The AFC is house to the NFL’s greatest workforce and the highest two gamers on the MVP board. Most consider that is the superior convention because of the firepower on the high, however what concerning the backside of the playoff image?
“Any Given Sunday” is greater than a film, it’s a way of life within the NFL. With 5 groups nonetheless within the combine for the ultimate two postseason invitations, the final two weeks of the common season determine to supply loads of intrigue.
Let’s check out the present AFC Wild Card playoff image and clinching eventualities for Week 17.
What Is the AFC Wild Card Playoff Standings?
The present AFC Wild Card standings in Week 17 are as follows:
5) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)6) Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)7) Denver Broncos (9-7)——-8) Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)9) Indianapolis Colts (7-8)10) Miami Dolphins (7-8)
The Steelers presently path the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC North, however their postseason ticket has already been punched. Whether or not they win the division or not, Mike Tomlin’s bunch can be heard from within the postseason. The Chargers clinched a Wild Card spot with their dominant win over the New England Patriots on Saturday.
What Are the AFC Wild Card Clinching and Elimination Situations in Week 17?
The Chargers already clinched a playoff spot, and the Broncos management their very own future as effectively. A win this week might have clinched Denver a playoff spot, however the Bengals pulled off the upset. Nonetheless, this loss doesn’t remove the Broncos; as a substitute, it merely put the champagne on ice.
The Bengals (vs. Broncos on Saturday), Dolphins (at Browns on Sunday), and Colts (at Giants on Sunday) might have all be eradicated if the Broncos beat Cincinnati on Saturday, however the Bengals pulling off the upset retains them alive. Nevertheless, Miami and Indianapolis can nonetheless be eradicated if lose on Sunday.
Now, all three will enter the ultimate week of the common season with a minimum of a mathematical probability to qualify, even when the percentages stay stacked towards them.
A Have a look at AFC Wild Card Situations in Weeks 17 and 18
The Broncos did not clinch in Week 16, however they’ll have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in Week 18 in the event that they defeat the Chiefs. With Kansas Metropolis already securing the AFC’s high seed, that season finale doesn’t challenge as troublesome because it seems.
If the Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals all lose one recreation every in Weeks 17 and 18, the Broncos will clinch a playoff spot, no matter their very own outcomes.
The Chargers’ win over the Broncos in Week 16 left the tantalizing prospect of a four-way tie for the three AFC Wild Card spots. For that to occur, the Broncos would want to lose each of their remaining video games. Equally, the Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals would want to win all of their six mixed video games.
In that four-team tiebreaker, the Colts and Dolphins would have a leg up. Even as soon as all divisional ties are resolved, the groups wouldn’t have sufficient head-to-head conferences for use, so we would want to make use of their convention data. The Colts and Dolphins can be at 7-5 inside the AFC, whereas Bengals can be 6-6, and the Broncos can be 5-7.
The Colts and Dolphins would take the ultimate two playoff spots on this situation.That logic continues all through any multi-team tie we get at 9-8. The Colts are the highest canine, with the Dolphins second. The one tiebreaker that the Colts wouldn’t win can be a straight head-to-head with the Broncos, having misplaced in Denver in Week 15.
The Bengals’ path turned way more cut-and-dry after the Chargers gained final week. They should end in a two-team tie with the Broncos at 9-8. They might then beat the Broncos on the idea of a superior convention document (6-6 vs. 7-5).
In any tiebreaker situation, the Colts and Dolphins would each have a greater convention document than the Bengals.
The Colts’ and Dolphins’ paths to the playoffs are comparable. Because the Chargers gained in Week 16, they will solely get in with 9 wins, and provided that the Broncos don’t high their document.
At 9-8, the tiebreaker eventualities swing of their favor, as each would have higher convention data than the Broncos and Bengals in these conditions. With the Broncos being the one widespread opponent for the Colts, convention data can be all-important in most tiebreakers.
Indianapolis has the higher hand between the 2 after defeating Miami in Week 7. Subsequently, the Dolphins can not have the Colts concerned in a tiebreaker involving only one playoff spot. The Colts would at all times have the higher hand and knock out the Dolphins.If there have been a situation at 9-8 involving a number of groups, each the Colts and Dolphins can be within the postseason.
PFN Playoff Chances (as of Dec. 27)
Denver Broncos: 86.2%
Cincinnati Bengals: 5.6%
Indianapolis Colts: 5.5%
Miami Dolphins: 2.7%
Head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to check varied eventualities and see how they modify the playoff image and the present NFL postseason bracket.