'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Three games to go in the regular season and the playoff race is getting tighter than ever. Here are what some teams need to do to lock in their division titles or Wild Card spots for the playoffs.
AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) are one game ahead of New England for home field and the first AFC team to win their division this season, claiming the AFC North. Pittsburgh would need to hold off the Patriots in order to keep the advantage and win the tiebreaker come Sunday.
New England Patriots (10-3) were upset by Miami after losing Rob Gronkowski for the game. New England would need to focus on trying to wrestle home-field advantage away from the Steelers when the two teams meet on Sunday. To win their division, New England need a win OR a Buffalo loss. For a playoff spot, they need a win OR losses by 2 of these three teams (Buffalo, Baltimore & LA Chargers).
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) are holding onto their 3rd seed and the AFC South lead, after Tennessee's loss. The two teams would meet, possibly for the AFC South crown in Week 17, unless the Jaguars win the division first. In order to clinch a playoff spot, they would need a win AND losses by 2 of these three teams (Buffalo, Baltimore & LA Chargers).
Kansas City Chiefs (7-6) are recovering after losing 6 of their last 7 after starting 5-0. They are currently tied with LA Chargers heading into their matchup this Sunday. They hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers for the AFC West due to their win against Los Angeles earlier this season.
Tennessee Titans (8-5) are trying to keep up with Jacksonville after their loss to Arizona. They would need to win their Week 17 matchup against the Jaguars in order to win their tiebreaker against Jacksonville.
Buffalo Bills (7-6) hold the final spot in the AFC playoffs after an overtime victory in the heavy snow against the Colts. They are still in contention for the AFC East. The Bills currently hold tiebreakers over Baltimore by strength of victory and LA Chargers by better conference record.
AFC in the Hunt (within 3 games of Buffalo): Baltimore (7-6), LA Chargers (7-6), Oakland (6-7), Miami (6-7), NY Jets (5-8), Cincinnati (5-8), Houston (4-9), Denver (4-9)
Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) lost star quarterback Carson Wentz to a torn ACL injury in the week. The Eagles clinched the NFC East and hold a one-game lead over Minnesota for home field throughout the NFC Playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings (10-3) are doing better than expected behind backup quarterback Case Keenum. To win the NFC North, the Vikings need to win OR Detroit and Green Bay both need to lose. To clinch a playoff spot, they would need to win AND have either Atlanta or Seattle lose.
Los Angeles Rams (9-4) have the third seed over New Orleans due to their win against the Saints earlier this season. They are doing a fantastic job after moving back to Los Angeles and could be the dark horse in the NFC.
New Orleans Saints (9-4) moved to the fourth seed after losing to the LA Rams on a tiebreaker, but they also hold a tiebreaker over Carolina due to their sweep against the Panthers. The Saints are in the best position to clinch the division in a hotly contested NFC South.
Carolina Panthers (9-4) lost to New Orleans in the tiebreaker after being swept by the Saints, but they hold the first Wild Card spot in the NFC Playoffs. This way, the Panthers could get their revenge against the Saints.
Atlanta Falcons (8-5) currently hold the final spot in the NFC playoffs and the tiebreaker against Seattle due to an earlier win against the Seahawks.
NFC in the Hunt (within 3 games of Atlanta): Seattle (8-5), Detroit (7-6), Green Bay (7-6), Dallas (7-6), Arizona (6-7), Washington (5-8)
