12 remaining games could have playoff implications

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 28, 2015, 9:35 AM EST
AP

Of the 17 remaining games in this NFL season, 12 of them could still have playoff implications.

Here’s a complete look at all the games remaining that have playoff implications, and what will happen depending on the results of each game:

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH TEAMS
Bengals at Broncos tonight: If the Bengals win, they clinch a first-round bye and remain in contention for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. If the Broncos win, they clinch a playoff spot and remain in contention for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. Sunday: The Cardinals clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs if they win and the Panthers lose. The Seahawks will be the No. 6 seed if they lose or the Vikings beat the Packers. The Seahawks will be the No. 5 seed if they win and the Packers beat the Vikings.

Vikings at Packers, 7:30 p.m. Sunday: The winner is the NFC North champion and the NFC No. 3 seed. If the Packers lose, they’re the No. 5 seed. If the Vikings lose and the Seahawks win, the Vikings are the No. 6 seed. If the Vikings and Seahawks both lose, the Vikings are the No. 5 seed.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS FOR ONE TEAM
Jets at Bills, 1 p.m. Sunday: If the Jets win, they clinch a wild card.

Patriots at Dolphins, 1 p.m. Sunday: If the Patriots win, they clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. Sunday: If the Bengals win out and the Patriots lose, the Bengals clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Steelers at Browns, 1 p.m. Sunday: If the Steelers win and the Jets lose or the Broncos lose twice, the Steelers are a wild card.

Jaguars at Texans, 1 p.m. Sunday: The Texans clinch the AFC South with a win. The Texans will also clinch the AFC South if the Bengals win tonight, so Jaguars-Texans would become meaningless.

Titans at Colts, 1 p.m. Sunday: The Colts can still win the AFC South, but they need to beat the Titans, the Texans need to lose to the Jaguars, and a lot of other things have to happen. One of those other things is the Bengals losing tonight, so if the Bengals win tonight, Titans-Colts would become meaningless.

Panthers at Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. Sunday: The Panthers clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win. The Panthers also clinch home-field advantage if the Cardinals lose.

Raiders at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. Sunday: The Chiefs clinch the AFC West with a win and a Broncos loss. The Chiefs also clinch the AFC West if the Broncos lose twice.

Chargers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. Sunday: The Broncos clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with two wins and a Patriots loss. The Broncos clinch a first-round bye with two wins. The Broncos clinch a playoff spot with one win. The Broncos would miss the playoffs entirely if they lose twice and the Jets and Steelers both win.

Permalink 40 Comments Feed for comments Back to top

40 responses to “12 remaining games could have playoff implications”

  1. on the pats losing yesterday: lol I always hate to lose especially since we are so spoiled and win almost all of the time but if they can just get healthy at the right time I still think this team can make a run.. you can say what you want about them, mistakes, poor decisions, etc but you cant say that this team has ever quit this year. not once

  2. Yeah, the Steelers seem like a real threat to go deep this year with that impressive secondary.

  5. In terms of playoff implications, this is one of the worst ends to a season in recent memory. Certainly since the NFL went to the week 17 games being all divisional matchups. Not one win and in game between two teams.

    Although the Jets/Bills game is pretty juicy.

  7. If the Patriots win, they clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

    What you mean “if” Kemosabe?

  8. How does Minnesota hold the tiebreaker over Seattle? Didn’t the Seahawks blow the Vikings out a couple of weeks ago? Isn’t head to head always the first tiebreaker?

  10. What’s that you say? My cowboys are in the running for the 3 pick in the draft? Love this season…been watching since early 70s and this has been worst season ever due to expectations coming into this year. 1989 season was no big deal since we beat the Redskins on the road for our only win because personnel sucked and we knew it going into season!!!
    Biggest drop off in wins from one season to the next EVER in their history! Look forward to 8-8 next year and at least then we will mathematically be alive into final week!!!

  13. @skunksprayjim The Seahawks would win if they are tied, but if both teams lose then Minnesota still has a better record: 10-6 vs 9-7.

  14. inbillwetrust –

    The Pats had at least 1:30 and two timeouts, but instead decided to run the ball. I saw that as quitting, and I was pissed. If we could’ve at least gotten a field goal out of it, we would’ve won yesterday.

  15. skunksprayjim says:
    Dec 28, 2015 10:04 AM
    How does Minnesota hold the tiebreaker over Seattle? Didn’t the Seahawks blow the Vikings out a couple of weeks ago? Isn’t head to head always the first tiebreaker?

    If they both lose Vikings have a better record. Hence Seattle would be the 6 seed.

  16. “What you mean “if” Kemosabe?”

    Not that I think the Pats will lose next week, but see yesterday as an any given Sunday example.

  17. skunksprayjim says:
    Dec 28, 2015 10:04 AM
    How does Minnesota hold the tiebreaker over Seattle? Didn’t the Seahawks blow the Vikings out a couple of weeks ago? Isn’t head to head always the first tiebreaker?
    ~~~~~~~
    Not on a tie with 3 or more teams

  19. kevinlawrencecantor
    projectshadow316

    deciding not to make a stupid mistake (interception, sack fumble) at the end of the half or at the end of regulation in a tie game that is going into overtime is not quitting.. trust me this team is resilient.. that’s all you can ask for when most of your star players are out week in and week out… all i’m saying is if they get these star players back and combine that with the resiliency of this team that they have showed over the course of almost 2 years now they are going to be okay.

    and you guys sound like fair weather fans…

    in bill we trust

  20. Not sure I’d call myself a fair weather fan, I’ve been attending games since the 70s, in times lean and not.

    I sat there incredulous that the Pats weren’t going to do anything with almost 2 minutes and two time outs.

    That being said, “in Bill we trust” indeed. Over the years he’s done many things which have made me head scratch, but I can’t argue with his results.

    Let’s hope we can beat the Fins on the road with whatever healthy bodies we have.

  21. projectshadow316 says:
    Dec 28, 2015 10:19 AM
    inbillwetrust –

    The Pats had at least 1:30 and two timeouts, but instead decided to run the ball. I saw that as quitting, and I was pissed. If we could’ve at least gotten a field goal out of it, we would’ve won yesterday.
    –
    More like let’s not get Brady killed mode. O-line is a hot mess. Only Gronk & Martin to throw to. 2nd tier RB’s.

    Not that I liked it but it was a smart move considering folks were looking for them to rest starters, those few we have left that is.

    I also thought kicking on OT was the right move. NY hadn’t done squat in the 2nd half, Pats D kept them in check. If they don’t give up 80 yards in 5 plays all they needed was a FG.

    A healthy Pats team will win SB 50, anything less they lose to the NFC, if they get that far.

  23. The Patriots can lose to the Dolphins and still get the #1 seed, but several things would have to break their way for that scenario. First, the Broncos have to beat the Bengals tonight. Then the Broncos would have to lose to the Chargers and the Bengals lose to the Ravens. In that scenario, the Patriots get the #1 seed even with a loss to the Dolphins.

  24. Week 17 is the Dolphins Super Bowl. They win and the coaching staff will all be back. BOOK IT BABY!

  28. Week 17 it will be Jets 23 Bills 13. Jets will get the 5 seed after the Raiders beat the Chiefs. There will be a Gatorade dump for Bowles in Buffalo. BOOK IT!

  29. If the steelers can just have the jets lose or broncos lose twice you can throw yesterdays loss out the window. Big Ben is p-off and will tee off on defenses in the playoffs unlike yesterday. Take it to the bank.

  30. Seems to me that the Pats wanted to beat the Jets but we’re not about to risk injury to Amendola, Edelman and all the other players they need for the playoffs – especially knowing the Jets would be playing aggressive football

    So the Jets varsity played the Pats JV and won a close game

    But with the bye Belichick will want to give Edelman and others a playoff tune up game – so I suspect we’ll see them more full strength against a lesser opponent than the Jets for what should be an easier win than the Jets would have been

  32. Texans may have had one of the strangest 2 year QB sagas ever. They have managed to have 4 QB’s win this year(Hoyer, Mallett, Yates, Weeden), and 3 that started for them last year(Mallett, Fitzpatrick, Keenum) won yesterday.

  33. steelcurtainn says:
    Dec 28, 2015 12:53 PM
    If the steelers can just have the jets lose or broncos lose twice you can throw yesterdays loss out the window. Big Ben is p-off and will tee off on defenses in the playoffs unlike yesterday….

    Are you suggesting that Big Ben was not p-off in 2011,2012,2013 and 2014 when the Steelers either did not make the playoffs or were one and done?

  34. Minnys OLine was a run blocking line built around AP and now they need a pass blocking OLine for Teddy. Sadly, this isn’t going to be their year but happily, it’s not the Packers year either.

  36. Are you suggesting that Big Ben was not p-off in 2011,2012,2013 and 2014 when the Steelers either did not make the playoffs or were one and done?

    What I am suggesting is the steelers offense is that good compared to them years.

  37. moondog7 says:
    Dec 28, 2015 11:53 AM
    Vikings over the Skins. Vikings over the Cardinals, and Vikings over the Panthers to the superbowl. I can actually see this happening.
    ——————————————————————

    So for you, its a given that the Vikings cant beat the Packers but they can beat Washington, Arizona and Carolina? Interesting.

  38. moondog7 says:
    Dec 28, 2015 11:53 AM
    Vikings over the Skins. Vikings over the Cardinals, and Vikings over the Panthers to the superbowl. I can actually see this happening.

    —————————————————————-

    If the Vikings win Sunday against Green Bay they get the SeaHawks….good luck with that …. they destroyed the Queens , on their home turf even

  39. guruvious says:
    Dec 28, 2015 3:10 PM
    Minnys OLine was a run blocking line built around AP and now they need a pass blocking OLine for Teddy.
    —————————————————————

    the Vikings O-line has been horrible for a few years no matter if blocking for the run or pass …. senseless homer post

  40. Vikings don’t match up well against the packers or the Seahawks but they can beat the Redskins, they just hung with the cardinals last week without three of there top defensive starters and now honey badger is out. Panthers game would be a smash mouth game probably low scoring with maybe one or two plays or mistakes making the difference. If Arizona beats Seattle on Sunday then I would almost prefer to lose the division and take our shot against the Redskins instead of the Seahawks . If the Seahawks win, then win the division and play the pack again in wild card week at home. Just saying there is a legit shot to win those 3 games from a Vikings fan perspective. touchdown teddy

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.