Final Week Playoff Scenarios 2012

By Michael Gertz
Thursday, December 27, 2012

For wild card tiebreakers, ties are first broken within each division and then between different divisions. For full standings, records in tiebreaking categories, and playoff advancement odds, visit the Standings page.

AFC

Houston Texans (12-3) -- 1-3 seed -- at IND
Denver Broncos (12-3) -- 1-3 seed -- vs KC
New England Patriots (11-4) -- 1-4 seed -- vs MIA
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) -- 3-4 seed -- at CIN
Indianapolis Colts (10-5) -- 5 seed -- vs HOU
Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) -- 6 seed -- vs BAL

Possible tiebreakers:
(1)HOU > (2)DEN on head-to-head win
(1)NE > (2)HOU > (3)DEN on 3-way head-to-head sweep
(2)NE > (3)DEN on head-to-head win
(3)BAL > (4)NE on head-to-head win
(3/4)BAL > (6)CIN on division record after head-to-head tie
(5)IND > (6)CIN on common games after conference record tie

NFC

Atlanta Falcons (13-2) -- 1 seed -- vs TB
Green Bay Packers (11-4) -- 2-3 seed -- at MIN
San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1) -- 2-3 or 5 seed -- vs ARI
Seattle Seahawks (10-5) -- 2-3 or 5 seed -- vs STL
Washington Redskins (9-6) -- 71.5% -- vs DAL
Minnesota Vikings (9-6) -- 44.4% -- vs GB
Chicago Bears (9-6) -- 26.8% -- at DET
Dallas Cowboys (8-7) -- 41.2% -- at WAS
New York Giants (8-7) -- 16.1% vs PHI

Possible tiebreakers:
(2)SEA > (3)GB on head-to-head win
DAL > WAS on common games after head-to-head and division record ties
DAL > NYG on division record after head-to-head tie
WAS > NYG on division record after head-to-head tie
DAL > WAS > NYG on division record and common games after 3-way head-to-head tie
MIN > CHI on division record after head-to-head tie
WAS > MIN on head-to-head win
NYG > MIN on conference record

-Winner of DAL @ WAS wins NFC East and 4 seed
-MIN gets 6 seed with win or CHI, NYG, and DAL losses
-CHI gets 6 seed with win & MIN loss
-NYG gets 6 seed with win & MIN, CHI, and DAL losses
-WAS gets 6 seed with loss & MIN and CHI losses