NFL play-offs: Which teams are bidding for Super Bowl LI glory?

Image: 12 teams have made the play-offs and now turn their attention to the NFL's biggest prize

The NFL regular season is wrapped up and all 12 play-off teams are confirmed - fans can now plot their team's route to Super Bowl glory.

The New England Patriots needed week 17 to clinch home advantage in the AFC, and they managed to avoid a repeat of last year, with a 35-14 win over the Miami Dolphins. 

In the NFC, Green Bay and Detroit took the last two spots, courtesy of the Washington Redskins' loss at home to New York.

NFC

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3)

How they got there: After losing quarterback Tony Romo in pre-season, the Cowboys found a gem in fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott.

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Playing behind a fantastic offensive line, rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott took the league by storm, scoring 16 touchdowns and totalling almost 1,900 yards, as Dallas clinched home advantage throughout the play-offs.

Who's next? As the No 1 seed, Jason Garrett's team will enjoy a bye-week before taking on the lowest-winning seed from the NFC's Wild Card round.

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Image: Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have led the Cowboys to play-off home advantage

2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

How they got there: Quarterback Matt Ryan produced the best season of his career, drawing him into the race for this season's Most Valuable Player.

Julio Jones put up 300 yards against the Carolina Panthers, while running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman became one of the best rushing tandems in the NFL.

Who's next? While the Cowboys will get the lower seeded Wild Card winner, Atlanta will host the other victor in the divisonal round.

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3. Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1)

How the got there: It has been a funny season for Seattle, who have looked utterly dominant one minute before laying down in the next.

Injuries have played their part for the Seahawks, who had Russell Wilson playing through an ankle injury to start the season, before losing Earl Thomas and Tyler Lockett, both to broken legs.

Who's next? After scraping by San Francisco in week 17, Seattle held on to the third seed, and will now play the Detroit Lions in the second of our two live NFC contests on January 7. 

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson hands the ball off and then receives the ball for a TD! Video from NFL.com

4. Green Bay Packers (10-6)

How they got there: A four-game, mid-season slump saw Green Bay's play-off hopes fade but, led by a resurgent Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver tandem of Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams, the Packers fought their way back into the mix before securing the NFC North in week 17.

Who's next? After beating the Detroit Lions 31-24 to preserve a six-game winning streak, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will host the New York Giants for a place in the divisional round.

5. New York Giants (11-5)

How they got there: In his first year as Giants head coach, Ben McAdoo has managed to compensate for a sub-par Eli Manning with a dominant defence and a superstar wide receiver.

New York invested big in their defensive unit, and it has paid off down the stretch as they have become one of the most dominant units in the league. Odell Beckham Jr has continued to impress, with 10 touchdowns in his last 12 games, breaking 30 NFL records in the process.

Who's next? The Giants defence will face an in-form Rodgers and the Packers offence. No team has scored more than 20 points against New York since week 10, while Green Bay haven't scored less than 20 since week six's loss to the Cowboys. Something's gotta give.

Image: Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made two interceptions in the Giants week 17 victory over Washington

6. Detroit Lions (9-7)

How they got there: The wait for a division title goes on, but the Lions returned to the play-offs, thanks to a series of fourth-quarter comebacks led by quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, three losses to close out the season saw Detroit drop from second seed down to sixth.

Who's next: A trip to Seattle awaits for the Lions, who haven't made it past the Wild Card round since 1991. 

AFC

1. New England Patriots (14-2)

How they got there: Despite Tom Brady's four-game suspension following the 'deflategate' ruling, New England started the season 3-1 after cameo appearances from Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett. Brady came back and has played like an MVP, throwing 28 touchdowns and leading his team to an eighth consecutive AFC East division title.

Who next? Just like the Cowboys, New England's stellar season guarantees them homefield advantage and a weekend off, before a match-up with the lowest ranked Wild Card winner.

Image: Tom Brady has been on a mission since returning from suspension

2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

How they got there: The Chiefs have gone about their business, largely under the radar. Fifth round rookie Tyreek Hill has been in scintillating form, having scored 12 touchdowns as both a receiver and punt returner. The defence was boosted by the return of Justin Houston, but the linebacker may miss the play-offs after swelling in his surgically repaired knee.

Who next? The Chiefs secured a bye week with a 37-27 win over the San Diego Chargers, and must wait to find out their divisional round opponent.

Image: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been a dynamic play-maker for the Kansas City Chiefs

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

How they got there: Since his arrival in the league, running back Le'Veon Bell has been a mercurial talent both as a runner and receiver. However, after a four-game losing streak, the Steelers trailed Baltimore in a two-horse race for the AFC North.

It took a seven-game winning run, led by QB Ben Roethlisberger, to get Pittsburgh back on track and into the play-offs. 

Who's next? The Steelers will take on the Dolphins at 6pm on Sunday January 8. These two met in week six, where Jay Ajayi ran for 204 yards and Miami came out on top. Head coach Mike Tomlin will be out to prove his Steelers team can put up a much better fight in January.

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4. Houston Texans (9-7)

How they got there: Carried on the strength of their defence, Houston have taken advantage of slip-ups from division rivals to win the AFC South.

High-profile signing Brock Osweiler has struggled after leaving Denver, and was benched in week 16. He returned the following week after Tom Savage suffered a concussion, and will be determined to show fans that he is Houston's QB of the future.

Who's next? It will be the Oakland Raiders travelling to NRG Stadium, after they dropped from second seed down to fifth. It is a perfect match-up for the defensively strong Texans, lining up against an Oakland side with deep concerns at the quarterback position.

5. Oakland Raiders (12-4)

How they got there: After several years of rebuilding, Oakland found a winning formula led by MVP Derek Carr and a gutsy head coach in Jack del Rio.

Khalil Mack became a play-maker as the Raiders learned to win through defence, but disaster struck on Christmas Eve, when Carr broke his leg, ruling him out of the Raiders' first post-season since 2002.

Who's next? A week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos saw back-up QB Matt McGloin also leave the game, and it could be rookie Conor Cook who is under centre for the Raiders' Wild Card match up in Houston.

Listen as Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr is mic'd up against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 of the 2016 NFL season.

6. Miami Dolphins (10-6)

How they got there: After a tough start, which saw them enter October 1-3, the Dolphins won nine of their final 11 games, unearthing a star in running back Ajayi.

The second year had three 200+ yard games this season to become rookie head coach Adam Gase's go-to weapon.

Who's next? Since Ryan Tannehill's knee injury in week 14, Matt Moore has deputised at quarterback and looks set to lead the Dolphins in their first play-off appearance since 2008. A trip to Pittsburgh awaits, for a place in the divisional rounds.

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