With the playoff picture close to complete, the NFL regular season often ends with a thud instead of a bang. This isn't going to be one of those years.
Nearly half of the league (15 teams) have locked down a playoff spot or are still eligible. Three first-round byes, two divisions and one wild-card spot will be determined in the final week. For invested fans and casuals alike, there should be plenty of excitement in Week 17.
The playoff picture could look drastically different depending on how games unfold. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, could finish as the No.