What’s the scenario?: NFL Week 17 primer
Posted December 31, 2011 10:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A quick look at what could happen with the NFL playoff scenarios as the NFL enters its final weekend of games.
AFC
There is plenty left to be decided in the AFC as we fire through the final Sunday of games in the NFL. Eight teams still have yet to decide where they will sit in the standings when the final whistle sounds.
New England Patriots (12-3)
The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills knowing that they have a first-round bye already tucked away and could clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Tom Brady sat out practice on Thursday but should be good to go. If they don’t win, they will need both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens to lose in order to clinch home-field advantage.
Houston Texans (10-5)
The banged-up Texans will likely be sitting most of their starters this weekend as they have already claimed the South Division title and will be the three-seed in the AFC regardless of whether they win or lose against the Tennessee Titans.
Baltimore Ravens (11-4), Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
The Ravens are sitting in the catbird’s seat with regards to the AFC North Division title race. With a win in Cincinnati, they will take the division title although they need the Patriots to lose to clinch home-field advantage. It won’t be easy however as the Bengals are in the thick of the wild card race. The Ravens and Steelers are each guaranteed post-season spots but if the Ravens do fail to beat the Bengals, the Steelers can claim the division title with a win over the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh would need losses by both New England and Baltimore to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Denver Broncos (8-7), Oakland Raiders (8-7)
The Broncos could have made their lives so much easier by winning in Buffalo last weekend but they still control their own destiny. Essentially it will be win and they are in on Sunday when they host the Kansas City Chiefs. If they lose and the Oakland Raiders lose at home to the Chargers, they will still claim the division title.
The Raiders needed extra time, but they were able to take care of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead last weekend to remain in contention for a playoff spot. Unlike the Broncos, the Raiders still have an outside shot at a wild-card spot if they fail to win the AFC West title. However, it won’t be easy as they need both the Bengals and Titans to lose before they would qualify with a win over the Chargers.
Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
The Bengals hold all the cards in the hunt for the final wild-card spot in the AFC. With a win, they are playoff-bound but they are hosting a very tough Baltimore Ravens team that is also in need of a win so it is no sure thing. If the Bengals were to lose, they would need the Raiders to lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins to down the Jets to hang onto the playoff spot.
Tennessee Titans (8-7), New York Jets (8-7)
This is where it starts to get complicated. The Titans and Jets are the final two teams with a shot at a playoff berth in the AFC and their hopes are slim, especially the Jets. The Titans need to beat the Houston Texans and then for the Bengals and either the Raiders or Broncos to lose before they will qualify. The Jets need to see a similar scenario unfold plus to record a win over the Dolphins and to see the Titans lose as well.
NFC
The picture in the NFC is much clearer as one bye remains in play and there is only one division title up for grabs this weekend.
The Green Bay Packers (14-1) have clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Detroit Lions (10-5) and Atlanta Falcons (9-6) have clinched the two wild card spots in the NFC.
San Francisco 49ers (12-3), New Orleans Saints (12-3)
The 49ers hold all the cards in the battle for a bye week and having home-field advantage in Round 2. New Orleans and San Francisco share identical records but the Niners hold the tiebreaker. That being said, San Francisco needs to win in St. Louis to hang onto the bye. If they fail, they will open the door for the Saints who will host the Panthers on Sunday.
New York Giants (8-7), Dallas Cowboys (8-7)
What a way to close out the regular season!
The Giants and Cowboys square off in the Sunday night game to decide who wins the NFC East Division title. Winner gets entry into the playoffs (and a home playoff game to boot). Loser goes home for the winter.
(In the extremely unlikely event of a tie, the Giants would win the division based on a better head-to-head record.)
