NFL Playoff Scenarios 2017 Latest: Who’s In, Out, Tiebreakers, Chances For Packers, Giants, Lions, Raiders And More

With one game left to go in Week 15, the 2017 NFL postseason picture has become much clearer with three more teams securing passes to play for the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders were each victorious on Sunday and join the Dallas Cowboys as the only teams to clinch a postseason berth with eight total spots remaining and six of the eight division titles yet to be decided.

As of Monday, the Seahawks and Patriots' wins in Week 15 locked down the NFC West and AFC East, respectively. Otherwise, all the other divisions are up for grabs, though, many of the current first-place teams look fairly secure with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Despite poor records, many teams are still technically in the hunt, some with much better chances than others. According to FiveThirtyEight blog, the Kansas City Chiefs have better than a 99 percent chance of advancing to the playoffs, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers at 93 percent, the New York Giants at 97 percent, the Atlanta Falcons at 91 percent, the Detroit Lions at 70 percent, the Houston Texans at 58 percent, the Miami Dolphins at 55 percent, the Washington Redskins at 53 percent and the Green Bay Packers at 50 percent.

Thus far the following teams have been eliminated: Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Rams, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals.

With so many spots available, it seems like we won’t know all 12 postseason teams until the end of Week 17. Here’s a breakdown of each division and their teams’ chances of making it.

AFC East

The Patriots have the division and a bye but could still fall to No. 2 in the conference if they even split their last two games. Presently, Oakland has better strength of schedule and strength of victory percentages. The Dolphins could climb up from the AFC’s final wild card spot or, if they fall in Week 16, could spoil New England’s shot at the top seed. Miami has a harder schedule, facing the Buffalo Bills, who have a 1 percent chance of making the postseason, and then play the Patriots in Week 17.

AFC North

Pittsburgh has a slim one-game advantage over Baltimore (28 percent chances) and the division could be decided when the Steelers host the Ravens. Baltimore took the first meeting, and split for the Steelers and hosting Cleveland in Week 17 could allow them to move as high as No. 2 if Oakland flounders. The Ravens are currently the last team out in the AFC and, with two straight on the road, they will need to sweep. Baltimore’s 2-4 on the road this season.

AFC South

Even at 8-6, Houston is sitting pretty with 58 percent chances to make the playoffs and 55 percent to claim the division. They already swept the Colts, who have a 3 percent chance, and even if Tennessee (45 percent) can take down Jacksonville and extend its winning streak to four, Week 17’s home matchup with the Texans will ultimately decide the division. The Titans could get some help and make the wild card if both Miami and Kansas City falter. Tennessee beat both teams straight up this season.

AFC West

The Chiefs really shot themselves in the foot and could’ve secured the division outright if they had defeated Tennessee. But they will take at least one wild card berth as long as they split the final two games (vs. Broncos, at San Diego). The Raiders host Indy and then travel to Denver, and require a sweep and a New England loss to move up. Losing two straight means Oakland falls back to the wild card, with KC owning the season series and a 4-0 division record compared to the Raiders 3-2 mark against AFC West foes. Denver’s listed at 17 percent to make the playoffs, but may just play the role of spoiler for KC and Oakland.

NFC East

Three teams could advance. The Giants have a minor and unlikely 3 percent chance to take the division from the Cowboys, but New York does own the season series. The Giants do have a tough two-game road stretch to close the season, at Philadelphia and at Washington. Still, Week 15’s victory over Detroit and Tampa Bay’s loss to Dallas likely means the Giants have the top wild card spot.

Washington can beat up the Panthers and the Bears, and then the Giants for a wild card, and that’s really their only route.

NFC North

Detroit’s in the driver seat with a 59 percent chance of winning the division and one-game lead over Green Bay. But the Lions are next at Dallas and host the Packers, a game that will likely determine the NFC North crown. The Packers a 41 percent chance of taking the division with the Vikings coming up in Week 16. Minnesota has a two percent chance of making it, the second-lowest among teams still in contention, so it will need to win out and get some help.

NFC South

The Panthers and Saints each a less than 1 percent chance of advancing, leaving Atlanta with an excellent chance of claiming the division for the first time since 2012. However, both the Bucs and Falcons will each face their NFC South brethren in the last two weeks and both will try to deny them the division and the postseason. Tampa Bay and Atlanta split their season series and have equal 3-1 division records, but the Falcons have a one-game lead against conference opponents. The division title could be decided by games against common opponents.

NFC West

With Arizona, the Rams and 49ers all out, Seattle is 1.5 games back of Dallas for the No. 1 seed (a tie counts as half a win). The Seahawks will host Arizona then play at San Francisco, the easiest schedule for any of the contending teams. With Dallas showing weakness of late and facing Detroit and Philadelphia to close, Seattle could close the gap and move up.