NFL Playoff Picture 2016: Dissecting AFC, NFC Scenarios Before Final Games

500 overall and with locks.

The last week of the 2015 National Football League (NFL) regular season takes place today, Sunday, with all 32 teams to see action as they try to close the season in a good note.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who recently fired head coach Chip Kelly, are set to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year and will end the 2015 season against the New York Giants.

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have the inside track on the top two seeds in the AFC.

Bills (+2.5) over Jets: Jets a better team, but Rex frothing at the mouth to keep his old club out of the playoffs.

The Giants are home, they have Eli and Beckham and I think they’ll play hard for Tom Coughlin, in what might be his last game as head coach of the Giants. There are very few players on Baltimore who could start for Cincinnati.

New England at Miami- The Patriots can secure the #1 seed in the AFC with a win over a Dolphins team whose season ended weeks ago.

Impact on the Steelers: The Patriots need a win to clinch homefield advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs, and if they lose and the Broncos defeat San Diego, then Denver would have homefield advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs.

– Win: clinch AFC wild-card playoff berth as No. 6 seed, and play on the road next weekend at No. 3 seed. The Steelers first need to beat the Browns but also needs the Jets to lose to the Bills. Lay the points with the Bengals. Drew Brees will play and it should be very close.

Of all the games with meaning in the final week of the season, this one has the most weight. I’m still not sold on the Texans being any better than an average team. Plus, they’re playing on the road, up on the shores of Lake Erie where the winds will be howling and the temperatures below freezing.

Titans at Colts (1:00 pm, CBS) – Indianapolis is looking to clinch the AFC South today.

Jazz: Four more games with mostly playoff implications to drag ourselves across the line one last time. ‘Skins 20, Cowboys 16.

If the teams avoid upsets on Sunday, the NFC playoffs would open with the Vikings and Packers in a rematch at Lambeau Field and the Seahawks visiting the Redskins. The Bears broke a three game losing streak with a win against the Bucs last week. Atlanta is generally playing better recently.

Ilkin can remember fans outside his Upper St. Clair home honking their auto horns in celebration of the fact the Steelers were in the playoffs for the first time since 1984. Conversely, about only 33 percent of teams that needed a win and one other outcome to go in their favor made the playoffs.

On paper, everything seems to point to the Chiefs in this game. They should be able to beat the Raiders, who improved this year but not enough to make the playoffs. Despite this I like the Raiders.

CHIEFS 23, Raiders 20 – 3:25 p.m.

Another division title, the AFC West, will be locked up with a simple Denver Broncos (11-4) win over the San Diego Chargers (4-11). Also, though I’m not entirely sure how it happened, I went 4-3 with my picks, taking me into the final regular season week with a record of 56-55, going above.

Tomsula took over a rough situation with the Niners, so he might survive such a poor record considering all the retirements, defections, injuries and regression by QB Colin Kaepernick. Pittsburgh has to win and the Jets have to lose to make the playoffs.

– Lose: First-round bye as AFC’s No. 2 seed if Denver loses and KC wins.

The NFC has all six teams intact, but seeding has not been determined. The Colts will be starting either Stephen Morris, Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley at quarterback.

It’s all going to be about maintaining a high level of play on defense and continuing to find success on the ground with Adrian Peterson – two things that came together perfectly last week against the Giants. With that in mind, I have to take the points. Not losing will mean Green Bay win the NFC North, again. But if the Seahawks win, it will be the No. 5 seed if the Vikings lose and both teams finish 10-6 because of Seattle’s earlier win. Yet, in the division, the Rams are 4-1, while San Francisco is 0-5. In a game with Teddy Bridgewater vs. Aaron Rodgers for a division title, how can you not pick Rodgers?