NFL Week 17 Playoff Picture, Standings & Rankings: Who's In, Who's Out, & Who's in the Hunt
The final week of NFL season shows a lot of promise.
Three of the four divisions in the NFC haven't been clinched yet, and anything can happen in the final week.
Here, Latin Post.com dives into all the scenarios and playoff possibilities for Week 17 in the NFC:
Battle For The No. 1 Seed
The Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are all 11-4. The Seahawks currently sit on top having a 9-2 conference record and the best net points. As long as the Seahawks defeat the St. Louis Rams, they will be the No. 1 seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs, again.
The Lions and Packers each have a tough task. The Packers lost to the Seahawks in Week 1, and thus the Seahawks own the tie-breaker. For the Packers to get the No. 1 seed, they would have to beat the Lions and hope the Seahawks lose to the Rams. The most unlikely scenario would be the Lions defeating the Packers at Lambeau Field (haven't done since 1991) and the Seahawks losing to the Rams. If that happens, the Lions get the No. 1 seed.
NFC South
The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers will face each other in Week 17 in Atlanta. Regardless of their putrid records, the winner of this game will automatically be the No. 4 seed in the NFC. Pretty simple. The Falcons are 5-0 in the division so far this season.
Wild Card
Six teams will qualify for the postseason with four of those being division winners and two others being wild card teams. Those wild card teams will not be coming from the NFC East or the NFC South. Meaning the two wild card teams would have to be either the Packers, Lions, Cardinals or Seahawks.
The Dallas Cowboys are the only team to make the playoffs from the NFC East, and the winner of the Falcons-Panthers game will be the only team from the NFC South.
How 'Bout Them Cowboys?
The Dallas Cowboys have won the NFC East for the first time since 2009. So, what now? The Cowboys are guaranteed a top three seed regardless of their final outcome, but they can grab the No. 2 seed. If the Rams defeated the Seahawks and the 49ers beat the Cardinals, the Cowboys get the No. 2 seed if they beat the Washington Redskins. The only way the Cowboys could get the No. 1 seed is if the Packers and Lions tie with each other, and the Cowboys win.
Most Likely 1st Round Matchup
Okay, those are the scenarios in the NFC, but what is most likely to happen? Let's make some predictions and take a look at our first round matchups.
The Packers should beat the Lions, thus winning the NFC North and the Lions are a wild card team. The Seahawks should defeat the Rams, giving them the No. 1 seed. Winner of Falcons-Panthers game is the No. 4 seed; take your pick. Cardinals win a close game against the 49ers and clinch the No. 5 seed wild card spot. With the Lions losing, they drop to the No. 6 in the NFC.
1. Seahawks
2. Packers
3. Cowboys
4. Falcons
5. Cardinals
6. Lions
If these standings play out correct, the Cowboys and Lions will play each other in the first round, as will the Falcons and Cardinals. The Seahawks and Packers will get a bye week.
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