As we enter the Sunday schedule for Week 17 in the NFL, the playoff field is starting to materialize clearly. With virtually every game, more and more teams are dropping out of the race, and the cream of the crop is rising to the top. But there are still a few vitally important games left in the schedule.
Thanks to the incredible parity in the league currently, a mind-boggling 10 of 14 teams in the playoff bracket already have 11 or more wins. But the exact seeding still remains in jeopardy. Here are the games that have the most at stake this week.
Confirmed Spots Ahead of Week 17
Coming into Week 17, these teams have already secured these things so far:
Denver Broncos Seeding Scenarios
The 1-seed is up for grabs in the conference. Thanks to a humiliating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Denver Broncos haven’t solidified their spot at the top of the AFC just yet.
Denver can clinch the AFC #1 seed today IF
- NE lose + BUF lose/tie + JAX lose/tie
New England Patriots Division Scenarios
There is just a one-game difference between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills currently. But thanks to the strength of schedule and common opponents, the Patriots are just a sliver away from ending the Bills’ reign of dominance over the AFC East.
NE can clinch the AFC East today IF:
- NE wins + BUF fails to win OR
- NE ties + BUF loses
Pittsburgh Steelers Division and Playoff Scenarios
With Lamar Jackson constantly missing time with injury and looking like a shell of himself on the field, combined with the injury to Joe Burrow, the Pittsburgh Steelers have emerged as the most consistent team in the AFC North. And they could secure a playoff spot as soon as today. They just have one goal to overcome.
PIT can clinch the AFC North today IF:
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Seattle Seeding and Division Scenarios
The Seattle Seahawks won one of the best games of the season last week, when they took care of business against the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. But their path, to the one-seed or the division, isn’t fully complete yet.
Thanks to the competitiveness of the NFC West, it remains the toughest division in the entire league. As a result, the Seahawks have a ways to go before they can secure their exact spot in the postseason picture.
SEA clinches the NFC #1 seed IF:
- SEA win + LAR loss/tie + SF tie
SEA clinches the NFC West IF:
- SEA win + LAR loss/tie + SF loss/tie OR
- SEA tie + LAR loss + SF loss
Carolina Panthers Division and Seeding Scenarios
Despite being counted out multiple times throughout the year, an excellent head coaching job by Dave Canales and Bryce Young, showing his potential as a former first overall pick, has the Carolina Panthers on the brink of winning the NFC South and securing a playoff berth.
CAR clinches the NFC South IF:
- CAR win + TB loss/tie OR
- CAR tie + TB loss
CAR is locked into the #4 seed IF:
- PHI win + CAR clinch NFC South
Philadelphia Eagles Seeding Lock
An up-and-down season for the reigning Super Bowl champions hasn’t mattered, as they still find themselves with a playoff berth secured and are the first back-to-back winners of the NFC East since the start of the century. Now their exact seed could also be confirmed this week.
PHI is locked into the #3 seed IF:
- SEA win + CHI win OR
- SEA win + SF win + PHI lose
Chicago Bears Seeding Lock
After a 0-2 start, it was hard to buy stock in the new-look Chicago Bears. But a masterful head coaching job by Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, steadily improving into the “Iceman,” has allowed them to win the NFC North outright. Now their playoff seed could be locked in this week.
CHI is locked into the #2 seed IF:
