NFL 2008 Week 17: Playoff Scenarios & Playoff Picture

The Chicago Bears closed out NFL 2008 Week 16 on Monday Night Football with a 20-17 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers at Soldier field.

Bears Defensive End Alex Brown (96) blocked a 38-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in regulation to preserve a 17-17 tie and send the game into overtime. The Bears won the coin toss and elected to receive. Starting from own 33-yard line, the Bears drove the ball to the Packers 20-yard line. On 3rd and 10, Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith sent out kicker Robbie Gould to kick the 38-yard field game-winning field goal.

It was the second straight week that Robbie Gould won an overtime game for the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago.

With the win, the Bears improve their record to 9-6 and are very much alive in the NFL playoff hunt. A look at the NFL Playoff picture and playoff scenarios in both the AFC & NFC.

NFC Playoff Picture

New York Giants (12-3)

NFC East Division Champs, 1st Round Bye & NFC Homefield Advantage

The New York Giants clinched a first-round bye and home field advantage in the NFC playoffs with their 34-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Dallas Cowboys (9-6)

Even after losing to the Baltimore Ravens in NFL 2008 Week 16, the Dallas Cowboys control their own destiny. A win over the Eagles in Week 17 and the Cowboys clinch an NFC Wildcard spot. If the Cowboys lose then they are eliminated from playoff contention. If the Cowboys win or tie, then one of the following scenarios needs to occur:

  • - Dallas Cowboys win OR
  • - Dallas Cowboys tie + Chicago Bears loss or tie + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss OR
  • - Dallas Cowboys tie + Minnesota Vikings loss or tie + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss OR
  • - Dallas Cowboys tie + Chicago Bears loss + Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie OR
  • - Dallas Cowboys tie + Minnesota Vikings loss + Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1)

The Eagles controlled their playoff destiny prior to playing the Redskins in Week 16 as the Cowboys and Buccaneers had already lost. However, the Eagles lost to the Redskins 10-3. If the Eagles lose or tie, they are eliminated from playoff contention. As such, the Eagles need to first defeat the Cowboys in Week 17, plus rely on one of the following scenarios to clinch a playoff spot:

  • - Philadelphia Eagles win + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss + Minnesota Vikings loss OR
  • - Philadelphia Eagles win + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss + Chicago Bears loss.

Atlanta Falcons (10-5)

The Atlanta Falcons clinched a NFC playoff spot with their 24-17 victory over the Vikings.

The Atlanta Falcons can clinch the NFC South division title and the second seed with:

  • - Atlanta Falcons win + Carolina Panthers loss

Carolina Panthers (11-4)

The Carolina Panthers clinched a NFC playoff spot despite their loss.

The Carolina Panthers can clinch the NFC South division title and the second seed with:

  • - Panthers win or tie OR
  • - Atlanta Falcons loss or tie

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can win or tie and still make the playoffs, but the Bucs will also need help. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch an NFC playoff spot under the following scenarios:

  • - Tampa Bay Buccaneers win + Dallas Cowboys loss or tie OR
  • - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie + Dallas Cowboys loss + Minnesota Vikings loss or tie OR
  • - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie + Dallas Cowboys loss + Chicago Bears loss or tie OR
  • - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie + Dallas Cowboys tie  + Minnesota Vikings tie + Chicago Bears win or tie OR
  • - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tie + Dallas Cowboys tie  + Chicago Bears tie + Minnesota Vikings win or tie

Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

The Minnesota Vikings can win the NFC North Division:

  • - Vikings win OR
  • - Vikings tie + Chicago Bears loss or tie OR
  • - Chicago Bears loss

The Minnesota Vikings can clinch an Wildcard playoff spot under the following scenarios

  • - Vikings tie + Dallas Cowboys loss + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss OR

Chicago Bears (8-6)

The Chicago Bears can win the NFC North Division:

  • - Chicago Bears win + Minnesota Vikings loss or tieOR
  • - Chicago Bears tie + Minnesota Vikings loss OR

The Chicago Bears can clinch an NFC Wildcard spot:

  • - Chicago Bears win + Dallas Cowboys loss or tie + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss OR
  • - Chicago Bears tie + Dallas Cowboys loss + Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss OR

Arizona Cardinals (8-7)

NFC West Division Champs, Number 4 Seed

ELIMINATED:

Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins.

AFC Playoff Picture

Tennessee Titans (13-2)

AFC South Division Champs, 1st Round Bye & AFC Homefield Advantage

With their victory over the Steelers, the Tennessee Titans clinched homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)

AFC North Division Champs & 1st Round Bye. Number 2 Seed.

Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

The Indianapolis Colts clinched an AFC playoff spot with their victory over the Jaguars on Thursday night.

AFC Wildcard. Number 5 Seed.

Denver Broncos (8-7)

The Denver Broncos clinch the AFC West Division title with:

  • - Denver Broncos win or tie over the Chargers

San Diego Chargers (7-8)

The San Diego Chargers can clinch the AFC West Division title with:

  • - San Diego Chargers win over the Denver Broncos

Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

The Baltimore Ravens control their own playoff destiny. The Ravens can clinch a Wildcard spot with:

  • - Baltimore Ravens win
  • - Baltimore Ravens tie + Miami Dolphins loss or tie OR
  • - Baltimore Ravens tie + New England Patriots loss or tie OR
  • - New England Patriots loss

Miami Dolphins (10-5)

The Miami Dolphins can clinch the AFC East Division under the following scenarios:

  • - Miami Dolphins win OR
  • - Miami Dolphins tie + New England Patriots loss or tie OR

The Miami Dolphins clinch an AFC wildcard playoff spot under the following scenario:

  • - Miami Dolphins tie + Baltimore Ravens loss OR

New England Patriots (10-5)

The New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East Division under the following scenarios:

  • - New England Patriots win + Miami Dolphins tie or loss OR
  • - New England Patriots tie + Miami Dolphins loss OR

The New England Patriots can clinch an AFC playoff spot with:

  • - New England Patriots win + Baltimore Ravens tie or loss OR
  • - New England Patriots tie + Baltimore Ravens loss OR

New York Jets (9-6)

The New York Jets clinch the AFC East Division with a win over the Dolphins plus a New England Patriots loss to the Buffalo Bills The New York Jets clinch an AFC Wildcard spot with a win over the Dolphins plus a Baltimore Ravens loss to Jaguars.

ELIMINATED:

Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders.

2008 NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

The New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans clinched their respective division titles in NFL 2008 Week 14. The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC North in Week 15 defeating the Ravens 13-9 in Baltimore.

CLINCHED: Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) , New York Giants (NFC East), Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

CLINCHED: Tennessee Titans (AFC South), Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North), Indianapolis Colts

Week 17: Playoff Scenarios & Playoff Picture - NFL 2008