For several NFL organizations, it will make it to week 17, as only seven of the 14 playoff teams have officially won postseason.
Here is a look at the NFL playoff image after Sunday night’s game, when the Green Bay Packers won a dominant Week 16 victory over the Tennessee Titans. (Noteworthy, this obviously does not reflect “Monday Night Football” between the post-season eliminated New England Patriots and AFC champion East Buffalo Bills.)
AFC:
(* Teams that won the playoff spot)
1. Kansas City Chiefs 14-1 *
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 12-3 *
3. Buffalo Bills 11-3 *
4. Tennessee Titans 10-5
5. Miami Dolphins 10-5
6. Baltimore Ravens 10-5
7. Cleveland Browns 10-5
On the hunt:
8. Indianapolis Colts 10-5
The Chiefs took first place in the AFC and therefore the advantage of playing at home with a victory in week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers had a three-game losing streak and beat AFC North after a comeback win over the Colts. Pittsburgh is currently in second place, but a Bills victory over the Patriots on Monday would put Pittsburgh back in third place.
It is a very close race after that, with five teams sitting 10-5. The Titans still have an advantage at AFC South over the Colts. If the Titans defeated the Houston Texans in Week 17, Tennessee would win the division and finish fourth.
The Dolphins were arguably the biggest winners of the weekend. Miami entered Week 16 as the 7th place (third wild card) and jumped to the 5th place (first wild card) after a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and defeats by the Browns and Colts. The Ravens, who were out looking just last week, won a victory over the New York Giants and, like the Dolphins, benefited from the defeats of Browns and Colts, as they have a tie in both. Baltimore will win a playoff spot with a week 17 victory over Cincinnati.
The Browns’ loss to the Jets hurt, but it didn’t knock them out. Cleveland can guarantee a playoff spot if A) defeats the Steelers, B) defeats the Colts or C) if the Titans lose and the Ravens, Colts and Dolphins win.
Indianapolis still has a chance to win in the postseason, but the Colts have no tiebreakers against the Browns or Ravens. First, it will take a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and then a defeat for the Titans, Ravens, Browns or Dolphins. The Colts can still win the AFC South title and finish fourth with a victory and defeat in Tennessee.
NFC:
1. Green Bay Packers 12-3 *
2. New Orleans Saints 11-4 *
3. Seattle Seahawks 11-4 *
4. Washington Football Team 6-9
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-5 *
6. Los Angeles Rams 9-6
7. Chicago Bears 8-7
On the hunt:
8. Arizona Cardinals 8-7
11. Dallas Cowboys 6-9
13. New York Giants 5-10
The Packers are a game closer to the number 1 seed and, therefore, the advantage of playing at home. Green Bay was unable to claim it on Sunday, as Saints and Seahawks won their Week 16 games as well. The Packers will take first place with a Week 17 victory over the Bears or Seahawks defeat for the San Francisco 49ers.
The Saints led by Alvin Kamara officially won NFC South with their victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Christmas, while Seattle won the NFC West title with a week 16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans could win seed # 1 with a victory over the Carolina Panthers and the Packers’ defeat to the Bears during week 17. Seattle would need to beat the 49ers and both Packers and Saints lost week 17 to win the No. 1 seed, which is not exactly likely.
Tom Brady’s Buccaneers won their first playoff spot since 2007, after a unilateral victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. However, as Tampa Bay was swept away by New Orleans this season, they cannot win the division and will therefore be on the road to the first round playing against the NFC East champion, provided they win the Atlanta Falcons Week 17.
The other three teams – Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago – will have their fate decided in week 17. Washington leads NFC East, but neither the Cowboys nor the Giants have been eliminated. If Washington wins week 17 of Philadelphia, the football team will be in the postseason. If Washington loses to Philadelphia, the Giants-Cowboys winner will make the playoffs.
The Rams will need a victory or defeat by the Bears to win a post-season spot, while the Bears will need to beat the Packers or a defeat by the Cardinals to the Rams to reach the playoffs. Arizona can still return to the playoff with a victory over the Rams and a defeat by Chicago to Green Bay.
Did you understand all that?
Miniature photo via Tim Fuller / USA TODAY Sports Images