NFL Playoff Picture, Scenarios, Bracket: Packers Lock Up No. 1 Seed in NFC; Titans Pave Road To Being Worst No. 1 Seed in History; Bengals Put Nail in AFC North Coffin

NFL Playoff Picture, Scenarios, Bracket: Packers Lock Up No. 1 Seed in NFC; Titans Pave Road To Being Worst No. 1 Seed in History; Bengals Put Nail in AFC North Coffin article feature image
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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images. Pictured: Aaron Rodgers.

  • The Titans have poll position for the No. 1 seed after they beat the Dolphins and the Chiefs lost to the Bengals on Sunday. They would be the worst No. 1 seed in DVOA history. All they need to do is beat the Texans next week to lock down their first-round bye.
  • The Packers locked down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye with a blowout against the Vikings on Sunday Night Football.
  • With the Packers victory, the Eagles claimed a wild card spot after Philadelphia beat Washington earlier on Sunday.

NFL Playoff Picture Update: After Sunday Night Football

AFC: The Titans are the new No. 1 seed after destroying the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. They also clinched the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Titans just need to beat the Houston Texans next week to lock up a first-round bye.

Tennessee would be the worst No. 1 seed in DVOA history. Fade them heavily in the divisional round.

A win-or-go-home situation between the Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers is very likely to take place next week after today's results.

The Raiders are on the outside looking in but would leapfrog the Chargers with a win against Los Angeles next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Chargers need to hold onto their No. 7 seed with a win at Las Vegas. This contest looks ripe for a Sunday Night Football finale.

The Chargers leapfrogged Miami for the No. 7 seed. The Baltimore Ravens had a chance to take over the No. 7 seed with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams, but gave up their lead in the fourth quarter of that game.

A Cincinnati Bengals loss to the Kansas City Chiefs would have sent the AFC playoff picture into a frenzy, but Cincinnati upset Kansas City to lock up the division. Cincinnati was roughly +1600 to win the North in the preseason. Cincinnati is now the No. 3 seed and have guaranteed themselves a home playoff game.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills guaranteed themselves at least a wild card spot. A victory against the New York Jets next week would guarantee them a home playoff game. Buffalo currently sit fourth in the AFC.

The Colts' loss doesn't spell doom for them. They play the Jacksonville Jaguars next week and a win there guarantees them a playoff spot. Expect to see Jonathan Taylor and Carson Wentz come mid-January.

NFC: The Packers will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC after their blowout win over the Vikings on Sunday Night Football.

Aaron Rodgers all but locked down back-to-back MVP trophies with his dominant display over an albeit depleted Minnesota team. The Vikings are now eliminated from postseason contention.

The win actually sealed a playoff spot for the Eagles, who squeaked out a victory over Washington earlier on Sunday.

The Cardinals held on to beat the Cowboys in Dallas. That sets up a rematch in the NFC Wild Card round in Dallas should current positions hold through the final week.

The Cardinals still have a shot at the NFC West title if the Rams falter to the 49ers next week and Arizona beats Seattle.

The Saints stayed alive with a win over the Panthers but need some help to sneak into the playoffs. New Orleans needs to win at Atlanta and for the 49ers to lose at the Rams.

The 49ers held onto their No. 6 seed with a win over the Texans in the late afternoon window.

Meanwhile, the Rams and Bucs were heavily favored on Sunday but faltered for much of their games. Both teams came back to win their respective contests and leapfrogged the Cowboys in seeding.

The Bucs in particular looked incredibly shaky against the hapless Jets.

NFL Playoff Picture

The postseason picture is slowly beginning to take shape.

These last two weeks are important in deciding what happens to every team in between.

Find the latest AFC and NFC brackets below, complete with scenarios to watch ahead of Week 17.

Updated AFC Playoff Bracket

AFC
1. Titans (11-5)
2. Chiefs (11-5)
7. Chargers (9-7)
3. Bengals (10-6)
6. Colts (9-7)
4. Bills (10-6)
5. Patriots (10-6)
Bubble: Raiders (9-7), Dolphins (8-8), Ravens (8-8), Steelers (7-7-1), Browns (7-8)

Updated NFC Playoff Bracket

NFC
1. Packers (13-3)
2. Rams (12-4)
7. 49ers (8-7)
3. Buccaneers (12-4)
6. Eagles (9-7)
4. Cowboys (11-5)
5. Cardinals (11-5)
Bubble: Saints (8-8)

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