Week 16 NFL Playoff Scenarios

With just two weeks left until the regular season is officially over, we are starting to see teams either clinch berths into the postseason or fight for their chance to play in January.

At this point, we have four teams that have clinched spots in the playoffs. Denver and Kansas City have earned a playoff berth, as we have to wait out the next few games to see which of the two will take the AFC West crown. Indianapolis has already clinched the AFC South, and thus, a spot in the playoffs. Over in the NFC, Seattle is the only team to have clinched a playoff berth.

Take a look at the possible scenarios for week 16 for some of the other teams fighting for a spot in the postseason.

AFC

Denver clinches AFC West division and a first-round bye with:

1) DEN win + KC loss

Denver clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) DEN win + KC loss + NE loss or tie

New England clinches AFC East division with:

1) NE win or tie OR
2) MIA loss or tie

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

1) NE win + CIN loss or tie + IND loss or tie OR
2) NE tie + CIN loss + IND loss

New England clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CIN loss or tie

Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:

1) CIN win + BAL loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + BAL loss

Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CIN win + MIA loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + MIA loss

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:

1) BAL win + MIA loss + SD loss or tie

Miami clinches a playoff spot with:

1) MIA win + BAL loss + CIN loss

Seattle clinches NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1) SEA win or tie OR
2) SF loss or tie

New Orleans clinches NFC South division and a first-round bye with:

1) NO win

New Orleans clinches a playoff spot with:

1) ARI loss OR
2) NO tie + SF loss or tie OR
3) NO tie + ARI tie OR
4) SF loss + ARI tie

Carolina clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CAR win OR
2) CAR tie + ARI loss OR
3) CAR tie + SF loss OR
4) ARI loss + SF loss

San Francisco clinches a playoff spot with:

1) SF win OR
2) ARI loss OR
3) SF tie + ARI tie

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division with:

1) PHI win + DAL loss or tie OR
2) PHI tie + DAL loss

Chicago clinches NFC North division with:

1) CHI win + DET loss or tie + GB loss

[H/T ESPN]