The NFL playoff picture will crystalize this week as Week 17 of the regular season plays out. While many teams have clinched, the seeding is still up in the air for some of the league's top teams.
It's the last week of the season and while many teams control their own fate, some need help from other games. AFC leaders Chiefs, Patriots, Chargers, Texans and Titans are still all fighting for that highly coveted first-round bye. The first four mentioned teams also have the chance to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, with some scenarios more likely to play out than others.
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On the NFC side the Saints have already locked up that home-field advantage. The Rams and the Bears hope to join New Orleans in watching the wild-card round of the playoffs from home, and fight for that second first-round bye spot.
Below are the NFL playoff clinching scenarios in play for Week 17, along with the overall playoff picture as the 2018 postseason is on the horizon.
WEEK 17 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 17
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (clinched playoff berth)
(vs. Oakland)
— Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
- KC win OR
- KC tie + LAC loss or tie OR
- LAC loss + NE loss or tie + HOU loss or tie OR
- LAC loss + NE loss or tie + KC clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU
— Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and a first-round bye with:
- LAC loss + NE loss or tie OR
- LAC loss + HOU loss or tie
- LAC loss + KC clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU
— Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:
- LAC loss OR
- KC tie + LAC tie
New England Patriots (clinched AFC East)
(vs. New York Jets)
— New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
- NE win + KC loss + LAC loss
— New England clinches a first-round bye with:
- NE win OR
- NE tie + HOU loss or tie OR
- BAL loss or tie + HOU loss + TEN loss or tie
Houston Texans (clinched playoff berth)
(vs. Jacksonville)
— Houston clinches AFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
- HOU win + NE loss or tie + KC loss + LAC loss + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over KC
— Houston clinches AFC South division title and a first-round bye with:
- HOU win + NE loss or tie OR
- HOU win + KC loss + LAC loss + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over KC OR
- HOU tie + NE loss OR
- IND-TEN tie + NE loss + BAL win + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over BAL
— Houston clinches AFC South division title with:
- HOU win or tie OR
- IND-TEN tie
Baltimore Ravens
(vs. Cleveland)
— Baltimore clinches AFC North division title and a first-round bye with:
- BAL win + NE loss + HOU loss + IND-TEN does not end in a tie OR
- BAL win + NE loss + HOU loss + BAL clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU
— Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:
- BAL win OR
- PIT loss OR
- BAL tie + PIT tie
— Baltimore clinches a playoff berth with:
- BAL tie + IND-TEN tie
Los Angeles Chargers (clinched playoff berth)
(at Denver)
— Los Angeles clinches AFC West division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
- LAC win + KC loss or tie OR
- LAC tie + KC loss
Indianapolis Colts
(at Tennessee)
Indianapolis clinches AFC South division title with:
IND win + HOU loss
— Indianapolis clinches a playoff berth with:
- IND win OR
- IND tie + PIT loss or tie OR
- IND tie + BAL loss
Tennessee Titans
(vs. Indianapolis)
— Tennessee clinches AFC South division title and first-round bye with:
- TEN win + HOU loss + NE loss + BAL loss or tie
— Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:
- TEN win + HOU loss
— Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with:
- TEN win
Pittsburgh Steelers
(vs. Cincinnati)
— Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:
- PIT win + BAL loss or tie OR
- PIT tie + BAL loss
— Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:
- PIT win + IND-TEN tie
NFC
Los Angeles Rams (clinched NFC West)
(vs. San Francisco)
— Los Angeles clinches a first-round bye with:
- LAR win or tie OR
- CHI loss or tie
Chicago Bears (clinched NFC North)
(at Minnesota)
— Chicago clinches a first-round bye with:
- CHI win + LAR loss
Minnesota Vikings
(vs. Chicago)
— Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with:
- MIN win or tie OR
- PHI loss or tie
Philadelphia Eagles
(at Redskins)
— Philadelphia clinches a playoff berth with:
- PHI win + MIN loss
New Orleans Saints (clinched NFC South division title and home-field advantage)
Dallas Cowboys (clinched NFC East)
Seattle Seahawks (clinched playoff berth)
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
- New England Patriots (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
In the hunt:
Tennessee Titans (9-6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6-1)
NFC
- New Orleans Saints (13-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-3)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- Dallas Cowboys (9-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1)
In the hunt:
Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)