New York Giants

What's at stake: Up-to-date playoff-clinching scenarios

Published Dec. 22, 2015 2:04 a.m. ET

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CURRENT PLAYOFF PICTURE / SEEDING

It took overtime to do it, but the Denver Broncos knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, clinching a playoff berth in the process. The win also made people happy in Indianapolis (though the Colts still need a series of miracles), while ticking off the fine people of Cincinnati, Houston and Kansas City.

So what does it all mean?

With one week to go, two AFC playoff spots remain up for grabs, with four teams vying for them. In the NFC, we know the six teams who are in. But there remains plenty of work before the final seedings are set -- and it will all come down to the final game of the regular season.

Finally … here is a look at the playoff scenarios in play in Week 17.

Note: More detail on AFC clinching scenarios available on NFL.com here. More detail on NFC clinching scenarios available on NFL.com here.

AFC

Patriots (at Dolphins, Sunday)

Clinched: AFC East, first-round bye

Can clinch: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:

1) Win / tie OR …

2) Broncos loss / tie

Broncos (vs. Chargers, Sunday)

Clinched: Playoff spot

Can clinch: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:

1) Win and Patriots loss

Can clinch: First-round bye with:

1) Win OR …

2) Tie and Bengals loss / tie OR …

3) Chiefs loss / tie and Bengals loss

Can clinch: AFC West with:

1) Win / tie OR …

2) Chiefs loss / tie

Bengals (vs. Ravens, Sunday)

Clinched: AFC North

Can clinch: First-round bye with:

1) Win and Broncos loss / tie OR …

2) Tie and Broncos loss OR …

2) Broncos loss and Chiefs win

Texans (vs. Jags, Sunday)

Can clinch: AFC South with:

1) Win / tie OR ...

2) Colts loss / tie OR …

3) Wins strength of victory tiebreaker over Colts if 1 of the following teams win or tie: Bengals, Chargers, Jets, Patriots, Saints -- OR …

4) Wins strength of schedule tiebreaker over Colts if Chiefs win / tie and Steelers loss / tie as long as both teams don't tie

Chiefs (vs. Raiders, Sunday)

Clinched: Playoff spot

Can clinch: AFC West:

1) Win and Broncos loss

Jets (at Bills, Sunday)

Can clinch: Playoff spot with:

1) Win / tie OR ...

2) Steelers loss / tie

Steelers (at Browns, Sunday)

Can clinch: Playoff spot with:

1) Win and Jets loss

Colts (vs. Titans, Sunday)

Can clinch: AFC South if all 9 below results happen:

1) Win vs. Titans AND ...

2) Jaguars win vs. Texans AND ...

3) Bills win vs. Jets AND ...

4) Dolphins win vs. Patriots AND ...

5) Ravens win vs. Bengals AND ...

6) Falcons win vs. Saints AND ...

7) Raiders win / tie-x vs. Chiefs AND ...

8) Broncos win vs. Chargers AND ...

9) Steelers win / tie-x vs. Browns 

x-If both games end tied, Colts eliminated

NFC

Panthers (vs. Buccaneers, Sunday)

Clinched: NFC South, first-round bye

Can clinch: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:

1) Win / tie OR …

2) Cardinals loss / tie

Cardinals (vs. Seahawks, Sunday)

Clinched: NFC West, first-round bye

Can clinch: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:

1) Win and Panthers loss

Packers (vs Vikings, Sunday night)

Clinched: Playoff berth

Can clinch: NFC North and No. 3 seed with:

1) Win / tie

Vikings (at Packers, Sunday night)

Clinched: Playoff berth

Can clinch: NFC North and No. 3 seed with:

1) Win

Clinch: No. 5 seed:

1) Tie

2) Loss and Sehawks loss 

Redskins (at Cowboys, Sunday)

Clinched: NFC East, No. 4 seed

Seahawks (at Cardinals, Sunday)

Clinched: Playoff berth

Can clinch: No. 5 seed with:

1) Win and Vikings loss

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