The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos are currently one and two, respectively, entering the final week. The New England Patriots (11-4) and Baltimore Ravens (10-5) have clinched their divisions and are numbers three and four. The wild cards at five and six are the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the NFC, there is one thing certain and that is the road to the Super Bowl travels through Atlanta as long as the Falcons remain alive in the post-season.
The Falcons are 13-2 and have locked up the number-one rank this year. The Green Bay Packers are currently number-two and if they win at Minnesota that will not change.
Beyond that, the NFC playoffs picture is way more muddled than the AFC scenario.
The BIG GAME this week will be the Sunday Night Football Game between the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) and the Washington Redskins (9-6) in the nation's capitol.
The NFC East division title is at stake in this one and for the Cowboys, it's this simple . . . win or go home.
The Cowboys MUST win or they are out of the playoffs altogether.
The Redskins already beat Dallas once this season and they would obviously win the NFC East division with a win over the 'Pokes.
Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants (8-7) are hoping for a lot of help just to get a wild card spot in the post-season. Once upon a time, the Giants were 6-2 and looking real solid to get back to the playoffs. But a 2-5 stretch has them on the outside looking in right now.
The Giants must win against the Philadelphia Eagles and then have both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings lose their games along with the Redskins beating the Cowboys on Sunday night. If all that happens, the Giants get the number six seed and a playoff game the following week.
The Bears play at Detroit while the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North divisional battles.
Minnesota (9-6) is currently in the playoffs as the sixth seed and a win at home on Sunday and they are in.
The Bears can get in with a win and a Vikings loss, which means the Bears and their fan base will perform an unusual act of rooting for a Packers' victory on Sunday.
Out West in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks (10-5) will host the St. Louis Rams while the division leading San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1) will host the Arizona Cardinals.
The 49ers win the West with a home victory while the Seahawks can gain the division crown with a win and a loss by the 'Niners to the Cardinals. No matter what, BOTH teams are in the playoffs already.
It should be interesting to see what unfolds in the final week, so stay tuned and then get ready for the post-season come next weekend.
The following is a capsule style breakdown of the finals games for this season, followed by the Heftyinfo selections for Week Seventeen.
Chicago (9-6) at Detroit (4-11) - For the Bears, it's win or go home.
Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (9-6) - Can the Pack stop running back Adrian Peterson from making history and the Vikings from crashing the post-season party?
Carolina (6-9) at New Orleans (7-8) - A battle of disappointing also-rans that should be a high scoring game.
Tampa Bay (6-9) at Atlanta (13-2) - The Bucs finishing this season with a huge thud. Falcons are on cruise control heading into the playoffs.
St. Louis (7-7-1) at Seattle (10-5) - The Seahawks are the hottest team in the NFL in December.
Arizona (5-10) at San Francisco (10-4-1) - The 49ers had their collective asses handed to them last week on national television and they are not happy about that. Poor Cardinals.
Philadelphia (4-11) at New York Giants (8-7) - For the Giants, it's win and then get A LOT of help.
Dallas (8-7) at Washington (9-6) - The Cowboys and the Redskins playing in prime time for the NFC East division title. What is this, a throwback to 1979? Cue Roger Staubach and Tony Hill for the final winning drive . . . no wait, that game was in Dallas. It's RG3 time to shine.
Cleveland (5-10) at Pittsburgh (7-8) - Who cares?
Baltimore (10-5) at Cincinnati (9-6) - Both of these teams are already in the AFC playoffs.
Houston (12-3) at Indianapolis (10-5) - See above comment . . . However, the Texans can clinch "home field" advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win. Colts riding emotional high with Head Coach Chuck Pagano back on the sidelines after battling cancer.
Jacksonville (2-13) at Tennessee (5-10) - Enough said.
New York Jets (6-9) at Buffalo (5-10) - Tebow! Tebow! Tebow!
Miami (7-8) at New England (11-4) - Patriots still have slim chance of getting the top seed in the AFC playoffs with a win and A LOT of help.
Kansas City (2-13) at Denver (12-3) - If the Chiefs win this game, then just write off the great season the Broncos have had with Comeback Player of the Year (and possibly also the MVP of the league) Peyton Manning.
Oakland (4-11) at San Diego (6-9) - Once this game ends, start the countdown to the firing of Chargers' Head Coach Norv Turner and possibly team GM A.J. Smith.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Seventeen . . . (Home teams are listed in BOLD)
Chicago over Detroit
Green Bay over Minnesota
New Orleans over Carolina
Atlanta over Tampa Bay
Seattle over St. Louis
San Francisco over Arizona
New York Giants over Philadelphia
Washington over Dallas
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Tennessee over Jacksonville
Indianapolis over Houston
Buffalo over New York Jets
New England over Miami
Denver over Kansas City
San Diego over Oakland
Last Week's Record: 11-5
SEASON RECORD: 147-92-1
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