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NFL playoff scenarios, Week 17: AFC wild card is crazy

Matt Verderame News NFL

The NFL regular season is coming to a close. Of the 32 teams that began the chase for the Vince Lombardi Trophy back in the dog days of summer, 17 have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoff chase. Of the other 15, nine have claimed their spots, leaving six teams to fight for three seeds across three conferences.

So what to make of the race in Week 17? Here is what each contender needs to reach the postseason:

NFC

Atlanta Falcons

  • Win over Carolina Panthers
  • Loss by Seattle Seahawks at home against Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks

  • Win over Cardinals and Falcons loss against Panthers

AFC

Baltimore Ravens

  • Win over Cincinnati Bengals
  • Loss by Buffalo Bills or Tennessee Titans

Buffalo Bills

  • Win over Miami Dolphins AND loss by Ravens
  • Win over Dolphins AND losses by Titans and Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Win over Oakland Raiders AND loss by Titans AND loss Bills or win from Ravens

Tennessee Titans

  • Win over Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Losses by Bills AND Chargers

In all likelihood, the Falcons are going to beat the Panthers at Mercedes Benz Stadium. For starters, Carolina has already taken care of business and punched its own ticket to the playoffs. The Panthers might not be motivated, although there is an outlandish scenario that could have Carolina winning the NFC South. The Panthers would need to pull the upset in Atlanta and have the New Orleans Saints fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As of Wednesday night, the Falcons are laying 3.5 points while the Saints are favored by 7.5 points on the road.

In the AFC, things are far more insane. The Ravens are almost double-digit favorites at home over the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, but there is reason to think the Bengals could be fighting hard. Marvin Lewis has been the head coach there for 15 seasons, and this very well could be his final game.

Meanwhile, the Chargers should be able to handle the Raiders in Los Angeles, even if the StubHub Center is filled with silver and black supporters. Can the Chargers get some help elsewhere? It’s probably asking too much, but it’s not impossible.

Tennessee should be able to beat the Jaguars at Nissan Stadium for a few reasons. For starters, the Titans are at home in a must-win game against a team quarterbacked by Blake Bortles. Additionally, Jacksonville will likely be resting most of its stars since it is locked into the AFC’s third seed as the Southern Division champ.

If nothing else, Week 17 should provide some high drama will all these games going off at 4:25 p.m. ET.

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