NFL playoff scenarios, Week 17: Chargers need win, NFC South up for grabs

With two playoff spots still available, the final regular season weekend promises to be wild.

The New England Patriots have clinched home field advantage and the Colts have locked themselves in as the AFC's No. 3 seed. Those are the only certainties entering the final week of the season.

Week 17 promises to be wild. In the AFC, the Steelers and Bengals are playing for the AFC North title while the Broncos are hoping to lock down a first-round bye. It gets really interesting in the Wild Card race, where the Chargers, Ravens, Texans and Chiefs are all battling for the final slot.

In the NFC, five teams are log jammed at 11-4. All five of those could either end up as the No. 1 seed or be relegated to a Wild Card. Of course the main intrigue is the conclusion of the awful NFC South race: the Panthers and Falcons are the only teams in the league playing a win-and-you're-in elimination game in the season's final week.

Here's the breakdown of all possible movement:

AFC

1. New England Patriots (12-3)

The Pats are locked into the No. 1 seed, having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

2. Denver Broncos (11-4)

Denver can clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win at home over the lowly Raiders, or if the Bengals lose to the Steelers.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1)

Cincy can clinch the AFC North with a win over the Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday Night Football. If they do that, they could also sneak into the No. 2 seed if the Broncos lose, giving them a first-round bye.

4. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

Indy's game against the Titans is essentially meaningless. They're locked into the No. 4 seed and will play the loser of the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

Pittsburgh can win the AFC North with a win over the Bengals, which would vault the Steelers into the No. 3 spot. Worst case scenario, they lose and go in as a Wild Card team.

6. San Diego Chargers (9-6)

They Chargers control their own destiny. If they beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, they are in. However, a loss eliminates them and opens the door for Baltimore, Houston or Kansas City.

The rest

The Ravens (9-6), Texans (8-7) and Chiefs (8-7) are all still alive for the final wild card slot. Baltimore needs a Chargers loss and a win over the Browns to get in. Houston needs to beat the Jaguars then hope both Baltimore and San Diego lose. Kansas City needs a minor miracle: it has to beat San Diego and get losses from the Ravens and Texans, both of which are double-digit favorites.

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

The Seahawks can lock up the NFC West and a first-round bye with a win over the Rams. They could also lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if they win and either 1) the Lions-Packers game doesn't end in a tie or 2) the Cowboys lose or tie.

2. Detroit Lions (11-4)

Detroit's game against Green Bay will decide the NFC North. Win and the Lions hold onto the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Lose and they'll fall back into a Wild Card spot.

3. Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

The Cowboys have already locked up the NFC East and at least the No. 3 seed, but could still move up with some help. To clinch a first-round bye, they need either 1) Seattle and Arizona to lose or 2) to beat Washington and have the Lions and Packers play to a tie.

4. Carolina Panthers (6-8-1)

The scenario for the NFC South is as simple as it gets: the winner of the Panthers-Falcons game in Atlanta gets the No. 4 seed. The loser goes home.

5. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

The Packers trade spots with the Lions with a win, giving them the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. If that coincides with a Seahawks' loss or tie, Green Bay becomes the No. 1 seed.

6. Arizona Cardinals (11-4)

The Cards need to beat the 49ers and hope for a Seattle loss to win the NFC West, which would also give them a first-round bye. If the Packers lose on top of that, the Cardinals become the No. 1 seed.

The rest

The only other NFC team still alive is Atlanta. Beat the Panthers and they're in.

Source SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/12/28/7450751/nfl-playoff-scenarios-2014-afc-nfc