:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71812497/1452245347.0.jpg "NFL playoff picture: How Commanders can clinch a playoff berth in Week 17")
The Washington Commanders host the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, and things could finish really well or really poorly for the Commanders by the close of the weekend. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET and the Commanders are a 2.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook.
How Commanders can clinch a playoff berth
Washington needs quite a few things to break right if they're going to clinch a wild card berth in Week 17. They need to beat the Browns before anything else matters. Then, they need the Lions to lose to the Bears, the Seahawks to lose to the Jets, and the Packers to lose or tie the Vikings.
The Lions are 5.5-point home favorites against the Bears. The Seahawks are 2.5-point home underdogs to the Jets. The Packers are a field goal home favorite against the Vikings.
How Commanders can be eliminated from playoff contention
It is a wild week for Washington as they also could find themselves eliminated from playoff contention. The last time a team had both clinching and elimination scenarios in the same week before the final week of the regular season was the 2016 Bucs.
The Commanders would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and then wins by the Lions and Packers. It's a little easier to be eliminated if they lose than it is to clinch the playoff berth this week with a win.