NFL Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios: Who can join the field?

AI-assisted summary
• Ten NFL teams have already secured a spot in the postseason after Week 16.
• Multiple teams have the opportunity to clinch their division titles in Week 17.
• The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks could each clinch their conference’s No. 1 seed.
• The Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers are among the teams that can clinch a playoff berth this week.

The NFL playoff picture crystallized a bit after Week 16, with five teams from both conferences securing their places in the postseason by the end of action. 

No team, outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, has yet clinched a division title. 

With three games scheduled for Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and a doubleheader on the docket for Saturday, Dec. 27, much more will be decided in the coming days. 

Here is a quick look at what’s on the line for teams across the league. 

NFL Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios 

Denver Broncos Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Denver (vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET) clinches AFC West and AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

▶ Win + Chargers loss or tie + Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie

Denver clinches AFC West with:

1. Win + Chargers loss or tie OR
2. Tie + Chargers loss

Jacksonville Jaguars Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Jacksonville (at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) clinches AFC South with:

1. Win + Texans loss or tie OR
2. Tie + Texans loss

New England Patriots Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

New England (at New York Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m.) clinches AFC East with:

1. Win + Bills loss or tie OR
2. Tie + Bills loss

Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Pittsburgh (at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m.) clinches AFC North with:

1. Win or tie OR
2. Ravens loss or tie

Houston Texans Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Houston (at Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) clinches playoff berth with:

1. Win or tie OR
2. Colts loss or tie OR
3. Texans clinch at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over Colts − which would require a Ravens win + Bills win + Chiefs win + 49ers win + Falcons loss + Dolphins loss

Seattle Seahawks Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Seattle (at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m.) clinches NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

▶ Win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers-Bears tie

Seattle clinches NFC West title with:

1. Win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie OR
2. Tie + Rams loss + 49ers loss

Carolina Panthers Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Carolina (vs. Seattle, Sunday, 1 p.m.) clinches NFC South with:

1. Win + Buccaneers loss or tie OR
2. Tie + Buccaneers loss

Chicago Bears Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Chicago (at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) clinches NFC North with:

1. Win OR
2. Packers loss OR
3. Tie + Packers tie

Green Bay Packers Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios

Green Bay (vs. Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, 8 p.m.) clinches playoff berth with:

1. Win or tie OR
2. Lions loss or tie