NFL playoff picture 2021 – Week 17 standings, bracket, clinching scenarios, division races and postseason outlook

We have arrived at the time of the NFL time when we look at the activity in front of us with one eye and the scoreboard with the other. Sunday began with six of the NFL’s 14 playoff places stuffed. Nine other individuals had a possibility to clinch one of the eight remaining places. (Some of their scenarios canceled out other individuals you know how it is — math can be complicated.)

As it turned out, four groups clinched playoff places in the early game titles, which include two that won their division championships. The Bengals won the AFC North, and the Titans clinched the AFC South. There were being no these kinds of extraordinary moments in the late afternoon game titles, but Sunday night’s activity at Lambeau Subject could be noteworthy. With a earn in excess of the Vikings, the Packers can clinch the NFC’s major seed and residence-field benefit all through the playoffs. In that consequence, the Vikings would be eradicated and the Eagles would clinch a spot in the playoffs.

We will update this tale at the summary of Sunday Evening Football. For now, here’s what we know at this second.

Note: All proportion possibilities to make the playoffs, clinch a division title or secure the conference No. one seed are via ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).

Soar to: AFC | NFC
Clinching scenarios

AFC playoff standings

Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: 79%
Remaining program: at Texans

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: sixteen%
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. Chargers
Remaining program: at Broncos

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: five%
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. Colts
Remaining program: at Browns

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: 94%
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. Patriots
Remaining program: vs. Jets

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: 6%
Odds to get paid No. one seed:
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Bills
Remaining program: at Dolphins

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Odds to make playoffs: 84%
Odds to earn division: Eliminated
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Bengals
Remaining program: at Jaguars

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Odds to make playoffs: 58%
Odds to earn division: Eliminated
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Chiefs
Remaining program: at Raiders

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In the AFC hunt

Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
Odds to make playoffs: fifty two%

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-one)
Odds to make playoffs: 4%

Baltimore Ravens (eight-eight)
Odds to make playoffs: two%

NFC playoff standings

Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: 96%
Remaining program: vs. Vikings, at Lions

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: 75%
Odds to get paid No. one seed: 3%
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. Eagles
Remaining program: vs. 49ers

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: one%
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. 49ers
Remaining program: vs. Panthers

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: Clinched
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: vs. Cardinals
Remaining program: at Eagles

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Odds to make playoffs: Clinched
Odds to earn division: twenty five%
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Cowboys
Remaining program: vs. Seahawks

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Odds to make playoffs: 65%
Odds to earn division: Eliminated
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Buccaneers
Remaining program: at Rams

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Odds to make playoffs: 91%
Odds to earn division: Eliminated
Odds to get paid No. one seed: Eliminated
Latest projected initial-spherical matchup: at Rams
Remaining program: vs. Cowboys

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In the NFC hunt

New Orleans Saints (eight-eight)
Odds to make playoffs: 38%

Minnesota Vikings (7-eight)
Odds to make playoffs: 6%

Clinching scenarios and intriguing playoff races

• The Chiefs’ reduction to the Bengals implies that the AFC’s eventual No. one seed will have at minimum 5 losses, tied for the most for the AFC’s major crew because the NFL began the seeding method in 1975. The most latest these kinds of crew with 5 losses was the 2002 Raiders, who innovative to Tremendous Bowl XXXVII.

• The Bengals won the AFC North, many thanks to their 34-31 victory in excess of the Chiefs, for the initial time because 2015. But will historical past bear in mind that it took flags on two consecutive fourth-down performs at the intention line to retain the Bengals’ successful travel alive? The Bengals can clinch the No. one seed in the AFC in 7 days 18 with a earn in excess of the Browns and losses by the Titans, Chiefs and Patriots, or a earn and a Bills earn moreover losses by the Titans and Chiefs.

• The Titans clinched a playoff berth and the AFC South with a victory in excess of the Dolphins. At some issue, we have to have to take a step back and understand what the Titans have accomplished underneath coach Mike Vrabel. After building the playoffs the moment in the nine years ahead of he arrived in 2018, they have now had four consecutive successful seasons, three consecutive visits to the playoffs and now two consecutive division titles. The Titans can clinch the major seed in 7 days 18 with a) a earn at Houston, b) losses by the Chiefs, Bengals and Patriots, or c) losses by the Chiefs and Bengals blended with a earn by the Bills.

two Connected

• The Titans’ earn eradicated the Colts’ possibility to earn AFC South. The Colts could have clinched a playof
  f spot with a victory in excess of the Raiders, but they lost 23-twenty. The Colts can clinch a playoff spot with a) a earn at the Jaguars, b) losses by the Ravens, Chargers and Steelers (7 days seventeen), or c) losses by the Chargers and Steelers (Weeks seventeen and 18) and a Dolphins earn.

• The Bills clinched a playoff berth, many thanks to their 29-15 victory in excess of the Falcons alongside with the Ravens’ reduction to the Rams. That’s three consecutive visits to the postseason for the Bills underneath coach Sean McDermott. They are going to clinch the AFC East for the second consecutive yr if they defeat the Jets at residence in 7 days 18.

• The Patriots clinched a playoff berth just after beating the Jaguars fifty-ten and having a 34-3 reduction from the Dolphins towards the Titans. They could however clinch the AFC East with a 7 days 18 victory at the Dolphins and a Bills reduction. To clinch residence-field benefit as the No. one seed, the Patriots would have to have a 7 days 18 earn and losses by the Bills, Titans and Chiefs.

• The Chargers’ earn in excess of the Broncos eradicated the Broncos, Dolphins, and Browns from playoff rivalry. A lot more importantly for the Chargers: It established up a earn-and-in condition for their 7 days 18 activity at the Raiders. That activity will also be earn-and-in for the Raiders, who have won three consecutive game titles to get back into the race. The Raiders can also get in with losses by the Colts and Steelers (in both 7 days seventeen or 18).

• The Saints prevented playoff elimination by defeating the Panthers. They can clinch a playoff berth with a earn at the Falcons blended with losses by the 49ers and Vikings in 7 days 18. They could also clinch with a earn, an Eagles reduction and Vikings victories in Weeks seventeen and 18.

• The 49ers failed to clinch a playoff spot Sunday, but they can do it in 7 days 18 with a earn at the Rams, or a reduction by the Saints, or a reduction by the Eagles blended with a Saints victory as effectively as victories by the Vikings in Weeks seventeen and 18.

• The Rams weren’t ready to clinch the NFC West on Sunday, many thanks to the Cardinals’ earn, but they can do it with a 7 days 18 earn in excess of the 49ers or a Cardinals reduction. The Cardinals can clinch the NFC West with a earn in excess of the Seahawks and a Rams reduction. But they are unable to get to the No. one seed.

• The Eagles will be viewing Sunday night’s activity intently. They are going to clinch a playoff berth with a Packers earn. If the Vikings earn Sunday night, they can however clinch with a victory in 7 days 18 or a Vikings reduction in 7 days 18.

• Washington was eradicated from playoff rivalry. Presented the 7 days one reduction of beginning quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and its late-time COVID-19 outbreak, it really is frankly remarkable that this crew was however in the race in 7 days seventeen. The Falcons were being also eradicated from playoff rivalry with their reduction to the Bills. And as pointed out, the Broncos, Dolphins and Browns were being eradicated in the AFC.

• Inspite of shedding 5 consecutive game titles, the Ravens aren’t out of it however. To get into the playoffs, they will have to have to defeat the Steelers in 7 days 18, and then get losses by the Colts, Chargers and Dolphins.

• The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth by successful their last two game titles — which include Monday night towards the Browns and in 7 days 18 at the Ravens — and then having a reduction by the Colts.