Merry Christmas! And Happy Holidays, too!

We have another abbreviated version of The NFL From A to Z this week as we enjoy the holiday. Hopefully it’s a great day for you all!

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—Wes Roesch, Newsletter Editor at A to Z Sports

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Week 17 playoff scenarios: How some teams can clinch playoffs seeds, and how some can stay alive

Here’s the NFL playoff picture heading into Week 17 (first seven seeds make the playoffs in each conference):

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs 14-1
2. Buffalo Bills 12-3
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5
4. Houston Texans 9-6
5. Baltimore Ravens 10-5
6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6
7. Denver Broncos 9-6
8. Indianapolis Colts 7-8
9. Miami Dolphins 7-8
10. Cincinnati Bengals 7-8

Eliminated: Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans

NFC

1. Detroit Lions 13-2
2. Philadelphia Eagles 12-3
3. Los Angeles Rams 9-6
4. Atlanta Falcons 8-7
5. Minnesota Vikings 13-2
6. Green Bay Packers 11-4
7. Washington Commanders 10-5
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-7
9. Seattle Seahawks 8-7

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers

Clinching scenarios

Below are the teams that either have a chance to clinch a playoff spot, a division title or a certain seed heading into Week 17:

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons can clinch the NFC South, and therefore a playoff spot. Here’s how:

• Win vs. Commanders, AND
• Bucs loss vs. Panthers

Denver Broncos

The Broncos can clinch a playoff wild-card spot simply by defeating the Bengals this Saturday.

Detroit Lions

Here’s how the Lions clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC:

• Win vs. 49ers, AND
• Vikings loss vs. Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Here’s how the Chiefs take the No. 1 seed in the AFC:

• Win vs. Steelers, OR
• Bills loss vs. Jets

Los Angeles Chargers

Here’s how the Chargers get a wild-card playoff spot:

• Win vs. Patriots, OR
• Colts loss vs. Giants AND Dolphins loss vs. Browns

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams can capture the NFC West with this outcome:

• Win vs. Cardinals, AND
• Seahawks loss vs. Bears OR earn strength of victory over Seahawks (multiple outcomes needed)

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles can win the NFC East this weekend — here’s how:

• Win vs. Cowboys, OR
• Commanders loss vs. Falcons

Washington Commanders

Here’s how Washington earns a wild-card playoff spot:

• Win vs. Falcons, OR
• Bucs loss vs. Panthers

How fringe teams can stay alive

Several teams need some magic in order to just stay alive after Week 17. Here’s how these teams can stay alive:

Cincinnati Bengals

• Win vs. Broncos

The Bengals could also use losses from the Colts and Dolphins, though they’ll still be alive if that doesn’t happen.

Indianapolis Colts

• Win vs. Giants, AND
• Broncos loss vs. Bengals OR Chargers loss vs. Patriots

Miami Dolphins

• Win vs. Browns, AND
• Broncos loss vs. Bengals OR Chargers loss vs. Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

• Rams loss vs. Cardinals

It’s not that the Seahawks’ game vs. the Bears isn’t important, it’s just that a win won’t matter much if the Rams win. Technically the Seahawks could still be alive with a win and a Rams win, but the ‘Hawks would need a nearly impossible scenario involving a double-digit number of needed outcomes over the next two weeks to make it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Win vs. Panthers

The Bucs should also probably root for the Falcons to beat the Commanders this week, too, though technically it’s not necessary. It’s weird that the Bucs need to root for their division rival, but our guy Evan Winter breaks down the reasoning here.

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Latest NFL news and notes: Diontae Johnson heads to Houston

Below are bits of the latest relevant news and injury tidbits from around the NFL:

• Diontae replaces Tank Dell after brutal injury: Texans receiver Tank Dell has a long recovery ahead of him after dislocating his kneecap and tearing multiple ligaments and cartilage in his knee. To fill the void, the Texans picked up former Ravens WR Diontae Johnson off waivers.
• Eagles QB situation: Jalen Hurts sustained a concussion in Week 16, while backup Kenny Pickett hurt his ribs. That leaves Tanner McKee as the quarterback for Philly if the others can’t go in Week 17.
• Chris Jones may not play: The Chiefs’ star defensive lineman could be out with a calf strain on Wednesday. His status is questionable, as is the status of Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor.
• George Pickens returns: The Steelers WR will return to the team’s lineup vs. K.C. after missing a few games.
• How re-signing Sam Darnold would impact the Vikings’ future: Tyler Forness broke down how the return of Darnold would impact Minnesota’s salary cap, roster and more.
• Ravens have multiple injuries: Running back Justice Hill and WR Nelson Agholor are out with concussions. Meanwhile, WR Zay Flowers is questionable with a shoulder injury.
• 49ers shutting it down: With San Francisco officially eliminated from the playoffs, the team is shutting down injured stars like left tackle Trent Williams and linebacker Dre Greenlaw for the season, among others.
• Bradley Chubb won’t return: The Miami Dolphins noted that they won’t be able to bring back LB Bradley Chubb from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning his season is over.
• Several players out for Cardinals: Offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams are out for the season, while RB James Conner is battling a knee injury.

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