David Goldman/Associated Press
While most of the playoff teams in both conferences have been decided entering Week 17, there is no shortage of intrigue surrounding the regular season's final week due to the amount of shuffling that can still take place from a seeding perspective.
Very few teams are actually locked into their current position, which means Week 17 will play a significant role in terms of the wild-card matchups and who will secure the all-important home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
As the playoffs continue to draw closer, here is a look at the schedule fans can look forward to planning around, as well as a rundown of scenarios teams will be dealing with during the 17th and final week of the regular season.
NFL Playoff Schedule
NFL Playoff Dates | |
Playoff Round | Date(s) |
Wild Card | Saturday, Jan. 9 and Sunday, Jan. 10 |
Divsional | Saturday, Jan. 16 and Sunday, Jan. 17 |
Conference Championship | Sunday, Jan. 24 |
Super Bowl | Sunday, Feb. 7 |
NFL.com |
Breaking Down Top Week 17 Playoff Scenarios
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have already clinched the AFC North, and despite their overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 16, they still have a chance to nab a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Should the Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens and the Broncos lose to the San Diego Chargers in Week 17, then Cincinnati will take the No. 2 seed. Otherwise, the Bengals will be the No. 3 seed and will host a Wild Card Game.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the status of injured quarterback Andy Dalton, the Bengals could really use a bye. If they don't get one, then they may be forced to play a playoff game with AJ McCarron under center.
Denver Broncos
Although Monday's win over Cincinnati was a big one, the Broncos still have plenty to play for in Week 17 against the Bolts.
A victory will both clinch the AFC West title and a first-round bye, although both can be achieved even in a losing effort. If the Kansas City Chiefs lose, then Denver will be the AFC West champs regardless of what happens in its game. Also, a bye will be secured if both the Bengals and the Chiefs lose even if the Broncos lose as well.
That puts no shortage of pressure on young quarterback Brock Osweiler, but he is very much focused on the task at hand, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold:
"I don't hear it, I don't read the newspaper, I don't turn on ESPN, I don't turn on the NFL Network," Osweiler said. "A coach once told me, 'no offense to anybody, close your ears and focus on your job.' ... This isn't about Peyton (Manning), this isn't about myself, this is about this football team."
There is an even greater prize potentially at stake for the Broncos, as they can lock up home-field advantage in the AFC if they win and the New England Patriots lose to the Miami Dolphins.
A Pats loss with home field on the line certainly seems unlikely, but the door is open ever so slightly for Denver to nab an extremely coveted spot.
Houston Texans
The Texans' path to the playoffs is either extremely simple or extremely complicated, depending upon how they fare against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17.
Houston will clinch the AFC South title and the No. 4 seed if it beats the Jags or if the Indianapolis Colts lose to the Tennessee Titans. Otherwise, a number of tiebreakers will come into play.
No matter what happens in their game or Indy's contest, the Texans will make the playoffs if one of the Bengals, New York Jets or New Orleans Saints win, or if one of the Broncos or Miami Dolphins lose based on strength of victory.
Failing that, Houston will clinch based on strength of schedule if the Chiefs win and the Pittsburgh Steelers lose.
The odds are very much in favor of the Texans making a return trip to the playoffs, but they can certainly make things much easier on themselves by closing out the season with a win.
Indianapolis Colts
The 2015 season has been an extremely difficult one for the Colts with superstar Andrew Luck out of action for most of the year, but they still have a chance to play in the postseason if a number of scenarios break their way.
In addition to beating the Titans, Indy needs the Texans, Bengals, Jets, Saints and Chiefs to lose, as well as the Broncos, Dolphins and Steelers to win.
Despite the unlikelihood of everything falling in their favor, potential lame-duck head coach Chuck Pagano isn't ready to wave the white flag, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells:
I'm going to be fine. I'm covered. I'm covered. I've got one goal, one focus right now, and that's the Tennessee Titans, and that's getting this team ready to win another football game. It's tough, all the adversity, obstacles we've faced this year and all the tests that these guys keep passing, we're going to find a way to try to win a football game, and then if the stars line up right and we happen to just, however you want to call it, get in, then so be it, and we'll make our run.
It is unclear who will be under center for the Colts in Week 17 as each of their top three quarterbacks are dealing with injuries, but the fact that they have even slightest chance to make the playoffs means Sunday's game will be at least somewhat interesting for the team's fans.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are already in the playoffs, but they have an opportunity to improve their standing and win the AFC West in Week 17.
Should KC beat the Oakland Raiders coupled with a Denver loss to San Diego, the Chiefs will take the division and host a Wild Card Game. Otherwise, Kansas City will be forced to travel elsewhere in the opening round.
The Chiefs are perhaps the hottest team in the entire league right now, and having a chance to play at Arrowhead Stadium would be a huge advantage for a team that is already playing extremely well.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have faced a ton of adversity this season in the form of injuries, but they are just one win or a Broncos loss away from securing the AFC's No. 1 seed.
New England could have accomplished that with a Week 16 victory over the Jets, however, the Pats fell in overtime. Should they beat the Dolphins in Week 17 or should the Broncos lose to the Chargers, it will be a moot point, though.
Despite New England being so close to home-field advantage, head coach Bill Belichick knows his team needs to clean some things up, especially on the defensive side of the ball, according to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss:
You never want that to happen. That's the first thing defensively that you want to do is prevent big plays, not give it to them all in one chunk.There have been some running plays, there have been some passing plays, there have been some tackling issues. Sometimes we've gotten beat, sometimes we haven't properly played the defensive call or alignment, so it's been a combination of things, none of which we want to happen so we've just got to do a better job of that.
Luckily for the Pats, they will have at least one week to get healthy and prepare no matter what happens in Week 17 since they have already clinched a first-round bye.
Securing home field throughout the playoffs is huge, though, since it could make them the AFC favorites despite all the issues they have encountered over the course of the year.
New York Jets
The Jets have enjoyed a remarkable season under first-year head coach Todd Bowles, but their work is far from done. In order to make the playoffs, New York must either beat the rival Buffalo Bills on the road or have the Steelers lose on the road to the Cleveland Browns.
Counting on Pittsburgh to lose to Cleveland isn't ideal, so Gang Green's best bet is undoubtedly to beat a Bills team led by their former head coach in the form of Rex Ryan.
Even though the Bills are out of playoff contention, running back Boobie Dixon is among those who have made it clear how important Sunday's game is to them, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:
In addition to the Rex factor, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was formerly a Bills starter, which one can only assume gives him a bit of added motivation.
New York is coming off a highly emotional win over the Patriots, but with the Bills so desperately wanting to play spoiler, the Jets are nowhere near being out of the woods in terms of clinching a playoff spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers could have made things far easier on themselves had they defeated the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, but because of that shocking loss, they now need help in order to qualify for the postseason.
In addition to beating the rival Browns in Week 17, Pittsburgh needs the Jets to lose to the Bills. It obviously isn't the position Pittsburgh wants to be in, but it isn't exactly a long shot either.
Due to a high-powered offense led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have a chance to make a deep playoff run and perhaps even win the Super Bowl if they finish in the AFC's top six.
They are very much in danger of falling short of the mark, and if that is ultimately the case, then the AFC may very well breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are arguably the most complete team in football, and despite trailing the Panthers in the race for home-field advantage for much of the season, they have a chance to seize the top spot in Week 17.
Arizona has already clinched a bye, but if it beats the Seattle Seahawks and the Panthers lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the Cards will slide into the No. 1 position.
While the Cardinals have a great chance to go the distance either way, the difference between the No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed has historically been significant in terms of making a deep playoff run, according to ESPN Stats & Info:
Quarterback Carson Palmer is playing at an MVP level for Arizona, and the defense is on fire too, as evidenced by its decimation of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Week 16.
The Cards look like the NFL's best team, but they won't be guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the playoffs unless they get some help.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers seemed poised to cruise to the NFC's No. 1 seed and perhaps even a perfect regular season, but a wrench was thrown into their plans in Week 16 when they were upset by the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina is still 14-1, but now it either needs to beat the Bucs or have the Cardinals lose to the Seahawks in order to ensure that it will possess home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The odds are very much in the Panthers' favor, especially with quarterback Cam Newton appearing motivated to make up for last week's loss and to solidify his MVP candidacy in the process.
It can be argued that the Panthers are vulnerable for the first time all season, but they can nip that perception in the bud by closing out the regular season with win No. 15.
Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings
The final game of the 2015 NFL regular season will be a big one as the Packers and Vikings are set to clash on Sunday night with the NFC North up for grabs.
Quite simply, the winning team will secure the division, as well as the No. 3 seed in the NFC, which guarantees them at least one home playoff game. Also, in the unlikely event that the game ends in a tie, Green Bay will secure the division.
The Pack have been favored to take the NFC North for most of the season, but a few unexpected slip-ups have allowed the Vikes to keep pace. The fact that Green Bay lost to the Cardinals in Week 16 wasn't particularly surprising, but the manner in which it happened was.
Arizona destroyed the Packers 38-8, sacking Rodgers nine times. While Rodgers struggled in the game due to a lack of protection, poor play has become the rule rather than the exception as of late, according to Rich Hribar of Rotoworld:
Even so, the Packers seem to have the inside track with regard to winning the NFC North since they have home-field advantage in Week 17 and due to the fact that they previously dominated the Vikings.
Depending upon how things play out, though, it's possible that the losing team will have an easier first-round matchup against the Washington Redskins rather than the Seahawks.
Winning the division and earning a home playoff game is an extremely prestigious honor, though, so look for both the Packers and Vikings to do everything within their power to win in Week 17.
*All playoff scenarios courtesy of ESPN.com.
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