NEWSLETTER
Playoffs!? We’re talking about, playoffs?
Welcome to Week 17 of the NFL, and yes, we’re talking about playoffs! We’ve got playoff implications aplenty, as we embark on the second-to-last week of the regular season in the NFL.
The NFC
In the NFC, the Packers, Cowboys, and Buccaneers have already clinched their respective divisions. Still, the NFC West and home-field advantage in the NFC are up for grabs this week.
Here’s how the Packers can clinch the top seed in the NFC, which includes home-field advantage and an opening-round bye:
1. GB win + DAL loss or tie OR
2. GB tie + DAL loss + LA loss + TB loss or tie OR
3. GB win + DAL loss + LAR tie + TB loss
The Rams can clinch the NFC West this week as well, and here’s how:
1. LAR win + ARI loss or tie OR
2 LAR tie + ARI loss
The NFC Wild Card race can also be decided this week, with Philadelphia and San Francisco having paths to locking up playoff berths this week. Here’s what they look like:
Eagles Clinch Playoff Berth:
1. PHI win + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
2. PHI win + MIN loss or tie + SF win or tie OR
3. PHI tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie OR
4. PHI tie + MIN loss + NO tie + ATL loss or tie + SF win or tie
49ers Clinch Playoff Berth:
1. SF win + NO loss or tie OR
2. SF tie + MIN loss or tie + NO loss + ATL loss or tie
The AFC
Did you get all that? All right, let’s do the AFC now.
The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West, and that’s all that’s been decided thus far, making Week 16 in the AFC one chocked full of playoff implications. There are a whopping nine ways that the Buffalo Bills can clinch the AFC East this weekend, and if none of those hit, there are a few ways for them to lock up a playoff berth.
The Bills (9-6) clinch the AFC East if:
1. BUF win + BAL loss or tie OR
2. BUF win + LAC loss or tie + LV loss or tie OR
3. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss + LV loss OR
4. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
5. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
6. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC Loss + LV loss OR
7. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
8. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
9. BUF tie + LAC loss + LV loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie
The Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) can clinch the AFC North if any of these three scenarios shake out:
1. CIN win OR
2. CIN tie + BAL loss or tie OR
3. BAL loss + CLE-PIT tie
So, the Bengals own their destiny, needing just a win over the Kansas City Chiefs to lock up the AFC North. Easy enough, right? However, in this one, Kansas City will not be lying down, with AFC’s top-seed still up for grabs. Here’s how the Chiefs can lock that up:
1. KC win + TEN loss or tie OR
2. KC tie + TEN loss
As for their AFC North rivals from northern Ohio, well, things aren’t looking good.
The Titans can also lock up the AFC South if these scenarios play out:
1. TEN win OR
2. IND loss OR
3. TEN tie + IND tie
Check out FiveThirtyEight’s current NFL predictions heading into Week 17, complete with each team’s chance at making the playoffs, winning their division, playoff byes, and Super Bowl odds! Based on FiveThirtyEight’s calculations, the Chiefs (26%) and Packers (24%) currently own the best percentage to win the Super Bowl.
Our NFL predictions: https://t.co/q0X5ir1mal
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) December 30, 2021
Get your popcorn ready; it should be a fun weekend!
