Nine of the 12 teams who will make the NFL Playoffs have been determined heading into the final week of the regular season.
All five of the NFC teams that have guaranteed spots in the playoffs (Philadelphia, Minnesota, New Orleans, Los Angeles Rams and Carolina) did not play in the previous postseason. Atlanta and Seattle are the two teams vying for the conference's final spot.
Philadelphia (13-2) secured the top overall seed in the conference and a first-round bye with a win over Oakland Monday night.
The Vikings (12-3) are currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC and can secure a first-round bye with a win over Chicago (5-10) or a tie this Sunday (**click here** for an early look at the matchup).
If Minnesota does fall to Chicago in the noon (CT) game, the Vikings would need a loss or tie by Carolina (11-4) at Atlanta (9-6) or have a multi-team tiebreaker involving more than Carolina and Minnesota.
Here is a rundown of playoff scenarios (the teams are listed in their rankings entering Week 17):
NFC No. 1: Philadelphia (13-2)
This week: Dallas (8-7), noon (CT)
The Eagles have secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye throughout the playoffs, regardless of what happens against the Cowboys. Dallas was eliminated from the playoffs by a loss to Seattle this weekend.
NFC No. 2: Minnesota (12-3)
This week: Chicago (5-10), noon (CT)
Minnesota clinches a first-round bye with:
1) MIN win or tie OR
2) CAR loss or tie at ATL OR
3) NO win at TB OR
4) LAR win against SF
NFC No. 3: Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
This week: San Francisco (5-10), 3:25 p.m.
The Rams will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed and will host a Wild Card game. Los Angeles can secure the No. 3 seed with a win. If the Rams lose, they need New Orleans and Carolina to lose to keep the No. 3 seed.
NFC No. 4: New Orleans (11-4)
This week: at Tampa Bay (4-11), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:
1) NO win at TB OR
2) CAR loss at ATL OR
3) NO tie; and CAR tie
NFC No. 5 Carolina Panthers (11-4)
This week: at Atlanta (9-6), Sunday, 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Carolina clinches NFC South division title with:
1) CAR win at ATL; and NO loss or tie at TB OR
2) CAR tie; and NO loss
Carolina clinches a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed with:
1) CAR win; and NO loss or tie; and MIN loss; and LAR loss or tie
NFC No. 6 Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
This week: Carolina (11-4), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Atlanta clinches a playoff berth with:
1) ATL win against CAR OR
2) SEA loss against AZ OR
3) ATL tie and SEA tie
NFC No. 7 Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
This week: Arizona (7-8), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Seattle clinches a playoff berth with:
1) SEA win against AZ; and ATL loss or tie against CAR OR
2) SEA tie; and ATL loss
AFC Scenarios
In the AFC, four teams — New England, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Kansas City — have clinched playoff berths by winning their divisions.
AFC No. 1 New England Patriots (12-3)
This week: New York Jets (5-10), noon, (CT)
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) NE win against NYJ OR
2) PIT loss against CLEOR
3) NE tie; and PIT tie
AFC No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)
This week: Cleveland (0-15), noon, (CT)
Pittsburgh clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) PIT win against CLE; and NE loss or tie against NYJ OR
2) PIT tie; and NE loss
AFC No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (10-5)
This week: Tennessee (8-7), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Jacksonville will have the No. 3 seed in the AFC, regardless of what happens this weekend.
AFC No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
This week: at Denver (5-10), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Kansas City will have the No. 4 seed in the AFC, regardless of what happens this weekend.
AFC No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
This week: Cincinnati (6-9) 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Baltimore clinches a playoff berth with:
1) BAL win or tie against CIN OR
2) BUF loss or tie at MIA OR
3) TEN loss or tie against JAX
AFC No. 6 Tennessee Titans (8-7)
This week: Jacksonville (10-5), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with:
1) TEN win OR
2) TEN tie; and BUF loss or tie at MIA; and LAC loss or tie against OAK OR
3) BUF loss at MIA; and LAC loss against OAK
AFC No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers (8-7)
This week: Oakland (6-9), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with:
1) LAC win; and TEN loss or tie against JAX; and BUF loss or tie at MIA OR
2) LAC win; and TEN loss or tie against JAX; and BAL win or tie against CIN OR
3) LAC tie; and TEN loss against JAX; and BUF loss or tie at MIA
AFC No. 8 Buffalo Bills (8-7)
This week: at Miami (6-9), 3:25 p.m. (CT)
Buffalo clinches a playoff berth with:
1) BUF win; and BAL loss against CIN OR
2) BUF win; and LAC loss or tie against OAK; and TEN loss or tie against JAX OR
3) BUF tie; and LAC loss against OAK; and TEN loss against JAX
