With two weeks remaining in the 2016 NFL regular season, here’s a breakdown of the playoff picture…
AFC right now
1. Patriots (12-2)
2. Raiders (11-3)
3. Steelers (9-5)
4. Texans (8-6)
5. Chiefs (10-4)
6. Dolphins (9-5)
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7. Ravens (8-6)
8. Titans (8-6)
9. Broncos (8-6)
10. Colts (7-7)
New England looks primed to wrap up the top seed but has clinched a first-round bye regardless. The Raiders have moved back ahead of Kansas City in the battle for the No. 2 seed, while the Chiefs are at least looking strong for a wild-card spot and still have a chance at the division. Pittsburgh is holding off Baltimore in the North, but they play this week. And Houston is holding off Tennessee in the South, but they play next week. The Broncos are still in the wild-card mix and the Colts are still in the AFC South mix.
AFC projection
1. Patriots (14-2)
2. Chiefs (12-4)
3. Steelers (11-5)
4. Titans (10-6)
5. Raiders (12-4)
6. Ravens (9-7)
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7. Broncos (9-7)
8. Dolphins (9-7)
9. Bills (9-7)
10. Texans (8-8)
11. Colts (8-8)
I fear we may wind up in a situation in which the Dolphins sneak into the playoffs by beating the Patriots in a meangingless game to New England in Week 17. But I’m still giving New England a 2-0 finish with Oakland keeping the pressure on. I also have the Raiders blowing the division by losing to the Broncos in Week 17, but that’s not enough for Denver with Baltimore rebounding from a loss to Pittsburgh to beat the Bengals and grab the No. 6 seed. The Titans beat the Jags and Texans to win the South, and Pittsburgh should be locked in as the No. 3 seed with a home victory over Baltimore this Sunday.
NFC right now
1. Cowboys (12-2)
2. Seahawks (9-4-1)
3. Falcons (9-5)
4. Lions (9-5)
5. Giants (10-4)
6. Buccaneers (8-6)
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7. Packers (8-6)
8. Redskins (7-6-1)
9. Vikings (7-7)
Dallas’ magic number for the top seed is one, while the Seahawks, Falcons and Lions continue to jockey for position. Seattle is in much better shape than those other two nine-win teams, though, because they have a tie and because they don’t have the Buccaneers or Packers breathing down their neck. Those two divisional battles should be fun, with only one of the two “losers” likely to join the Giants in the wild-card picture. Right now, the Bucs have the tiebreaker edge over Green Bay, but that could and probably will change if they end up tied after Week 17 and neither win their division (only possible if they both go 1-1 or 0-2, which could leave the door open for Washington to leapfrog them into the No. 6 spot).
NFC projection
1. Cowboys (13-3)
2. Seahawks (11-4-1)
3. Falcons (10-6)
4. Packers (10-6)
5. Giants (10-6)
6. Lions (9-7)
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7. Buccaneers (9-7)
8. Redskins (8-7-1)
9. Vikings (8-8)
I actually have Detroit capturing the last wild-card spot despite losing its final three games of the year. That’s because Washington is free-falling and has a tough schedule and the Bucs will only finish 1-1. Dallas-Seattle-Atlanta at the top feels right, and I do think the Packers run the table to capture the No. 4 seed. The Giants, meanwhile, feel like the obvious No. 5 seed right now.
