WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEEK 17

                                    

With one week left, the playoff picture is about halfway in focus.  Here [possibly to confuse you more] is what your team needs to happen to maximize it's postseason shot!

NFC

#1-SEAHAWKS. 
Clinched the #1 seed.  Gets first round bye.

#2-BEARS. 
Clinched the #2 seed.  Gets first round bye.

#3-BUCCANEERS
TO CLINCH NFC SOUTH....
.....a win or a Carolina loss
TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH...
....a win or a loss by Washington or Dallas or a New York win

Essentially, Tampa has clinched a playoff berth.  The only way they can't is if they lose...go to 10-6...Dallas and Washington win, which makes both of them 10-6...and New York losing making them 10-6.  Washington gets the divisional tie-breaker to make them NFC East champions.  So the next tiebreaker would be strength of victory between Tampa and Dallas.

A Tampa win gets them the division and the #3 seed.  If they lose, the Panthers lose, and the Giants win....then Tampa gets the #4 seed.  If they all lose, Tampa gets the #3 seed.

#4-GIANTS
Clinched a playoff spot.
TO CLINCH THE NFC EAST....
....a win or a Washington loss

To get the #3 seed, the Giants must win the NFC East and have Tampa lose.  A Tampa win would force them to be the #4 seed. 

#5-PANTHERS
TO CLINCH THE NFC SOUTH...
.....a win and a Tampa Bay loss
TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT...
.....a win or a loss by either Washington or Dallas.

If the Panthers win and Tampa loses, Carolina gets the #3 seed [if New York loses] or the #4 seed [if New York wins].  If Tampa wins the NFC South...a Carolina win [or lossed by both Washington and Dallas] gets them the #5 seed.  A Carolina loss and a win by Dallas OR Washington [not both] gets them the #6 seed.  If Carolina loses and both Dallas and Washington wins...then Carolina is done.

#6-REDSKINS
TO CLINCH NFC EAST....
....a win and a New York loss
TO CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT...
....a win or a Dallas loss.

Washington could get the #3 seed by winning the NFC East and Carolina winning the NFC South.  If Tampa wins the NFC South, then Washington would be the #4 seed.  If Washington doesn't win the NFC East...they become the #5 seed if they win and Carolina losses.  If Carolina wins OR both Washington and Dallas loses...the Washington is the #6 seed.

-COWBOYS
TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT...
...a win and a Washington loss OR...
...a win and a Carolina loss OR...
...a win and a New York and Tampa loss, and the strength of victory tiebreaker

Dallas needs help just to make the playoffs.  However, both Carolina and Washington are playing on the road against division foes, so they have a good shot at it.  They cannot win the division.

AFC

#1-COLTS
Clinched #1 seed.  Gets first round bye.

#2-BRONCOS
Clinched #2 seed.  Gets first round bye.

#3-BENGALS
Clinched AFC North and a playoff spot.

If Cincinnati wins or New England loses...then Cincy gets the #3 seed.  If Cincinnati loses and New England wins, then Cincinnati gets the #4 seed.

#4-PATRIOTS
Clinched the AFC East and a playoff spot.

If New England wins and Cincinnati loses...then New England gets the #3 seed.  If New England loses or Cincinnati wins, then New England gets the #4 seed.

#5-JAGUARS
Clinched the #5 seed.

#6-STEELERS
TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT....
....a win or a Chiefs loss OR...
....a San Diego win

I know this is weird, but how does San Diego fit in here?  Well, if San Diego, Kansas City and Pittsburgh all tie at 10-6...the first tie breaker is amongst the division teams.  San Diego would win the tiebreaker over Kansas City, then lose the tiebreaker to Pittsburgh.  So a San Diego win guarantees a Pittsburgh playoff spot.

-CHIEFS
TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT...
....a win and a Pittsburgh and San Diego loss

Take a look at Pittsburgh's analysis.