There are currently 24 teams mathematically still in contention for a playoff spot in the NFL, but that number could drop significantly come Week 17.
Six teams have already booked their spots in the postseason, and seven more could do the same this weekend. All seven players can’t do it, as there are many scenarios that require a combination of outcomes that gives one team an advantage over another, but it’s very easy for three teams.
The Browns, Chiefs, and Buccaneers all have wins, and the Chiefs and Buccaneers will win their respective divisions with a win this Sunday. The Ravens and Dolphins are already in the playoffs, and the winner of Week 17’s game will clinch the division title. If the Ravens win, they will also have home-field advantage as the top seed in the AFC.
You can see all of this week’s playoff scenarios below.
A.F.C.
clinch:
Baltimore Ravens (12-3) – Playoff berth
Miami Dolphins (11-4) – Playoff berth
Baltimore Ravens (12-3) vs. Miami (11-4); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Baltimore wins AFC North title:
- BAL win or draw or
- CLE Lose or Draw
Baltimore earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the only first-round bye, and home-field advantage.:
- BAL’s victory
Buffalo Bills (9-6) vs. New England (4-11); Sunday, 1pm ET, CBS
Buffalo qualifies for the playoffs:
- BUF win + PIT loss or draw + CIN loss or draw or
- BUF win + PIT loss or draw + JAX loss or draw or
- BUF win + PIT loss or draw + HOU loss or draw + IND loss or draw or
- BUF Win + CIN Lose or Draw + JAX Lose or Draw or
- BUF Win + CIN Lose or Draw + HOU Lose or Draw + IND Lose or Draw or
- BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + JAX loss or
- BUF Tie + PIT Loss + CIN Loss + HOU Loss or Tie or
- BUF Tie + PIT Loss + CIN Loss + IND Loss or Tie or
- BUF draw + PIT loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or draw or
- BUF draw + PIT loss + JAX loss + IND loss or draw or
- BUF draw + PIT loss + HOU loss + IND loss or
- BUF draw + CIN loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or draw or
- BUF Tie + CIN Loss + JAX Loss + IND Loss or Tie or
- BUF draw + CIN loss + HOU loss + IND loss
Cleveland Browns (10-5) vs. New York Jets (6-9) Thursday, 8:15pm ET, Prime Video
Cleveland qualifies for the playoffs:
- CLE win or draw or
- PIT loss or draw or
- BUF loss or
- JAX Lose or Draw or
- HOU loss or draw + IND loss or draw
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) vs. Carolina (2-13); Sunday, 1pm ET, CBS
Jacksonville earns playoff berth and AFC South title:
- JAX win + IND lose + HOU lose
Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) vs. Cincinnati (8-7); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Kansas City earns playoff berth and AFC West title:
- KC wins or draws or
- LV loss or draw + DEN loss or draw
Miami Dolphins (11-4) Against Baltimore (12-3). Sunday, 1pm ET, CBS
Miami wins AFC East title:
- MIA wins or draws or
- BUF loss or draw
NFC
clinch:
Detroit Lions (11-4) – NFC North Champion
San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – NFC West Champion
Dallas Cowboys (10-5) – Playoff berth
Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) — Playoff berth
Los Angeles Rams (8-7) Against the New York Giants (5 wins, 10 losses). Sunday, 1pm ET, FOX
LA Rams qualify for playoffs:
- LAR win + SEA loss or
- LAR win + GB-MIN draw
Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) vs. Arizona (3-12); Sunday, 1pm ET, FOX
Philadelphia wins NFC East title:
- PHI win + DAL loss or tie or
- PHI draw + DAL loss
San Francisco 49ERS (11-4) at Washington (4-11). Sunday, 1pm ET, FOX
San Francisco earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the only first-round bye, and home-field advantage.:
- SF Victory + DET Defeat + PHI Defeat
Seattle Seahawks (8-7) vs. Pittsburgh (8-7); Sunday, 4:05pm ET, FOX
Seattle qualifies for the playoffs:
- SEA win + GB-MIN draw
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) vs. New Orleans (7-8); Sunday, 1pm ET, FOX
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth and NFC South title:
- TB victory or
- TB draw + ATL loss