NFL Week 17 playoff outlook: Scenarios for clinching and current standings.
- Dante
- Dec 27, 2024
- 2 min read
There are just two weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season, and the playoff landscape is nearly set. Thirteen teams have already been knocked out of postseason contention, while nine have secured their spots. Currently, only three teams have claimed their divisions: the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans. However, all four NFC division races could potentially wrap up after this week. Let’s explore the clinching scenarios for eight teams in Week 17, including the possibility of both conferences locking in their No. 1 seed by next Monday.
Week 17 clinching scenarios in the AFC
Already clinched: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
The matchup: at Pittsburgh on Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix
How the Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage:
Win OR
Buffalo loss vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
The matchup: at New England on Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network
How the Chargers can clinch a playoff berth:
Win OR
Indianapolis loss at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday) + Miami loss at Cleveland (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Denver Broncos (9-6)
The matchup: at Cincinnati on Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
How the Broncos can clinch a playoff berth:
Win
Week 17 clinching scenarios in the NFC
Already clinched: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
The matchup: vs. Arizona on Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network
How the Rams can clinch the NFC West:
Win + Seattle loss at Chicago (8:15 p.m. ET, Thursday) OR
Win + clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Seattle
Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
The matchup: vs. Dallas on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Eagles can clinch the NFC East:
Win OR
Washington loss vs. Atlanta (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
The matchup: at Washington on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
How the Falcons can clinch the NFC South:
Win + Tampa Bay loss vs. Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Washington Commanders (10-5)
The matchup: vs. Atlanta on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
How the Commanders can clinch a playoff berth:
Win OR
Tampa Bay loss vs. Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Detroit Lions (13-2)
The matchup: at San Francisco on Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
How the Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage:
Win + Minnesota loss vs. Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
NFL playoff matchups as things stand
AFC
(7) Denver Broncos at (2) Buffalo Bills
(6) Los Angeles Chargers at (3) Pittsburgh Steelers
(5) Baltimore Ravens at (4) Houston Texans
Wild-card round bye: (1) Kansas City Chiefs
NFC
(7) Washington Commanders at (2) Philadelphia Eagles
(6) Green Bay Packers at (3) Los Angeles Rams
(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Atlanta Falcons
Wild-card round bye: (1) Detroit Lions
