There are just two weeks of regular-season football left to be played, but the NFL's playoff picture remains murky.
Entering Week 17, only eight teams had been eliminated from playoff contention in total across the league. That meant that 24 still had a shot to make the playoffs with just two weeks left in the season.
Of course, that doesn't mean it was likely for all of those teams to make it. Some, like the Bears, face major uphill battles to get there. Others, like the Chiefs, entered the week with a playoff berth all but wrapped up.
Still, any amount of hope is enough to keep NFL fans interested and rooting hard for their teams. And while several more squads are set to fall in Week 17, it should still set up an exciting and impactful Week 18 during which several teams will face win-and-in scenarios.
But who is set to make the postseason? Here's what to know about the NFL's playoff picture, tiebreakers and elimination scenarios as Week 17 results come in.
WEEK 17 NFL PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
This article will be updated periodically to reflect the latest news, updates and results from around the NFL.
NFL playoff standings Week 17
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched? |
| 1 | Ravens | 12-3 | Playoff berth |
| 2 | Dolphins | 11-4 | Playoff berth |
| 3 | Chiefs | 9-6 | — |
| 4 | Jaguars | 8-7 | — |
| 5 | Browns | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Bills | 9-6 | — |
| 7 | Colts | 8-7 | — |
In the hunt: Texans (8-7), Steelers (8-7), Bengals (8-7), Raiders (7-8), Broncos (7-8)
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched? |
| 1 | 49ers | 11-4 | NFC West |
| 2 | Eagles | 11-4 | Playoff berth |
| 3 | Lions | 11-5 | NFC North |
| 4 | Buccaneers | 8-7 | — |
| 5 | Cowboys | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Rams | 8-7 | — |
| 7 | Seahawks | 8-7 | — |
In the hunt: Vikings (7-8), Falcons (7-8), Packers (7-8), Saints (7-8), Bears (6-9)
NFL tiebreakers, explained
Several teams in the AFC and NFC have the same records. Here's how the NFL is breaking the ties between the teams still alive in the 2023 NFL playoff race.
AFC tiebreakers
- The Jaguars currently lead the AFC South because of their head-to-head win percentage against the Colts and Texans.
- The Colts are the No. 7 seed because they have a head-to-head win over the Steelers and the Bengals and Texans were each eliminated via the division tiebreakers.
- The Texans are the No. 8 seed because they have a head-to-head win over the Steelers and the Bengals were eliminated via the division tiebreaker.
- The Steelers are the No. 9 seed because of their season sweep of the Bengals.
- The Raiders are the No. 10 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Broncos in Week 1.
NFC tiebreakers
- The 49ers are the NFC's No. 1 seed because they have a superior conference record (9-1) than both the Eagles (7-3) and Lions (also 7-3).
- The Eagles are the NFC's No. 2 seed because their strength of victory (.479) is superior to that of the Lions (.436).
- The Rams are the No. 6 seed over the Seahawks because of their season sweep of Seattle.
- The Vikings are the No. 8 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Falcons. The Packers and Saints were eliminated by the divisional tiebreaker.
- The Falcons are the No. 9 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Packers. The divisional tiebreaker was used to eliminate the Saints.
- The Packers are the No. 10 seed thanks to their head-to-head win over the Saints.
MORE: Where Falcons, Patriots rank among best landing spots for Russell Wilson
NFL clinching scenarios Week 17
Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
Games remaining: vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers
Baltimore clinches AFC North title with:
- Ravens win or tie OR
- Browns loss or tie
Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:
- Ravens win over Dolphins
Buffalo Bills (9-6)
Games remaining: vs. Patriots, at Dolphins
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Bengals loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Jaguars loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Texans loss or tie and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Bengals loss or tie and Jaguars loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Bengals loss or tie and Texans loss or tie and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Jaguars loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Jaguars loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Texans loss and Colts loss OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Texans loss and Colts loss
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
Games remaining: vs. Panthers, at Titans
Jacksonville clinches playoff berth and AFC South title with:
- Jaguars win and Texans loss and Colts loss
Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
Games remaining: vs. Bengals, at Chargers
Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West title with:
- Chiefs win or tie OR
- Raiders loss or tie and Broncos loss or tie
Miami Dolphins (11-4)
Games remaining: at Ravens, vs. Bills
Miami clinches AFC East title with:
- Dolphins win or tie OR
- Bills loss or tie
Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
Games remaining: at Giants, at 49ers
Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:
- Rams win and Seahawks loss OR
- Rams win and Packers/Vikings tie
Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)
Games remaining: vs. Cardinals, at Giants
Philadelphia clinches NFC East title with:
- Eagles win and Cowboys loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie and Cowboys loss
San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Games remaining: at Commanders, vs. Rams
San Francisco clinches NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
- 49ers win and Lions loss and Eagles loss
Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Games remaining: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
- Seahawks win and Packers/Vikings tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
Games remaining: vs. Saints, at Panthers
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth and NFC South title with:
- Buccaneers win OR
- Buccaneers tie and Falcons loss
NFL elimination scenarios Week 17
Many teams can be eliminated from playoff contention this week. They are as follows.
Both the Broncos and Raiders can be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss. Each team also has several scenarios in which they can be eliminated with a tie.
Denver can also be denied playoff entry even with a win. It would require at least three other teams winning or tying, all of which involve Kansas City. So, Broncos fans should be rooting against the Chiefs even more heartily than usual in Week 17.
The Bengals can also be eliminated from playoff contention. If they lose, the Steelers win and the Bills either win or tie against the Patriots, Cincinnati would be out of the playoffs, as it would lose any tiebreaker scenario involving Pittsburgh.
The Texans will also be in danger of missing the playoffs if they lose. A Texans loss coupled with wins y the Colts and Jaguars would put the AFC South out of reach. Add either a Bills win/tie or a Bengals win coupled with any combination of losses and ties from the Steelers and Broncos and Houston would be out.
For the full details on the AFC elimination scenarios, click here.
Five NFC teams are in danger of being eliminated from playoff contention as well, with the Bears facing the steepest path back into the race.
Chicago can be eliminated from the playoff race with either a loss or wins by a couple of the teams ahead of it in the wild-card race. If the Seahawks and Rams both win or tie, the Bears will be out. And if just one of them wins or ties, the Bears would need the Packers-Vikings game to end in a tie to stave off elimination.
Things are similarly bleak for the Falcons, who can be knocked out of playoff contention with a Buccaneers win, Rams win and Seahawks win even if they win. Atlanta can also be eliminated simply with a loss and a Buccaneers win or a couple of scenarios involving multiple ties.
The Saints must win against the Buccaneers to stay in playoff contention. They can also be eliminated with a tie and wins or ties by both the Seahawks and Rams.
The Vikings will be out if they lose and both the Seahawks and Rams win. They can also be eliminated in multiple ways if they lose and the Buccaneers tie the Saints.
And finally, the Packers will be eliminated most easily with a loss and a win or tie by the Seahawks or the Rams.
For the full details on the NFC elimination scenarios, click here.
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