NFL Week 17 playoff clinching scenarios: Bills, Seahawks, Bucs, more seeking berths

Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
By The Athletic Staff
Dec 26, 2023

Six teams have clinched NFL playoff berths heading into Week 17, headlined by the Detroit Lions claiming their first division title since 1993 with Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. Seven other teams enter the week with the ability to secure postseason bids.

First, here’s a look at which teams have clinched playoff berths and divisions:

Here’s a look at what’s on the line this weekend:

AFC

Baltimore Ravens (12-3)

Week 17 opponent: vs. Miami (11-4); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

  • BAL win or tie OR
  • CLE loss or tie

Baltimore clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, the lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

  • BAL win

Buffalo Bills (9-6)

Week 17 opponent: vs. New England (4-11); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

  • BUF win + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR
  • BUF win + PIT loss or tie + JAX loss or tie OR
  • BUF win + PIT loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie OR
  • BUF win + CIN loss or tie + JAX loss or tie OR
  • BUF win + CIN loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + JAX loss OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + HOU loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + IND loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + PIT loss + HOU loss + IND loss OR
  • BUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie OR
  • BUF tie + CIN loss + HOU loss + IND loss

Cleveland Browns (10-5)

Week 17 opponent: vs. New York Jets (6-9); Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Cleveland clinches playoff berth with:

  • CLE win or tie OR
  • PIT loss or tie OR
  • BUF loss OR
  • JAX loss or tie OR
  • HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)

Week 17 opponent: vs. Carolina (2-13); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Jacksonville clinches playoff berth and AFC South division title with:

  • JAX win + IND loss + HOU loss

Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)

Week 17 opponent: vs. Cincinnati (8-7); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West division title with:

  • KC win or tie OR
  • LV loss or tie + DEN loss or tie

Miami Dolphins (11-4)

Week 17 opponent: at Baltimore (12-3); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

  • MIA win or tie OR
  • BUF loss or tie

NFC

Los Angeles Rams (8-7)

Week 17 opponent: at New York Giants (5-10); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:

  • LAR win + SEA loss OR
  • LAR win + GB-MIN tie

Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)

Week 17 opponent: vs. Arizona (3-12); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:

  • PHI win + DAL loss or tie OR
  • PHI tie + DAL loss

San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

Week 17 opponent: at Washington (4-11); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

San Francisco clinches NFC’s No. 1 seed, the lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

  • SF win + DET loss + PHI loss

Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Week 17 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh (8-7); Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

Seattle clinches playoff berth with:

  • SEA win + GB-MIN tie

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Week 17 opponent: vs. New Orleans (7-8); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth and NFC South division title with:

  • TB win OR
  • TB tie + ATL loss

Required reading

(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)

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