The NFL regular season is down to only two weeks left, and many teams have already been eliminated. Let’s take a look at the playoff landscape as of Week 17:
NFL Playoff Picture before Week 17: Possibilities for victory
AFC Playoff structure
Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens are already qualified.
Cleveland Browns
To secure a spot in the AFC wild card round, they must win just once.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Because of their head-to-head percentage, they have the advantage over the Colts and Texans in the AFC South battle.
Buffalo Bills
Winning versus the New England Patriots would all but assure them an AFC wild-card position, with an 89% chance of making the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs
They would win and secure the AFC West championship for the eighth consecutive season.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts would secure a spot in the AFC wild card round if they win their final two games. Because of the divisional tiebreaker, they hold the advantage over other teams in the tiebreaker, and if they win 10-7, they’ll have the best AFC record out of all the teams who might finish 10-7.
If they defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in their previous two games, they have an additional chance to win the AFC South.
Houston Texans
The Texans still have a strong chance even though they aren’t currently qualifying. They share a tie with the Colts for a wild card place and are level with two other teams for the division title.
If they surpass the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts in their previous two games, they have an additional chance to win the AFC South.
NFC Playoff Image
Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys are already qualified.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The route is straightforward: victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday will ensure them of the NFC South title. In case you missed it, they are also tied for the final two wild card places with the Rams and Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks
Their victory over the Tennessee Titans was huge; they currently hold a one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings and are ranked sixth. They should benefit from two simple games to end the NFL regular season.
Los Angeles Rams
They will be really close if they defeat the Giants. However, they also need the Seahawks to lose and the Packers vs. Vikings game to end in a tie, which is uncommon in the NFL, in order to secure this week.
