As we head into the 2008-09 online NFL betting regular season finale, there's still a very muddled playoff picture in need of completion, which Week 17 will have honors of putting the finishing touches on. But before wagering your hard earned money on Sunday's NFL action, BetPhoenix.com has delightfully broken down the postseason picture as it currently stands, including every team still alive and all possible scenarios that could ultimately be the difference maker to postseason.

Knowing who's playing who, and what's at stake in each game provides gamblers who bet NFL online leverage, because some clubs will be playing for its playoff lives while others attempt to play spoiler and compete for pride only. Starting with the NFC, here's how things stack up in terms of postseason heading into Week 17.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

New York Giants (12-3 SU, 11-4-0 ATS) – Clinched No. 1 seed, NFC East title, first-round bye and home-field advantage through NFC playoffs. With everything wrapped up, the Giants may rest players at Minnesota, who would be grateful but with coach Tom Coughlin we'll never know.

Carolina Panthers (11-4 SU, 8-6-1 ATS) – Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch No. 2 seed, NFC South title and first-round bye with: A) win/tie at New Orleans OR B) Atlanta loss/tie to St. Louis. Panthers will be No. 5 seed with: loss at New Orleans AND Atlanta win over St. Louis. The Saints are eliminated but is always dangerous at home under any circumstance.

Minnesota Vikings (9-6 SU, 6-9-0 ATS) – Can clinch No. 3 seed and NFC North title with: A) win at home vs. Giants, OR B) Chicago loss at Houston, OR C) tie AND Chicago tie. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: tie AND Dallas loss at Philadelphia AND Tampa Bay loss to Oakland.

Arizona Cardinals (8-7 SU, 8-7-0 ATS) – Clinched No. 4 seed and NFC West title. Plays at home vs. lowly Seattle playing for pride. Expect Cardinals' starters to get rest and Kurt Warner to get limited snaps.

Atlanta Falcons (10-5 SU, 9-6-0 ATS) – Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch No. 2 seed, NFC South title and first-round bye with: win at home vs. eliminated St. Louis AND Carolina loss at New Orleans. Can clinch at worst No. 5 seed with: win/tie OR Dallas loss/tie. Otherwise clinch No. 6 seed and open playoffs at Minnesota/Chicago.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6 SU, 8-7-0 ATS) – Currently the No. 6 seed because of better conference record (8-4) than Dallas (7-4) and Chicago (7-5). However, Dallas will win the tiebreaker if teams finish 10-6 because both teams will have 8-4 conference record (eliminating Chicago), and Dallas beat Tampa Bay head to head. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: A) win at home vs. eliminated Oakland AND Dallas loss/tie at Philadelphia, OR B) tie AND Dallas loss AND either Minnesota or Chicago loss, OR C) tie AND Dallas tie AND either Minnesota or Chicago tie AND either Minnesota or Chicago loss. Eliminated with loss OR Dallas win.

Still alive
Dallas Cowboys (9-6 SU, 7-8-0 ATS) – Can clinch No. 5 seed with: win at Philadelphia AND Atlanta loss to St. Louis. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: A) win at Philadelphia (and Atlanta win/tie), OR B) tie AND Tampa Bay loss to Oakland AND either Minnesota loss/tie or Chicago loss/tie, OR C) tie AND Tampa Bay tie AND either Chicago loss at Houston or Minnesota loss to NY Giants. Eliminated with loss.

Chicago Bears (9-6 SU, 6-7-2 ATS) – Can clinch No. 3 seed and NFC North title with:
A) win at eliminated Houston AND Minnesota loss/tie at NY Giants, OR B) tie at Houston AND Minnesota loss at NY Giants. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: A) win AND Tampa Bay loss/tie at Oakland AND Dallas loss/tie at Philadelphia. B) tie AND Tampa Bay loss AND Dallas loss. Eliminated with loss.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1 SU, 9-6-0 ATS) – Can clinch playoff berth with win over Dallas AND Tampa Bay loss to Oakland AND either Minnesota loss to NY Giants or Chicago loss at Houston. Eliminated with loss.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

Tennessee Titans (13-2 SU, 12-3-0 ATS) – Clinched No. 1 seed, AFC South title, first-round bye and home-field advantage through AFC playoffs. If you bet on NFL action, you won't see the NFL's best team ATS starters long at Indy with having everything locked up.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4 SU, 8-7-0 ATS) – Clinched No. 2 seed, AFC North title and first-round bye. Expect the banged up and batter all year Big Ben get plenty of rest at home vs. eliminated Cleveland.

Miami Dolphins (10-5 SU, 7-8-0 ATS) – Can clinch No. 3 seed and AFC East title with: A) win at NY Jets, OR B) tie vs. NY Jets AND New England loss/tie at Buffalo. Can clinch No. 6 seed with tie AND Baltimore loss to Jacksonville (AND New England win). Eliminated with loss.

Denver Broncos (8-7 SU, 4-10-1 ATS) – Can clinch AFC West title, No. 4 seed and first-round playoff game vs. Indianapolis with win or tie at San Diego. Eliminated with loss.

Indianapolis Colts (11-4 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) – Clinched No. 5 seed and first-round playoff game at Denver/San Diego. With nothing to lose or gain at home vs. Tennessee expect starters to be rested.

Baltimore Ravens (10-5 SU, 11-4-0 ATS) – Can clinch playoff berth, No. 6 seed and first-round playoff game at AFC East champion with: A) win at home vs. Jacksonville, OR B) New England loss at Buffalo, OR C) tie AND Miami and/or New England tie.

Still alive

New England Patriots (10-5 SU, 8-7-0 ATS) – Can clinch No. 3 seed and AFC East title with: A) win at Buffalo AND Miami loss/tie at NY Jets, OR B) tie AND Miami loss. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: A) win AND Baltimore loss/tie vs. Jacksonville, OR B) tie AND Baltimore loss.

New York Jets (9-6 SU, 7-8-0 ATS) – Can clinch No. 3 seed and AFC East title with: win at home vs. Miami AND New England loss at Buffalo. Can clinch No. 6 seed with: win AND Baltimore loss to Jacksonville (AND New England win/tie).

San Diego Chargers (7-8 SU, 6-8-1 ATS) – Can clinch AFC West title, No. 4 seed and first-round playoff game vs. Indianapolis with win at home vs. Denver. Eliminated with loss.

There's heavy stakes on the NFL wagering table in Week 17 and the sports betting excitement will be immeasurable. It's been an awesome regular season and the finale has all the makings to top them all. We invite you to join us as the postseason picture becomes complete and look forward to being your playoff hosts. Be sure to visit the
BetPhoenix.com NFL odds, as we wish you the best of luck and happiest of holidays.