NFL Playoff Scenarios: Each Team's Road To The Playoffs

NFL Playoff Scenarios: What Each Team Needs To Get To The Postseason

By Keith Myers | Dec 17, 2014

Dec 14, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Players and coaches, including Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Mike Morgan (57, right) celebrate following a fourth down stop against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

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AFC South Team	W	L	T	Remaining Opp.
Indianapolis Colts	10	4	0	Dal, Ten
Houston Texans	7	7	0	Bal, Jax

Indianapolis is in the playoffs and are fighting only for playoff seeding now. They are currently the No. 3 seed, and moving up from that spot won’t be easy. The Colts lose all possible two- and three-way tiebreakers with the Patriots and Broncos. To get a first round bye, the Colts must win both of their games and have either Denver or New England lose both of their games.

Moving down to the No. 4 seed is much easier, since all three competitors from the AFC South can move past the Colts if they open the door. One Indianapolis loss moves them to the No. 4 seed if either Cincinnati or Pittsburgh wins out. Two Indy losses lets Baltimore take the three seed if they come away with the NFC South title.

Houston’s road to the playoff is a very difficult one. They must win both of their remaining games and get a lot of help in they are going to get in. They need Cleveland to beat Baltimore in Week 17, as well as Kansas City, Buffalo and San Diego to all lose at least one more game.

What makes that scenario work is creating a large group of 9-7 teams that are all tied for the final playoff spot. Houston would then make the playoffs based on the conference record tiebreaker.

Next: Current NFC Standings

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