Although Week 17 of the NFL season usually has a lot of different playoff scenarios in play, the AFC playoff picture has just three teams in the running for the final spot: the Tennessee Titans, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders. The Titans are favored to make the playoffs but are they the best bet in this spot? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Titans path to the playoffs is the easiest one: win and they\u2019re in. The Titans have lost two in a row and that\u2019s clearly made life all the more difficult for them. That cost them a shot at the AFC South Division title but they still have a clear path to the playoffs if they can beat the Texans this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houston has clinched the South title and will either be the No. 4 seed (where they are now) or climb up to No. 3. The chances of them going higher is miniscule, so they might end up resting their players. If that\u2019s the case, the Titans path to a win should be much easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Steelers started the season 1-4 but picked up wins in seven of their next eight games to get into the playoff hunt. However, back-to-back losses have put them behind the Eightball. They\u2019re going to need the Titans to lose and they\u2019re also going to want to avoid any type of tie scenario with the Raiders, which we\u2019ll explain below. The Steelers are at the Baltimore Ravens this week, which would normally be a very difficult place for them to get a win (Ravens have won 11 in a row). However, Baltimore has clinched the top seed in the AFC, so they are going to be resting a number of key players. They\u2019ve already announced that guys like Lamar Jackson and others will be held out. That makes the Steelers job all the more easier but they still need help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life would have been so much easier for the Oakland Raiders had they not blown their 10-point, fourth-quarter lead at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars just a couple of weeks ago. Instead, the Raiders now sit at 7-8 and need a collection of outcomes to go their way just so that they can make the playoffs. The good news is the Raiders needed four things to go right for them last week and all four did. Now they\u2019ll need four more outcomes to all their way and they can claim the final playoff position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, the Raiders must earn a win over the Denver Broncos. Then they\u2019ll need the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans to win, which means that the Titans and Steelers would lose. They also need a win from the Indianapolis Colts, who are at the Jaguars. After that, they\u2019ll also need a win by one of the following teams: the Bears, Lions, Chiefs or Patriots. If all of that goes their way, they will go to the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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