NFL playoff scenarios for Week 17: How Giants can clinch

The New York Giants have a clear path to the playoffs and several not-so-clear paths to the playoffs. Here’s how they can clinch in Week 17.

The New York Giants (8-6-1) may have lost this past weekend to the Minnesota Vikings but their playoff hopes are very much alive.

The Giants will enter Week 17 as the 6th seed in the NFC and can clinch a postseason birth as a wild card with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

They cannot win the NFC East title nor can they qualify for the fifth overall seed. They will either be the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC.

Here’s a quick rundown of ways the Giants can clinch a playoff spot this weekend.

They can cut out all the scoreboard watching if they win Sunday at home against Indianapolis but can back in if several other teams lose.

Full list of clinching scenarios:

  • Giants win or
  • Giants tie + Seattle loss or tie + Washington loss or tie or
  • Giants tie + Seattle loss or tie + Detroit loss or tie or
  • Giants tie + Washington loss or tie + Detroit loss or tie + Green Bay loss or tie or
  • Seattle loss + Washington loss or
  • Seattle loss + Detroit loss + Green Bay loss or tie or
  • Washington loss + Detroit loss + Green Bay loss

The worst-case scenario? There are a few. Of course, they all entail the Giants losing the next two weeks and two (or more) of the four remaining qualifiers winning their final two games.

In case you’re asking, the Giants do not play any of those four teams head-to-head. The only head-to-head matchup is Detroit-Green Bay in Week 18.

Just win, baby.

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