Four Playoff Spots Remain as NFL Enters Week 17 Crunch
With only two spots remaining in each conference, Week 17 is crucial as teams vie for playoff positions, with seven division titles still undecided and the No. 1 seed in both conferences up for grabs.
Eight teams punched their tickets to the postseason in Week 16. Only two spots remain in each conference, and the situation could be resolved entirely by the end of Week 17, with four teams potentially clinching this weekend.
But the math is far from settled. Seven division titles remain up for grabs, and neither conference has crowned its No. 1 seed. Here's the roadmap for Week 17.
AFC
Denver Broncos (12-3)
Already clinched playoffs. Can clinch the AFC West if:
- Broncos beat Chiefs AND Chargers lose or tie vs. Texans, OR
- Broncos tie AND Chargers lose
Can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed if Broncos win, Chargers lose, Patriots lose to Jets, Bills lose or tie vs. Eagles, and Jaguars lose or tie vs. Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
Already clinched playoffs. Can clinch the AFC South if:
- Jaguars beat Colts AND Texans lose or tie vs. Chargers, OR
- Jaguars tie AND Texans lose
New England Patriots (12-3)
Already clinched playoffs. Can clinch the AFC East if:
- Patriots beat Jets AND Bills lose or tie vs. Eagles, OR
- Patriots tie AND Bills lose
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
Can clinch a playoff spot and win the AFC North if:
- Steelers beat Browns, OR
- Ravens lose or tie vs. Broncos
Playoff probability: 91%
Houston Texans (10-5)
Can clinch a playoff spot if:
- Texans win or tie vs. Chargers, OR
- Colts lose or tie vs. Jaguars, OR
- Texans clinch at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over Colts (would need wins from Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, 49ers, Rams, Buccaneers)
Playoff probability: 97%
NFC
Chicago Bears (11-4)
Already clinched playoffs. Can clinch the NFC North if:
- Bears beat 49ers, OR
- Packers lose to Ravens, OR
- Bears tie AND Packers tie
Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
Can clinch a playoff spot if:
- Packers win or tie vs. Ravens, OR
- Lions lose or tie vs. Vikings
Playoff probability: 93%
Carolina Panthers (8-7)
Can clinch a playoff spot and win the NFC South if:
- Panthers beat Seahawks AND Buccaneers lose or tie vs. Dolphins, OR
- Panthers tie AND Buccaneers lose
Playoff probability: 43%
Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Already clinched playoffs. Can clinch the NFC West if:
- Seahawks beat Panthers, Rams lose or tie vs. Falcons, and 49ers lose or tie vs. Bears, OR
- Seahawks tie, Rams lose, and 49ers lose
Can clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed if Seahawks win, Rams lose, and Bears-49ers ends in a tie.
