NFL Playoff Scenarios: Listing the Most Likely Wild Card Matchups

With 16 weeks of the NFL season in the books, the following wild card matchups look the most likely: 

NFC

Detroit Lions (10-5) at New Orleans Saints (11-3)

With the Falcons holding a tiebreaker over the Lions, it's likely that Detroit will be the No. 6 seed. The Saints need a 49ers loss to the 2-13 St. Louis Rams to creep into the No. 2 seed. That seems unlikely considering the 49ers will be playing their starters for 60 minutes. Barring a late-season meltdown, the Saints should be the No. 3 seed. 

Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New York Giants (8-7)

If the Falcons do secure the No. 5 seed, they'll travel to face the NFC East winner. We're giving the edge to the Giants, who are playing at home against a banged up Cowboys team. If New York wins, they'll be the No. 4 seed.

AFC

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Denver Broncos (8-7)

The Steelers aren't a lock to be the No. 5 seed, as the 11-4 Baltimore Ravens still have to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. A Steelers win over the Cleveland Browns plus a Ravens loss to Cincinnati allows the Steelers to steal the AFC North. The Ravens should still beat the Bengals, maxing that scenario void. The Broncos need a win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home to secure the AFC West. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Oakland Raiders (8-7)

A Broncos loss to the Chiefs plus a Raiders win against the San Diego Chargers gives the Raiders the AFC West. 

Oakland Raiders (8-7) at Houston Texans (10-5)

There are two scenarios in which the Raiders can get the final wild card spot in the AFC: win vs. San Diego plus losses from both Tennessee and Cincinnati, OR win vs. San Diego plus a loss from Cincinnati and a win from the New York Jets. The Texans are all but locked into the No. 3 seed. 

New York Jets (8-7) at Houston Texans (10-5)

The Jets can get in as the No. 6 seed under the following two scenarios: win vs. Miami Dolphins plus losses from Tennessee, Oakland and Cincinnati OR win vs. Miami plus losses from Cincinnati, Oakland and Denver.