NFL playoff scenarios Week 17: NFC field’s final berths could be clinched
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At least one side of the NFL playoff picture will remain unresolved heading into Week 18, with several teams all vying for the AFC field’s last opening. The NFC, however, could have all its entrants set once Week 17 is wrapped up.
Two of the last berths in the conference hinge on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing to the Carolina Panthers, as the result would clinch at least a wild-card spot for the Washington Commanders. That outcome would also open the window for the Atlanta Falcons to seal the NFC South with a win over the Commanders on “Sunday Night Football.” Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams could take home the NFC West title and avoid a winner-take-all bout against the Seattle Seahawks for the division crown in Week 18, but only if several results go their way to confer a strength-of-victory tiebreaker. And while the top seed in the conference is still up for grabs, the Detroit Lions could claim it with both a win Monday night over the San Francisco 49ers and a Minnesota Vikings loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers.
Here are all the clinching scenarios still on the table for Week 17 entering Sunday:
- Clinch NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:
- Clinch NFC East with:
- Win or tie
- Commanders loss or tie
- Clinch NFC West with:
- Strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seahawks with 2½ or more wins from the following teams: Bills, Browns, Vikings, 49ers and Commanders. A tie equates to a half-win in this formula.
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Win or tie
- Buccaneers loss or tie
NFL teams that have already clinched playoff berths
- Buffalo Bills: AFC East
- Houston Texans: AFC South
- Kansas City Chiefs: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, AFC West
- Baltimore Ravens: Playoff berth
- Los Angeles Chargers: Playoff berth
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Playoff berth
- Detroit Lions: Playoff berth
- Green Bay Packers: Playoff berth
- Philadelphia Eagles: Playoff berth
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