The NFL playoff picture is getting more and more clear as the schedule turns to Monday night football and then Week 17 for the final matchups of the season and after the games on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Saints as well as the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are fighting for the number 1 seed in the AFC and NFC and that means home field advantage and a first round bye in the postseason.
The Seahawks lost on Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals at home for the first time in two years, giving some opening for the number one seed, but it still looks like Seattle has the inside edge for it. The team has one more win over the Panthers and a head to head victory from Week 1 and the team would be tied by conference record if they win and the Panthers lose. The Saints could go from a number two seed to out of the playoffs altogether if they can't win on Sunday and the Denver Broncos now have a clear shot at getting the number one seed, as all they need to do is win and they get it.
The Broncos clinched the AFC West division title with their win over the Houston Texans on Sunday and Peyton Manning ended up with a new single season record for passing touchdowns in a season. The Patriots won as well to stay in the second spot and it looks as if the Broncos and the Patriots will be the teams getting home games and byes in the playoffs, but the Broncos need to win in Week 17, as the Pats have a head to head win against Denver and they would love to get that game at home if it happens again in the playoffs.
The Panthers are in fantastic position and they can end up as the number two seed and the NFC south champions by winning on Sunday against the Falcons. The 49ers can factor things up with a win on Monday night and that would put the Saints in a tough spot, as they need to win to stay alive after losing to the Panthers and now it is looking more likely that the team will be on the road after being in the number two seed for most of the season.
The AFC playoffs are mostly set apart from the wild card team in the sixth spot and the teams at the top, as the Colts and Bengals are in their positions and the best that the chiefs can get is the five seed, as they have 11 wins and lost twice to the Broncos to lose the AFC West title. The playoffs shaping up in both the NFC and the AFC and home field advantage could be crucial this season for teams trying to get to the Super Bowl.
