NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 17

[ASFN Admin]

The NFL playoff picture continues to take shape in Week 17, with the last two playoff spots available to be clinched as soon as Dec. 28.

The AFC North and NFC South division winners are the last two unclaimed spots in the NFL playoffs, and both can be clinched on Dec. 28.

Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North with a win at Cleveland, while Carolina can clinch the NFC South with a win over Seattle and a Tampa Bay loss to Miami.

Here is the NFL playoff picture in Week 17, with the standings updated throughout Dec. 27 and 28:

TITANS-SAINTS LIVE Titans vs Saints score, NFL Week 17 game updates, highlights, live stats

AFC Playoff Picture​

Division leaders​

1. Denver Broncos (13-3) Clinched AFC West​

• This week: Won 20-13 at Kansas City
• Remaining schedule: LA Chargers

Clinching scenarios: The Broncos clinched the AFC West with a win and a Chargers loss. Denver can clinch the division and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a win, a Chargers loss or tie, a Patriots loss, a Bills loss or tie and a Jaguars loss or tie.

2. New England Patriots (12-3) Clinched playoff berth; AFC East leaders​

• This week: at NY Jets, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Miami

Clinching scenarios: The Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win and a Bills loss or tie OR a tie and a Bills loss.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) Clinched playoff berth; AFC South leaders​

• This week: at Indianapolis, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Tennessee

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) AFC North leaders​

• This week: at Cleveland, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Baltimore

Clinching scenarios: The Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win or tie.

Wild cards​

5. Buffalo Bills (11-4) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Philadelphia, 3:25 p.m. on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: NY Jets

6. Houston Texans (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Won 20-16 at LA Chargers
• Remaining schedule: Indianapolis

Clinching scenarios: The Texans clinched a playoff berth with a win on Dec. 27.

7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Lost 20-16 vs. Houston
• Remaining schedule: at Denver

Outside looking in​

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-7); eliminated from playoff contention​

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)​

• This week: Won 41-24 at Green Bay
• Remaining schedule: at Pittsburgh

10. Miami Dolphins (6-9); eliminated from playoff contention​

11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

13. New York Jets (3-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

15. Cleveland Browns (3-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

NFC playoff picture​

Division leaders​

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3) Clinched playoff berth, NFC West leader​

• This week: at Carolina, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: at San Francisco

Clinching scenarios: The Seahawks can clinch the NFC West with a win, a Rams loss or tie and a 49ers loss or tie OR a tie, a Rams loss and a 49ers loss.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4) Clinched NFC North leader​

• This week: at San Francisco, 7:20 p.m. on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Detroit

Clinching scenarios: The Bears clinched the NFC North with a Packers loss on Dec. 27.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) Clinched NFC East​

• This week: at Buffalo, 3:25 p.m. on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Washington

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7) NFC South leader​

• This week: Seattle, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: at Tampa Bay

Clinching scenarios: The Panthers can clinch the NFC South with a win and a Buccaneers loss or tie OR a tie and a Buccaneers loss.

Wild cards​

5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Chicago, 7:20 p.m. on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Seattle

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 29
• Remaining schedule: Arizona

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) Clinched playoff berth, No. 7 seed​

• This week: Lost 41-24 vs. Baltimore
• Remaining schedule: at Minnesota

Clinching scenarios: The Packers clinched a playoff berth with the Lions' loss to Chicago on Dec. 25.

Outside looking in​

8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8); eliminated from playoff contention​

9. Detroit Lions (8-8); eliminated from playoff contention​

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1); eliminated from playoff contention​

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)​

• This week: at Miami, Noon on Dec. 28
• Remaining schedule: Carolina

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9); eliminated from playoff contention​

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

14. Washington Commanders (4-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

16. New York Giants (2-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 17

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