Don’t look now, but the Dallas Cowboys’ path to the playoffs is still open in the last week of the regular season.
A busy NFL Sunday altered the league playoffs, with the Cowboys’ 37-17 victory over the Eagles eliminating Philadelphia from contention and establishing a Week 17 in which Washington (6-9), Dallas (6-9) and New York All giants (5-10) have a chance to beat NFC East.
Here is a look at the current playoff image for both conferences, with an analysis of how the field could change based on the results of week 17.
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs – 14-1 (won goodbye in the first round and home advantage)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers – 12-3 (division won)
3. Buffalo Bills – 11-3 (division won)
4. Tennessee Titans – 10-5
5. Miami Dolphins – 10-5
6. Baltimore Ravens – 10-5
7. Cleveland Browns – 10-5
Here’s what we know: The Chiefs will be the No. 1 seed in AFC, while the Steelers and Bills have won their respective divisions. The only undecided division is the South, with the Titans currently in the driver’s seat. If Tennessee wins the Texans in Week 17, the Titans will win the division. A loss opens the door to the Colts (10-5), who would have to beat the Jaguars at home next week.
Indianapolis is also on the outside looking for the wild card. The Dolphins (in Buffalo), Ravens (in Cincinnati) and Browns (vs. Pittsburgh) guarantee a playoff spot with a win next week or a loss for the Colts. The Colts need to beat the Jaguars and make one of the three teams lose to enter the field.
Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports
NFC
1. Green Bay Packers – 11-3 (division won)
2. New Orleans Saints – 11-4 (division won)
3. Seattle Seahawks – 11-4 (division won)
4. Washington Football Team – 6-9
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10-5 (spot won)
6. Los Angeles Rams – 9-6
7. Chicago Bears – 8-7
By defeating the Rams on Sunday, the Seahawks conquered NFC West for the first time since 2016. In the East, Washington can seal the division by beating the Eagles next week in Philadelphia. If the eagles win, the eastern champion will be the Cowboys (6-9) or Giants (5-10), who face each other at MetLife Stadium next week.
For the wild card, three teams compete for the remaining two spots, with Tampa Bay already guaranteed to enter the field. Rams can guarantee a spot with a home win against Cardinals (8-7). Likewise, the Bears would guarantee a playoff offer by defeating the Packers at home in week 17. If the Bears lost and the Cardinals won, then Arizona and Los Angeles would enter. If the Rams win, then the Bears would get the final local playoff, regardless of their result against Green Bay. The Rams would only lose if they lost to Arizona and the Bears won.