Week 17 is here and there's still a lot on the line in the NFL playoff picture.
Aside from the Chiefs locking up the AFC's No. 1 seed a week ago, there'll still be movement everywhere else on a 16-game Sunday. Four teams that enter the final day with a chance will mi s out. Two divisions are still up for grabs. The NFC's lone first-round bye is still in play for three clubs. And there's a Sunday Night Football game to decide one of the worst division winners (by record) in the modern playoff era.
Thankfully, the Sporting News experts are here to try and make some sense of things. Two of our writers Taijuan Walker Jersey have made NFL picks every week of the season, and they're back in Week 17 with their and . Using those predictions, we can begin to paint a picture of what the expanded, 14-team playoff bracket will look like.
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NFL playoff picture: AFC projections The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs
Games remaining:vs. Chargers
Kansas City the No. 1 seed and the only first-round bye in the AFC with a Week 16 win against Matt Ryan and the Falcons. With that seed clinched in Week 16, expect some stars to rest in Week 17 for Kansas City. It could be a heavy dose of backup Rob Refsnyder Jersey quarterback Chad Henne against the Chargers. The Chiefs will play the winner for the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game in the second round.
No. 2seed: Buffalo Bills
Games remaining: vs. Dolphins
Buffalo fell temporarily to the No. 3 seed after Pittsburgh won Sunday, but the Bills moved back up with a Monday night win over the Patriots. on who will win between Buffalo and Miami, withthe Dolphins' strong defense providing afirm test in Week 17. Buffalo's only lo s Randy Johnson Jersey since the start of November was on the "Hail Murray" play, so it's very po sible Josh Allen's squad just keeps streaking. the No. 2 seed with a win or a Pittsburgh lo s.
No. 3seed: Pittsburgh Steelers
Games remaining: at Browns
Losers of three-straight games, the Steelers had fallen from contention for the bye, but they bounced back with a Week 16 comeback win against the Colts. That clinched the AFC North for Pittsburgh. Now the Steelers play a Cleveland team that'll get in with a win. The Steelers can only move up to the No. 2 seed Brad Boxberger Jersey with a win and Bills lo s, but Pittsburgh can't drop below the 3-seed.
No. 4 seed: Tenne see Titans
Games remaining:at Texans
The Titans were handled by Green Bay on Sunday night, leaving Tenne see needing a win or Colts lo s to secure the AFC South title. predict Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry to pull it off. Even if they don't, there are a lot of ways for Tenne see to .
No. 5 seed: Miami Dolphins
Games remaining:at Bills
The Dolphins can lock up a playoff spot with a Week 17 win over Buffalo. That's thanks to Ryan Fitzpatrick's magic in Week 16 to comeback and beat the Raiders, a game in which a lo s would've been devestating for Miami. Brian Flores did turn back to Tua Tagovailoa for this one, but believe in Tua enough to anticipate a win and a first-round matchup with the AFC South champion.
No. 6 seed:Baltimore Ravens
Games remaining:at Bengals
The Ravens ascended from outside the playoff spots to the No. 6 seed thanks to lo ses by the Colts and Browns. The Bengals had a surprising win in Jake Lamb Jersey Week 16 over the Texans, but Baltimore will be favored to make the postseason now for sure. predict that to be the case, with Baltimore then finishing either as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
No. 7 seed: Cleveland Browns
Games remaining:vs. Steelers
Now that Pittsburgh has locked up the AFC North, this game will be all about the Browns hanging on to their first playoff berth since 2002. Closing with two lo ses to mi s the postseason would be very Browns. The Steelers will start Mason Rudolph, which gives confident that Cleveland will sneak into the postseason.
NFL playoff picture: NFC projections The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.No. 1 seed: Green Bay Packers
Games remaining:at Bears
The Packers looked dominant in beating the Titans on Sunday night, setting them up with a win and claim the bye scenario in Week 17. are predicting that Green Bay knocks Chicago out and claims that first-round bye for itself.
No. 2 seed: New Orleans Saints Daniel Descalso Jersey
Games remaining:at Panthers
A win on Christmas behind six touchdowns from Alvin Kamara was enough to keep the Saints in the No. 2 seed, although there's still some movement that could happen in the NFC. The Saints can still Ketel Marte Jersey get the No. 1 seed if the Packers slip up, so expect a full effort chasing the lone bye against the Panthers.
No. 3 seed: Seattle Seahawks
Games remaining:at 49ers
Seattle clinched the NFC West by beating the Rams in Week 16. Seattle can't fall below the No. 3 seed, but it has an and the first-round bye. For that reason, expect full playing time from the Seahawks at least until it hears news of blowouts in another game ahead of them.
No. 4 seed: Washington Football Team
Games remaining:at Eagles
Washington was handled Paul Goldschmidt Jersey by Carolina in Week 16, and now the only way Washington makes the playoffs is with a Week 17 win against Jalen Hurts and the eliminated Eagles. If Washington loses, the winner of Cowboys-Giants will make the playoffs. It all comes down to a Sunday night game for the WFT's playoff lives, and our they'll get it done.
No. 5seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Games remaining:vs. Falcons
Tampa Bay can't move up from the No. 5 seed, but Bruce Arians has already said he sees value in staying at No. 5 (hint: the 5-seed plays the NFC East winner in the first round). The Buccaneers got to sit Tom Brady in the second half of Week 16, anyway, and if he lights up a bad Atlanta secondary, he could get some rest time late again.
No. 6seed: Los Angeles Rams
Games remaining:vs. Cardinals
The Rams can no longer win the NFC West. The Cardinals are still competing for a postseason spot, too. So this will be a must-win Alex Avila Jersey game for the Rams in Week 17 against Kyler Murray and company. Our the Rams won't get the job done. If L.A. loses, it needs Chicago to also lose to remain in the postseason.
No. 7 seed: Chicago Bears
Games remaining:vs. Packers
The Bears control their own destiny in Week 17 after a Cardinals lo s to the 49ers and a Chicago win over the Jaguars. If Mitchell Trubisky can lead an upset of the Packers, he'll also get a chance to quarterback the Bears in the playoffs (and maybe beyond). But expect Green Bay to win, and in A. J. Pollock Jersey that scenario, Chicago would need a Cardinals lo s to get in.
Current NFL playoff picture
Here's how the standings in both conferences break down entering Week 17, along with the other teams that have yet to be mathematically eliminated.
AFCSeedTeamRecordClinched1.Kansas City Chiefs14-1No. 1 seed2.Buffalo Bills12-3AFC East3.Pittsburgh Steelers12-3AFC North4.Tenne see Titans10-5N/a5.Miami Dolphins10-5N/a6.Baltimore Ravens10-5N/a7.Cleveland Browns10-5N/a
In the hunt: Colts (10-5)
NFCSeedTeamRecordClinched1.Green Bay Packers12-3NFC North2.New Orleans Saints11-4NFC South3.Seattle Seahawks11-4NFC West4.Washington Football Team6-9N/a5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers10-5Playoff berth6.Los Angeles Rams9-6N/a7.Chicago Bears8-7N/a
In the hunt: Cardinals (8-7),Giants (5-10), Cowboys (6-9),
