Very Un-Goodell-esque NFL storyline setup right now...

The number of relevant Week 17 games appears to be shockingly low.

The six AFC playoff teams have all been determined, and the two teams with byes are also determined.

The AFC championship will be contested between:

• New England:  #1 with a win or tie or an Oakland loss or tie.  #2 if they lose and Oakland wins.
• Oakland:  #2 if New England is #1 with a NE win.  #1 if New England is #2.  #5 if they lose and Kansas City wins.
• Pittsburgh:  #3.  Clinched.  Even a loss and a Houston win and Pittsburgh wins the tiebreak.
• Houston:  #4.
• Kansas City:  #5 if they beat or tie San Diego or New England beats or ties Miami.  #2 if they win and Oakland loses
• Miami:  #5 if they beat New England and San Diego beats Kansas City.  #6 otherwise.

So that means the number of relevant AFC games is THREE:

New England-Miami for the #1 seed and Miami's wild-card position.
Oakland-Denver and Kansas City-San Diego:  For the AFC West, to begin with, and there's still wildcard position for KC even if Oakland beats Denver.

NFC is slightly more complicated:

• Dallas has clinched and the #1 seed after the Giants' loss Thursday.  Even though they play Monday night, it doesn't matter.
• Atlanta is the current #2 and has clinched the NFC South. A win over New Orleans at home gets them the #2.  Depending on Detroit Monday, a loss may make them the #3 regardless of who ends up the #2, but a Dallas win Monday means a loss only makes them the #3 if Seattle wins.
• Seattle is the current #3 and has clinched the NFC West.  They need a Detroit loss Monday and then a Detroit win over Green Bay, an Atlanta loss to New Orleans, and a win over San Francisco to get the #2.  A loss probably puts them the #4.
• Detroit currently leads the NFC North, but plays tonight against Dallas.  A loss there and one in the Sunday nighter against Green Bay eliminates them.  Two wins, and they need an Atlanta loss or tie to get the #2.
• The New York Giants are in the playoffs, and have clinched the #5.
• Green Bay is the current #6, but wins the NFC North with a win in Detroit in the Sunday nighter.  A loss and a Washington tie or win eliminates them.
• Washington must win and have Detroit lose tonight, or Detroit win out for the #6.
• Tampa Bay needs a win and a lot of help.

Atlanta-New Orleans:  Positioning
Seattle-San Francisco:  Positioning
Detroit-Green Bay:  Winner Take All (or at least most)
Washington-Giants:  Washington must win to have a shot.  The game must end in a tie for Tampa Bay to have one.

So, for all intent and purpose, the number of relevant games in the NFC is FOUR, making SEVEN relevant Week 17 games.  Not your typical Roger Goodell NFL year.

Mike