Heading into final week of NFL season playoff scenarios are mostly complete

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Week 16 in the NFL cleared up the murkiness that was the playoff picture, as teams were weeded out and others were brought back into the mix.
First and foremost, the New Orleans Saints’ hard fought 31-28 win over a good Pittsburgh Steelers’ team gave them something coveted by every NFC club; home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
That means two things; a first round bye and a chance to rest players that may need to heal up before the big playoff push.
Staying in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams are definitely in the playoffs, but must beat the San Francisco 49’ers Sunday in order to get a first round bye. The Rams, by virtue of their loss to Chicago are one game up on the Bears for that honor. A Rams loss and a Bears win would give Chicago that advantage.
The Dallas Cowboys are in, as are the Seattle Seahawks, who took down Kansas City 38-31 this past Sunday. The only spot left to fill in the NFC will be determined by the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles.
If the Vikings beat the Bears Sunday, they are in. The Vikings can still lose and get in if the Eagles lose to Washington. A Vikings loss and an Eagles win puts Philadelphia in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
The AFC is still not quite settled. What is known is that the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots, and the Houston Texans are all in.
What is not known, is who will get the first round byes and who gets the remaining two spots in the post-season.
The Chiefs must beat the Oakland on Sunday to get the home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A Chiefs’ loss and things get complicated. Not only that, but Kansas City could wind up the No. 5 seed if they fail against the Raiders
New England can get a first round bye if they are able to beat the New York Jets. The Houston Texans must pick up a win over Jacksonville in order to secure the AFC South title.
A loss by the Texans and the winner of the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans would determine the AFC South championship and get one of those two teams into the playoffs. The loser of this game is out.
The Chargers can still get the No. 1 seed if they can defeat the Denver Broncos and the Chiefs fall to the Raiders.
The final spot in the AFC playoffs will go to either the Baltimore Ravens are possibly the Pittsburgh Steelers. A Raven win over the Cleveland Browns and they are in. A loss and Pittsburgh would have to beat the Bengals.