Week 17 playoff implications guide: Can Foles give Eagles shot at repeat?
theScore breaks down the playoff ramifications of every meaningful matchup in the final week of the regular season, as well as how results can impact the race for the No. 1 overall pick.
Jets at Patriots (1:00 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: One of the few meaningful early-slate games, it will require one of the upsets of the season to shake up the AFC playoff picture. It's simple: If the Patriots win, they lock up at least a first-round bye once again. A New England victory and losses by both the Chiefs and Chargers will push the Pats all the way to the top of the conference, while defeat to the Jets and wins by the other three division leaders could cause Bill Belichick and Co. to fall all the way down to the No. 4 seed. New York also still has an outside shot at the No. 1 overall pick if it loses to its AFC East rival.
Rooting for Jets win: Texans, Ravens, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ers
Jaguars at Texans (1:00 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The Texans could end Week 17 as any of the top three seeds or, in a worst-case scenario, as the No. 6 seed. The top seed is a long shot that requires the Chiefs, Chargers, and Patriots to all lose, while the Texans will drop to a wild-card spot if they lose to the Jaguars and Colts-Titans doesn't end in a tie.
Rooting for Jaguars win: Colts, Titans, Ravens, Patriots
Eagles at Redskins (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The significance of this matchup is simple. First and foremost, the Eagles must win to stand any chance of making it back to the playoffs. If they do and the Bears beat the Vikings, they're the NFC's No. 6 seed.
Rooting for Redskins win: Vikings
Chargers at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The Chargers have already secured a playoff berth, but Week 17 is still a boom-or-bust scenario. Los Angeles can either end the day atop the AFC or as the first wild-card team. A slip-up for the Chiefs against the Raiders is a must.
Rooting for Broncos win: Chiefs, Texans, Patriots
Raiders at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: Like the Chargers, the Chiefs' most likely outcomes are either the No. 1 or No. 5 seed. All Kansas City needs to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is to beat Oakland. If the Chiefs and Chargers both lose/tie, Andy Reid's team could be pushed down to the No. 3 seed by the Texans and Patriots. The Raiders' Week 16 win over the Broncos eliminated them from contending for the No. 1 overall pick.
Rooting for Raiders win: Chargers, Texans, Patriots
Bears at Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The Bears could cap off a dominant season by kicking their NFC North rivals out of the postseason. Chicago will be motivated, as a Rams loss would open the door for a first-round bye thanks to the Bears owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. A Vikings win or tie likely locks them into the No. 6 seed, with the No. 5 seed only up for grabs if the Cardinals take down the Seahawks. If Minnesota loses and Philadelphia wins, the champs are in.
Rooting for Bears win: Eagles
Rooting for Vikings win: Rams
Browns at Ravens (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: Baltimore likely needs to just match Pittsburgh's result to secure the AFC North. The No. 4 seed is the Ravens' most likely outcome, though the Texans and Patriots losing would open up the No. 3 seed and even a first-round bye. A nightmare scenario could see Baltimore kicked from the playoff picture completely, but it would require a Steelers win and a tie between the Ravens and Browns.
Rooting for Browns win: Steelers, Colts, Titans, Texans
49ers at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The Rams are still playing for a first-round bye. The No. 2 seed will be theirs with a win or a tie against the 49ers, while a loss and a Bears win means L.A. will be playing on wild-card weekend. San Francisco can still steal the No. 1 overall pick with a loss and a Cardinals victory.
Rooting for 49ers win: Bears, Cardinals, Jets
Bengals at Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: Pittsburgh's only real chance of making the playoffs is as the AFC North champions. In a cruel twist, the Steelers need the Browns - the team they tied with in Week 1 - to beat the Ravens to stand a chance. If Cleveland can pull out the upset, a win or a tie over Cincinnati will be enough for Pittsburgh to sneak into the tournament - as would a crazy scenario in which the Steelers win and the Titans and Colts tie Sunday night.
Rooting for Bengals win: Ravens, Titans, Colts
Cardinals at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET)
What's at stake?: The Seahawks are already locked in as a wild-card team. A win means they are the No. 5 seed, while a loss and a Vikings win pushes them down to No. 6. An Arizona victory could blow open the race for the No. 1 overall pick. The 49ers and Jets both could snatch the top spot if they lose their season finale, with the strength of schedule tiebreakers likely to come into play.
Rooting for Cardinals win: Vikings, 49ers, Jets
Colts at Titans (SNF)
What's at stake?: The playoffs start here. It is a win-and-you're-in game regardless of prior results. However, if the Texans lose to the Jaguars, the AFC South title will be on the line for both Tennessee and Indy. In a testament to the insanity of the AFC, the Titans can even earn a first-round bye with a win and a lot of help.
Rooting for a tie: Steelers, Texans