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NFL Playoff Standings 2017: Latest Team Records, Updated Postseason Odds
- Updated: December 26, 2016
There are only 17 games left in the NFL regular season, and a lot of the postseason picture has been made clear.
Even though seedings won’t be determined until after Week 17, 10 of the 12 playoff teams are locked in. The only two spots up for grabs are in the NFC, including the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions fighting for the NFC North title.
The Lions still have to play out things in Week 16 with a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys, which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington will be watching closely since that result ties into their playoff chances.
Here are the updated postseason standings and odds heading into the regular season’s home stretch:
NFL Playoff Odds (per OddsShark)
Win to Get In
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The Lions can take some drama out of their Week 17 game against the Packers by defeating the Cowboys. That will secure Detroit’s postseason spot, though next week will still be used to determine the NFC North champion and guarantee the winner at least one home playoff game.
With two games still left, the Lions’ playoff possibilities range from being the No. 2 seed in the NFC to sitting at home after January 1. They will miss the playoffs with two losses and a Washington win over the New York Giants.
The Lions are currently in the No. 3 spot as the NFC North leader, with the opportunity to move up one spot if they win each of their last two games and the Atlanta Falcons are upset by the New Orleans Saints.
In the past, a late-season game against the Packers would have sucked all the energy out of Detroit. The Lions lost 17 of 19 games in the rivalry from 2004-13 before splitting their last six contests.
Unfortunately for the Lions, they are running into the Packers at a time when Aaron Rodgers is playing like the best quarterback in the NFL again, with Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com providing the evidence:
Aaron Rodgers’ last 6 games (this one included): 141-202, 1718 yards, 14 TDs, 0 INTs.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 24, 2016
While Rodgers has been fantastic, he hasn’t been leading the Packers’ five-game winning streak on his own.
ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky noted after Green Bay’s 38-25 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 that linebacker Clay Matthews was in vintage form:
Not only did he sack Sam Bradford and force a key fumble in the second quarter when the Packers had just a 21-13 lead, he also batted down a pair of passes—including one on a third-and-goal from the 4 that saved the Packers four points when the Vikings had to settle for a field goal—and hit Bradford at least two other times.
The Packers defense isn’t going to be confused with the ’85 Chicago Bears any time soon, but they’ve only allowed 88 points during their five-game …
