In the AFC, four of the six playoff spots have been secured – New England (AFC East, first-round bye), Houston (AFC South), Baltimore (playoff berth) and Pittsburgh (playoff berth). The Patriots can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or losses by both Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Two division titles are still on the line in the AFC – the North and the West.
Baltimore wins the AFC North and secures a first-round bye with a victory or a Pittsburgh loss. The Ravens also gain home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a Patriots loss. Pittsburgh wins the AFC North and secures a first-round bye with a victory and a Baltimore loss. The Steelers also gain home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and losses by the Ravens and Patriots.
Denver wins the AFC West with a victory or an Oakland loss. Oakland clinches the division with a win and a Denver loss.
There are still four clubs alive for the AFC’s final Wild Card spot – Cincinnati (9-6), Oakland (8-7), Tennessee (8-7) and the New York Jets (8-7). Five of the six playoff teams and three of the four divisions have been determined in the NFC – Green Bay (NFC North, home-field advantage), San Francisco (NFC West), New Orleans (NFC South), Detroit (playoff berth) and Atlanta (playoff berth).
The NFC East division title will be on the line in Week 17 when the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys (NBC, 8:20 PM ET). Win and you’re in. Lose and you’re out.
“You want to put yourself in position for games like this,” says Giants guard CHRIS SNEE. “This is when the playmakers step up and when the good teams prove themselves. We just have to go out and beat a team that was a tough game the first time we played them.”
San Francisco clinches a first-round bye with a win or a New Orleans loss. The Saints secure the first-round bye with a victory and a 49ers loss. Some of the key games with playoff implications in Week 17:
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-3) at ST. LOUIS RAMS (2-13)
(Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-9) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-3)
(Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-4) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-6)
(Sunday, CBS, 4:15 PM ET)
A lot is on the line for both teams when the Ravens visit the Bengals in an AFC North showdown. Baltimore clinches the division and a first-round bye with a victory. If New England also loses, the Ravens secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Entering Week 17, Cincinnati has a one-game lead for the final Wild Card spot. With a win on Sunday, the Bengals clinch a playoff berth.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-4) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-11)
(Sunday, CBS, 4:15 PM ET)
The Steelers can still win the AFC North and secure a first-round bye. Pittsburgh will travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Sunday. The Steelers secure the AFC North and a first-round bye with a victory and a Baltimore loss. Pittsburgh gains home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and losses by the Ravens and Patriots.
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-9) at DENVER BRONCOS (8-7)
(Sunday, CBS, 4:15 PM ET, PULS 4 22:15 CET)
Denver heads into Week 17 tied with Oakland for first place in the AFC West. The Broncos clinch the division with a victory over Kansas City or a Raiders loss. Denver will attempt to give the AFC West a “worst-to-first” division champion for the second consecutive year (Kansas City).
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-8) at OAKLAND RAIDERS (8-7)
(Sunday, CBS, 4:15 PM ET)
The Raiders are still alive for the postseason and can advance by winning the division or securing a Wild Card berth.
DALLAS COWBOYS (8-7) at NEW YORK GIANTS (8-7)
(Sunday, NBC, 8:20 PM ET)
It’s win and you’re in. The 2011 regular season concludes on Sunday night with the NFC East division title on the line. The winner of the game will clinch the division and host a Wild Card contest next week. The loser’s season is over.
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The NFC had a 33-31 record against the AFC in interconference games this season. It marked the first time since 1995 that the NFC won the season series. The 2000, 2001 and 2007 seasons ended in ties.