Here’s a look at the big picture in both conferences:


AFC

  1. Denver Broncos (12-3). The Broncos, thanks to Kansas City’s loss to Indianapolis, clinched both the AFC West title and a first-round bye with their 37-13 rout of Houston. They still need to beat Oakland in Week 17 to make sure New England, which holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, doesn’t overtake them for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. What’s left: at OAK

  2. New England Patriots (11-4). The Patriots ripped into Baltimore, 41-7, to avenge their home loss in last year’s AFC championship game. Coupled with Miami’s loss, it means they are AFC East champions again. They still are ready to jump up a spot if the Broncos falter, but they also need to beat the Bills at home in Week 17 to stave off the Bengals and keep at least the No. 2 seed and a bye. What’s left: vs. BUF

  3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5). The Bengals are in the playoffs for a third consecutive season. This time, they’re AFC North champions after their 42-14 dismantling of Minnesota and Baltimore’s loss to New England. Having beaten New England and Indianapolis, another win in Week 17 would give them a shot at No. 2, and at worst, keep them from falling to No. 4. The bonus would be dashing division rival Baltimore’s playoff hopes and making sure the Super Bowl champions don’t get a chance to defend last season’s title. What’s left: vs. BAL

  4. Indianapolis Colts (10-5). The Colts, who already were AFC South champions going into Week 16, gave Kansas City something to think about for a potential playoff rematch in Indianapolis with a 23-7 win at Arrowhead. The only way to avoid that in the first round is by beating Jacksonville and hoping Cincinnati loses in Week 17. But then again, the Colts also lost to No. 6 seed hopefuls Miami and San Diego earlier this season, and got sent home by Baltimore in last year’s playoffs. What’s left: vs. JAX

  5. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4). They’re locked in as the AFC’s top wild card and No. 5 seed because Denver and the division is out of reach, and none of the other four teams still alive behind them can catch them. They could rest some banged-up players in Week 17 if they wanted, because nothing will change, but it would also facilitate the playoff path for division rival San Diego, which beat them earlier. What’s left: at SD

  6. Miami Dolphins (8-7). They hold the last AFC spot despite losing at Buffalo on Sunday because they hold the conference record tiebreaker over Baltimore and San Diego. They need to win in Week 17, and hope for either a Baltimore loss or San Diego win to make it. There’s no scenario in which the Dolphins can make it by losing. What’s left: vs. NYJ

Who’s right behind: Baltimore Ravens (8-7), San Diego Chargers (8-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8). The Ravens are in with a win at Cincinnati and a loss by either Miami or San Diego. The Chargers need a win and both Baltimore and Miami to lose. If Miami, Baltimore and San Diego all lose, the Steelers would get in with a win over Cleveland because it would create a five-way tie with the New York Jets. If Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh all lose, the resulting four-way tie still including the Jets, would qualify the Ravens.

Who’s out: New York Jets (7-8), Tennessee Titans (6-9), Buffalo Bills (6-9), Oakland Raiders (4-11), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11), Cleveland Browns (4-11), Houston Texans (2-13). As you see with their Week 17 game at Miami, the Jets can still cause some trouble despite having no playoff possibilities. On the flip side, the Texans’ loss to Denver clinched them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. 

NFC

  1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3). They still haven’t clinched more than a playoff berth, as they were upset at home by Arizona. A win over St. Louis at home in Week 17 would do it, but if they lose again, San Francisco can steal the NFC West title and at least the No. 2 seed by winning out. A loss opens the door for the Seahawks to fall all the way to No. 5 well behind San Francisco and Carolina. What’s left: vs. STL

  2. Carolina Panthers (11-4). The Panthers held serve to beat New Orleans late in the fourth quarter and now hold control of the NFC South. They already have clinched at least a wild-card berth, but beating Atlanta would mean the division title plus the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. They can’t get the No. 1 over Seattle, but that would happen if they won, Seattle lost and San Francisco wins the West. What’s left: at ATL 

  3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6). The Eagles’ breezy victory over Chicago on Sunday night meant nothing, except that their offense is rolling again going into their de facto NFC East title game in Week 17’s winner take all, loser take not even a wild card matchup in Dallas. Next Sunday night in Jerry World will be fun. What’s left: at DAL

  4. Chicago Bears (8-7). The Bears couldn’t take advantage of Detroit and Green Bay losses earlier on Sunday to lock up the NFC North, meaning they will need to take care of business at home against in Green Bay in Week 17 to do so. They limp into the matchup with their archrivals after showing more defensive struggles and little offensive life in Philadelphia, but they will hope Soldier Field sets up for a different story. What’s left: vs. GB

  5. San Francisco 49ers (10-4). If they just beat Atlanta on Monday night, it would mean at least a wild card and the No. 6 seed regardless of what else happens. If they win out, they would stay in this position at worst, gain the No. 1 at best. If the 49ers lose out, they could still miss the playoffs with Arizona, their Week 17 opponent, taking their wild-card spot. What’s left: vs. ATL, at ARI

  6. New Orleans Saints (10-5). The Saints, after losing the NFC South lead in Carolina, need to worry about holding on to the wild card, because it would take a Carolina loss to even have division title thoughts. A win over Tampa Bay in Week 17 is the easy way, or they risk opening the door for Arizona, over whom they have a head-to-head tiebreaker. They could still be No. 5, too, as they also beat San Francisco. What’s left: vs. TB

Who’s right behind: Arizona Cardinals (10-5), Dallas Cowboys (8-7), Green Bay Packers (7-7-1). The Cardinals stayed alive by winning at Seattle, but they still need to beat San Francisco, and also get help from San Francisco losing in Week 16 or New Orleans losing in Week 17. Like Philadelphia and Chicago, the division title is the only playoff path for the Cowboys and Packers.

Who’s out: Detroit Lions (7-8), St. Louis Rams (7-8), New York Giants (6-9), Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1), Atlanta Falcons (4-10), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11), Washington Redskins (3-12). The Giants were Lions killers in Week 16. It’s hard to believe the Lions were once 6-3 and looked like strong North favorites instead of current typical also-rans.