Entering the final week of the regular season, four of the six AFC playoff participants have been determined and eight AFC clubs remain in contention for a trip to Super Bowl 50.
AFC DIVISIONS
Two of the four divisions have been determined: New England (AFC East) and Cincinnati (AFC North).
A breakdown of the AFC division races:
AFC EAST: The New England Patriots (12-3) have clinched the division and secured a first-round bye.
AFC WEST: The Denver Broncos (11-4) and Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) have both clinched a playoff berth. The Broncos can clinch the division title with a win or a Chiefs loss. Kansas City can clinch the division with a win and a Denver loss.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Denver
11-4
3-2
7-4
.509
.520
Kansas City
10-5
4-1
9-2
.427
.498
AFC NORTH: The Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) have clinched the division.
AFC SOUTH: The Houston Texans (8-7) and Indianapolis Colts (7-8) are in contention for the division title. Houston can clinch the AFC South with a win or an Indianapolis loss or if they clinch the Strength of Victory of Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts.
If Houston and Indianapolis end up tied in Strength of Victory and tied in Strength of Schedule, the teams would then go to the next tiebreaker, which is best combined ranking among AFC teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Houston
8-7
4-1
6-5
.425
.507
Indianapolis
7-8
3-2
5-6
.438
.520
AFC WILD CARDS
The Denver Broncos (11-4) and Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) have each secured a playoff berth. 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 qualify for the postseason with a win and a Jets loss.
A breakdown of the AFC Wild Card race:
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Denver*
11-4
7-4
.509
.520
Kansas City*
10-5
9-2
.427
.498
New York Jets
10-5
7-4
.387
.436
Pittsburgh
9-6
6-5
.496
.529
*In contention for AFC West Division title
AFC HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE AND FIRST-ROUND BYE
The New England Patriots (12-3) have secured a first-round bye. The Denver Broncos (11-4) remain in contention for home-field advantage and a first-round bye, while the Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) could still secure a first-round bye.
New England is in control for home-field advantage and can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win or Denver loss.
Denver is in control for a first-round bye and can clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win or losses by Cincinnati and Kansas City. Cincinnati can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
New England
12-3
9-2
.439
.471
Denver
11-4
7-4
.509
.520
Cincinnati
11-4
8-3
.412
.484
AFC PLAYOFF FIELD
Here is a look at the possible seeds for each of the eight AFC teams who have either clinched a playoff berth or remain in contention:
NEW ENGLAND (12-3): Clinched AFC East and first-round bye. In control for No. 1 seed. Can be either the No. 1 or 2 seed.
DENVER (11-4): In control of AFC West and No. 2 seed. Can be the No. 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 seed.
CINCINNATI (11-4): Clinched AFC North. Can be either the No. 2 or 3 seed.
HOUSTON (8-7): In control of AFC South and No. 4 seed. If Texans qualify, can only be the No. 4 seed.
INDIANAPOLIS (7-8): In contention for AFC South title. If Colts qualify, can only be the No. 4 seed.
KANSAS CITY (10-5): Clinched playoff berth. Can be the No. 3, 5 or 6 seed.
NEW YORK JETS (10-5): In control of playoff berth. If Jets qualify, can be either the No. 5 or 6 seed.
PITTSBURGH (9-6): In contention for playoff berth. If Steelers qualify, can only be the No. 6 seed.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE ENTERING WEEK 17
Entering the final week of the regular season, all six playoff spots in the NFC have been clinched. But there’s still a lot on the line in Week 17.
NFC DIVISIONS
Three of the four divisions have been determined: Carolina (NFC South), Arizona (NFC West) and Washington (NFC East).
The NFC North division title will be won on Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC) when Green Bay hosts Minnesota.
A breakdown of the NFC division races:
NFC NORTH: The Green Bay Packers (10-5) and Minnesota Vikings (10-5) will meet in Week 17 at Lambeau Field. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth and the winner will secure the NFC North division title.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Green Bay
10-5
3-2
7-4
.447
.518
Minnesota
10-5
4-1
7-4
.440
.500
NFC SOUTH: The Carolina Panthers (14-1) have clinched the division and secured a first-round bye.
NFC WEST: The Arizona Cardinals (13-2) have clinched the division and secured a first-round bye.
NFC EAST: The Washington Redskins (8-7) have clinched the division.
NFC WILD CARDS
The Green Bay Packers (10-5), Minnesota Vikings (10-5) and Seattle Seahawks (9-6) have all secured a playoff berth. The loser of the Minnesota-Green Bay game in Week 17 and Seattle will be the two Wild Card teams.
The Packers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks. Seattle holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Minnesota.
A breakdown of the NFC Wild Card race:
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Green Bay*
10-5
7-4
.447
.518
Minnesota*
10-5
7-4
.440
.500
Seattle
9-6
6-5
.378
.504
*The winner of Minnesota-Green Bay will clinch the NFC North
NFC HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE AND FIRST-ROUND BYE
The Carolina Panthers (14-1) and Arizona Cardinals (13-2) have secured first-round byes. Carolina is in control for home-field advantage and can clinch the NFC’s top seed with a win or an Arizona loss.
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Carolina
14-1
10-1
.438
.444
Arizona
13-2
10-1
.448
.460
NFC PLAYOFF FIELD
Here is a look at the possible seeds for each of the six NFC playoff teams:
CAROLINA (14-1): Clinched NFC South and first-round bye. In control for No. 1 seed. Can be either the No. 1 or 2 seed.
ARIZONA (13-2): Clinched NFC West and first-round bye. Can be either the No. 1 or 2 seed.
GREEN BAY (10-5): In control of NFC North and No. 3 seed. Can be either the No. 3 or 5 seed.
MINNESOTA (10-5): In control of NFC North and No. 3 seed. Can be the No. 3, 5 or 6 seed.
WASHINGTON (8-7): Clinched NFC East. Will be the No. 4 seed.
SEATTLE (9-6): Can be the No. 5 or 6 seed.
