NFL Playoff Scenarios: Projecting the Playoff Picture after Week 17

With just one week left in the 2011 NFL season, let's project how the playoff picture should look after Week 17:

National Football Conference (NFC) 

1. Green Bay Packers (14-1, projected 14-2)

The Packers would be crazy to push the envelope with key players in Week 17 against the Lions, but coach Mike McCarthy didn't sound like his team was going to just lay down on Sunday.

2. San Francisco 49ers (12-3, 13-3)

A win against the 2-13 St. Louis Rams guarantees the 49ers a first-round bye. Should be a lock. 

3. New Orleans Saints (12-3, 12-4)

The Saints clinched the NFC South with their 45-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. 

4. New York Giants (8-7, 9-7)

The Giants have to be the favorites to win the NFC East after knocking off the Jets in Week 16. 

5. Detroit Lions (10-5, 11-5)

The Lions can clinch the No. 5 seed with a win over the Packers in Week 17, while ending a 20-year losing streak in the state of Wisconsin. Motivation?

6. Atlanta Falcons (9-6, 10-6)

The Falcons' loss to the Saints on Monday night likely means they'll be right back in the Superdome for the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

American Football Conference (AFC)

1. New England Patriots (12-3, 13-3)

A win over the Buffalo Bills guarantees that the AFC playoffs go through Gillette Stadium.  

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4, 12-4)

If the Steelers beat the Browns and the Bengals upset the Ravens, Pittsburgh is your No. 2 in the AFC.

3. Houston Texans (10-5, 10-6)

The slide continues against a Titans team that needs a win, but the Texans are still in good shape seeding-wise. 

4. Oakland Raiders (8-7, 9-7)

With a win over the San Diego Chargers and a Broncos' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders are the AFC West winner. 

5. Baltimore Ravens (11-4, 11-5)

Both have a lot to play for, so it might be going out on a limb in saying that Cincinnati can beat the Ravens in Week 17.  

6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6, 10-6) 

The Bengals' biggest division win in a long time propels them to the playoffs in year one with Andy Dalton at the helm.