Two teams very familiar with the NFL playoffs can lock up spots in the 2024-25 edition in the sixth-last week of the season.
The Buffalo Bills can clinch their fifth AFC East title in a row this week, while the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs can secure a playoff spot for the 10th year in a row.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions have a very slim chance of booking a playoff spot this week.
Here's a look at the clinching scenarios.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo (9-2) will lock up a division crown and a top-four seed in the AFC playoffs if the Green Bay Packers beat the visiting Miami Dolphins on Thursday night and the Bills beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in what could be a very snowy Orchard Park, N.Y.
Kansas City Chiefs
A Dolphins loss also would give the Chiefs a chance to get a post-season ticket with a win or tie against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday.
The Chiefs also can qualify with their own win and a Denver Broncos loss on Monday against the Cleveland Browns.
Two other paths to the playoffs exist this week.
• A Chiefs win, a Los Angeles Chargers road loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and a Denver tie.
• A Chiefs tie and Miami loss.
Detroit Lions
The NFL lists six long-shot methods for the Lions to clinch this week. Detroit hosts the Chicago Bears in its annual U.S. Thanksgiving game on Thursday.
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona Cardinals loss or tie to the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks loss to the New York Jets, and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss or tie to the Carolina Panthers.
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona loss, Seattle tie, and Tampa loss or tie.
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona loss or tie, Seattle loss, Washington Commanders loss or tie to the Tennessee Titans, and Arizona loss
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona loss or tie, Seattle loss, Washington loss, and Atlanta tie.
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona loss, Seattle tie, Washington loss or tie, and Atlanta loss.
• Detroit win, San Francisco loss or tie, Arizona loss, Seattle tie, Washington loss, and Atlanta tie.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Division leaders
Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
Buffalo Bills (9-2)
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
Houston Texans (7-5)
Wild card
Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
Denver Broncos (7-5)
In the hunt
Miami Dolphins (5-6)
Indianapolis Colts (5-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Division leaders
Detroit Lions (10-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
Wild card
Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
Green Bay Packers (8-3)
Washington Commanders (7-5)
In the hunt
Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
New Orleans Saints (4-7)
Chicago Bears (4-7)
Dallas Cowboys (4-7)
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