Week 17–Playoff Picture

TL;DR - 13 games feature some playoff implications. If the right things happen, the AFC playoffs could be decided by the end of the early games. If the wrong things happen then there are a lot of teams that are vying for the 6th seed. In the NFC, Green Bay, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas all have to win to get in the dance and losing means elimination. New Orleans could end up out of the playoffs or with a bye. 

WEEK 17- Sunday, December 29
The playoffs for the NFL is largely a weird system. There are 4 division winners and 2 wild cards in each division. The cleanest way to do a playoff discussion is to realize that there's 4 important levels to this.
Level 4- Non-playoff team. 20 teams end up here every year.
Level 3- playoff berth - You're in the playoffs, better to be there than to be home.
Level 2- First round bye - What's better than playing at home in the first round? Advancing without playing at all?
Level 1- Homefield throughout the playoffs - The Holy Grail. The entirety of your playoff games until the Super Bowl will be played in your stadium.

I'm not going to discuss the difference between a 5 and 6th seed or 3rd and 4th seed. There isn't one in the first round. Also, it would make the picture needlessly complicated. In the NFC the winner of the North and East will get the 3rd and 4th spots. In the AFC the 3rd and 4th spots will go to the worst of the Patriots, Bengals or Colts. 

AFC Games

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 pm
If Cincinnati wins and New England loses, then Cincinnati gets a 1st round bye.
If Baltimore wins and SD or Miami loses or ties, Baltimore clinches a playoff spot. If Baltimore ties and SD or Miami lose, the Baltimore clinches a playoff spot. If Miami, San Diego, and Pittsburgh all lose, then this game is playoff irrelevant for the Ravens, because they'll be in.

Buffalo at New England, 1 pm If New England wins or ties, they get a first round bye. Otherwise, the game depends on Cincinnati.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 pm
If Pittsburgh wins, they need Miami, Baltimore and San Diego to lose to get in the playoffs. If any of those things doesn't happen, Pittsburgh is out.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 pm Playoff-bound Indy can clinch a first round bye if they win and New England and Cincinnati lose.

NY Jets at Miami, 1 pm If Miami wins, Miami clinches a spot if San Diego wins or Baltimore loses
If Miami ties they clinch if Baltimore and San Diego tie or if Baltimore loses and San Diego loses or ties.

Late Games

Denver at Oakland, 4:25 pm
If New England has already lost (or tied), this game is playoff irrelevant. If New England wins, then Denver needs to win or tie to clinch home field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 pm
This game is irrelevant for playoff bound KC. But if Miami and Baltimore have already lost, then San Diego can win (or tie) the game and get in.

NFC

Carolina at Atlanta, 1 pm Carolina wins or ties they get a first round bye. If they lose, they need New Orleans to also lose. They already have a playoff berth.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 1 pm
The Saints need to win the game for a chance at a first round bye and to clinch the playoffs. If they lose and Arizona wins, they are out of the playoffs.

Green Bay at Chicago, 1 pm Winner gets the NFC North title. Loser goes home. If there's a tie, Chicago makes the playoffs.

Late Games

St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 pm
If Seattle wins, they clinch the division and homefield advantage.

San Francisco at Arizona, 4:25 pm
If Arizona wins, they're in, only if New Orleans loses.
If San Francisco wins and Seattle has already lost, then SF gets a first round bye. If Carolina also loses, then SF gets homefield throughout the playoffs.

Philadelphia at Dallas, 8 pm Rules of Engagement - Winner gets in. Philly gets in if they tie.

Playoff irrelevant

Houston at Tennessee, 1 pm
Washington at NY Giants, 1 pm
If Houston wins and Washington loses the number 1 pick goes to… the St. Louis Rams.

Detroit at Minnesota, 1 pm
Best RB vs the Best WR, perhaps? Nothing to see here.