The final week of the NFL season is a time for playoff contenders to rest their starters while bottom-dwellers try bizarre and exotic strategies in their chase for an extra loss and a better draft pick. Other squads will be in pursuit of a better seed and some are just hoping to make it to the playoffs

The NFL playoff picture remains in almost complete disarray as the last weekend of games get under way. Most of the seeds are in the air as a wide range of scenarios sit before us. More than half of the teams in the NFL still have a chance to make the playoffs. In a season marred by off-field controversy, a rash of injuries, and widespread mediocrity, somehow the NFL has managed to cook up the perfect final week.

In the AFC, Denver earns the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory over the Raiders. Meanwhile, New England can jump the Broncos for the top spot if they win and Denver loses and can also fall into the wildcard round with a loss and a Cincinnati win. This means the Bengals also still have maneuvering to do as they hope for for the chance of a vital first round bye. Even the Colts have a chance at a bye if both Cinci and New England fall. And those are the relatively secure teams.

The race for the final AFC playoff spot is more complicated than the rules of parliamentary procedure. The Ravens make the playoffs with a win if Miami or San Diego lose or with a loss if Miami, San Diego and Pittsburg all lose. Miami gets in if they win and Baltimore loses or if they win and San Diego wins. San Diego clinches the final spot with a victory if Baltimore and Miami both lose and Pittsburgh, who started the season 0-4 and looked likely to completely tank, can actually sneak into the postseason if they win and Miami, Baltimore, and San Diego all lose.

Got it?

On the NFC side, things don't get much simpler. Seattle gets the top seed if they win or the 49ers lose. Carolina can also clinch the top seed if they win, Seattle loses, and San Francisco wins, but if the Panthers lose and New Orleans wins, Carolina loses their bye to the Saints. On the other hand, San Francisco can get the top seed with a victory and losses by Seattle and Carolina, but unless Seattle loses the 49ers win, SF is playing in one of the wildcard games. Meanwhile the 10-5 Cardinals only even make it to the playoffs if they win and the Saints lose, which would mean 11-5 Arizona would fail to make the playoffs while the winners of the NFC East and NFC North will both have worse records. For the last two playoff spots, the Bears and Packers square off in an elimination game for the North title and the Eagles and Cowboys do the same in the East.

All in all, it's the most convoluted, sloppy, unfair, and unbeatable day of football imaginable. And you should already be watching.

Full playoff scenarios are laid out at ESPN.