The 2013 NFL playoff picture is as wide open as ever. Below is the current playoff picture, including the scenarios each possible wildcard team needs to clinch a postseason berth.
NFL TV Schedule: Week 17 Games & Playoff Implications 2013
Cindy Boren of the Washington Post broke down the NFL playoff scenarios:
AFC:
Denver Broncos (12-3): AFC West, first-round bye.
-Can clinch home-field advantage throughout playoffs with a win or tie against Oakland, or if New England loses or ties against Buffalo.
New England Patriots (11-4): AFC East
-Can clinch a first-round bye with a win or tie against Buffalo, or if Cincinnati loses or ties and Indianapolis loses or ties.
-Can clinch home-field advantage throughout playoffs with a win against Buffalo and if Denver loses.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-5): AFC North
-Can clinch a first-round bye with a win against Baltimore and if New England loses.
Indianapolis Colts (10-5): AFC South
-Can clinch a first-round bye with a win against Jacksonville and if New England loses and if Cincinnati loses or ties.
Kansas City Chiefs (11-4): Clinched playoff spot.
AFC Wildcard Hunt:
Miami Dolphins (8-7)
Baltimore Ravens (8-7)
San Diego Chargers (8-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
Visit HERE for the complete breakdown of the AFC Wildcard scenarios.
NFC:
Seattle Seahawks (12-3): Clinched playoff spot.
-Can win NFC West and home-field advantage throughout playoffs with a win against St. Louis or if San Francisco loses.
Carolina Panthers (11-4): Clinched playoff spot.
-Can win NFC South and clinch a first-round bye with a win or tie against Atlanta, or if New Orleans loses or ties.
-Can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win against Atlanta, a Seattle loss and a San Francisco win.
Philadelphia Eagles (9-6): In hunt for NFC East.
-Can clinch NFC East with a win or tie against Dallas.
Chicago Bears (8-7): In hunt for NFC North
-Can win NFC North with a win or tie against Green Bay.
San Francisco 49ers (11-4): Clinched playoff spot.
-Can win NFC West and clinch a first-round bye with a win against Arizona and if Seattle loses.
-Can clinch division and home-field advantage throughout playoffs with a win, a Seattle loss and a Carolina loss or tie.
New Orleans Saints (10-5): In hunt for NFC South and playoff spot.
-Can clinch NFC South and a first-round bye with a win against Tampa Bay and a Carolina loss.
-Can clinch playoff spot with a win against Tampa Bay or a tie and an Arizona tie or an Arizona loss.
Arizona Cardinals (10-5): In hunt for playoff spot.
-Can clinch a playoff spot with a win against San Francisco and if New Orleans loses or ties, or with a tie against San Francisco and a New Orleans loss.
Dallas Cowboys (8-7): In hunt for NFC East
-Can win the NFC East with a win against Philadelphia.
Green Bay Packers (7-7-1): In hunt for NFC North.
-Can win the NFC North with a win against Chicago.
*Information via NFL.com and WashingtonPost.com.
