The NFL Playoffs are almost here, but there are still teams fighting for a playoff spot in week 17. Whose bubble will burst?
With only a week left in the season, some NFL teams have already secured their trip to the playoffs while some are eagerly waiting for week 17 to play for a chance to participate in extra football.
Week 16 provided a slew of playoff contenders either accomplishing a goal set prior to the season or breaking the hearts of their respective fan bases. The Dallas Cowboys finally ended their recent bout of mediocrity to win the NFC East division and the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff spot on their home field. On the other hand, the New Orleans Saints lost their air of invincibility at the Superdome as well as a playoff spot.
With the last week of the NFL regular season on deck, there are still two wild card spots up for grabs: one in the AFC and one in the NFC. Three games will be played that will determine who has earned the right to compete for the Lombardi trophy. These games will complete the playoff picture.
The AFC
Wild card scenario overview: The San Diego Chargers are currently holding the last wild card spot in the conference. They can clinch the spot with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Even if the Baltimore Ravens win against the Cleveland Browns to equal San Diego’s record, the Chargers will have a better conference record, winning the tiebreaker.
If Kansas City Chiefs win the game against the Chargers, they will equal the Chargers overall record, but jump them in the standings due to a 2-0 record in the head-to-head matchup and they will clinch a playoff spot if the Houston Texans lose against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Browns top the Ravens.
The Texans also need a little bit of help to get to the playoffs, needing a win against the Jaguars and a Kansas City victory over San Diego. They will also need the Browns to knock off the Ravens. The Ravens have a chance to clinch the final playoff spot if they win against the Browns and the Chargers fall to the Chiefs.
If the Ravens, Texans, and Chiefs end up with the same record, the Texans will jump Kansas City and Baltimore in the standings because the Texans have a better conference record than the Chiefs and the Ravens.
Next: Game 1: Bolts vs. Chiefs