There is just one week left in the NFL’s 2010 regular season, and most of the parts of the NFL playoff picture have come into focus. But there are still some things up for grabs in the AFC playoff picture and the NFC playoff picture.
NFL Playoff Picture: What’s At Stake In Week 17?
Let’s run down the remaining playoff scenarios as we enter Week 17. (Numbers refer to seeding entering Sunday.)
AFC Playoff Picture
1. New England Patriots. Clinched AFC East, No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout AFC playoffs. Week 17 game against Dolphins likely to be glorified exhibition.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers. Can clinch AFC North, No. 2 seed and first round bye with win over Browns. Can also fall to fifth or sixth seed with loss to Browns and wins by Ravens and/or Jets.
3. Kansas City Chiefs. Clinched AFC West. Cannot earn first round bye because of tiebreaker losses to Steelers and Ravens. Can clinch No. 3 seed with win over Raiders.
4. Indianapolis Colts. Can clinch AFC South with win over Titans or Jaguars loss or tie. Can move up to No. 3 seed with win and Chiefs loss; can miss playoffs with loss and Jaguars win.
5. Baltimore Ravens. Clinched playoff berth. Hold tiebreaker advantage over Jets and cannot fall to No. 6 seed. Can win AFC North and No. 2 seed with win over Bengals and Steelers loss.
6. New York Jets. Clinched playoff berth. Locked into No. 6 seed unless Steelers lose to Browns and Jets beat Bills; would earn No. 5 seed in that scenario.
Jacksonville Jaguars. Can win AFC South with win over Texans and Colts loss to Titans. Cannot earn wild card berth. Eliminated from playoffs with Colts win.
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Atlanta Falcons. Can clinch AFC South and home field advantage throughout playoffs with win over Panthers. Can fall to No. 2 seed with loss to Panthers and Saints loss to Bucs and to No. 5 seed with loss to Panthers and Saints win over Bucs.
2. Chicago Bears. Clinched NFC North and first-round bye in Week 16. Can move up to No. 1 seed with win over Packers and losses by Falcons and Saints. Could prevent Packers from making playoffs with Week 17 rivalry win.
3. Philadelphia Eagles. Clinched NFC East and No. 3 seed. Cannot move up to No. 2 seed thanks to loss to Chicago earlier this season. Cannot fall to No. 4 seed thanks to NFC West futility. Week 17 game against Cowboys likely to be glorified exhibition, with Kevin Kolb starting in place of Michael Vick.
4. St. Louis Rams. Can clinch NFC West and No. 4 seed with win over Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. Cannot earn wild card berth. For Rams, Week 17 is essentially an early playoff round.
5. New Orleans Saints. Clinched playoff berth and can fall no lower than No. 5 seed. Can earn home field advantage throughout playoffs with win over Bucs and Falcons loss to Panthers.
6. Green Bay Packers. Can clinch playoff berth with win over Bears, who have nothing to play for, or loss to Bears and Giants/Buccaneers losses. Can miss playoffs with loss to Bears and wins by either Giants or Bucs.
New York Giants. Can clinch playoff berth with win over Redskins and Packers loss. Eliminated from playoffs with Packers win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can clinch playoff berth with win over Saints and losses by Packers and Giants. Eliminated from playoffs with Packers or Giants win.
Seattle Seahawks Can clinch NFC West and No. 4 seed with win over Rams. Cannot earn wild card berth. With win, Seahawks are in at 7-9, and become first NFL team to make playoffs with a losing record since the strike-shortened 1982 season, which saw the 4-5 Lions and Browns make the playoffs.
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