Who’s in Line for Playoffs? Hard to Tell : NFL: Three teams are definite, but beyond that, you need a computer.

Only in the NFL:

Eighteen teams of the 28 teams entered the weekend’s games with a chance to make the playoffs and only one was eliminated--the Washington Redskins. And they WON.

Only in the NFL:

Five teams needed only to win to clinch a playoff spot, but only one did--the New York Giants on Saturday. Minnesota, Houston, Buffalo and the Raiders all had their shots and lost.

Only in the NFL:

Not only did the Redskins lose by winning, but they still could tie for a wild-card berth with a 10-6 record and LOSE--to either Green Bay or the Rams on tiebreakers.

Only in the NFL:

If Kansas City and Cleveland tie for a wild-card, an unlikely probability, the Chiefs would get it because their record in conference play would be seven-thousandths of a percentage point better.

Only in the NFL:

The Seattle Seahawks remain alive despite a 7-8 record. Making the playoffs? No problem. Six other teams have to lose, and they have to beat Washington on Saturday.

So entering the final week of the season, only three teams--San Francisco, Denver and the Giants--are definitely in the playoffs and Philadelphia was on the verge going into tonight’s game at New Orleans.

Six more--Buffalo, Indianapolis, Houston, Cleveland, Minnesota and the Rams--need only to win to make it. In other words, in the jargon of the moment, they “control their own destiny.”

In any case, there are about 150 combinations in the AFC alone.

“Unbelievable,” said Peter Abitante, the AFC’s director of information who must figure it all out. “In the seven years I’ve been doing this, there’s never been anything like it.”

San Francisco’s 12-2 record has clinched the NFC West and the home field advantage for the NFC playoffs. Ditto in the AFC for Denver (11-4).

The Giants (11-4) have at least a wild card and can win the NFC East by beating the Raiders at home Sunday if Philadelphia loses one of its last two games.

The Rams (10-5) need only to beat the Patriots at Foxboro to clinch a wild-card berth.

The Raiders, who could have clinched by beating Seattle on Sunday night (they lost 23-17) have a tougher road because they play an NFC team, so they can’t improve their 6-6 conference record. They must beat the Giants and hope Indianapolis loses and Houston wins.