NFL Playoff Picture: Patriots Should Have Close Eye On Monday Night Game

The New England Patriots don’t play Monday night, but they should have a lot of interest in the prime-time matchup.

The Patriots won Sunday to run their record to 12-3. If the Denver Broncos lose Monday night to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Patriots will clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

The Patriots, who clinched at least a first-round bye with Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, saw last season just how important home-field advantage can be when they lost at Denver in the AFC Championship.

Elsewhere, the Seattle Seahawks have put themselves in position to get the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Seattle stomped out the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night to wrestle the top seed from the Cardinals. The Seahawks can clinch the No. 1 seed next week with a win.

Here are what the playoff matchups look like entering Monday night’s game.

AFC

First-round byes
1. New England Patriots (12-3)
2. Denver Broncos (11-3)

Wild-card round matchups
No.6 San Diego Chargers (9-6) at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1)
No.5 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) at No. 4 Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

Notes: Baltimore, Houston and Kansas City are still technically alive entering Week 17.

NFC

First-round byes
1. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
2. Detroit Lions (11-4)

Wild-card round matchups
No. 6 Arizona Cardinals (11-4) at No. 3 Dallas Cowboys (11-4)
No. 5 Green Bay Packers (11-4) at No. 4 Carolina Panthers (6-8-1)

Notes: Two divisions are on the line in Week 17. Green Bay hosts Detroit with the NFC North title and a first-round bye on the line while Carolina and Atlanta are playing for the NFC South title.

Playoff scenarios via NFL.com
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images