The final week of the #NFL season is here but things are far from over. Week 17 controls the fate of 4 teams, and seeding for quite a few others. Here's how things things can shake up with the final 16 games being played.
AFC
Here is the simpler conference...
Ravens (13-2 and #1 seed)
The Ravens have locked up the #1 seed in the AFC. Regardless of what happens this week, they hold the tie breaker over the Patriots, so the AFC runs through Baltimore. Harbaugh has already stated that they are resting their starters, so don't look for a hardcore blood bath against the Steelers, might be just be a mild blood bath.
Patriots (12-3 and current #2 seed)
Despite what people want to say, the Patriots are 12-3 and are currently sitting with a first round bye. Patriots are declining, Belichick cheats, Bills mafia... it doesn't really matter at this point, here we are. The #2 seed isn't locked up yet though. The patriots will lock that up with one of two things:
NE win/tie over MIA or
KC loss or tie to LAC
There are no guarantees but looks like they're going to be waiting to play until Jan 11/12th to play again after Sunday.
Chiefs (11-4 and current #3 seed)
The Chiefs have been brushed under the rug slightly due to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens dominance and the Patriots being the Patriots, but they are still not someone you want to face in the playoffs. Their defense has been playing better of recent and with Mahomes, you're never out of the game. The 3 seed is all but guaranteed they could move up to 2 or fall to 4, and here's how.
2 seed with
KC win over LAC and
NE loss to MIA
3 seed
Guaranteed with a win
4 seed with
KC loss to LAC and
HOU win over TEN
Texans (11-5 and current 4 seed)
The Texans have secured the AFC South with the win over the Titans two weeks ago, so the 4 seed is theirs for sure, but 3 seed is up for grabs. It may not seem like much with a playoff spot locked up, but it means the difference between facing the Bills and the Titans/Steelers... big difference in strength of opponents. Here's the Texans scenarios:
4 Seed
HOU loss to TEN or
KC win over LAC
3 Seed
HOU win over TEN and
KC loss to LAC
Bills (10-5 locked in 5th seed)
Bills mafia got locked in to the 5 seed last week with their loss to the Patriots, so their chances at winning the division disappeared. They're fortunate enough to be sitting at 10-5 with a shot at an 11 win season, which may not mean much for their seeding, but does mean something to the organization and the fans. With multiple possibilities for who can land as the 3 seed, its uncertain who'll they'll play but it's going to be a good game either way.
6th seed
Titans (8-7 current 6th seed)
It was a weird week last week for the Titans. They played the Saints but win, lose, or tie, that game didn't matter in regards to seeing, but this one does. They control their own fate this week, if they beat the Texans, they're in as the six seed. The Steelers are going to fight them on that though...
Steelers (8-7 currently out of playoffs)
Despite trading AB in the offseason, losing Bell in FA, and losing Big Ben to injury, they're somehow still in this conversation. They've gone through a carousel of QB issues, Rudolph is a getting his brain scrambled twice and Hodges throwing ducks, but they're 8-7 and a have a legit chance to make it. Here is how the 6th seed will play out.
Titans
TEN beats HOU or
PIT loss to BAL
Steelers
PIT beats BAL and
TEN loss to HOU
NFC
There are 3 12-3 teams and an 11-4 team, and all have a shot at 1st round bye. Heres how it can shake up.
49ers (12-3 current 1st seed)
It's crazy to think how the Niners could fall from the 1st seed in the NFC and home field advantage throughout playoffs, to the 5th seed and playing on the road to get the the Super Bowl. The West is still up for grabs on SNF and can alter the seeding. Here's how things can fall for them.
1st seed
SF win over SEA or
SF tie w/ GB loss or tie and NO loss or tie
2nd seed
SF tie w/ GB loss or tie or
SF tie w/ NO loss or tie
3rd seed
SF tie w/ GB win and NO win
5th seed
SF loss to SEA
Packers (12-3 current 2 seed)
Their win over the Vikings on MNF football last week secured the North, locking up a 3rd seed or higher. They can get a first round bye with a win over Detroit, but can fall to WC weekend if they aren't careful. Here's how their season can shake out.
1st seed
GB win over DET and
49ers loss to SEA
2nd seed
GB win over DET and
49ers win over SEA
or
GB loss to DET and
NO loss to CAR
3rd seed
GB loss to DET and
NO win over CAR
Saints (12-3 currently 3rd seed)
Seems a bit redundant to go through everything at this point. Saints have just as much riding on this week as the Niners, Packers and Seahawks. Here's how their season can be affected by week 17.
1st seed
NO win over CAR and
GB and SF loss
2nd seed
NO win and GB loss or tie or
NO win and SF loss or tie or
NO tie and SF loss or
NO tie and GB loss or
SF loss and GB win or tie
3rd seed
SF win and GB win
NO win w/ SF win and GB loss
4th Seed
Eagles (8-7 currently 4th seed) or Cowboys
Honestly don't want to waste my time talking about these two teams. Neither of them seem to want it but the Eagles hold the lead because of their week 16 victory over the boys. Eagles control the show but don't have it locked up, here's how it can go.
Eagles take 4th seed
PHI win or tie or
PHI loss and DAL loss
Cowboys take 4th seed
DAL win over WAS and
PHI loss to NYG
Seahawks (11-4 currently 5th seed)
The Seahawks are in control of their destiny. If they win Sunday night, they're at least the 3rd seed and win the West but can still end up with the 1st seed. If they lose, they stay the fifth seed. It's going to be a gritty NFC divisional matchup to end the season. Heres how Seattle's season can end.
1st seed
SEA win w/ GB and NO loss
2nd seed
SEA win and GB loss
3rd seed
SEA win w/ GB and NO win
5th seed
SEA loss to SF
Vikings (10-5 locked in 6th seed)
Well the Vikings secured their destiny on Monday when they fell to GB at home. That clinched the North for the Packers and with the Rams and Bears falling out of playoff contention in the weeks before, they already had a spot locked in. At this point its in the Vikings best interest to rest some of key banged up players, getting them ready to take on the 3rd seed. Which as we know, could be the Saints, Packers, or Seahawks.
Week 17 football is a hell of a lot more fun with something on the line, and for all but 3 teams still left in it, theres a lot that can still be decided. That means we should all be able to enjoy a great NFL weekend and know exactly where our teams will be when 2020 rolls around!
-BudHole
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