Week 17 N.F.L. Playoff Picture Preview: A Team-by-Team Guide

The Payments are the A.F.C. East champions. Their remaining video games will decide whether or not they’re the No. 1 seed, with a bye week and home-field benefit all through the convention playoffs, or presumably the No. 2 and even the No. 3 seed. Their subsequent recreation, at Cincinnati on Monday evening, is by far the extra necessary of the 2.

If the Payments beat the Bengals, they will do no worse than the No. 2 seed and can be in a powerful place for the No. 1 seed, even when they lose at dwelling to the Patriots of their ultimate recreation.

The Dolphins have a transparent path to the postseason as a wild-card workforce. In the event that they win their remaining games, they’re in, most likely because the No. 7 seed, visiting the Bengals, Chiefs or Payments.

Successful only one recreation nonetheless leaves them with a good probability of constructing the playoffs at 9-8. Of their ultimate two video games, the sport in Week 18, internet hosting the Jets, is extra necessary.

The Patriots are in a surprisingly robust place given their file. Successful out will assure them the last spot within the A.F.C. A loss this week, after they host the Dolphins, would eradicate them.

The Jets share the identical file because the Patriots, at 7-8, however have worse prospects. They too are hoping for the No. 7 seed — the final spot within the A.F.C. — however profitable two video games can be no assure. A loss eliminates them.

The Jets’ finest Week 17 situation is a win and a Patriots loss. That might put them ready to clinch a playoff berth with a win in Week 18.

The Bengals are within the playoffs however may nonetheless finish the season in a wide range of locations, together with because the coveted No. 1 seed, but in addition presumably as little as the No. 6 seed. Their recreation on Monday evening, internet hosting the Payments, is essential. In the event that they win that, they will nonetheless get the No. 1 seed. However for profitable the division, it’s their final recreation, internet hosting the Ravens, that issues extra. So long as they win that recreation, they’ll win the A.F.C. North, most likely as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

The Ravens are within the playoffs. Their remaining video games will decide if they’re the division champion, more than likely because the No. 3 seed, or a wild-card workforce, most likely because the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. Of their two remaining video games, it’s the final one which issues extra. In the event that they win that, they’ve a good probability of profitable the division, even when they lose Sunday towards the Steelers. Two wins would assure the division title.

The Steelers will not be prone to make the playoffs. A loss in both of their remaining video games would eradicate them. Even when they win their remaining video games, they’ve lower than a 1-in-10 probability of advancing. But when followers wish to stay optimistic, Pittsburgh’s finest final result in Week 17 is a win accompanied by Dolphins and Jets losses.

The Jaguars have an attention-grabbing pair of video games forward. What occurs on Sunday, towards the Texans, barely impacts their playoff probabilities. So long as they win in Week 18 towards the Titans, the Jaguars are in with the No. 4 seed, internet hosting the No. 5 seed — most likely the Ravens or Chargers.

The Titans lost decisively to the Cowboys on Thursday evening, nevertheless it was meaningless in regard to their postseason prospects. The one recreation that issues for them is in Week 18 in Jacksonville. In the event that they win that, they’ll win the division. In the event that they lose, they’re out.

Not a lot has modified since Week 16 for the Chiefs: They’ve clinched the A.F.C. West and might do no worse than a No. 3 seed, however their loss to the Payments in October places them at an obstacle within the race for the No. 1 spot. The Chiefs want the Payments to drop a recreation. If the Chiefs win and the Bills lose to the Bengals this week — a sensible final result — the Chiefs will clinch the No. 1 seed if they win in Week 18.

The Chargers are within the playoffs as a wild-card workforce it doesn’t matter what occurs. The one factor their remaining video games will decide will probably be their seed — it might be No. 5, No. 6 or No 7.

The Raiders are alive, however largely in a mathematical sense. A loss eliminates them, they usually host the 49ers (11-4) on Sunday.

The Eagles have the N.F.L.’s finest file, and a win in either of their remaining video games will clinch the No. 1 seed. That mentioned, they’re coming off a loss and are prone to be taking part in each video games with out their injured star quarterback, Jalen Hurts. The worst-case situation for the Eagles? Two losses may imply the Cowboys take the division, with the Eagles doubtlessly falling as little as the No. 5 seed and visiting the Bucs, Panthers or Saints within the wild-card spherical.

The Cowboys beat the Titans in Week 17 and have saved their hopes alive to win the division, slender as they might be. They’ve clinched a playoff berth and are realistically vying for the absolute best seed for a wild-card workforce: No. 5. That’s fairly a reward, contemplating it might most likely imply visiting the champions of a depressing N.F.C. South: the Bucs, Saints or Panthers.

Forward of Week 17’s weekend video games, the Cowboys may nonetheless win the division, and, sure, even get the No. 1 seed.

The Giants are a probable playoff workforce, and yet another win would assure a playoff berth because the No. 6 seed. They’d go to the No. 2 seed — most likely Minnesota or San Francisco — within the wild-card spherical. With two losses, they may miss the playoffs altogether, or make it because the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, through which case they might additionally most likely go to Minnesota or San Francisco.

The Vikings are realistically taking part in for the No. 2 seed, as they path the Eagles (13-2) by a recreation and would lose the tiebreaker if each groups completed with the identical file. Their solely path to the No. 1 seed is to win out and have the Eagles lose out. Barring that, 49ers losses are good for the Vikings. A 49ers loss and a Vikings win would imply the Vikings may do no worse than No. 2.

The Packers have a path, however not a straightforward one, they usually need assistance. Realistically, they need to win their remaining video games, beginning with a win towards the division-champion Vikings at Lambeau Subject on Sunday. They do have a path to the postseason in the event that they lose, nevertheless it’s fairly slender.

The Packers’ best-case situation in Week 17 is a win accompanied by Commanders and Giants losses.

The Lions share the Packers’ 7-8 file however face a narrower path to the playoffs. Maybe their solely comfort is that they’ve a neater Week 17 opponent, dealing with the 3-12 Bears as an alternative of the 12-3 Vikings (the Packers’ opponent). A win on Sunday would give them a preventing probability.

Finest-case situation in Week 17: Lions win; Giants, Commanders, Seahawks and Packers lose. That might put them in place to clinch with a win in Week 18.

The Saints will not be prone to make the playoffs. They have to win their ultimate two video games and get lots of assist; a loss eliminates them. Sadly for them, their subsequent recreation is in Philadelphia towards the Eagles.

The Panthers could also be 6-9 however they’ll win the division in the event that they win their remaining games, beginning with an eminently winnable one towards the Bucs on Sunday. In the event that they lose that, they’re eradicated. In the event that they win, they may afford to lose in Week 18 with some assist elsewhere.

The 49ers have gained the N.F.C. West. As with the Vikings, their remaining video games will most likely decide solely whether or not they’re the No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed.

The Seawhawks’ solely hope for a playoff berth is as a wild-card workforce, more than likely because the No. 7 seed visiting the No. 2 seed (most likely the Vikings or 49ers). However even two wins can be no assure.

In Week 17, Seahawks followers ought to hope for a win and losses by the Packers, Commanders and Giants. That might put them ready to advance with a win in Week 18.