This is it. Week 17, when the playoff scenarios become labyrinthine and the postseason comes down to one scenario of a matrix of possibilities. Some teams are simply win and they're in (Baltimore, Tennessee), while others need some help (Buffalo, Seattle).
You could spend time assembling a wall full of possibilities -- or you could make life easier on yourself by scrolling down to read the breakdown.
AFC
CLINCHED: Pittsburgh -- AFC North and first-round bye; New England -- AFC East and a first-round bye; Jacksonville -- AFC South; Kansas City -- AFC West
NEW ENGLAND
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs:
1) NE win
2) PIT loss
3) NE tie + PIT tie
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs:
1) PIT win + NE loss or tie
2) PIT tie + NE loss
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches a playoff berth:
1) BAL win or tie
2) BUF loss or tie
3) TEN loss or tie
TENNESSEE TITANS
Tennessee clinches a playoff berth:
1) TEN win
2) TEN tie + BUF loss or tie + LAC loss or tie
3) BUF loss + LAC loss
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
L.A. Chargers clinch a playoff berth:
1) LAC win + TEN loss or tie + BUF loss or tie
2) LAC win + TEN loss or tie + BAL win or tie
3) LAC tie + TEN loss + BUF loss or tie
BUFFALO BILLS
Buffalo clinches a playoff berth:
1) BUF win + BAL loss
2) BUF win + LAC loss or tie + TEN loss or tie
3) BUF tie + LAC loss + TEN loss
NFC
CLINCHED: Philadelphia -- NFC East, home-field advantage and first-round bye; Minnesota -- NFC North; L.A. Rams -- NFC West; New Orleans -- Playoff berth; Carolina -- Playoff berth
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Minnesota clinches a first-round bye:
1) MIN win or tie
2) CAR loss or tie
3) NO win
4) LA Rams win
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New Orleans clinches NFC South:
1) NO win
2) CAR loss
3) NO tie + CAR tie
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Carolina clinches NFC South:
1) CAR win + NO loss or tie
2) CAR tie + NO loss
Carolina clinches a first-round bye:
1) CAR win + NO loss or tie + MIN loss + LAR loss or tie
ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta clinches a playoff berth:
1) ATL win
2) SEA loss
3) ATL tie + SEA tie
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle clinches a playoff berth:
1) SEA win + ATL loss or tie
2) SEA tie + ATL loss
