It’s the final push for NFL teams as the regular season ends on Sunday, January 3. All 16 games are division contests. And with one week to go, there are still 14 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl 50. Entering Week 17, 11 of the 16 games have playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved.
“This is what football is all about,” says New York Jets wide receiver ERIC DECKER, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Jets’ overtime win over New England. “We control our own destiny now. If you take care of business, you allow yourself to keep playing into January.”
In the AFC, New England (12-3) has clinched a first-round bye and can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or a Denver loss. The Broncos (11-4) can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Patriots loss. Denver can secure a first-round bye with a win or losses by Cincinnati and Kansas City. The Bengals (11-4) can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.
Two AFC division winners have been determined: New England (AFC East) and Cincinnati (AFC North). Denver can lock up the AFC West with a win or a Kansas City loss. The Chiefs (10-5) can clinch the division title with a win and a Denver loss. In the AFC South, Houston (8-7) can secure the division title with a win or an Indianapolis loss or by clinching the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts. In order to win the division, Indianapolis (7-8) needs a win and a Houston loss and to tie the Strength of Victory tiebreaker with the Texans and clinch the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over Houston.
Denver and Kansas City have both clinched at least a playoff spot. One of those teams will win the AFC West and the other will be a Wild Card entrant. The New York Jets (10-5) can earn the other Wild Card spot with a win or a Pittsburgh loss. The Steelers (9-6) can advance to the postseason with a win and a Jets loss.
In the NFC, Carolina (14-1) and Arizona (13-2) have clinched first-round byes. The Panthers can secure home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win or a Cardinals loss. Arizona can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Carolina loss.
Three of the four NFC division winners have been determined: Carolina (NFC South), Arizona (NFC West) and Washington (NFC East). The NFC North will be determined on Sunday night in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC) at Lambeau Field when Green Bay (10-5) hosts Minnesota (10-5). The NFC North winner will be the No. 3 seed and Washington is locked in as the No. 4 seed.
The two Wild Card teams in the NFC will be the loser of Sunday night’s Minnesota-Green Bay game and Seattle (9-6), who has already clinched a playoff berth. The Seahawks can end up as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
“Late in the season, you want to control your destiny,” says Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON. “You don’t want to rely on other teams. You want to be able to control your destiny and do it yourself. Now we have a chance to take another step forward and hopefully we can take care of business.”
Some of the key games in Week 17 with playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved:
NEW YORK JETS (10-5) at BUFFALO BILLS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
The Jets are in with a win. New York defeated New England 26-20 in overtime last week and the Jets are now in control for a postseason berth. New York can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a loss by Pittsburgh.
“It’s great that we are in this position,” says Jets quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK, “but we have to win this game. I’m excited that we do control our own destiny but we have to take care of business.”
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-3) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-10) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
The Patriots are in control for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. New England has already clinched the AFC East division title and a first-round bye. With a win or a Denver loss, the Patriots will earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-10) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-4) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
The Bengals have clinched the AFC North division title and can secure a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-6) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
The Steelers are still alive for a playoff berth but are not in control. Pittsburgh needs a win and a loss by the New York Jets to clinch a postseason spot.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-10) at HOUSTON TEXANS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
The Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win or an Indianapolis loss. Houston can also claim the division title if the Texans clinch the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-12) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
The Colts remain alive for the AFC South division title. Indianapolis can secure the division title with a win and a Houston loss and the Colts tying the Texans in the Strength of Victory tiebreaker and clinching the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Texans.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (7-8) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
The Chiefs have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win and a Denver loss.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-11) at DENVER BRONCOS (11-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)
The Broncos have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win or a Kansas City loss. Denver can lock up a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Kansas City and Cincinnati. And the Broncos can earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a New England loss.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-6) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (13-2) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
Seattle has clinched a Wild Card spot and will be either the No. 5 or 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Arizona has already clinched the NFC West division title and a first-round bye. With a win and a Carolina loss, the Cardinals will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
“We’re playing really good football at the right time,” says Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD. “This is the time of season you want to be playing well. That’s a good feeling.”
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-9) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (14-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
Carolina is in control for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Panthers have already clinched the NFC South division title and a first-round bye. With a win or an Arizona loss, Carolina will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-5) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-5) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)
The final game of the 2015 regular season will decide the NFC North division.
“We are exactly where we want to be, in position to win the NFC North,” says Minnesota running backADRIAN PETERSON, who leads the league in rushing with 1,418 yards. “They flexed this game so it’s going to be in primetime. This is what we envisioned for ourselves at the beginning of the season. The opportunity is right here in front of us.”
Both the Vikings and Packers have already clinched a playoff berth. But the division title and a home playoff game are at stake.
“Everything is in front of us as far as winning the division,” says Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS. “I know what we’re capable of. We have guys who have played in big games and in the playoffs and you have to rely on that. We’ve won a lot of games. I have confidence in those guys and myself. That’s the beauty of the NFL.”
2015 NFL STANDINGS
American Football Conference
East Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
New England Patriots
12
3
0
.800
455
295
7-1
5-2
9-2-0
4-1-0
Lost 1
New York Jets
10
5
0
.667
370
292
6-2
4-3
7-4-0
3-2-0
Won 5
Buffalo Bills
7
8
0
.467
357
342
4-3
3-5
6-5-0
3-2-0
Won 1
Miami Dolphins
5
10
0
.333
290
379
2-5
3-5
3-8-0
0-5-0
Lost 3
North Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Cincinnati Bengals
11
4
0
.733
395
263
5-2
6-2
8-3-0
4-1-0
Lost 1
Pittsburgh Steelers
9
6
0
.600
395
307
6-2
3-4
6-5-0
2-3-0
Lost 1
Baltimore Ravens
5
10
0
.333
312
377
3-5
2-5
4-7-0
3-2-0
Won 1
Cleveland Browns
3
12
0
.200
266
404
2-5
1-7
2-9-0
1-4-0
Lost 2
South Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Houston Texans
8
7
0
.533
309
307
4-3
4-4
6-5-0
4-1-0
Won 2
Indianapolis Colts
7
8
0
.467
303
384
3-4
4-4
5-6-0
3-2-0
Won 1
Jacksonville Jaguars
5
10
0
.333
370
418
4-4
1-6
5-6-0
2-3-0
Lost 2
Tennessee Titans
3
12
0
.200
275
393
1-7
2-5
1-10-0
1-4-0
Lost 3
West Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Denver Broncos
11
4
0
.733
328
276
5-2
6-2
7-4-0
3-2-0
Won 1
Kansas City Chiefs
10
5
0
.667
382
270
5-2
5-3
9-2-0
4-1-0
Won 9
Oakland Raiders
7
8
0
.467
342
376
3-5
4-3
7-4-0
3-2-0
Won 1
San Diego Chargers
4
11
0
.267
300
371
3-5
1-6
3-8-0
0-5-0
Lost 1
National Football Conference
East Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Washington Redskins
8
7
0
.533
354
356
6-2
2-5
7-4-0
3-2-0
Won 3
Philadelphia Eagles
6
9
0
.400
342
400
3-5
3-4
3-8-0
2-3-0
Lost 2
New York Giants
6
9
0
.400
390
407
3-4
3-5
4-7-0
2-3-0
Lost 2
Dallas Cowboys
4
11
0
.267
252
340
1-6
3-5
3-8-0
3-2-0
Lost 3
North Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Green Bay Packers
10
5
0
.667
355
303
5-2
5-3
7-4-0
3-2-0
Lost 1
Minnesota Vikings
10
5
0
.667
345
289
6-2
4-3
7-4-0
4-1-0
Won 2
Detroit Lions
6
9
0
.400
334
380
4-4
2-5
5-6-0
2-3-0
Won 2
Chicago Bears
6
9
0
.400
315
373
1-6
5-3
3-8-0
1-4-0
Won 1
South Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Carolina Panthers
14
1
0
.933
462
298
7-0
7-1
10-1-0
4-1-0
Lost 1
Atlanta Falcons
8
7
0
.533
322
325
4-3
4-4
5-6-0
1-4-0
Won 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6
9
0
.400
332
379
3-5
3-4
5-6-0
3-2-0
Lost 3
New Orleans Saints
6
9
0
.400
388
459
4-4
2-5
4-7-0
2-3-0
Won 1
West Division
Team
W
L
T
Pct
PF
PA
Home
Away
Conf
Div
Streak
Arizona Cardinals
13
2
0
.867
483
277
6-1
7-1
10-1-0
4-1-0
Won 9
Seattle Seahawks
9
6
0
.600
387
271
5-3
4-3
6-5-0
2-3-0
Lost 1
St. Louis Rams
7
8
0
.467
264
311
5-3
2-5
6-5-0
4-1-0
Won 3
San Francisco 49ers
4
11
0
.267
219
371
3-4
1-7
3-8-0
0-5-0
Lost 3
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS DECEMBER 24, 26-28
(Home Team in Caps)
Thursday, December 24
Sunday, December 27 (cont’d)
OAKLAND 23, San Diego 20 (OT)
Indianapolis 18, MIAMI 12
Saturday, December 26
Washington 38, PHILADELPHIA 24NEW YORK JETS 26, New England 20 (OT)
Houston 34, TENNESSEE 6
Chicago 26, TAMPA BAY 21
NEW ORLEANS 38, Jacksonville 27
Sunday, December 27
ARIZONA 38, Green Bay 8
ATLANTA 20, Carolina 13
St. Louis 23, SEATTLE 17
BALTIMORE 20, Pittsburgh 17
MINNESOTA 49, New York Giants 17
BUFFALO 16, Dallas 6
DETROIT 32, San Francisco 17
KANSAS CITY 17, Cleveland 13
Monday, December 28
DENVER 20, Cincinnati 17 (OT)
2015 NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
(All times local)
Sunday, January 3
Sunday, January 3 (cont’d)
New Orleans at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
New York Jets at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Detroit at Chicago, 12:00 PM
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Washington at Dallas, 12:00 PM
Jacksonville at Houston, 12:00 PM
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
New England at Miami, 1:00 PM
Philadelphia at New York Giants, 1:00 PM
Seattle at Arizona, 2:25 PM
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 4:25 PM
San Diego at Denver, 2:25 PM
Oakland at Kansas City, 3:25 PM
St. Louis at San Francisco, 1:25 PM
Minnesota at Green Bay, 8:30 PM (NBC)
