Many of the NFL’s playoff races are nonetheless large open going into Week 17 of the season, and 24 groups have already clinched a playoff spot or nonetheless have a mathematical likelihood of creating the postseason.
As famous by Troy Vincent, that quantity is tied for essentially the most groups nonetheless playoff eligible with two weeks remaining over the previous 20 years.
There are solely eight groups which have been mathematically eradicated going into Week 17. That record consists of the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
The one groups which have clinched a playoff spot are the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
The NFC West (San Francisco) and NFC North (Detroit) are the one divisions which have been clinched.
All of meaning there are nonetheless 18 groups combating for the eight remaining playoff spots which might be nonetheless up for grabs.
There are two vital issues to remember about these numbers. The primary is that that is merely the product of the league including two groups to the postseason combine a few years in the past. Extra playoff groups means extra squads which have an opportunity to qualify.
The second is that that is what the NFL desires to see and the best way the league is designed to run. The NFL desires parity, competitors and as many fan bases as doable believing they’ve an opportunity each week to ultimately be a Tremendous Bowl contender.
Critics would possibly argue that it makes the standard of the league extra mediocre and cuts down on the variety of nice groups. There’s some reality to that, as there are usually not many constantly dominant groups within the league, however there are additionally not quite a lot of really terrible groups that do not have an opportunity. It additionally permits lesser groups to show themselves round shortly and have an opportunity to get into the postseason.
