NFL Overreactions Week 17
USAT’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best games of NFL Week 17 and the unfolding playoff picture.
Sports Seriously
The NFL regular season all comes down to this.
The final postseason berths and seeding for the playoffs will be determined by the results of games on Saturday and Sunday, with two spots and four division titles still up for grabs. Also at stake: the top seeds in each conference, which come with an all-important first-round bye.
Perhaps the most interesting situation is in the NFC South, where the Atlanta Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention, but could knock out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a win over the New Orleans Saints.
Here’s each team’s best-case scenario for Week 18:
Denver Broncos Week 18 playoff clinching scenarios
Broncos clinch AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:
Broncos winBroncos tie + Patriots loss or tiePatriots loss + Jaguars loss or tie
Patriots clinch AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with
Patriots win + Broncos loss or tiePatriots tie + Broncos loss
Jaguars clinch AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:
Jaguars win + Broncos loss + Patriots loss
Jaguars clinch AFC South with:
Houston Texans Week 18 playoff clinching scenarios
Texans clinch AFC South with:
Texans win + Jaguars lossBaltimore Ravens Week 18 playoff clinching scenarios
Ravens clinch AFC North with:
Steelers clinch AFC North with:
49ers clinch NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:
Seattle Seahawks Week 18 playoff clinching scenarios
Seahawks clinch NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with:
Carolina Panthers Week 18 playoff clinching scenarios
Panthers clinch NFC South with:
Panthers win or tieFalcons win
Buccaneers clinch NFC South with:
Buccaneers win + Falcons loss or tie