The Eagles blew their chance to earn a first-round bye in the NFC with their 24-14 loss to the Vikings Tuesday night. Two of the four conference byes are still for the taking in Week 17, with the Patriots and Bears the only teams to have clinched one thus far. USA TODAY outlines the postseason scenarios for Week 17:
The 13-2 Patriots are the AFC East champions, have a first-round bye and hold homefield advantage in the postseason. Despite losing to the Bears on Sunday, the AFC East runner-up Jets (10-5) clinched a wild-card spot when the Redskins upset the Jaguars.
The Chiefs, who clinched the West with a 34-14 rout of the Titans, join New England as an AFC division champion. The AFC North and AFC South crowns, however, won't be decided until Sunday.
The Steelers and Ravens, already in the playoffs, are both 11-4 and chasing the AFC North title as well as a first-round bye. Pittsburgh, playing at the Browns, clinches those honors with: 1) a win, or 2) a tie and a Ravens loss/tie, or 3) a Ravens loss. The Ravens host the Bengals and can take the division and the bye with: 1) a win and a Steelers loss/tie, or 2) a tie and a Steelers loss.
The AFC's only remaining playoff spot goes to the winner of the AFC South, where the 9-6 Colts hold a one-game lead on the Jaguars and can clinch the division with a win/tie against the Titans or a Jaguars loss/tie. If Jacksonville beats the Texans on the road and the Colts lose, then the Jaguars win the division. The Jaguars, though, will be without QB David Garrard and RB Maurice Jones-Drew remains doubtful.
Four teams -- the Bears, Eagles, Falcons and Saints -- have booked their postseason tickets in the NFC. Chicago (11-4) clinched the NFC North and a first-round bye, while the Eagles (10-5) won the NFC East. The Bears, who play at the Packers, can clinch homefield advantage with: 1) a win and a Falcons loss (home vs. Panthers) and a Saints loss/tie (home vs. Buccaneers).
Losing to the Saints on Monday night wasn't devastating for the Falcons, as they can still win their division and earn a bye with: 1) a win/tie, or 2) a Saints loss/tie. Atlanta also clinches homefield with: 1) a win/tie, or 2) a Saints loss/tie and a Bears loss/tie.
The Week 17 scenario for the defending champion Saints is a lot simpler. New Orleans will win the NFC South and clinch homefield advantage with a win and a Falcons loss.
The Packers (9-6) can clinch a wild-card spot with: 1) a win, or 2) a tie and a Giants loss/tie (away vs. Redskins) and a Bucs loss/tie, or 3) a Giants loss and a Bucs loss. The Giants get in with: 1) a win and a Packers loss/tie, or 2) a tie and a Packers loss and a Bucs loss/tie.
The NFC team with the slimmest chance of clinching a wild-card spot is the 9-6 Bucs. Tampa Bay can sneak in with: 1) a win and a Giants loss/tie and a Packers loss/tie, or 2) a tie and a Giants loss and a Packers loss.
The 12th team in this season's playoff field won't be known until the conclusion of Sunday night's game between the Rams and Seahawks in Seattle. The NFL used its flexible scheduling procedures to make the teams' do-or-die contest NBC's Sunday night game. The 7-8 Rams will clinch the NFC West with a win or tie while the 6-9 Seahawks can take the division with a victory. If Seattle wins, it will become the first sub-.500 division winner in NFL history and will host the NFC's fifth-seed in the opening round of the playoffs.
-- Arin Karimian
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