NFL playoff picture: It's 10 teams fighting for four spots

Yahoo.com ^ | Dec 29, 2013 | Yahoo Sports Staff

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With four playoff berths on the table, plus an additional two NFC division titles, Week 17 promises to be as exciting as any postseason weekend.

The two easy scenarios feature winner-take-all games for the NFC North and East titles. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers visit the Bears at 4:25 Eastern in a game that much of America won't see (especially in Saints, Cardinals, Seahawks and 49ers territory). Kyle Orton and the Cowboys welcome the Eagles in the 8:30 Eastern game, which you can watch here and on NBC.

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Go Colts!

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Also from Yahoo...

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Here's the updated playoff picture for Week 17 (x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title):

1. y-Denver Broncos (12-3, West champion; at Raiders [4-11], 4:25 ET on CBS/DirecTV 716)
• Have clinched a first-round bye
• Would clinch the No. 1 seed with a win/tie at the Raiders or Patriots loss/tie to the Bills
• 2 seed: Loss at the Raiders + Patriots win

2. y-New England Patriots (11-4, East champion, vs. Bills [6-9], 4:25 ET on CBS/DirecTV 718)
• Would clinch a first-round bye with a win and No. 1 seed if the Broncos also lose
• 2: Tie; or win + Broncos win/tie; or loss + Bengals loss/tie to Ravens + Colts loss/tie to Jaguars
• 3: Loss + either Bengals loss/tie or Colts loss/tie
• 4: Loss + Bengals win + Colts win

3. y-Cincinnati Bengals (10-5, North champion; vs. Ravens [8-7] on CBS/DirecTV 707)
• Would clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win vs. the Ravens + Patriots loss to the Bills (later)
• 3: Win + Patriots win/tie, or loss/tie + Colts loss to the Jaguars
• 4: Loss + Colts win/tie

4. y-Indianapolis Colts (10-5, South champion; vs. Jaguars [4-11] on CBS/DirecTV 708)
• Would clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win vs. the Jaguars + Patriots loss to the Bills + Bengals loss to the Ravens
• 3: Win + either Patriots loss or Bengals loss
• 4: Loss, or win + Patriots win/tie + Bengals win

5. x-Kansas City Chiefs (11-4, top wild card; at Chargers [8-7], 4:25 ET on CBS/DirecTV 717)
• Will be the No. 5 seed and open the playoffs at the No. 4 seed Colts, Bengals or Patriots

6. Miami Dolphins (8-7, 7-4 conf, 2-3 div; vs. Jets [7-8, 2-3 div] on CBS/DirecTV 709)
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win + Ravens loss at the Bengals and/or Chargers win vs. the Chiefs (later)
• Eliminated with a loss because of a worse division record than the Jets (3-3 to 2-4)

7. Baltimore Ravens (8-7, 6-5 conf, 3-2 div; at Bengals [10-5] on CBS/DirecTV 707)
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win + Dolphins loss to Jets and/or Chargers loss to Chiefs
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a Dolphins loss + Chargers loss + Steelers loss to the Browns

8. San Diego Chargers (8-7, 5-6 conf; vs. Chiefs [11-4], 4:25 ET on CBS/DirecTV 717)
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win vs. the Chiefs + Dolphins loss to the Jets (earlier) + Ravens loss at the Bengals (earlier)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8, 5-6 conf, 3-2 div; vs. Browns [4-11] on CBS/DirecTV 710)
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win vs. the Browns + Dolphins loss to the Jets + Ravens loss at the Bengals + Chargers loss to the Chiefs (later)

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (12-3, clinched playoffs; vs. Rams [7-8], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 713)
• Would clinch the West and No. 1 with a win/tie vs. the Rams or 49ers loss/tie at the Cardinals
• 5: Loss + 49ers win

2. x-Carolina Panthers (11-4, clinched playoffs; at Falcons [4-11] on Fox/DirecTV 704)
• Would clinch the South and a first-round playoff bye with a win/tie at the Falcons or Saints loss/tie to the Buccaneers (later)
• 1: Win + Seahawks loss to the Rams (later) + 49ers win at the Cardinals (later)
• 2: Loss/tie + Saints loss/tie; or win + either Seahawks win/tie or 49ers loss/tie
• 5: Loss + Saints win + 49ers loss
• 6: Loss + Saints win + 49ers win

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6, at Cowboys [8-7], 8:30 ET on NBC & NBCSports.com Live Extra)
• Would clinch the East and No. 3 seed with a win/tie at the Cowboys

4. Chicago Bears (8-7, vs. Packers [7-7-1], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 715)
• Would clinch the North with a win/tie vs. the Packers. Eliminated with a loss.
• 3: Win vs. the Packers + Eagles loss at the Cowboys
• 4: Tie; or win vs. the Packers + Eagles win/tie

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (11-4, clinched playoffs; at Cardinals [10-5], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 712)
• 1: Win at the Cardinals + Seahawks loss to the Rams + Panthers loss/tie at the Falcons
• 2: Win + Seahawks loss + Panthers win
• 5: Win + Seahawks win/tie; or Loss/tie + Saints loss/tie to Buccaneers
• 6: Loss + Saints win

6. New Orleans Saints (10-5; vs. Buccaneers [4-11], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 714)
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win vs. the Buccaneers or Cardinals loss to the 49ers
• Would clinch the South and first-round playoff bye with a win and Panthers loss at the Falcons
• 5: Win + Panthers win/tie + 49ers loss at the Cardinals
• 6: Win + Panthers win/tie + 49ers win/tie; or Loss/tie + Cardinals loss

7. Arizona Cardinals (10-5, vs. 49ers [11-4], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 712)
• Would clinch a playoff berth and the No. 6 seed with a win vs. the 49ers + Saints loss/tie to the Buccaneers; or tie + Saints loss. Eliminated with a loss or Saints win

8. Dallas Cowboys (8-7, vs. Eagles [9-6], 8:30 ET on NBC & NBCSports.com Live Extra)
• Would clinch the East with a win vs. the Eagles. Eliminated with a loss/tie.
• 3: Win vs. the Eagles + Bears loss/tie vs. the Packers
• 4: Win + Bears win

9. Green Bay Packers (7-7-1, at Bears [8-7], 4:25 ET on Fox/DirecTV 715)
• Would clinch the North and No. 4 seed with a win at the Bears

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-playoff-picture-181248899.html

[Huskrrrr]

Chiefs!

[Salvavida]

CHIEFS!

[Salvavida]

CHIEFS!

[freedumb2003]

Rooting for Cincy to beat the Baltimore thugs.

[freedumb2003]

Good to see Denver has a reason to play hard.

Against the Raiders, Manning might be able to cross the 60 TD mark ;)

[MtnClimber]

Go Broncos.

Out with Bronc0bama!!!

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[circlecity]

I hope the Colts play the Chiefs in round 1 because the Colts OWN the Chiefs in playoff games.

[Biggirl]

AFC Wild Card: Chiefs.
NFC Wild Card: Saints.

[ETL]

I’m sure you’ve heard, Andrew Luck has now moved into the #1 position for most yards completed by a rookie in his first 2 seasons. And kicker Adam Vinatieri is currently 1 yard short of 2000 points. He may top it soon, as the colts are about to score again.

[Jack Hydrazine]

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

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I hope the Colts play the Chiefs in round 1 because the Colts OWN the Chiefs in playoff games.

They don't do too bad against them during the regular season either.

From just last week...

[Jack Hydrazine]

Watch the game here!
http://www.rojadirecta.me/

[Ingtar]

Rooting for the Dirty Birds and the ‘Aints.

[Theoria]

You are the man.

[ETL]

Wow, thanks! I was listening to an online radio broadcast.

And it’s not only the Colts game, they have all sorts of other sports available there to watch live online, including NBA games. Thanks again!

[ETL]

Not the best quality, though. But that’s ok. Just glad to be able to watch it, as well as those other available sports games in the future. :)

[rabidralph]

Well, this comment has nothing to do with this thread, as none of the teams I’ll mention are going to the playoffs. But, I’m watching Detroit at Minnesota on Fox and the color commentator called the Redskins the “Washington Franchise.” His play-by-play guy asked him if he meant to say “franchise” and the idiot guy dodged by saying, that the team is located in Washington. Why not just kick the team out of the NFL and be done with it? Pajama Boy Idiots!