We all know the New England Patriots are certainly getting home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts have already clinched a playoff spot. And while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers still have a mathematical chance of being overhauled at the top of their respective divisions, it would take a minor miracle for that to happen.

The only divisional title still open for debate is the AFC North’s crown. The Pittsburgh Steelers are up by one win ahead the Cleveland Browns, but once you examine both team’s divisional record (Pittsburgh is at 5-0) it really seems highly unlikely that coach Romeo Crenel’s Cleveland boys would run the table and claim top spot.

All that is left then for the other teams is to hope for one of the four wildcard spots still up for grabs. Let’s examine then who has a shot at getting there in each conference:

‘Even if the the Giants lose all three it would take a perfect three weeks from one of the teams with a 6-7 record – highly unlikely at best.’


NFC:
In the driving seat: New York Giants (9-4). Remaining games: Washington Redskins, at Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots

They’ll make the playoffs if . . . they can muster one more win in their remaining three games. That’s really all it takes for them. Look at the NFC standings, Tampa is probably your fourth division winner and the only team that can still get to 10 wins is the Minnesota Vikings. Nobody else has even got a mathematical chance of making it. Even if the Giants lose all three it would take a perfect three weeks from one of the teams with a 6-7 record – highly unlikely at best.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 95%

Favorite to get there: Minnesota Vikings (7-6) - Remaining games: Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, at Denver Broncos

They’ll make the playoffs if . . . they continue to play at the level they have recently. At the moment Minnesota is one of the top teams in the NFC thanks to their great running game, featuring Adrian Peterson and the efficient production from much criticized QB Tarvaris Jackson. They probably need to win two more games to be guaranteed a playoff spot, and it certainly is doable with this remaining schedule. These are all good opponents, but they are all beatable for Minnesota. Even if they go 1-2 they have a shot at getting there, but I really feel an 8-8 record will not be enough for the NFC wildcard spot this year.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 60%

Still hoping: New Orleans Saints (6-7). Remaining games: Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, at Chicago Bears

They’ll make the playoffs if . .  . They go 3-0 and Minnesota stumble badly. Looking at the schedule they are capable of going 3-0 in their remaining games. They have two at home before traveling to Soldier Field for probably the toughest of the three games. The Saints are not out of the division title race either, but they would need Tampa to lose against the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the San Francisco 49ers, and that scenario is even more unlikely than Minnesota going 1-2 in the next three weeks.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 30%

Outsiders: Detroit Lions (6-7). Remaining games: at San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers.

They’ll make the playoffs if . . . they catch a bunch of lucky breaks. Detroit have a tough remaining schedule, starting with the Chargers game this weekend. QB Jon Kitna predicted 10 wins for this season the absolute best that they can hope for (nine) might not be enough to get to the play-offs if Minnesota wins all three of its remaining games and the Giants win one more. This all does not matter, however, as they are facing a fired-up San Diego aiming to clinch its division. If Detroit does win this weekend, the remaining two games are highly winnable, as I believe Green Bay will be resting starters in the last week after having secured the second spot in the NFC.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 20%

No hopers 1: Washington Redskins (6-7). Remaining games: at New York, at Minnesota, Dallas

They’ll make the playoffs if . . . they win, win, win. The Skins have the privilege of traveling to both top rivals for the wildcard spots. A win in those games counts double as they also force a setback on a top rival. Washington will definitely be a national darling due to the Sean Taylor tragedy, and it would be a great story if they did  manage to get to the playoffs. I just do not think this team is good enough to win all three remaining games.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 10%


No hopers 2: Arizona Cardinals (6-7). Remaining games: at New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Louis Rams

They’ll make the playoffs if . . . they win three in a row and see the Giants and Vikings fall. Two tough games sandwich the probable win against Atlanta. This weekend’s match-up in New Orleans will dash one team's hopes for a playoff spot. St. Louis is probably the toughest draw for a week 16 game, as they will be fired up to at least end an injury-ravaged, disappointing season with a victory.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 10%

AFC:
In the driving seat: Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4). Remaining games: at Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, at Houston Texans

They’ll make the playoffs if ... they win two out of three. That would seal it for good. One win might be enough, but that would be playing with fire, as both Tennessee and Buffalo are capable of getting to 10 wins. Jacksonville, at 9-4, is not as sure a pick as New York is in the NFC at the same record, and that speaks volumes about the strength of the conference.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 80%

Favorite to get there: Cleveland Browns (8-5). Remaining Games: Buffalo Bills, at Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers

They’ll make the playoffs if ... they go 3-0. That is the surefire way to get there for them. Cleveland is still in contention for the division title and 3-0 is the only way they have a true shot at it. In all fairness, 2-1 should be enough for a wildcard berth, but as with Jacksonville, a 10-win season might mean it comes down to tie-breakers. At 8-5 they have about as nice a shot of getting there in the AFC as the 7-6 Vikings have in the NFC.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 60% 

Still hoping: Buffalo Bills (7-6). Remaining games: at Cleveland, New York Giants, at Philadelphia

They’ll make the playoffs if ... they go 3-0 and Cleveland and/or Jacksonville stumble down the line. The Bills finally have a QB who gives them a chance to win. I loved JP Losman’s talent, but obviously he is way too turnover prone. Trent Edwards is making fewer mistakes, the D is starting to show signs of life, and the Bills actually look like they might have a case for a playoff berth. Too bad that previous woes of this season have them in a rut too deep to realistically climb out of. They need the help of either the Browns or the Jags to get there.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 20%

No hopers 3: Tennessee Titans (7-6). Remaining games: at Kansas City, New York Jets, at Indianapolis Colts

They’ll make the playoffs if ... same as Buffalo. They need to win two away from home and one at home against good opponents, and that might not even be enough. Whilst Buffalo has been looking like a possible playoff team lately, Tennessee has looked awful at times. Their defense was dreadful until the return of Albert Haynesworth (and he is questionable again), Vince Young has given a new meaning to the Madden curse. The young QB is actually statistically one of the worst starters at his position. If they make the post-season it will be a huge miracle.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 15% (mathematically, but personally I’d give them 5%)

No hopers 4: Houston Texans (6-7). Remaining games: Denver Broncos, at Indianapolis, Jacksonville

They’ll make the playoffs if ... they win three and everyone above them loses. They really only have a slim chance of making the post-season, but the fact that we can still include the Texans in playoff talk this late into the season shows you just how far this franchise has come in one season. Their meeting with the Broncos this weekend determines who lives to dream another day, as the loser will be out of the playoff hunt for sure. The game will be played in Texas, so we might just have another week of playoff chatter in Houston.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 5%

No hopers 5:  Denver Broncos (6-7). Remaining games: at Houston, at San Diego, Minnesota

They’ll make the playoffs if ... same as Houston. Although they do have the extra opportunity to win their division if they win three and San Diego loses three. Denver’s been an up and down team all season and I expect the same in the next three weeks. They were brilliant against Kansas City this past weekend, but just before that they were awful in a loss to Oakland. Jay Cutler is going to be a very good QB, and the Broncos seem to have the pieces – it just does not fit all together.

Likelihood of making the playoffs: 5%