We are heading to the final stretch of the NFL season.  Each week, we'll look at the current standings and see who's got things in good shape, who's fighting for a shot, and who's time is running out.

Only one week is left until the beginning of the NFL playoffs, and the playoff scenarios have prevented themselves.  Only two spots remain open, but some seeding issues still exist.  Let us begin with the NFC.

 

 

Division Winners

Cowboys 13-2 (Clinched 1 seed)

Packers 12-3 (Clinched 2 seed)

Seahawks 10-5 (Clinched 3 seed)

Buccaneers 9-6 (Clinched 4 seed)

The first four seeds have all be locked in.  Dallas will have home-field, and the Packers will have the other first round bye.  Seattle beat Tampa week 1, securing them the 3 seed, and the Buccaneers get the 4 seed.

 
Wild Cards
Giants 10-5 (Clinched the 5 seed)
Redskins 8-7  (Plays Dallas at home)
Vikings 8-7 (Plays Broncos at Denver)
Saints 7-8 (Plays Bears at Bears)

As a virtue of locking up the spot, the Giants will be facing the Buccaneers at Tampa in the first round of the playoffs.

The battle for that 6th spot is getting intense.  Because Washington beat Minnesota on Sunday Night, they own the tiebreaker between the two, so all Washington has to do is win, and they're in.  If both lose, Washington gets it UNLESS the Saints make things interesting.  If both Washington AND Minnesota lose, AND the Saints win, the Saints would own the 3-way tiebreaker thanks to a superior conference record.

The winner of the 6 seed would play Seattle at Qwest Field.

Now let us look at the AFC.



Division Winners
Patriots 15-0 (Clinched 1 seed)
Colts 13-2 (Clinched 2 seed)
Steelers 10-5 (at Baltimore)
Chargers 9-5 (Denver tonight, at Oakland next week)

The difference between the 3 and 4 seed is huge.  Get the 3 seed, and you play a winnable game against Tennessee or Cleveland.  Get the 4, and you have to go through the Jaguars.

With San Diego still to play tonight, that adds some interest.  If San Diego wins out, they take the spot, as they'd have the better conference record.  San Diego can go 1-1 and still get the 3 seed if the Steelers lose to the Ravens.  For the Steelers, they MUST beat Baltimore (unless the Chargers lose both games).  Any scenario in which they end up with the same record, San Diego wins, so the Steelers must win, and the Chargers must lose one.

Wild Card
Jaguars 11-4 (Clinched 5 seed)
Titans 9-6  (at Indy)
Browns 9-6 (vs 49ers)

Boy, things got interesting here.  Obviously, if one wins and the other loses, that's pretty easy to figure out.

Tennessee plays the final game of the year on Sunday Night against the Colts.  If the Titans win, they clinch a spot, regardless of what the Browns do.  (If they end up equal, the Titans have the superior common game record as they'd have the same conference record)  However, if BOTH teams lose, the Browns would take the spot, as they'd have the superior conference record.  The winner of that spot would have to play the 3 seed at the 3 seeds' home.

There's your updated playoff information.  Enjoy the holiday's everyone!