This Sunday marks the final week of play for the 17-week season. Here are the NFL Playoff scenarios for all the teams still alive for the 2017 tournament.
Battle for top spot in the AFC
Let us start in the AFC. The battle for the number 1 overall seed is still up in the air. The Patriots currently own that spot, thanks to their controversial win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15.
The Steelers are currently in the number 2 spot with a 12-3 record and can move up to the number 1 spot with a win and a Patriots loss in Week 17.
Who will finish with the Wild Card slots?
The Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans currently own the number 5 and 6 spots in the AFC. See the chart underneath to determine the scenarios.
No. 2-4 seeds in NFC still up for grabs
Entering Week 17, the 2-4 seeds in the NFC is still yet to be determined. Please see the chart underneath to determine the scenarios.
NFC Wild Card spots still up for grabs
The Saints, Panthers, Falcons and Seahawks are still fighting to secure playoff positioning. While the Panthers and Saints have clinched a spot in the postseason, the Falcons and Seahawks have yet to do so. See the chart underneath for the scenarios.
| NFC Playoff Seeds Entering Week 17 | ||||
| W-L | Division/Wild Card Status | Tiebreaker Status/Note | ||
| 1 | Eagles | 13-2 | NFC East champion | |
| 2 | Vikings | 12-3 | NFC North champion | |
| 3 | Rams | 11-4 | NFC West champion | Head-to-head win vs. Saints |
| 4 | Saints | 11-4 | NFC South leader | Swept Panthers head-to-head |
| =================================== | ||||
| 5 | Panthers | 11-4 | Wild Card leader | |
| 6 | Falcons | 9-6 | Wild Card leader | Head-to-head win vs Seahawks |
| Still Alive | ||||
| Seahawks | 9-6 | |||
| AFC Playoff Seeds Entering Week 17 | ||||
| 1 | Patriots | 12-3 | AFC East champion | Head-to-head win vs Steelers |
| 2 | Steelers | 12-3 | AFC North champion | |
| 3 | Jaguars | 10-5 | AFC South champion | LOCKED INTO 3 SEED |
| 4 | Chiefs | 9-6 | AFC West champion | LOCKED INTO 4 SEED |
| =================================== | ||||
| 5 | Ravens | 9-6 | Wild Card leader | |
| 6 | Titans | 8-7 | Wild Card leader | Better conference W-L than Chargers & Bills |
| Still Alive | ||||
| Chargers | 8-7 | Head-to-head win vs Bills | ||
| Bills | 8-7 | |||
Playoff seeding scenarios
No. 1 Seed
- Patriots: (1) win OR (2) PIT loss
- Steelers: win + NE loss
No. 2 Seed
- Patriots: loss + PIT win
- Steelers: (1) loss OR (2) NE win
No. 3 Seed
- Jaguars
No. 4 Seed
- Chiefs
No. 5 Seed
- Bills: (1) win + BAL loss + LAC loss (2) Win + BAL loss + TEN loss
- Ravens: (1) win OR (2) loss + BUF loss; TEN loss
- Titans: (1) win + BAL loss + BUF loss (2) win + BAL loss + LAC win
No. 6 Seed
- Bills: (1) win + BAL win + LAC loss; TEN loss OR (2) win + BAL loss + LAC win + TEN win
- Chargers: (1) win + BAL win + TEN loss OR (2) win + BUF loss + TEN loss
- Ravens: (1) loss + BUF loss + TEN win OR (2) Loss + BUF win + TEN loss
- Titans: (1) win + BAL win OR (2) Win + BUF win + LAC loss OR (3) loss; BUF loss + LAC loss
No. 1 Seed
- Eagles
No. 2 Seed
- Panthers: win + MIN loss + NO loss; LAR loss
- Vikings: (1) win OR (2) CAR loss OR (3) NO win OR 4) LAR win
No. 3 Seed
- Panthers: win + MIN win + NO loss +LAR loss
- Rams: (1) win OR (2) CAR loss + NO loss
- Saints: win + LAR loss
- Vikings: loss + CAR win + NO loss +LAR loss
No. 4 Seed
- Panthers: win + NO loss + LAR win
- Rams: (1) loss + NO win OR (2) loss + AR win
- Saints: (1) win + LAR win OR (2) loss + CAR loss
No. 5 Seed
- Panthers: (1) loss OR (2) NO win
- Saints: loss + CAR win
No. 6 Seed
- Falcons: (1) win OR (2) SEA loss
- Seahawks: win + ATL loss
I hope this helps everyone understand what needs to happen in every scenario. For those of us who do not have a degree in engineering, this table should help everyone with any questions they have.
