how all of this is going to work out.

NFC East

Leader: Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

In the Hunt: New York Giants (7-7) and Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)

The NFC East has been the wild west all season, but the Cowboys are in pretty good shape. All they have to do is win their final two games versus the Eagles and at the Giants. 

If the Giants want to make the playoffs, they need to beat the New York Jets in Week 16 and hope the Cowboys take care of the Eagles. That will allow them to capture the division with a win over the Cowboys in Week 17.

As for the Eagles, they need to win their final two games against the Cowboys and Washington Redskins. They also need the Giants to lose to the Jets and then beat the Cowboys.

Predicted Winner: Cowboys

The Cowboys are unreliable, but they are the best team among the three. I expect them to win their final two games and head into the NFC playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

NFC North

Winner: Green Bay Packers (13-1)

This race is already over. The Packers have won it, leaving the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears to duke it out for a wild-card spot. More on that in a moment.

Though the Packers have won the division, they still need to take keep playing if they want to earn the NFC's No. 1 seed, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers would have to stumble in their last two games for that to happen, though, so I think they'll be okay.

NFC South

Leader: New Orleans Saints (11-3)

In the Hunt: Atlanta Falcons (9-5)

The Saints have the division pretty well in hand. The only way they're losing it is if they lose to Atlanta in Week 16 and then to the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. If the Falcons beat the Saints and then beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they'll be your NFC South champions.

If the Saints do win their final two games to finish 13-3, they can earn the NFC's No. 2 seed if the 49ers lose one of their final three games and finish 12-4.

Predicted Winner: Saints

I like the Falcons, but asking them to beat the Saints on the road is asking too much.

NFC West

Winner: San Francisco 49ers (10-3)

The 49ers already have the NFC West crown, so the only thing they have left to play for is a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

Monday night's game against the Steelers will be key, as the 49ers pretty much have to win it if they want to stay on pace to earn the NFC's No. 2 seed. I personally don't think they will, so they'll need the Saints to drop a game down the stretch to avoid entering as the No. 3 seed.

The 49ers do technically have a shot at earning the No. 1 seed, but they'll need the Packers to drop their last two games to finish 13-3. That's not happening.

NFC Wild Card

Leaders: Atlanta Falcons (9-5) and Detroit Lions (9-5)

In the Hunt: Seattle Seahawks (7-7), Chicago Bears (7-7), Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

The Falcons and Lions are pretty much home free, and the Falcons have the edge on the Lions for the No. 5 seed because they beat the Lions earlier this season.

The other teams in the race all need help. Above all, the Lions need to lose their final two games against the San Diego Chargers and the Packers. If they do, all sorts of doors will open.

The Seahawks will need to win their last two games against the 49ers and at the Arizona Cardinals to take advantage of the Lions' collapse. If the Bears win both of their last two games against the Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and if the Seahawks lose either one of their final two games, the Bears are in. If the Cardinals win their final two games and the Bears lose either one of their final two games, the Cardinals are in.

Predicted Winners: Falcons and Lions

Both are good teams, so I think things will stay the same.

AFC East

Winner: New England Patriots (11-3)

As expected, the Patriots have won the AFC East for the third straight season. They will now turn their attention to earning the AFC's No. 1 seed.

The Patriots can get it if they win out, but only if the Steelers drop one of their remaining games. This is because the Steelers have a tiebreaker over the Pats thanks to a head-to-head victory earlier in the season. 

AFC North

Leader: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)

In the Hunt: Baltimore Ravens (10-4)

The Ravens need the 49ers to do them a favor by beating the Steelers on Monday night, thus allowing the Ravens to regain control of the AFC North thanks to their two head-to-head victories over the Steelers.

But if the Steelers want to win the division, they just need to keep winning. Beating the 49ers will be the hard part, but after that they finish against the St. Louis Rams and at the Cleveland Browns. Hard to ask for a softer finish.

Predicted Winner: Steelers

I have the Steelers beating the 49ers on Monday night. After that, they're pretty much home free.

AFC South

Winner: Houston Texans (10-4)

The Texans have won the AFC South for the first time in their existence and will now focus on earning a first-round bye.

To get it, they need to win out and hope to finish with the same record as the Steelers, Patriots and Ravens. If all things are equal at the end, the Texans will get the No. 1 seed thanks to their win percentage in conference games.

AFC West

Leader: Denver Broncos (8-6)

In the Hunt: Oakland Raiders (7-7)

If the Broncos win their final two games, they will win the AFC West. That simple.

For the Raiders to win the division, they need to win their final two games and hope that the Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. That would allow the Raiders to win thanks to their win percentage in conference games.

Predicted Winner: Broncos

The Broncos are not going to lose to the Chiefs. Count on it.

AFC Wild Card

Leaders: Baltimore Ravens (10-4) and New York Jets (8-6)

In the Hunt: Cincinnati Bengals (8-6), Tennessee Titans (7-7), Oakland Raiders (7-7), San Diego Chargers 7-7

One way or another, the Ravens or Steelers are taking one wild-card spot. The true battle is over the second wild-card spot.

If the Jets want it, they need to win their final two games. They can lose one, but they will be in danger of having the Bengals leapfrog them. The Bengals need to win their final two games and hope the Jets lose one of their remaining games.

Beyond those two teams, it's an absolute mess. The Titans can sneak in if they win their final two games, the Jets lose one or both of their final two and the Bengals lose both of their final two games. The Raiders can sneak in if they and the Jets both finish 9-7, as a head-to-head win will give the Raiders the edge. The Chargers can sneak in if they win their final two games and watch the teams around them in the chase crash and burn.

Predicted Winners: Ravens and Jets

I've already predicted that the Steelers will win the AFC North, so the Ravens will have to settle for a wild-card berth. Now that the Jets have gotten a wake-up call from the Philadelphia Eagles, I expect them to finish strong.

In the end, here's what you would be looking at:

NFC	AFC
1. Green Bay Packers	1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. New Orleans Saints	2. New England Patriots
3. San Francisco 49ers	3. Houston Texans
4. Dallas Cowboys	4. Denver Broncos
5. Atlanta Falcons	5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Detroit Lions	6. New York Jets

NFC Wild Card Games

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys

AFC Wild Card Games

New York Jets at Houston Texans

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos

Keep in mind that these matchups are mere projections. There are dozens of ways the NFL playoff picture could play out, and after a weekend like the one we just had, it's wise to rule nothing out.