The Minnesota Vikings win over the Philadelphia Eagles on the rare Tuesday Night Football game helped clarify the NFC playoff picture further. The Eagles loss means that they are locked into the No. 3 seed in the NFC, giving the Chicago Bears a bye week. That Chicago is guaranteed of a bye week is also good news for the Green Bay Packers - who play the Bears in Week 17 and need a win to clinch their playoff berth.
The current playoff picture in the NFL is after the jump.
The Falcons simply need to defeat the lowly Carolina Panthers in Week 17 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC and homefield throughout the playoffs.
The Chicago Bears have clinched the NFC North and a first-round bye week. The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed.
The Philadelphia Eagles have clinched the NFC East and the No. 3 seed. Philadelphia is guaranteed the third seed no matter any outcome of Week 17.
The NFC West, and No. 4 seed, will be decided by the outcome of Sunday night's game between the Rams and the Seahawks. The winner of the game will be the NFC West champion and fourth seed in the NFC.
The New Orleans Saints have clinched a playoff spot. If the Saints defeat the Buccaneers and the Falcons lose to the Panthers, the Saints will be the NFC South champions. If the Falcons win, the Saints will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
The Green Bay Packers need to defeat the Bears on Sunday to clinch their playoff berth.
The New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both still alive. The Giants need to win and have the Bears defeat the Packers on Sunday to clinch the final NFC playoff spot. The Buccaneers need both the Giants and Packers to lose and to defeat the Saints to earn a playoff spot.
In the AFC, the New England Patriots have clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC and have homefield throughout the playoffs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have clinched a playoff spot. If the Steelers defeat the Browns on Sunday, the Steelers will be the No. 2 seed in the AFC and will earn a bye week.
The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West. With a win over the Raiders on Sunday, the Chiefs will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC.
The Indianapolis Colts currently lead the AFC South. If the Colts win on Sunday, they will clinch the AFC South.
The Baltimore Ravens have clinched at least a playoff spot. If the Ravens defeat the Bengals on Sunday and the Steelers fall to the Browns, the Ravens will clinch the AFC North as well as a first round bye.
The New York Jets have clinched a Wild Card spot.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are still alive in the AFC South. If the Jaguars defeat the Texans and the Colts fall to the Titans, the Jaguars will be the AFC South champions.
As things stand right now, this is what Wild Card Weekend would look like:
AFC: Jets @ Chiefs, Ravens @ Colts - Byes: Patriots, Steelers
NFC: Packers @ Eagles, Saints @ Rams - Byes: Falcons, Bears