There is still a lot to be determined with respect to the two AFC Wild Card berths for the 2017 NFL Playoffs with two weeks to go in the regular season. But here is the lowdown on where things sit and what’s left to be decided with the AFC playoff contenders.
Standings
In the AFC three teams have already clinched playoff berths (New England, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville), but the AFC West is still a race with the Chargers a game back of the Chiefs. Kansas City however, did sweep Los Angeles this season and can clinch with a win on Sunday.
|
SEED |
TEAM |
RECORD |
PLAYOFF SITUATION |
|
1 |
New England |
11–3 |
Clinched AFC East |
|
2 |
Pittsburgh |
11–3 |
Clinched AFC North |
|
3 |
Jacksonville |
10–4 |
Clinched AFC South |
|
4 |
Kansas City |
8–6 |
Can clinch AFC West with win |
|
5 |
Tennessee |
8–6 |
Wild Card is only way in |
|
6 |
Baltimore |
8–6 |
Wild Card is only way in |
|
7 |
Buffalo |
8–6 |
Wild Card is only way in |
|
8 |
L.A. Chargers |
7–7 |
Could still win West, Wild Card also in play |
The Bills primary competition
Heading into Week 16, the main competition for a Wild Card berth for the Bills are
Baltimore
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Tennessee.
The Chiefs can wrap up the West with a win on Sunday and no longer be a part of the Wild Card mix.
The Titans are currently the fifth seed (1st Wild Card) by virtue of the fact that they have seven conference wins already.
Baltimore and Buffalo both have 6-4 AFC conference records.
The Chargers are a game back, but could still factor into the equation if they win and Baltimore, Buffalo or Tennessee lose this week. L.A. also has a head-to-head tiebreaker over Buffalo.
Saturday Dec. 23 – 4:30 pm – Indianapolis (3-11) at Baltimore (8-6)
This game will impact a potential common games tiebreaker with Buffalo. Bills fans are rooting for the Colts in this one.
Sunday Dec. 24 – 1 pm – Miami (6-8) at Kansas City (8-6)
A win by the Chiefs would give them the AFC West division. A Kansas City loss would leave the West division door open a crack for the Chargers for another week, and potentially help the Bills too.
Sunday Dec. 24 – 1 pm – Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) at NY Jets (5-9)
The Chargers need a win to stay within striking distance for a Wild Card berth with a game left to play in Week 17. A Chargers loss would help the Bills as it would drop L.A. to eight losses on the year.
Sunday Dec. 24 – 1 pm – Los Angeles Rams (10-4) at Tennessee (8-6)
The Rams have a lot to play for as a win would clinch the NFC West for L.A.
A loss by the Titans would be a welcome sight for Buffalo giving the Titans seven losses.
Who’s playing who the rest of the way?
Baltimore – Wk 16 – vs. Indianapolis (3-11), Wk 17 – vs. Cincinnati (5-9)
Buffalo – Wk 16 – at New England (11-3), Wk 17 – at Miami (6-8)
Kansas City – Wk 16 – vs. Miami (6-8), Wk 17 – at Denver (5-9)
Los Angeles – Wk 16 – at NY Jets (5-9), Wk 17 – vs. Oakland (6-8)
Tennessee – Wk 16 – vs. L.A. Rams (10-4), Wk 17 – vs. Jacksonville (10-4)
NFL Tiebreaking Procedures
The six postseason participants from each conference are seeded as follows:
1. The division champion with the best record.
2. The division champion with the second-best record.
3. The division champion with the third-best record.
4. The division champion with the fourth-best record.
5. The Wild Card club with the best record.
6. The Wild Card club with the second-best record.
The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs and to determine regular-season schedules.
TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss
TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM
If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference, the following steps will be taken.
1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory.
5. Strength of schedule.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.
Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5.Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss