IT’S ALL ON THE LINE IN WEEK 17
It’s the final push for NFL teams as the regular season ends on Sunday, January 1. All 16 games are division contests. And with one week to go, there are still 14 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LI.
The schedule is set for Week 17, culminating with the final game of the 2016 regular season (#Game256) to determine the NFC North winner. On Sunday night in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC), the Detroit Lions (9-6) will host the Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Ford Field with the division title on the line. And, depending on the results of Sunday’s earlier games, the loser of this contest could be out of the playoff picture entirely.
WEEK 17: SUNDAY, JANUARY 1
GAME | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI | 1:00 PM | CBS |
JACKSONVILLE AT INDIANAPOLIS | 1:00 PM | CBS |
NEW ENGLAND AT MIAMI | 1:00 PM | CBS |
CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA | 1:00 PM | FOX |
BUFFALO AT NEW YORK JETS | 1:00 PM | CBS |
DALLAS AT PHILADELPHIA | 1:00 PM | FOX |
CLEVELAND AT PITTSBURGH | 1:00 PM | CBS |
CAROLINA AT TAMPA BAY | 1:00 PM | FOX |
HOUSTON AT TENNESSEE | 1:00 PM | CBS |
NEW ORLEANS AT ATLANTA | 4:25 PM | FOX |
OAKLAND AT DENVER | 4:25 PM | CBS |
ARIZONA AT LOS ANGELES | 4:25 PM | FOX |
KANSAS CITY AT SAN DIEGO | 4:25 PM | CBS |
SEATTLE AT SAN FRANCISCO | 4:25 PM | FOX |
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON | 4:25 PM | FOX |
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT | 8:30 PM | NBC |
The playoff teams in the AFC are locked in – New England (13-2), Oakland (12-3), Kansas City (11-4), Pittsburgh (10-5), Miami (10-5) and Houston (9-6) – although there’s still plenty to play for in Week 17.
The Patriots, who have won the AFC East and earned a first-round bye, can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or an Oakland loss. The Raiders can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a New England loss. Oakland can lock up the AFC West and a first-round bye with a win or a loss by Kansas City. The Chiefs can take the AFC West division title and earn a first-round bye with a win and an Oakland loss.
Three AFC division winners have been determined: New England (AFC East), Pittsburgh (AFC North) and Houston (AFC South). The Steelers have won the AFC North and locked up the No. 3 seed. The Texans, who have clinched the AFC South, will enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed. The AFC West winner (Oakland or Kansas City) will earn a first-round bye and the Raiders still have a shot to claim home-field advantage.
The Dolphins have secured a Wild Card berth. The runner-up in the AFC West (Kansas City or Oakland) will qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entrant.
In the NFC, three of the four NFC division winners have been determined: Dallas (NFC East), Atlanta (NFC South) and Seattle (NFC West). The Cowboys (13-2) have secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Falcons (10-5) can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Seattle and Detroit. The Seahawks (9-5-1) can lock up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and an Atlanta loss.
The NFC North winner will be determined on Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC) in the final game of the 2016 regular season (#Game256) when Detroit (9-6) hosts Green Bay (9-6) at Ford Field. The Lions can also claim the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Atlanta and Seattle.
The New York Giants have clinched a Wild Card berth and are locked in as the No. 5 seed. The final NFC playoff spot comes down to the NFC North runner-up (Detroit or Green Bay), Washington (8-6-1) and Tampa Bay (8-7). Some of the key games in Week 17:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-2) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
- The Patriots, who have won the AFC East and earned a first-round bye, can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or an Oakland loss.
- The Dolphins, who have clinched a playoff spot, can claim the No. 5 seed with a win and a Kansas City loss.
DALLAS COWBOYS (13-2) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-9) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
- The Cowboys have won the NFC East and secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-14) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
- The Steelers have won the AFC North and are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-9) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
- The Buccaneers can secure a playoff spot but need a win combined with a Green Bay loss, a Washington tie and victories by all of the following teams: Dallas, Indianapolis, Tennessee and San Francisco.
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-6) at TENNESSEE TITANS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
- The Texans have won the AFC South and are locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-8) at ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
- The Falcons have won the NFC South and can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Seattle and Detroit.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (12-3) at DENVER BRONCOS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)
- The Raiders, who have clinched a playoff berth, can secure the AFC West division and lock up a first-round bye with a win or a loss by Kansas City. Oakland can earn the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a New England loss.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (5-10) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)
- The Chiefs, who have earned a playoff berth, can seize the AFC West division title and earn a first-round bye with a win and an Oakland loss.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5-1) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-13) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
- The Seahawks, who have won the NFC West, can earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win and an Atlanta loss.
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5) at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (8-6-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)
- The Giants have clinched a playoff berth and are locked in as the NFC’s No. 5 seed.
- Washington can qualify for the postseason with a win as long as the Green Bay-Detroit game doesn’t end in a tie.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6) at DETROIT LIONS (9-6) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)
- The final game of the 2016 regular season – #Game256 – will determine the NFC North division winner. And, depending on the results of Sunday’s afternoon games, the loser of this contest could be out of the playoff picture entirely.
- The Packers will claim the division with a win. With a loss, Green Bay can secure a playoff berth with a Washington loss.
- The Lions will lock up the NFC North with a win and can earn a first-round bye with a win combined with losses by both Atlanta and Seattle. With a loss, Detroit can clinch a playoff berth with a Washington loss.