NFL Playoff Picture Going Into Week 17

Now that week 16 is done, the playoff picture becomes somewhat clearer.

With week 17 looming and every team playing a divisional opponent this week, the playoff picture currently looks like this.

According to NFL.com, there are now 14 teams mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture:

1. New York Jets
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Oakland Raiders
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Houston Texans
8. Detroit Lions
9. St. Louis Rams
10. New York Giants
11. Minnesota Vikings
12. Atlanta Falcons
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Washington Redskins

There are 8 teams in the post-season:

1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Carolina Panthers
8. San Francisco 49ers

Now the remaining 10 teams need help, and here is what they need to get into the post-season:

• Miami Dolphins clinch a playoff spot with a win and Baltimore loss.
• Philadelphia Eagles clinch the NFC East title with a win against Dallas.
• Chicago Bears clinch the NFC North title with a win against Green Bay
• New Orleans Saints clinch the NFC South division and a first-round bye with a win against Tampa Bay, and a Carolina loss to Atlanta. New Orleans also can clinch a playoff spot with a win and an Arizona loss.
• Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East title with a win against Philadelphia.
• Arizona Cardinals clinch a playoff spot with a win against San Francisco, and a New Orleans loss or tie.
• Green Bay Packers clinch the NFC North with a win against Chicago.
• Baltimore Ravens clinch a playoff spot with a win against Cincinnati, or losses by San Diego, Miami, and Pittsburgh.
• San Diego Chargers clinch a playoff spot with a win against Kansas City, and a Miami and Baltimore loss.
• Pittsburgh Steelers clinch a playoff spot with a win against Cleveland, and losses by Miami, Baltimore and San Diego.

The playoff picture will be determined once the Philadelphia/Dallas game concludes this Sunday night.