With the regular season winding down, here's what to look for during the National Football League's Week 17.
All 16 games are divisional contests in Week 17 and there are still 18 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LV. There hasn’t been more teams still alive for postseason berths entering the league’s final week since 2006 (20 teams).
Six division titles have been secured, three of which feature a team that did not win their division in 2019 – the AFC East (BUFFALO BILLS), AFC North (PITTSBURGH STEELERS) and NFC West (SEATTLE SEAHAWKS).
Both the AFC South, coming down to the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS or TENNESSEE TITANS, and NFC East, with the DALLAS COWBOYS, NEW YORK GIANTS and WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM each still in contention for the division crown, are guaranteed to also have new winners in 2020.
The five new division winners this season will be the most in a season since 2017 (five).
Additionally, Pittsburgh won their division after missing the postseason in 2019, while two other division titles – AFC South (Indianapolis) and NFC East (Dallas, N.Y. Giants or Washington) – can be won by a team that missed the playoffs last season. At least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 16 of the past 17 years.
Should Washington win the NFC East, they would complete the “worst-to-first” turnaround. At least one team has won its division the season after finishing in or tied for last place in 15 of the past 17 seasons.
The ARIZONA CARDINALS and MIAMI DOLPHINS can also qualify for the postseason this year after finishing in last place in their division last season.
Since 1990, at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before.
For the Week 17 playoff scenarios, click here.
--NFL--