Playoff spots on the line in Week 17 of NFL 2015 season

Entering Week 17 of the 2015 NFL season, 11 of the 16 games have playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved, and all 16 games are division contests.  With one week to go, there are still 14 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl 50.

“This is what football is all about,” said New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Jets’ overtime win over New England. “We control our own destiny now. If you take care of business, you allow yourself to keep playing into January.”

In the AFC, New England (12-3) has clinched a first-round bye and can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win or a Denver loss.

The Broncos (11-4) can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Patriots loss. Denver can secure a first-round bye with a win or losses by Cincinnati and Kansas City.

The Bengals (11-4) can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.

Two AFC division winners have been determined: New England (AFC East) and Cincinnati (AFC North).

Denver can lock up the AFC West with a win or a Kansas City loss. The Chiefs (10-5) can clinch the division title with a win and a Denver loss.

In the AFC South, Houston (8-7) can secure the division title with a win or an Indianapolis loss or by clinching the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts. In order to win the division, Indianapolis (7-8) needs a win and a Houston loss and to tie the Strength of Victory tiebreaker with the Texans and clinch the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over Houston.

Denver and Kansas City have both clinched at least a playoff spot. One of those teams will win the AFC West and the other will be a Wild Card entrant.

The New York Jets (10-5) can earn the other Wild Card spot with a win or a Pittsburgh loss. The Steelers (9-6) can advance to the postseason with a win and a Jets loss.

In the NFC, Carolina (14-1) and Arizona (13-2) have clinched first-round byes. The Panthers can secure home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win or a Cardinals loss. Arizona can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Carolina loss.

Three of the four NFC division winners have been determined: Carolina (NFC South), Arizona (NFC West), and Washington (NFC East).

The NFC North will be determined on Sunday night in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC) at Lambeau Field when Green Bay (10-5) hosts Minnesota (10-5). The NFC North winner will be the No. 3 seed and Washington is locked in as the No. 4 seed.

The two Wild Card teams in the NFC will be the loser of Sunday night’s Minnesota-Green Bay game and Seattle (9-6), who has already clinched a playoff berth. The Seahawks can end up as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.

“Late in the season, you want to control your destiny,” said Minnesota defensive end Brian Robison. “You don’t want to rely on other teams. You want to be able to control your destiny and do it yourself. Now we have a chance to take another step forward and hopefully we can take care of business.”

Some of the key games in Week 17 with playoff implications for at least one of the teams involved:

JETS (10-5) at BILLS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Jets are in with a win. New York defeated New England 26-20 in overtime last week and the Jets are now in control for a postseason berth. New York can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a loss by Pittsburgh.

“It’s great that we are in this position,” said Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, “but we have to win this game. I’m excited that we do control our own destiny but we have to take care of business.”

PATRIOTS (12-3) at DOLPHINS (5-10) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Patriots are in control for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. New England has already clinched the AFC East division title and a first-round bye. With a win or a Denver loss, the Patriots will earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

RAVENS (5-10) at BENGALS (11-4) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

The Bengals have clinched the AFC North division title and can secure a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or a loss by Denver combined with a Kansas City win.

STEELERS (9-6) at BROWNS (3-12) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Steelers are still alive for a playoff berth but are not in control. Pittsburgh needs a win and a loss by the New York Jets to clinch a postseason spot.

JAGUARS (5-10) at TEXANS (8-7) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win or an Indianapolis loss. Houston can also claim the division title if the Texans clinch the Strength of Victory or Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Colts.

TITANS (3-12) at COLTS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

The Colts remain alive for the AFC South division title. Indianapolis can secure the division title with a win and a Houston loss and the Colts tying the Texans in the Strength of Victory tiebreaker and clinching the Strength of Schedule tiebreaker over the Texans.

RAIDERS (7-8) at CHIEFS (10-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

The Chiefs have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win and a Denver loss.

CHARGERS (4-11) at BRONCOS (11-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

The Broncos have secured a playoff berth and can clinch the AFC West division title with a win or a Kansas City loss. Denver can lock up a first-round bye with a win or losses by both Kansas City and Cincinnati. And the Broncos can earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and a New England loss.

SEAHAWKS (9-6) at CARDINALS (13-2) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

Seattle has clinched a Wild Card spot and will be either the No. 5 or 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Arizona has already clinched the NFC West division title and a first-round bye. With a win and a Carolina loss, the Cardinals will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

“We’re playing really good football at the right time,” said Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. “This is the time of season you want to be playing well. That’s a good feeling.”

BUCCANEERS (6-9) at PANTHERS (14-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

Carolina is in control for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Panthers have already clinched the NFC South division title and a first-round bye. With a win or an Arizona loss, Carolina will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

VIKINGS (10-5) at PACKERS (10-5) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

The final game of the 2015 regular season will decide the NFC North division.

“We are exactly where we want to be, in position to win the NFC North,” said Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the league in rushing with 1,418 yards. “They flexed this game so it’s going to be in primetime. This is what we envisioned for ourselves at the beginning of the season. The opportunity is right here in front of us.”

Both the Vikings and Packers have already clinched a playoff berth. But the division title and a home playoff game are at stake.

“Everything is in front of us as far as winning the division,” said Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “I know what we’re capable of. We have guys who have played in big games and in the playoffs and you have to rely on that. We’ve won a lot of games. I have confidence in those guys and myself. That’s the beauty of the NFL.”

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services