NFL playoff picture: Final AFC, NFC seeds, matchups, schedule and bracket

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Week 17 of the 2019 NFL season was full of wild games that had a profound impact on the playoff races in both conferences.

The most shocking result Sunday was the New England Patriots losing to the Miami Dolphins at home, and thus not securing a playoff bye for the first time in a decade. The late afternoon games also provided plenty of drama, highlighted the Philadelphia Eagles clinching the NFC East title after a competitive game against the rival New York Giants.

And the night game featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers came down to the very last play, but ultimately saw the 49ers claim the NFC West.

Here's a look at the final AFC and NFC playoff pictures based on the outcome of the Week 17 games.

AFC
1. Baltimore Ravens, 14-2, AFC North winner: Bye week

The Ravens locked up the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a Week 16 win, so they rested many of their starters, including QB Lamar Jackson, in Sunday's Week 17 victory versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4, AFC West winner): Bye week 
The Chiefs needed a miracle to move up to the No. 2 seed and they got one. The Dolphins beat the Patriots 27-24 for their first win in New England since 2008, and that result combined with the Chiefs' Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers vaulted KC above the defending Super Bowl champs. The Chiefs and Patriots both finished with 12-4 records, but Kansas City owned the head-to-head tiebreaker from its Week 14 win at Gillette Stadium.

3. New England Patriots (12-4, AFC East winner) vs. 6. Tennessee Titans (9-7, second wild card). Saturday, 8:15 p.m.
The Patriots suffered one of their worst losses of the decade Sunday and it proved very costly. The defeat means the Patriots will play on Wild Card Weekend for the first time since 2009, ending a streak of 10 straight seasons earning a playoff bye.

New England will host the Tennessee Titans next weekend. The Titans clinched the second wild card spot by beating the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Patriots lost to the Titans 34-10 in Tennessee last season, but they have yet to play the AFC South team with Ryan Tannehill starting at quarterback. The only playoff meeting between these teams was a Patriots win in the Divisional Round in 2018.

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4. Houston Texans (10-6, AFC South winner) vs. 5. Buffalo Bills (10-6, first wild card). Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
The Texans will host a Wild Card game for the fourth time in the last five years. Houston has emerged victorious in only one of its previous three Wild Card games, and this season's matchup is no walk in the park. The Buffalo Bills have one of the league's best defenses and a run game that ranked fifth in rushing yards. Buffalo also went 6-2 on the road during the regular season. The Bills, however, have not reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs since 1995, and starting quarterback Josh Allen has zero postseason experience.

NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers, 13-3, NFC West leader: Bye week
The 49ers were barely able to hang on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night to claim the NFC West title. By virtue of the 26-21 win, the 49ers will be the NFC's No. 1 seed and will have homefield advantage as long as they're in the playoffs.

2.  Green Bay Packers, 13-3, NFC North winner: Bye week
The Packers were trailing the Detroit Lions 17-3 at one point Sunday, but Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers led a second-half comeback and pulled out a 23-20 win. It was a huge victory for the Packers because it clinched a first-round bye. A loss to the Lions would have given the Saints a playoff bye.

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3, NFC South winner) vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings (10-6, second wild card). Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
The Saints are the No. 3 seed and will host the Vikings on Wild Card Weekend in a rematch of the memorable 2017 Divisional Round matchup where New Orleans lost in heartbreaking fashion

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7, NFC East winner) vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks, 11-5, (first wild card). Sunday, 4:40 p.m.
The Eagles clinched the NFC East title by beating the Giants, thus eliminating the Dallas Cowboys from playoff contention. The Seahawks came up inches short of beating the 49ers and would've been the No. 3 seed had Jacob Hollister been able to reach the end zone. Instead, they'll travel to Philadelphia wondering what could have been if they hadn't been whistled for a delay of game on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the final drive of the game.

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