NFL Playoff-Clinching Scenarios and Thoughts for Week 17

Here’s a look at the playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17:

Green Bay clinches the NFC’s No. 1 seed — a first-round bye and home-field advantage — with a win against Minnesota and a Dallas loss/tie. The Packers should cruise past the Vikings, who will be without QB Kirk Cousins after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have a 50-50 game against the Cardinals.

Similarly, Kansas City clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over Cincinnati and a Tennessee loss/tie to Miami. Should the Chiefs lose and the Titans win, Tennessee moves to the AFC’s top seed. Tennessee would then clinch home-field with a Week 18 win over Houston.

In the AFC divisional races, the Titans win the AFC South with victory or a Colts loss on Sunday. And the Bengals win the North with a win OR a Ravens loss/tie.

The Bills need two more wins in the East, though would punch a playoff ticket with a win and a Ravens loss/tie. The Colts and Patriots can also clinch playoffs spots on Sunday. Indy must only beat Vegas, while New England has to defeat Jacksonville and have Miami or Vegas lose.

(Note: we did not include head-spinners like that the Patriots can clinch a playoff berth with a tie + LV loss + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss or tie + MIA win + BUF win — blah, blah, blah. You can find those here.)

In the NFC, Los Angeles would clinch the West with a win over the Ravens and a Cardinals loss to the Cowboys. Lower in the playoff picture, San Francisco joins the playoffs on Sunday with a win and a Saints loss. Finally, one of the following scenarios puts Philly in the playoffs:

1. PHI win + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
2. PHI win + MIN loss or tie + SF win or tie OR
3. PHI tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie OR
4. PHI tie + MIN loss + NO tie + ATL loss or tie + SF win or tie

There you have it. Bet each Week 17 matchup now at FanDuel Sportsbook. Here are my bets for the weekend:

• Bengals’ Money Line over the Chiefs
• Titans -3.5 over Dolphins
• Cardinals’ Money Line over the Cowboys
• Browns (-3.5) over the Steelers.

Comment with your picks below: