NFL Playoff Picture Will Get Clearer After Today

Of the record 17 teams that enter the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to make the NFL playoffs, four will play today:

--The AFC Central Division title will be on the line when the Houston Oilers (9-6) meet the Cleveland Browns (8-6-1) tonight in the Astrodome.

--The Buffalo Bills (8-7), tied for the division lead with the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts, can win the AFC East with a victory over the New York Jets (4-11) at East Rutherford, N.J.

--The Seattle Seahawks (7-8), the longest of long shots to reach the playoffs, can at least keep their hopes alive by beating the Washington Redskins (9-6) at Seattle.

How complicated are the playoff possibilities?

Consider the Seahawks, whose fate might not be determined until late Monday night, when the Cincinnati Bengals play the Minnesota Vikings at Minneapolis.

Even if they win today, the Seahawks won’t make the playoffs unless the Bills, the Raiders, the Bengals, the Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs lose.

Several variables also could determine the fates of the other three playoff hopefuls that will wind up regular-season play today:

--If the Oilers lose tonight, they would still earn a wild-card berth if the Bengals also lose because Houston swept the Steelers, the Raiders and the Dolphins.

--If the Browns lose tonight, they would earn a wild-card berth if the Chiefs (7-7-1) lose Sunday at Miami and only one other wild-card contender ends up with a 9-7 record. Six AFC teams--the Bills, Dolphins, Colts, Bengals, Steelers and Raiders--enter the weekend with 8-7 records.

--If the Bills, losers of their last three games, are upset today by the Jets, they could still win the division championship if the Colts and Dolphins lose Sunday.

But if the Bills lose today and the Dolphins win Sunday, the Bills would need as much help as the Seahawks. They would earn a wild-card berth only if the Colts, Chiefs, Bengals, Steelers, Raiders and Seahawks all lose their games.