Week 17 NFL Playoff Picture: AFC, NFC Bracket Scenarios, 2024 Postseason Predictions
It's almost playoff time in the NFL, and the postseason field is coming into focus. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, only five of 14 playoff spots are still up for grabs.
The Green Bay Packers are the latest team to punch a ticket to the playoffs, doing so with a shutout victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. Green Bay can't win the NFC North, but a race between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings continues.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have clinched their respective divisions, as have the Houston Texans. The league's other five divisions, however, remain unsettled entering Week 17.
A lot can and will change in the coming days. Several teams could clinch spots this week, including the Chiefs, who will kick things off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday afternoon.
Playoff Picture Entering Week 17
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)*
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)*
4. Houston Texans (9-6)*
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
In the Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
Eliminated: Cleveland Browns (3-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12), Las Vegas Raiders (3-12), New England Patriots (3-12), New York Jets (4-11), Tennessee Titans (3-12)
NFC
1. Detroit Lions (13-2)*
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)*
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)*
6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)*
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
In the Hunt
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (7-8) Carolina Panthers (4-11), Dallas Cowboys (6-8) Chicago Bears (4-11), New York Giants (2-13) New Orleans Saints (5-10), San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
*= clinched playoff berth
Week 17 Schedule
Wednesday, December 25
1 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
4:30 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Thursday, December 26
8:15 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
Saturday, December 28th
1 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
4:30 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
8:10 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, December 29
1 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
4:05 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
4:25 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
8:20 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders
Monday, December 30
8:15 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Week 17 Bracket Scenarios and Playoff Predictions
Several teams will be battling for playoff positioning and scoreboard-watching in Week 17. The Chiefs will be up first, as they can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed with a win or with a Buffalo Bills loss.
Patrick Mahomes and Co. only need one win over the final two weeks to secure the top seed.
The AFC North is a two-team race between the Baltimore Ravens and the Steelers, and neither can afford a loss on Wednesday night. All four teams that will play on Wednesday are playoff-bound, however.
The Los Angeles Rams will have a chance to clinch the NFC West this week. They'll need a win on Saturday over the Arizona Cardinals, who have already been eliminated. They'll also need a Seattle Seahawks loss to clinch this week.
Expect Matthew Stafford and the Rams to be rooting for the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Jim Harbaugh's new-look Los Angeles Chargers can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the New England Patriots on Saturday. Losses by the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins would also put L.A. in the dance, but expect the Chargers to fight for that 10th win.
"We've still got games to win," Harbaugh said, per Eric Smith of the team's official website. "Nine wins can get you in the playoffs but you need help."
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos can secure a playoff spot with a win over the scrappy Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.
The Philadelphia Eagles are already playoff-bound but can lock up the NFC East with a win over the Dallas Cowboys. A Washington Commanders loss would also give Philly the division.
The Commanders need a win over Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons to punch a postseason ticket, while the Falcons need a win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to claim the NFC South.
The Lions can clinch the NFC North and the conference's No. 1 seed with a win over the San Francisco 49ers and a loss by Minnesota. If both teams win this week, their Week 18 matchup will decide the division and the top seed.
Here are some early predictions for the opening NFL playoff bracket.
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Bye
7. Denver Broncos at 2. Buffalo Bills
6. Pittsburgh Steelers at 3. Baltimore Ravens
5. Los Angeles Chargers at 4. Houston Texans
NFC
1. Detroit Lions: Bye
7. Washington Commanders at 2. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Green Bay Packers at 3. Los Angeles Rams
5. Minnesota Vikings at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers