The NFL’s playoff picture is slowing getting clearer, with plenty of berths still up for grabs.
The Bills and Titans have a shot at punching their tickets to the playoffs in the AFC where the Chiefs and Steelers are battling for supremacy, while in the NFC all eyes are on the Rams, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Saints… and, interestingly, on this Sunday’s Minnesota-Chicago matchup.
Here’s a breakdown of every clinching scenario this weekend:
AFC
Who’s in?
• The Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) punched their ticket to the playoffs in Week 13, and clinched the division for the fifth straight season with last Sunday’s victory over Miami.
• Despite back-to-back losses, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 11-win start to the season was enough to clinch a playoff spot last weekend despite losing to the Bills in the Sunday nighter.
That leaves three division titles and five spots still up for grabs, with the AFC’s lone first-round bye also yet to be secured — but not for long.
Here’s who can clinch this weekend in the AFC:
Buffalo Bills (10-3)
The Bills came this close to clinching a playoff spot last weekend after defeating the Steelers on Sunday night, but Baltimore’s win on Monday delayed that. They’re now set up for a massive weekend, with a chance to clinch both a playoff spot and the AFC East title. [sidebar]
Buffalo will be playoff-bound and crowned division champs if one of these three scenarios occurs:
• Bills win (vs. Denver), OR
• Dolphins lose (vs. New England), OR
• Bills and Dolphins both tie
Buffalo will clinch a playoff spot if:
• Bills tie (vs. Denver) and Baltimore loses to or ties with Jaguars, OR
• Ravens lose
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
With their playoff ticket punched and another division title in-hand, all that’s left for the Chiefs to do this regular season is secure that first-round bye. They’ll lock that up with a win (vs. Saints) AND a Steelers loss (vs. Bengals) AND a Bills loss or tie (vs. Broncos).
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
After losing to the Bills last Sunday night, the Steelers were helped out by their friendly foes in Baltimore — the Ravens’ victory in Cleveland gave Pittsburgh a little more breathing room as it kept the Browns two wins back.
Now, Pittsburgh can get things back on track and claim the AFC North title with one of the following scenarios:
• Steelers beat the Bengals, OR
• Browns lose to Giants, OR
• Steelers and Browns both tie
Tennessee Titans (9-4)
The AFC South features one of the league’s toughest races, as Indianapolis and Tennessee have matching records atop the division. The Titans’ divisional record gives them the edge, and puts them in the running to clinch a playoff berth this Sunday.
The Titans must defeat Detroit this Sunday if they’re to clinch a playoff spot this weekend. They can clinch with the following:
• Titans win AND Ravens lose (vs. Jaguars), OR
• Titans win AND Raiders lose or tie (vs. Chargers) AND Dolphins lose (vs. Patriots) AND the Browns win or tie (vs. Giants)
• Titans win AND Raiders lose or tie (vs. Chargers) AND Dolphins lose (vs. Patriots) AND the Titans or Browns clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over the Dolphins
NFC
Who’s in?
• The New Orleans Saints (10-3) were the first club to punch their ticket to the post-season, doing so in Week 13. Their loss to the Eagles last Sunday prevented them from building on that, however.
• With their win over the Lions last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers (10-3) punched their ticket to the playoffs and won the NFC North, and New Orleans’ loss saw Green Bay leapfrog the Saints in the race for the first-round bye.
Just like in the AFC, the NFC has five playoff spots available and three division crowns still for the taking. And despite the Vikings and Bears being outside the current playoff picture, a lot of people will be watching when they go head-to-head this Sunday as a tie between them could see three teams secure playoff berths.
Here’s who can clinch this weekend in the NFC
Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
Of all the teams able to clinch a playoff spot this weekend, the Rams’ odds might be the best. In order to clinch, L.A. just needs to defeat or tie the winless New York Jets. (They can also get into the post-season with the less-likely scenario of the Minnesota-Chicago showdown ending in a tie.)
Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
Like the Rams, it’s a win-and-you’re-in situation for Seattle this weekend, who are playoff-bound with a victory or a tie against Washington this Sunday. Also like the Rams, they’ll also clinch if the Minnesota-Chicago game ends in a tie.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
Tom Brady will be playoff-bound once again with a win over the Falcons and — you guessed it! — a tie between the Vikings and Bears.
New Orleans Saints (10-3)
With a playoff ticket in-hand, the Saints got a tough path to the division title this weekend. They’ll be crowned NFC South champions this Sunday with one of the following happening:
• Win over Chiefs, OR
• Buccaneers lose to Falcons, OR
• Both Saints and Buccaneers tie their respective games
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