Saints clinch playoff berth

Published: December 28th, 2010 | Tags: New Orleans Saints,

The defending NFL champions will get a chance to defend their title.

By virtue of their 17-14 win Monday night in Atlanta, the Saints clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs.

The battle for home-field advantage in the NFC playoff picture still remains undecided. The Falcons control their destiny and can clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC with a win Sunday against Carolina (2-13). But the Saints also have an outside shot at the No. 1 seed, needing to beat the Buccaneers (9-6) along with a Falcons loss.

The Eagles and Bears are also still alive to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

As for the rest of the NFC playoff picture, only one wild-card slot remains. The Packers control their playoff destiny and would clinch with a win over the Bears in Week 17. The Packers also could get in with a loss and losses by the Giants and Buccaneers.

The win by the Saints seriously damaged the playoff hopes of the Giants and Buccaneers, who can clinch only with a win and a loss by the other team, as well as the Packers.

Here’s a look at the clinching scenarios for Week 17.

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Chiefs clinch AFC West

Published: December 26th, 2010 | Tags: Chiefs, 2010 NFL playoff picture, NFL playoffs

The Kansas City Chiefs are your 2010 AFC West Champions.

The Chiefs entered Week 16 needing a win and a loss by the Chargers to capture the division crown, and both came through. The Chiefs dismantled the Titans earlier in the day, and the Chargers have lost to the Bengals.

While the AFC seeding has yet to be determined, the Chiefs will open the playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium. It could come as the No. 3 seed, hosting either the Jets or the second wild card between the Ravens/Steelers. Looking at the current playoff picture, the Chiefs would host the Jets, the AFC’s No. 6 seed.

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Jets clinch playoff berth with loss by Jaguars

Published: December 26th, 2010 | Tags: New York Jets, 2010 NFL playoff picture, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL playoffs

The Jets didn’t take care of business in Chicago on Sunday, but still exit Week 16 with a ticket to the playoffs.

Thanks to the Redskins’ overtime win over the Jaguars, the Jets (10-5) secured a playoff berth and a wild-card slot in the AFC playoffs. The Jets entered the weekend needing a win, or a loss by either the Jaguars or Colts.

So the AFC wild-card slots are filled with the Ravens and Jets, who entered the weekend as the No. 6 seed. The Jaguars and Chargers are still in the playoff hunt, however, as neither have been eliminated from winning their respective divisions.

Here’s a look at all of the clinching scenarios in Week 16, and the current playoff picture will be updated here following today’s games.

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Ravens clinch playoff spot

Published: December 26th, 2010 | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, NFL playoffs, 2010 NFL playoff picture

The Ravens are the third team to punch a ticket to the AFC playoffs.

It’s the third-straight playoff appearance for the Ravens, who defeated the Browns 20-10 on Sunday.

The Ravens entered Week 16 as the No. 5 seed in the current playoff picture and will face the Bengals (3-11) in Week 17, while the Steelers (11-4) are on the road against the Browns (5-10).  The Steelers control their playoff destiny, and will win the AFC North if the teams finish tied due to a better division record.

The Ravens do hold the head-to-head tie-breaker with the Jets, who entered the week as the No. 6 seed.

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