AFC Playoff Scenarios

     This is arguably the most important and confusing time of the year in the NFL. I’m going to break down the AFC playoff picture today and what you should be watching for from your teams in Week 17:

AFC:

If you are a fan of the Bills, Jets, Browns, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, or Raiders, you can start checking out players coming out of college that your team may select. Also enjoy Sunday, because it will be the last time you see your squad till August.

Broncos- They have clinched the AFC West and with a win on Sunday against the Pryor-led Raiders, they will clinch home field throughout the AFC playoffs. If they lose and New England wins, Denver will fall to the two seed. They can not go lower than that

Patriots- Patriots have clinched the AFC East but they can be anywhere from the 1 seed to the 4 seed. If they win and Denver wins, they are the two seed. If they win and Denver loses, they are the one seed. If they lose and Bengals win they fall to the three seed. If they lose and both the Colts and Bengals win, they fall to the four seed. Patriots play the Bills at home on Sunday.

Bengals- They can clinch the two seed if they win and a New England loss. If they win and New England wins, they are a three seed. In that case, they would play the 6 seed in the wild card round.

Colts- If they win and New England and Cincinnati win, they are the 4 seed and will play the 5 seed (Kansas City) in the wild card round. If they win and the Bengals and Patriots lose, they can clinch a first round bye.

Kansas City- They have clinched the 5 seed and in any scenario, nothing will change for them. The will face the 4 seed (Patriots, Bengals, or Colts).

All of the above teams are for sure at least in the playoffs

Dolphins- Miami can clinch the 6 seed if they win and either Baltimore loses or if the Chargers win. If they lose, they will need the Ravens and Chargers to lose to get in.

Chargers- They will clinch the 6 seed with a win and also losses from the Ravens and Dolphins.

Ravens- They will clinch the 6 seed if they win and Miami or San Diego lose. They can also clinch if the Steelers, Chargers and Dolphins all lose.

Steelers- The Steelers can only clinch the 6 seed if they win and the Ravens, Chargers, and Dolphins all lose.