With Christmas falling on Sunday, the National Football League (NFL) adjusted its Week 16 schedule to have an 11-game slate on Christmas Eve, followed by three games Christmas Day and a Monday night contest to finish out the week.

There now remains only two weeks in the regular season and the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers have clinched their divisions, while the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys have secured play-off berths, leaving only five remaining play-off spots available — two in the American Football Conference (AFC) and three in the National Football Conference (NFC).

The second-to-last week of the 2022/23 NFL regular season will feature races to the wire as seven AFC teams are still in with a chance at the two available spots and eight NFC teams will battle for the three in that conference.The race for home-field advantage and division titles will also be interesting (especially between the Bills and the Chiefs – both at 12-3), but teams in the hunt for post-season appearances will provide the most appeal. Let’s have a look at the most probable scenarios.

The Miami Dolphins (8-7) can clinch a play-off spot with a win when they visit the New England Patriots (7-8) on Sunday afternoon, combined with a New York Jets (7-8) loss or tie when they tackle the Seattle Seahawks (7-8), later the same day. The Dolphins also clinch with a tie in their encounter, a Jets loss and a Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) loss or tie when they play the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) on Sunday night.

The Dolphins, despite losing to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, have a shot at the post-season with at least one win from their remaining games, but their quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is doubtful for the weekend matchup as he was placed in concussion protocol on Monday. Miami lost three games early in the season when Tagovailoa missed playing time with a concussion and, with all teams in this equation clawing for their play-off lives, this weekend is crucial. The Dolphins beat the Patriots in Miami in Week 1, but if Tua is not able to go, the tables may get turned in New England on New Year’s Day.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) can advance to the play-offs with wins in their final two games, against the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. They have won three in a row and four of five since their bye, with victories over the Ravens, Titans, Cowboys and Jets — teams in the play-offs or with play-off ambitions. With everything at stake, its hard to bet against the Jaguars when they visit Houston this weekend as their opponents have won only two games all season and are 0-6 at home. If they (expectedly) get past the Texans, they will only need to worry about the Titans who they narrowly defeated 28-27 in late November.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) can clinch the NFC South division with a win over the Carolina Panthers (6-9) on Sunday. Two last-minute comebacks against the Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals in the last two games have masked how bad the Buccaneers are this year. In their last nine games, they’ve won three times and two of the wins came on last-second touchdowns after they were losing most of the game, including last Sunday night. They should get past the Panthers on Sunday, but Carolina is second in the division, and they also have an opportunity to play in the post-season if they win out. This one could be interesting, even if it’s in one of the NFL’s weakest divisions.

The Washington Commanders (7-7-1) can clinch a play-off spot with a home win over the Cleveland Browns (6-9) Sunday afternoon, combined with a Seahawks loss and a Green Bay Packers (7-8) loss or tie when the Vikings (12-3) visit Lambeau Field late Sunday afternoon. The Commanders beating the Browns is very possible, the Seahawks losing to the Jets is a good bet but the Packers at home at this time of the year is very hard to call, especially since they defeated these Vikings 37-10 last season in Week 17 in Green Bay, when the temperature was 11 degrees at kick-off.

Green Bay started 4-8 this season and the play-offs appeared to be a pipe dream, but the Packers have won three in a row since then and, with a little help, have a chance to make the play-offs for a fourth-consecutive year. They will advance to the post season if they win out the two remaining home games against NFC North foes — Minnesota on Sunday and the Detroit Lions in the closer, plus at least one Washington loss or if the New York Giants lose twice. The Packers have won three in a row at home against the Lions, the last two by 18 and 21 points, respectively, so the last game shouldn’t be an issue, but the Vikings just set records for the largest comeback victory (33 points) and the most one-score victories (11) in NFL history. This is expected to be a defensive battle, but a spectacle, nonetheless.

The Giants (8-6-1) have the most permutations for a play-off berth entering Week 17 and arguably have the easiest route — beat the Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1)at MetLife Stadium on Sunday and they are in. Following on their heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Christmas Eve, a New Year’s Day victory would feel like the perfect gift. However, their path to the post season can take a number of other routes:

• A tie, a Seahawks loss or tie and a Commanders loss or tie

• A tie, a Seahawks loss or tie and a Lions loss or tie

• A tie, a Commanders loss or tie, a Lions loss or tie and a Packers loss or tie

• A Seahawks loss and a Commanders loss

• A Seahawks loss, a Lions loss and a Packers loss or tie

• A Commanders loss, a Lions loss and a Packers loss

The Giants shouldn’t need any help from other teams this weekend, but there is comfort in the knowledge that help is there if needed. Week 17 promise stop flight action — Are you ready for some football?

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Team Odds

Buffalo Bills4.40

Kansas City Chiefs5.40

Philadelphia Eagles5.60

San Francisco 49ers6.80

Cincinnati Bengals8.80

Dallas Cowboys11.00

Los Angeles Chargers23.00

Baltimore Ravens25.00

Minnesota Vikings25.00

Tampa Bay Buccaneers29.00

*Only Top 10 odds shown (see website for full list)

Note: Odds are subject to change