2013 NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 17

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Week 17 of the NFL season is upon us, and many teams are squarely in the hunt for a berth in the postseason. The Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers are all fighting for the No. 6 seed in the AFC, while the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots are fighting for the No. 2 seed and a critical first-round bye.

The playoffs are beginning to take shape with all four AFC divisions already clinched, but the NFC has no divisions clinched. Week 17 will provide several other teams with opportunities to clinch playoff berths, including the Ravens, Dolphins, Chargers and even Steelers in the AFC, while the Cardinals, Saints, Eagles, Cowboys, Bears and Packers will all be looking to do the same in the NFC.

Here are the NFL Playoff scenarios entering Week 17:

AFC

CLINCHED:

Denver – AFC West and first-round bye
New England – AFC East
Cincinnati – AFC North
Indianapolis – AFC South
Kansas City – playoff spot

DENVER BRONCOS at Oakland Raiders

Denver clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) DEN win or tie OR

2) NE loss or tie

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs. Buffalo Bills

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

1) NE win or tie OR

2) CIN loss or tie + IND loss or tie

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) NE win + DEN loss

CINCINNATI BENGALS vs. Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati clinches a first-round bye with:

1) CIN win + NE loss

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (vs. Jax)

Indianapolis clinches a first-round bye with:

1) IND win + NE loss + CIN loss or tie

MIAMI DOLPHINS vs. New York Jets

Miami clinches a playoff spot with:

1) MIA win + BAL loss or tie OR

2) MIA win + SD win OR

3) MIA tie + BAL loss + SD loss or tie OR

4) MIA tie + BAL tie + SD tie

BALTIMORE RAVENS at Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:

1) BAL win + SD loss or tie OR

2) BAL win + MIA loss or tie OR

3) BAL tie + MIA loss + SD loss or tie OR

4) BAL tie + MIA tie + SD loss OR

5) MIA loss + SD loss + PIT loss or tie

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS vs. Kansas City Chiefs

San Diego clinches a playoff spot with:

1) SD win + MIA loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR

2) SD tie + MIA loss + BAL loss

PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) PIT win + MIA loss + BAL loss + SD loss