Week 17 http://www.theramslockerroom.com/authentic-todd-gurley-jersey , about half the league is looking to just get things over with and close the doors as they get ready for the offseason and a chance to rebuild; the other half, including the Los Angeles Rams, is looking at finalizing the playoff brackets and getting ready for postseason football.Here’s how things are shaping upAFCLet’s start on the other side of the fence. You’ve got drama throughout the standings starting at the top.Right now, the Kansas City Chiefs hold the #1 overall seed with an 11-4 record...but they might not even win their own division! Their AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers are also 11-4. Since they split their season series, the tiebreaker comes down to divisional records. While the Chiefs have just that one loss to the Chargers as they only blemish on their divisional schedule this year, the Chargers lost to the Denver Broncos in Week 11. So it comes down to Sunday. The Chiefs play the Oakland Raiders. If they win, they’ll lock up the #1 seed. If they lose and the Chargers avenge their earlier loss to the Broncos, QB Philip Rivers and crew will take the top seed. If both the Chiefs and the Chargers lose...Enter everyone’s least favorite team: the New England Patriots. At 10-5, the Pats could still get the top overall seed with a win over the New York Jets if the Chiefs and Chargers both lose. If either win, a win would at least get QB Tom Brady a first-round bye. If all three lose?Yup. The Houston Texans could come into play. If QB Deshaun Watson can lead the Texans to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars combined with losses from KC, LA and New England AND the Texans can outdo KC in what the NFL calls “strength of victory” (the combined win percentage of all the teams a particular team has beaten), then Houston would take the top spot.Whew.So those are your four that are already locked in battling for the top spot and the three of the top four spots as either the Chargers or Chiefs would be the fifth seed with whomever wins the AFC North in that fourth spot. So let’s go there.Right now, it’s the 9-6 Baltimore Ravens on top who take on the Cleveland Browns this weekend. They still have a chance at a first-round bye too, but would need losses from New England and Houston and then some math to get one. The likelihood with a win is the division crown and the #4 seed. The 8-6-1 Pittsburgh Steelers are on the Ravens’ heels though. If the Ravens lose to the Browns, the Steelers could beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the division.The other playoff spot is going to come down to Sunday Night Football between the 9-6 Indianapolis Colts and 9-6 Tennessee Titans. By the time they kick off, we’ll know the full stakes. But as of right now, it’s set up for the winner to make the playoffs and the loser to miss out though Indianpolis could get in with a tie...but let’s ignore that for now. It’s essentially a playoff play-in.NFCOur conference is much more straightforward.The New Orleans Saints have already locked up the top seed. The #2 and #3 seeds are between the Rams and the Chicago Bears. If we beat the San Francisco 49ers, we’re #2. If Chicago loses to the Minnesota Vikings, we’re #2. If we lose and they win, we’ll be in the #3 spot and playing in the wild card round in a week with RB Todd Gurley having missed the final two weeks of the regular season. So yeah, let’s get this W and get him an extra week of rest.Filling out two spots will be the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks who are both 9-6. The Cowboys are locked in at #4 with the NFC East crown Womens Nickell Robey-Coleman Jersey , but the Seahawks’ situation is still up in the air depending on the 8-6-1 Vikings and the 8-7 Philadelphia Eagles. Seattle would need to beat the Arizona Cardinals to hold on to the #5 seed to play the Cowboys. They could hold it with a loss too, though if they lose and the Vikes beat the Bears the Seahawks will drop to #6. If both the Seahawks and Vikings lose and the Eagles beat the Washington Playoff Not Makers, Philly would improbably make it to the postseason dance.It’s a bit messy, but things will get cleared up from the second slate of games.The only games from the early slate with any impact is Pats-Jets and Texans-Jags. Every game from the late starts has playoff implications right now.So buckle up, and keep an eye on proceedings during the Rams-Niners game. It’s going to be a wild Sunday to finish things out. Wade Phillips returns to Denver this weekend and several Broncos can't wait to hug it out with their former defensive coordinator.Phillips was the Broncos' beloved bandmaster when they were riding firetrucks in a downtown parade and Von Miller was showing off the Super Bowl trophy 2陆 years ago."Coach Phillips is football royalty ," a man for whom "the moments were never too big and the moments were never too small," said Miller, who recalled Phillips depressurizing his defense before Super Bowl 50 by declaring: "All the mistakes are on me and you can just go out there and play.""It just shows you what type of coach that he is," Miller said. "He's dope."Now 71, Phillips is leading a revitalized Rams defense for 32-year-old Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay, who brings a 5-0 team to Denver on Sunday to face the reeling Broncos (2-3).This game was supposed to mark Aqib Talib's return, too. But the star cornerback is sidelined with an ankle injury, which bums out Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr."Definitely. You love having that competition," Harris said. "He's going to talk mess to me if we lose, and if we win, then I'm definitely hollering at him."Harris is certainly embracing Phillips, win or lose."Wade, he just gave you so much confidence in yourself. I'll never forget, I had one bad game, and he's just, 'You're the best. You're going to get it next week. I'm ready for you next week. I've got a big game plan for you to make plays next week Joseph Noteboom Jersey ,'" Harris recounted. "He just knows how to lift you up and brings your potential out of you."The Broncos didn't renew Phillips' contract after the 2016 season and McVay was thrilled to hire him shortly after becoming the youngest head coach in modern NFL history."You're probably going to have a tough time finding anyone that doesn't really like him and enjoy being around Wade," McVay said. "He's got a great way about himself, a great feel for this game, he doesn't take himself too seriously. He's all about making sure that he listens to people, wants to try and put players in great spots."Denver's defenders still talk glowingly about their time with Phillips."He's an old guy, but he acts young," Harris said. "He tries to be hip with everything and he just loves the game. It's not hard to play for a coach that really loves the game, really wants to win."Broncos coach Vance Joseph called Phillips "my football father," a football genius and a great man."He was a killer on Sundays," Joseph said. "He had great timing with his calls and he was going to be aggressive. I'm watching this defense and it's Wade Phillips."Phillips, who began his NFL coaching career as an assistant for his father, Bum, in Houston in 1969, is now doling out praise and pointers with his 10th NFL franchise."Man, Wade's been around since dinosaurs have been here," Broncos linebacker Shane Ray said. "So, I think he's just got that feel."Other subplots as the Broncos aim for their first win over the Rams since 2002:WOODS' WOESPhillips' protege, Joe Woods, hasn't enjoyed nearly the same success since replacing him last season, and the situation is quickly becoming dire.The Broncos, who are 7-14 since Phillips' departure http://www.theramslockerroom.com/authentic-jamon-brown-jersey , have surrendered 958 yards the last two weeks, but Joseph said he won't be taking over the play-calling duties Sunday."Joe's the coordinator," Joseph said. "So, he's calling the plays."CHANGES PROMISEDJoseph said he'd shake things up after Denver's demoralizing 34-16 loss to the Jets, but declined to bench struggling cornerback Bradley Roby, who allowed three long touchdowns and failed to follow proper protocol for calling in sick Monday.One change that might occur is Max Garcia replacing right guard Connor McGovern, but it appears left tackle Garett Bolles' job is safe despite being unable to break his holding habit.Poor protection has contributed to QB Case Keenum rushing his mechanics. He had just five TD passes, has already tied last year's seven interceptions and is on pace for 42 sacks, about double the number he had in Minnesota last season.SNOW SHOWThe Rams are aware of the snow in the forecast for Denver this weekend — "Hopefully it slows them down a little bit," Broncos GM John Elway said — but McVay isn't worried about his warm-weather team's ability to handle it."Out here in Southern California, unless we want to go to an ice rink, I don't think we can mimic and emulate that," McVay said.RICKETY RAMSReceivers Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp both left their last game with head injuries, but are expected to play as the Rams seek their first 6-0 start since 2001.All-Pro kicker Greg Zuerlein has a groin injury, which means Cairo Santos will kick in Denver. Santos made both of his field-goal attempts in Seattle last week, including the winner with 6:05 to play, but also missed an extra point.AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham contributed.Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: ://arniestapleton