NFL Playoff Scenarios: 4 Week 17 Results That Could Shake Up the Playoff Field

This is what we know about the NFL playoffs heading into Week 17: The winner of the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys contest gets the NFC's No. 4 seed. It's the final NFC playoff spot, so not much can really change on that side.

The AFC, however, has many more possibilities. The AFC West and AFC North have yet to crown champions, and the final playoff spots remain open to four teams (Bengals, Raiders, Jets and Titans).

So, here are some results that could really throw a wrench into the final AFC playoff picture.

Ravens Beat Bengals and the Door Is Open

What's interesting about the Baltimore Ravens is that they've struggled on the road (3-4), lost to teams like Seattle, Jacksonville and San Diego (all non-playoff teams), yet swept the Steelers and also beat the Texans and 49ers.

They're certainly an interesting team to watch. That being said, the Ravens' Week 17 game at Cincinnati will be a nail biter, and this contest carries many AFC playoff implications.

A Baltimore win clears up the top seeds though, as the Ravens would get at least the No. 2 seed and win the AFC North for the first time since 2006.

But thereafter, the rest of the AFC is a crap shoot.

First, that would leave Cincinnati at 9-7, thus opening the door for the Raiders, Jets and Titans. Oakland is still alive for the AFC West title (more on that later), and both the Jets and Titans are 8-7.

So in short, the window of opportunity opens quite a bit if Cincinnati loses and the Ravens have a shot at the No. 1 seed, if New England falls to Miami.

But what if just the opposite happens?

Bengals Beat Ravens and Pittsburgh Takes AFC North

This week Pittsburgh plays at Cleveland, so it's a long shot for Baltimore to win the AFC North if they lose to Cincinnati.

If they do, however, we have to expect that Pittsburgh takes the North and Baltimore drops to the No. 5 seed.

Thereafter, Cincinnati will have claimed the AFC's No. 6 seed and will likely play the Houston Texans. Of all the scenarios, this provides the least amount of chaos.

No team will sneak in to replace the Bengals, and the only question left would be whether Oakland or Denver claims the AFC West. It would however make an interesting playoff picture after the smoke has cleared.

As mentioned, the Ravens have struggled on the road, but have come off big against playoff opponents. The concern then changes gears toward their lack of success in the postseason.

Baltimore has yet to beat Pittsburgh in January, and although they've already ousted the Steelers twice, can the Ravens go thrice on The Steel City and win a second game in Pittsburgh? That's certainly a tough road to the Super Bowl, on top of playing at Denver/Oakland, then adding New England to the mix.

And you never know about those scrappy Houston Texans, who have arguably the NFL's best defense and rushing offense.

Browns Upset Steelers

This is where a lot of crazy things can happen, provided the Bengals upset the Ravens.

If both Pittsburgh and Baltimore finish with an 11-5 record, that gives the Houston Texans the AFC's No. 2 seed if they beat the Tennessee Titans at home.

As we know, the Titans are still alive but need some serious help in the form of the Bengals, Broncos/Raiders and Jets all losing, while they have to win in Houston.

A Browns upset of Pittsburgh coinciding with a Bengals win over Baltimore puts Houston as the No. 2 seed, and the Ravens as the No. 3 seed. That then sets up a rematch between Cincinnati and Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend, while the Steelers travel to either Denver or Oakland.

In addition, this scenario gives Houston WR Andre Johnson even more time to get back to 100 percent, as well as the Texans a psychological advantage over the Ravens and Steelers.

Houston beat Pittsburgh earlier this season, and the Ravens have struggled on the road. Therefore, we have to expect the Texans to have a favorable matchup despite starting a rookie QB in T.J. Yates.

The Cleveland Browns can begin a whirlwind of pandemonium with a win over the Steelers. Especially if this next game follows suit.

Chiefs Upset Broncos

Kyle Orton is in one interesting position.

After starting the season for Denver, he was benched, then released and acquired by the Kansas City Chiefs—who then fired their head coach—but somehow upset the then-undefeated Green Bay Packers at home.

Orton had played the Packers earlier in the year when starting for Denver, and played them relatively well. So, to some extent it was not surprising to see him manage a W over Titletown.

Getting back to Week 17—how insane would a Chiefs win over Denver be? Kyle Orton leads a comeback over Tim Tebow, and the AFC playoff picture looks like a Picasso painting.

This obviously opens the door for Oakland however, and provided that the Ravens beat the Bengals while Kansas City beats Denver, the Jets and Titans become next in line for the No. 6 seed.

And if the Jets were to lose and Tennessee were to win, we'd have the Titans playing back at Houston in the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh going to Oakland and the Ravens finally earning their playoff bye and division title.

Week 17 is going to be bedlam in the AFC with so many unpredictable results. The playoffs, for most, begin this Sunday.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27