NFL playoff picture: Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are ‘win and in’ this Sunday

Even 16 weeks into the season, the NFL’s playoff picture remains far from complete.

While four of eight divisional titles have been decided, only nine postseason tickets have been punched, and both the AFC and NFC are still waiting to learn which teams will earn the coveted top seeds and a first-round bye.

That leaves five playoff berths, four divisional crowns and home field advantage to be determined over the next two weeks.

Will Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers salvage their season by winning the lowly NFC South? Can the Washington Commanders fight their way from irrelevance to a Wildcard? And will it be Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills or Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs who can enjoy some home cooking throughout the playoffs? Here are the remaining playoff permutations for Week 17:

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE:

• Buffalo Bills – AFC East division title
• Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Los Angeles Chargers

WHO CAN CLINCH IN WEEK 17?

BUFFALO BILLS (12-3): The Bills can clinch homefield advantage and the AFC’s only first-round bye with just one win or a Chiefs loss. Buffalo beat Kansas City (also 12-3) in the regular season, so they hold a tiebreaker for the top seed.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – at Cincinnati (11-4), Monday, 8:30pm EST on ESPN

Week 18 – vs. New England (7-8)

The Bills can clinch homefield advantage and the AFC’s first-round bye with:

1. BUF win + KC loss

CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-4): The Bengals only need a win or a Baltimore loss or tie to clinch the AFC North for their second consecutive divisional crown.

The good news for Cincinnati is that the team has won seven straight, and if they can clinch in Week 17, quarterback Joe Burrow could enjoy some rest in the season finale.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – vs. Buffalo (12-3), Monday, 8:30pm EST, ESPN/ABC

Week 18 – vs. Baltimore (10-5)

Bengals can clinch AFC North division title with:

1. CIN win + BAL loss or tie OR
2. CIN tie + BAL loss

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-7): Mike McDaniel & Co. have come a long way this season, but still need a win and a New York Jets (7-8) loss or tie to clinch a playoff berth this week.

The problem is they’ll likely be facing New England on Sunday without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is back in the concussion protocol.

Teddy Bridgewater is expected to take first-team reps under center this week, but a starter for Sunday’s game has not been announced.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – at New England (7-8), Sunday, 1:00pm EST, CBS

Week 18 – vs. New York Jets (7-8)

Dolphins can clinch a playoff berth with:

1. MIA win + NYJ loss or tie OR
2. MIA tie + NYJ loss + PIT loss or tie

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE:

• Minnesota Vikings – NFC North division title
• San Francisco 49ers – NFC West division title
• Dallas Cowboys
• Philadelphia Eagles

WHO CAN CLINCH IN WEEK 17?

NEW YORK GIANTS (8-6-1): The Giants have a complicated path to a playoff berth in Week 17, but they can qualify easily by beating the struggling Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Without a win, the Giants will need help from Seattle, Washington, Detroit, and/or Green Bay.

Regardless, Brian Daboll’s crew is poised for its first postseason appearance since 2016 heading into Week 17.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – vs. Indianapolis (4-10-1), Sunday, 1:00pm EST, CBS

Week 18 – at Philadelphia (13-2)

Giants clinch playoff berth with:

1. NYG win OR
2. NYG tie + SEA loss or tie + WAS loss or tie OR
3. NYG tie + SEA loss or tie + DET loss or tie OR
4. NYG tie + WAS loss or tie + DET loss or tie + GB loss or tie OR
5. SEA loss + WAS loss OR
6. SEA loss + DET loss + GB loss or tie OR
7. WAS loss + DET loss + GB loss

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-2): The team with the NFL’s best record still hasn’t clinched its own division, thanks to a strong season by the second-place Dallas Cowboys (11-4).

Fortunately for Nick Sirianni’s team, they can do exactly that with a win or tie or a Cowboys loss or tie in Week 17.

What’s more, the Eagles can clinch the NFC’s top seed with a win or a tie coupled with a Minnesota Vikings loss or tie.

The obvious problem, however, is starting quarterback Jalen Hurts’ ailing shoulder. Backup Gardner Minshew and the Eagles fell to the Cowboys in Dallas 40-34 in Week 16.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – vs. New Orleans (6-9), Sunday, 1:00pm EST, FOX

Week 18 – vs. New York Giants (8-6-1)

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:

1. PHI win or tie OR
2. DAL loss or tie

Philadelphia clinches homefield advantage and the NFC’s lone first-round bye with:

1. PHI win OR
2. PHI tie + MIN loss or tie OR
3. DAL loss or tie + MIN loss + SF loss or tie

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-8): Brady’s decision to come back will be judged largely on the Bucs’ ability to reach the postseason.

And for that to happen, Tampa Bay will need a win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Failing that, the Bucs will need to win their finale against the Falcons in Atlanta.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – vs. Carolina (6-9), Sunday, 1:00pm EST, FOX

Week 18 – at Atlanta (5-10)

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:

1. TB win

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (7-7-1): Remarkably, the Commanders still have a good chance at reaching the postseason, although they will need some help from the Seahawks, Lions, and Packers.

If Washington wins while Seattle, Detroit and Green Bay all lose, the Commanders will reach the postseason for the first time since 2020, when they qualified with a dismal 7-9 record.

Remaining games:

Week 17 – vs. Cleveland (6-9), Sunday, 1:00pm EST, FOX

Week 18 – vs. Dallas (11-4)

Washington clinches playoff berth with:

1. WAS win + SEA loss + DET loss + GB loss or tie