Updated Sunday 9:27 AM ET
For the most part, the Week 17 games have been scheduled such that those that matter most to one another are being played simultaneously. Unfortunately, these various scenarios can get quite confusing, even for the people trying to explain them to you live on television.
The diagrams below are meant to correct that.
They list all the ways a team can make the playoffs — or be eliminated from them. The diagrams start with a given team and then list the potential outcomes of the games that might matter to them, in chronological order from left to right.
In the A.F.C., five teams are 10-5, but the playoffs have room for only four of them. One team among the Colts, Titans, Dolphins, Browns and Ravens could find itself with a 10-6 record but not a postseason berth, a bit of bad luck that was rare even when just six teams made the playoffs from each conference.
In the N.F.C., three teams — the Packers, Saints and Seahawks — could still get the top seed and the bye week that comes with it. (New rules this year mean only the top seed gets a bye week, as opposed to the top two.)
Keep this page handy during Sunday’s games. It may be more helpful than anything you’ll see on television, or on Twitter.
AFC East
The Buffalo Bills have won the A.F.C. East.
The Bills have little to play for Sunday. They clinched the A.F.C. East weeks ago and will host a playoff game in the wild-card round — in a stadium that will be allowed to hold 6,700 fans, per an order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo — whether they win or lose.
Explore all the Bills’ playoff possibilities here.
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Only one of 16 possible combinations of game outcomes would keep the Dolphins from the postseason, but it’s not as unlikely as it might sound. If the Dolphins lose to the Bills, they’ll find themselves in the unenviable position of rooting for a few underdogs: the Bengals, Jaguars and Steelers. One of those teams would need to win for the Dolphins to advance.
Explore all the Dolphins’ playoff possibilities here.
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AFC North
The Steelers are in the playoffs no matter what happens in their final game. They will be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. The Steelers are planning to rest some key starters against the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday. But they may wind up hosting the Browns in the playoffs a week later.
Explore all the Steelers’ playoff possibilities here.
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The Ravens have won four straight and need only a win against the Bengals or a Browns or Colts loss to ensure a playoff berth.
Explore all the Ravens’ playoff possibilities here.
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The Browns are in a more precarious position than a team with their record usually is. If they win, they are in the playoffs, as a No. 5, 6 or 7 seed. But if they lose, they would need the Jaguars to beat the Colts, or — if the Colts win — they’d need a Dolphins win, a Ravens win and a Texans win.
Explore all the Browns’ playoff possibilities here.
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AFC South
The Colts must win to make the playoffs. Luckily for them, their final game is against the Jaguars, who own the N.F.L.’s worst record. Yet the Colts still need help. Of the five 10-5 teams, the Colts are the only one for whom a win does not guarantee a postseason berth.
Explore all the Colts’ playoff possibilities here.
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Only a series of unfortunate events would keep the Titans from the playoffs. When the Titans’ game begins, they’ll know whether they are at risk of elimination. If the Dolphins beat the Bills and the Ravens beat the Bengals in the 1 p.m. round of games, the Titans may find themselves playing for a postseason berth.
Explore all the Titans’ playoff possibilities here.
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AFC West
The Chiefs have clinched the No. 1 seed.
Explore all the Chiefs’ playoff possibilities here.
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NFC East
The N.F.C. East is home to four teams with losing records, yet one of them will host a playoff game. The situation is straightforward: the Football Team advances with a win over the Eagles.
Explore all the Football Team’s playoff possibilities here.
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The Cowboys can win the division if two games go their way. They must beat the Giants and hope the Eagles beat the Football Team on Sunday night.
Explore all the Cowboys’ playoff possibilities here.
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Like the Cowboys, the Giants need to win and hope Washington loses.
Explore all the Giants’ playoff possibilities here.
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NFC North
The Packers control their chances for the No. 1 seed in the N.F.C. — and the bye week that accompanies it. A win or a Seahawks loss would guarantee it. The Packers can do no worse than the No. 3 seed, hosting the No 6 seed (probably the Cardinals, Rams or Bears).
Explore all the Packers’ playoff possibilities here.
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The Bears can advance two ways: by beating the Packers (12-3) or with a Rams victory over the Cardinals (surely the more likely of the two scenarios).
Explore all the Bears’ playoff possibilities here.
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NFC South
The Saints are in the playoffs, probably as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. If the Seahawks beat the 49ers, the Saints could get the No. 1 seed if they win and the Packers lose to the Bears.
Explore all the Saints’ playoff possibilities here.
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The Bucs are in the playoffs, most likely as a No. 5 seed, visiting the N.F.C. East winner — Washington, the Cowboys or the Giants. It’s safe to say they will be favored in any such matchup.
Explore all the Buccaneers’ playoff possibilities here.
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NFC West
The Seahawks are in the playoffs, probably as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. They do have an outside chance of getting the top spot, and the bye week that comes with it, but it would require two surprises in the form of Packers and Saints losses.
Explore all the Seahawks’ playoff possibilities here.
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A win by the Rams would guarantee a playoff berth. A loss is not necessarily fatal. As long as the Bears lose to the Packers — who will be playing for the No. 1 seed — the Rams are in.
Explore all the Rams’ playoff possibilities here.
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The Cardinals would advance with a victory over the Rams.
Explore all the Cardinals’ playoff possibilities here.
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Source: Football - nytimes.com
