NFL Playoff Scenarios 2017 Latest: Who’s In, Out, Tiebreakers, Chances

The 2017 NFL playoff picture could be mostly set by the end of Week 16. While 19 teams are still technically in contention to reach the postseason, 11 teams have a chance to clinch a playoff berth on the upcoming schedule because of tiebreaker scenarios.

Five teams are in the playoffs, no matter what happens in Week 16 and Week 17. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are division champions competing for the AFC’s No.1 seed, and the Jacksonville Jaguars remain in the hunt for a first-round bye. The Philadelphia Eagles can do no worse than the No.2 seed in the NFC, and the Minnesota Vikings have their eyes on home-field advantage through the 2018 Super Bowl after clinching the NFC North.

Jacksonville is guaranteed to have at least a wild-card berth, and they would clinch the AFC South title with a victory Sunday. A Week 16 win would give the Los Angeles Rams the NFC West title.

The New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs both have a chance to clinch their respective division titles in Week 16. New Orleans would become the NFC South champs with a win over the Atlanta Falcons and a loss by the Carolina Panthers. A win for Kansas City and a loss for the Los Angeles Chargers, or a tie for both teams, would give the Chiefs their second straight AFC West crown.

All the Falcons need to do is win in New Orleans to clinch a playoff spot in Week 16. They are trying to hold off the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks, who face off Sunday. The Detroit Lions are a game behind Atlanta, as well, though they would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Falcons.

The Tennessee Titans are the AFC’s No.5 seed and remain in the AFC South race. They’ve got a chance to officially get in the playoffs Sunday, though it’s a long shot. In addition to beating the Rams, against whom they are significant underdogs, Tennessee needs losses from the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

The Bills are the only team that’s currently in the playoffs and can’t clinch a postseason berth in Week 16. The AFC’s No.6 seed can technically win their last two games and still miss the playoffs because of complicated tiebreaker scenarios. Click here to read exactly what Buffalo needs to make the postseason in Week 17.

Baltimore is the AFC’s No.7 seed, and they share the same record as Tennessee and Buffalo. The Chargers are one game back and need some help. The Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins are mathematically alive in the AFC wild-card race with virtually no chance of reaching the playoffs.