NFL playoff projections: How seeding & matchups will look in AFC, NFC brackets

As Week 17 arrives, little is set when it comes to NFL playoff seeding for the AFC and NFC postseason brackets. But based on our game picks for this week and how they will impact the playoff picture, we can project the final brackets and matchups for the postseason.

Given the NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 17, the playoff picture could change significantly by the time Sunday ends. In the AFC, only two playoff teams are locked into their seeds — the No. 1-seeded Ravens and the No. 5-seeded Bills. Only one NFC team, the No. 6-seeded Vikings, is locked into its position.

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Yet we doubt there will be much change in the playoff picture this week despite the many possibilities. Most of the teams fighting for higher seeds are strong favorites to win their games in Week 17. With that said, we are projecting a couple changes involving high-profile teams toward the bottom of the NFL playoff bracket.

Here is our latest projection for the seeds and matchups in the NFL playoffs, followed by a look at the current (and real) playoff picture entering Week 17.

NFL playoff picture: AFC projections

• No. 1 seed: Baltimore Ravens (clinched)

Games remaining: vs. Steelers
Projected wild-card game: BYE

Baltimore is locked into this seed, meaning it will benefit from a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. As if Lamar Jackson and the Ravens needed such an edge.

• No. 2 seed: New England Patriots

Games remaining: vs. Dolphins
Projected wild-card game: BYE

New England simply needs to beat Miami on Sunday in order to clinch this seed. Because the Patriots will be motivated to earn the first-round bye that comes with this position, we picked them to handle the Dolphins with relative ease.

• No. 3 seed: Kansas City Chiefs

Games remaining: vs. Chargers
Projected wild-card game: vs. Steelers

We like the Chiefs to beat the Chargers on Sunday, but we also like the Patriots to take care of the Dolphins. That scenario would keep Kansas City at No. 3, where it would host the No. 6 seed in the wild-card round.

• No. 4 seed: Houston Texans

Games remaining: vs. Titans
Projected wild-card game: vs. Bills

The Texans, who clinched the AFC South title last week, will have either this seed or No. 3 depending on the results of Week 17. If Kansas City beats Los Angeles (as we expect) before Houston's game against Tennessee kicks off Sunday, it won't matter what the Texans do against the Titans. (Although the result will matter for Tennessee.)

MORE: How Raiders can make the playoffs

• No. 5 seed: Buffalo Bills (clinched)

Games remaining: vs. Jets
Projected wild-card game: at Texans

Buffalo is locked into this seed, meaning it is likely to head to Houston for a wild-card game against the Texans. Look for the Bills to rest their key starters against the Jets in anticipation of a postseason run.

• No. 6 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers

Games remaining: at Ravens
Projected wild-card game: at Chiefs

In our game picks for Week 17, we have the Steelers beating the Ravens thanks in part to Baltimore resting its key starters. But that result isn't enough for Pittsburgh to make the playoffs; it also needs Tennessee to lose in Houston. We picked the Texans to win that game, and such a combo of results would get the Steelers back to the postseason.

MORE: All clinching scenarios for Steelers

NFL playoff picture: NFC projections

• No. 1 seed: San Francisco 49ers

Games remaining: at Seahawks
Projected wild-card game: BYE

The 49ers have a simple scenario in front of them. If they beat the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday night, they will win the NFC West and clinch this seed. Thanks in part to the injuries impacting the Seahawks, we like the 49ers to do just that, forcing the NFC playoffs to go through San Francisco.

• No. 2 seed: Green Bay Packers

Games remaining: at Lions
Projected wild-card game: BYE

The Packers are double-digit favorites over the Lions, and because they know the Saints can still jump them for the No. 2 seed, they'll play well enough in Detroit to lock themselves into this position. That will give Green Bay a first-round bye and a home game in the divisional round against the highest remaining seed.

• No. 3 seed: New Orleans Saints

Games remaining: at Panthers
Projected wild-card game: vs. Vikings

The Saints should have no trouble beating up on the lifeless Panthers on Sunday and giving themselves a chance to jump to No. 2 or even No. 1. But if the 49ers and Packers in, they will be stuck in the No. 3 seed and ready to host the Vikings in the wild-card round.

• No. 4 seed: Dallas Cowboys

Games remaining: vs. Redskins
Projected wild-card game: vs. Seahawks

This would be a ridiculous entrance to the playoffs, but if our game predictions for Week 17 become reality, the Cowboys will reach the postseason with a .500 record. We have Dallas handling Washington while New York upsets Philadelphia — exactly the scenario the Cowboys need to extend their season and land a home game in the wild-card round.

MORE: All Cowboys vs. Eagles scenarios

• No. 5 seed: Seattle Seahawks

Games remaining: vs. 49ers
Projected wild-card game: at Cowboys

This projection is tied to the aforementioned prediction for Sunday night's game in Seattle. The loser will finish second in the NFC West and fall back to a wild card.

• No. 6 seed: Minnesota Vikings (clinched)

Games remaining: vs. Bears
Projected wild-card game: at Saints

The Vikings locked themselves into this seed when they lost to the Packers on Monday night, making their Week 17 game against the Bears meaningless.

Current NFL playoff picture

Back to reality. Here is how the NFL playoff picture looks in Week 17.

AFC

In the hunt: Steelers (8-7), Raiders (6-8)

NFC

In the hunt: Cowboys (7-8)