After another week’s worth of games (save for Sunday and Monday night’s games) didn’t really do a whole lot to clear things up. Somewhat amazingly, only the Titans were officially eliminated since last week. Even the Dolphins and Jaguars, both of whom lost on Sunday to fall to 7-8, are still technically alive, but they would need a win in Week 17, and then a lot of help.
A Look At The Playoff Scenarios After Week 16
While the NFC playoff picture is starting to clear up, with only one berth up for grabs, the AFC race is convoluted. Seven of the conference’s teams enter the final week of the regular season -- five with 8-7 records, two at 7-8 -- with a chance to cash a pair of wild-card tickets. Tiebreakers are sure to come into play.
Like last week, we’ll start with taking a look at the playoff picture and scenarios in the NFC, where things are decidedly less complicated.
NFC
Who’s In:
1. Saints (clinched South Division, first-round bye and homefield for the playoffs)
2. Eagles (would clinch NFC East and first-round bye with win over Cowboys in Week 17)
3. Vikings (clinched North Division; can clinch first-round bye with a win and a Philadelphia loss in Week 17)
4. Cardinals (clinched West Division)
5. Packers (Wild Card winner; clinched playoff spot)
6. Cowboys (would win NFC East with win over Eagles in Week 17; could still clinch No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win, and losses from both Vikings and Cardinals)
AFC
Who’s In:
*Bengals-Jets will be Week 17’s Sunday Night Football game on NBC
Outside Looking In, But Sill Alive:
It’s all summed up quite nicely by ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “AFC picture coming into focus: If Jets beat Bengals, they’re in. If Ravens beat Raiders, they’re in. Broncos, Texans, Steelers need help.”
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