Week 15 playoff-clinching scenarios

With only one team (New England) having clinched a playoff spot thus far and 22 teams still alive, there’s a lot that can happen this weekend that will affect the postseason seedings. Here’s a breakdown:

CLINCHED: None
ELIMINATED: Carolina, Detroit, Washington, Dallas, Minnesota.

ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta clinches a playoff spot:

1) ATL win or tie
2) NYG loss or tie
3) CHI loss or tie
4) GB loss or tie

CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago clinches NFC North division:

1) CHI win + GB loss

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New Orleans clinches a playoff spot:

1) NO win + TB loss or tie + NYG loss or tie
2) NO win + TB loss or tie + CHI loss or tie
3) NO win + TB loss or tie + GB loss or tie
4) NO tie + TB loss + GB loss
5) NO tie + TB loss + NYG loss + CHI loss

NEW YORK GIANTS
NY Giants clinch a playoff spot:

1) NYG win + CHI loss + GB loss + TB loss + NYG clinch strength of victory
tiebreaker over Tampa Bay

CLINCHED: New England – playoff spot.
ELIMINATED: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Cleveland.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England clinches AFC East division and a first-round bye:

1) NE win + NYJ loss or tie
2) NE tie + NYJ loss

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division:

1) PIT win + BAL loss + PIT clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over BAL
Pittsburgh clinches a first-round bye:
1) PIT win + BAL loss + PIT clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over
BAL and JAC
2) PIT win + BAL loss + JAC loss or tie + PIT clinches strength of victory
tiebreaker over BAL

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot:
1) PIT win or tie
2) IND loss or tie + SD loss or tie
3) IND loss or tie + KC loss
There are other scenarios in which Pittsburgh may clinch a playoff spot if
it clinches the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jacksonville clinches AFC South division:

1) JAC win

NEW YORK JETS
NY Jets clinch a playoff spot:

1) NYJ win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie + KC loss
2) NYJ win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie + SD loss or tie
3) NYJ tie + MIA loss + IND loss or tie + SD loss
There are other scenarios in which New York may clinch a playoff spot if
it clinches the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot:

1) BAL win + IND loss or tie + SD loss or tie
2) BAL win + IND loss or tie + MIA loss or tie + KC loss
3) BAL tie + MIA loss or tie + SD loss + IND loss

There are other scenarios in which Baltimore may clinch a playoff spot if
it clinches the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.

For a look at what the postseason schedule would be if the season ended today, check out the playoff picture.

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Week 14 playoff-clinching scenarios

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out which teams can clinch playoff spots this weekend and what needs to be done for that to happen. All you need to do is check out this handy guide.

And, of course, don’t forget to check out NFL.com’s Playoff Picture page, which tells you what would happen if the season ended today.

CLINCHED: None

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New England clinches a playoff spot with:

1) NE win or tie OR

2) MIA loss or tie + JAC loss or tie OR

3) MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie

There are other scenarios in which New England may clinch a playoff spot if they clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.

NEW YORK JETS

New York Jets clinch a playoff spot with:

1) NYJ win + SD loss or tie + JAC loss or tie OR

2) NYJ win + SD loss or tie + IND loss or tie OR

3) NYJ tie + OAK loss or tie + SD loss + IND loss

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) PIT win + JAC loss or tie + NE win or tie + MIA loss or tie OR

2) PIT win + IND loss or tie + NE win or tie + MIA loss or tie OR

3) PIT win + IND loss or tie + NE win or tie + OAK loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR

4) PIT win + IND loss or tie + MIA loss or tie + OAK loss or tie OR

5) PIT tie + MIA loss or tie + OAK loss or tie + SD loss or tie + IND loss

There are other scenarios in which Pittsburgh may clinch a playoff spot if they clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over certain teams this weekend.

CLINCHED: None

ATLANTA FALCONS

Atlanta clinches a playoff spot with:

1) ATL win + NYG loss + PHI loss OR

2) ATL win + NYG loss + GB loss OR

3) ATL win + PHI loss + GB loss OR

4) ATL tie + NYG loss + PHI loss + GB loss + TB loss or tie

There are other scenarios in which Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot if any of the games involving NYG, PHI or GB ends in a tie.

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