NFL Playoff Scenario: AFC, NFC Playoff Picture
NFL postseason is on the air after Week 16 actions, upsets and dramas. Just before Christmas, it’s one of the best things for fans i to learn about the current seeding in the AFC and NFC. Moreover, which teams are still alive for the playoff?
Before the Monday Night Football, everybody wants to know the NFL Playoff scenarios on each of the teams.
While the Seattle Seahawks dominated the Cardinals, 35-3, on Sunday Night Football, what were the changes in terms of the chances of a certain ballclub?
NFC Playoff Scenarios / NFC Playoff Pictures
1. Seattle Seahawks (11-4) - The Seahawks are back on top with a five-game winning streak. Seattle will capture the NFC West with a win vs St. Louis or Arizona loss
2. Detroit Lions (11-4) - The Lions will get the NFC North with a win at Green Bay or tie.
3. Dallas Cowboys (11-4) - The Cowboys are catapulting at the right time. They will get a first round bye with tie plus Seattle loss, Arizona loss, or tie plus Arizona loss or tie plus Seattle tie plus Detroit/Green Bay game does not tie.
Dallas will get a first round bye also with a win at Washington plus Seattle loss or tie plus Arizona loss or tie, or Dallas win Detroit/Green Bay tie
4. Carolina Panthers (6-8-1) or Atlanta Falcons (6-9) - The winner of the Week 17 between Carolina and Atlanta will take the NFC South and will host the first round of the playoff.
5. Green Bay Packers (11-4) - The Packers are on the playoff but a win over Detroit will assure them the NFC North.
6. Arizona Cardinals (11-4) - The Cardinals are on the playoff and they clinch the NFC West with a win at San Francisco and a Seattle loss at St Louis.
- Detroit is ahead of Green Bay in the NFC North based on head to head (1-0).
- Seattle is ahead of Arizona in the NFC West based on head to head (2-0).
- Seattle and Detroit are ahead of Dallas based on conference record (Seahawks’ 9-2 and Lions’ 9-2 to the Cowboys’ 7-4).
- Seattle is ahead of Detroit based on common games record (5-0 to the Lions’ 2-2).
- Detroit is ahead of Dallas based on conference record (9-2 to the Cowboys’ 7-4).
- Green Bay is ahead of Arizona based on common games record (2-2 to the Cardinals’ 2-3).
- Atlanta is ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South based on head to head (2-0).
Not this time for Philadelphia. With a chance to get into 10-6, the Eagles will not get into the playoff.
AFC Playoff Scenarios / AFC Playoff Pictures
1. New England Patriots (12-3) - The 17-16 victory of the Patriots over the Jets was very important. The Patriots would grab the AFC homefield advantage and the No. seed with a win vs Buffalo or a Denver loss on Monday Night Football or next Sunday.
2. Denver Broncos (11-3) - The Broncos will get a first round bye with a win OR tie plus Indianapolis loss or tie. the Broncos will have a chance to take the No. 1 seed with wins at Cincinnati and vs Oakland plus New England loss vs Buffalo on Sunday.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1) - The Bengals will capture a playoff spot with a win or tie at Pittsburgh.
4. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) - The Colts loss to the Cowboys will not affect their status as a playoff bound team.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) - The Steelers will grab the NFC North with a win vs Cincinnati. Pittsburgh is already in the playoff, it’s about playing at home or on the road in the first round that the Pittsburgh will settle in Cincinnati in Week 17.
6. San Diego Chargers (9-6) - The Chargers control their destiny with a win at Kansas City.
Still Alive but needing help from others
7. Baltimore Ravens (9-6) - The Ravens will get a playoff spot with a win vs Cleveland plus San Diego loss.
8. Houston Texans (8-7) - The Texans will grab a playoff spot with a win vs Jacksonville plus San Diego loss plus Baltimore loss.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (8-7) - The Chiefs will get a spot in the playoff with a win vs San Diego plus Baltimore loss plus Houston loss or tie.
AFC Tiebreakers
- San Diego is ahead of Baltimore based on head to head (1-0).
- Houston is ahead of Kansas City based on conference record (Texans’ 7-4 to the Chiefs’ 6-5).
