This is it, the final week of the season! There are currently 12 eliminated teams, five in the NFC and seven in the AFC. There are also two divisions in each conference (the Easts and the Souths) that are still undecided. Let’s decide who’s in and who wins each division. We’ll start in the National Conference. The Eagles have managed to lose control of their own destiny in the NFC East, and will now need not only to beat the Giants, but also the help of Washington via a win or tie against the Cowboys. The most likely outcome is Dallas with the division title and Philadelphia as the #5 seed. This is what I think will happen. In the South, we still have three teams battling it out. The Buccaneers and the Saints are 8-8, and the Falcons are 7-9. Atlanta and New Orleans play each other, and the loser is out. The winner will need some help, but I don’t think it matters, because all Tampa needs to do is beat Carolina, the worst team in the league. I think they will. There is a small chance that a 9-8 Saints team gets in as a wild card, but I suspect we’ll only see one NFC South representative in the playoffs this year.

As far as the wildcard, two of the three openings have been filled. Either the Eagles or Cowboys get one and the Rams have clinched another. That leaves the Saints, the Falcons (both of whom I’ve already eliminated), the Seahawks, the Packers, and the Vikings. Green Bay was my original pick a couple of weeks ago, but I think they have a tough match-up with Chicago. Justin Fields has been playing very well since returning from injury and is trying to convince the Bears organization to stick with him despite that #1 overall pick in the next draft (from the Panthers). I think his teammates are already convinced, so I think the team will go all out for the win. The Vikings get Detroit, who are pretty well locked into the #3 seed, but I don’t see a Dan Campbell team taking the week off. That leaves us with Seattle, who is facing the Cardinals. Despite that Arizona win against Philly last week, this seems like the easiest opponent of the three teams we’re comparing, I’ll stubbornly stick with my Green Bay pick, but I think Seattle is actually the most likely to sneak in.

Over in the American Conference, the East is very simple. Miami plays Buffalo for the crown. The Dolphins are a game up, but with the Bills having won the first meeting, they would win the tie-breaker and the division. I believe this is exactly what will happen, because Miami keeps losing to good teams, which the Bills are. Fortunately for the Fins, they’re in either way. If they win, they can get the #2 seed, and if they lose, it’s the #5. Even so, Buffalo for the win and the East. In the South, it’s a little more interesting. Three 9-7 records for the top three teams (Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Houston) means an exciting conclusion to the division race. The Colts and Texans play each other, and the winner will need the Jags to lose to the Titans. That seems unlikely, so I’ll give Jax the division and the winner of the Indy/Houston game a chance for the wildcard.

Speaking of which, we have five contenders for three wildcard berths. Well, make that two; Cleveland has one locked up. And I’ve already given another to the Dolphins when Buffalo beats them. So as I see it, it’s just one. I’m going to give the edge to the Colts against the Texans, so that eliminates Houston. That result should put the Fightin’ Horseshoes in, assuming my other predictions hold true. Pittsburgh needs some help and to beat the Ravens. Baltimore doesn’t need anything from this game, so it’s a maybe. But these teams are pretty fierce rivals, so if the starters play, the Ravens will still be tough. But I will stick with Cleveland, Miami, and Indianapolis as the three wildcards in the AFC. Let’s see what happens!