With just two weeks left in the NFL season, both the AFC and NFC will have a great opportunity to give fans full hearts or heartburn.
The AFC has one spot left in a clear three-team race, though the Steelers have about a two percent chance of defending their way. to earn a bid as they need just one win from their last two games. And the team most likely to clinch the final AFC wild card, the Miami Dolphins, just lost Tua Tagovailoa to the concussion protocol, leaving his status this weekend and the remainder of the season unclear.
Heading into Week 17, five teams have clinched playoff spots in the AFC and four in the NFC. The scenarios for the other playoff contenders are nearly endless, and with none locked up and three divisions still locked in, there’s a lot more at stake this week than just wild-card berths. Only the Tennessee Titans have absolutely nothing to play for this week as their fate hinges on the outcome of their Week 18 game against Jacksonville.
• Buffalo earns the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a Week 17 win against the Bengals and a Chiefs loss.
• Buffalo’s Week 17 opponent, the Bengals, clinch the AFC North on Monday night with a win and a Ravens loss or a tie vs. the Steelers or a tie vs. Buffalo and a Ravens loss.
• The Dolphins clinch a playoff berth with a Patriots win and a Jets loss, or a Patriots tie, Jets loss, and Steelers tie or lose.
• The Eagles clinch the NFC East with a win against the Saints or a Cowboys loss or a tie at the Titans. They would also secure the NFC lead and home field advantage in the playoffs with a win or a loss or tie by the Cowboys and 49ers and a loss by the Vikings.
• The Buccaneers clinch the NFC South by beating the Panthers on Sunday.
• The Giants will clinch a playoff berth by winning either of their remaining two games. And even without a win this week, the Giants will get in if some combination of the Seahawks, Commanders, Lions and Packers lose.
Let’s see how the playoff picture could change with each result this week.
Cowboys at Titans, 8:15 PM ET Thursday
What if the Cowboys win and the Eagles lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
6.2 percent |
+4.6 percent |
What if the Titans lose?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
22.8 percent |
+0.0 percent |
And if the titans win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
23.0 percent |
+0.2 percent |
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
0.0 percent |
-1.6 percent |
Saints at Eagles, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
What if the Saints win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
9.3 percent |
+6.5 percent |
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
75.0 percent |
-17.4 percent |
What if the Eagles win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
100.0 percent |
+7.6 percent |
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
0.0 percent |
-2.8 percent |
Jaguars at Texas, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
And if the Jaguars win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
78.7 percent |
+0.5 percent |
What if the Texans win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
76.1 percent |
-2.1 percent |
Broncos at Chiefs, Sunday 1:00 PM ET
And if the Broncos win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
2.5 percent |
-32.7 percent |
What if the bosses win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
41.8 percent |
+6.6 percent |
What if the Chiefs win and the Bills lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
75.6 percent |
+40.4 percent |
|
|
17.2 percent |
+9.2 percent |
|
|
7.2 percent |
-49.6 percent |
Bears at Lions, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
What if the Lions win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
40.6 percent |
+7.6 percent |
What if the bears win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
4.6 percent |
-28.4 percent |
Dolphins at Patriots, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
And if the Dolphins win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
84.4 percent |
+16.8 percent |
|
|
0.0 percent |
-10.4 percent |
And if the Patriots win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
20.7 percent |
+10.4 percent |
|
|
42.0 percent |
-25.6 percent |
Panthers at Buccaneers, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
What if the Bucs win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
100.0 percent |
+19.2 percent |
|
|
0.0 percent |
-17.6 percent |
What if the Panthers win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
50.1 percent |
+32.5 percent |
|
|
44.7 percent |
-36.1 percent |
Browns at Commanders, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET
And if the Browns win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
8.5 percent |
-20.8 percent |
What if the commanders win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
50.4 percent |
+21.1 percent |
Colts at Giants, 1 p.m. ET Sunday
What if the Colts win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
79.9 percent |
-6.2 percent |
And if the giants win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
100.0 percent |
+13.9 percent |
Jets at Seahawks, Sunday 4:05 ET
And if the Jets win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
44.7 percent |
+25.8 percent |
|
|
7.7 percent |
-15.0 percent |
What if the Seahawks win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
53.6 percent |
+30.9 percent |
|
|
0.0 percent |
-18.9 percent |
49ers at Raiders, Sunday 4:05 ET
And if 49 win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
5.2 percent |
+2.1 percent |
What if the 49ers win and the Eagles lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
16.3 percent |
+13.2 percent |
What if the Raiders win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
0.0 percent |
-3.1 percent |
Vikings at Packers, Sunday 4:25 PM ET
And if the Vikings win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
6.5 percent |
+3.3 percent |
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
2.9 percent |
-25.4 percent |
And if the Packers win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
39.5 percent |
+11.2 percent |
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
0.0 percent |
-3.2 percent |
What if the Vikings win and the Eagles lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
20.2 percent |
+17.0 percent |
Steelers at Ravens, 8:20 PM ET Sunday
What if the Steelers win?
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
5.1 percent |
+3.1 percent |
| TEAM: | DIVISION PROBABILITY | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
80.9 percent |
+7.5 percent |
|
|
19.1 percent |
-7.5 percent |
And if the Ravens win?
| TEAM: | DIVISION PROBABILITY | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
67.2 percent |
-6.2 percent |
|
|
32.8 percent |
+6.2 percent |
| TEAM: | A LOT OF PLAYOFFS! | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
0.0 percent |
-2.0 percent |
Bills at Bengals, Monday 8:15 PM ET
What if the Bills win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
86.7 percent |
+30.5 percent |
|
|
13.3 percent |
-22.6 percent |
|
|
0.0 percent |
-8.0 percent |
What if the Bills win and the Chiefs lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
100.0 percent |
+46.8 percent |
What if the Bengals win?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
64.4 percent |
+28.5 percent |
|
|
25.5 percent |
+17.5 percent |
|
|
10.1 percent |
-46.1 percent |
What if the Chiefs win and the Bills lose?
| TEAM: | 1-SEED ODDS | A CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
|
75.6 percent |
+40.4 percent |
|
|
17.2 percent |
+9.2 percent |
|
|
7.2 percent |
-49.6 percent |
(Photo by Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds: Leon Halip/Getty Images)
.
