Here's Every Playoff Clinching Scenario for NFL Week 15

We only have a month of NFL football left, which means the playoffs are right around the corner. However, no team has clinched its spot in the postseason yet. Several teams are on the cusp of doing so, with seven teams able to do so this week. 

In the AFC, the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans can clinch. In the NFC, the Cardinals, Packers, Cowboys, Rams and Buccaneers can all clinch a spot. Let’s dive into what needs to happen to make their postseason bids official. 

AFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios

New England Patriots

The Patriots have six ways to secure a spot in the playoffs this week. Unfortunately for them, they can’t do it by themselves. The two things that absolutely need to happen are a win by the Patriots (which they are underdogs in) and a non-win by the Dolphins (which they are favorites in). Here’s what needs to happen for the Patriots to make the playoffs:

• NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + KC loss OR
• NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + DEN loss + LAC loss OR
• NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + LAC loss OR
• NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss OR
• NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + LAC loss OR
• NE win + MIA loss or tie + BAL loss + LAC loss + LV loss + CIN-DEN tie

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have a much simpler way to get to the playoffs. All they need is a win and Colts’ loss. Although they lost to them a few weeks ago, the Titans are now the Patriots’ biggest fan.

• TEN win + IND loss

NFC Playoff Scenarios

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals aren’t the No. 1 seed, but they do have the most scenarios to clinch. They will travel to Detroit this weeks and try and clinch their first playoff appearance since 2015.

• ARI win or tie OR
• NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR
• NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• NO loss or tie + PHI loss + ATL loss or tie + GB win or tie OR
• NO loss or tie + SF tie + LAR loss OR
• MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR
• SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
• SF tie + LAR loss + PHI-WAS tie

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas can either win the division or clinch a wild card spot this week. The Cowboys will be rooting for their enemy, the Philadelphia Eagles, to give the Washington Football Team a loss. 

• DAL win + WAS-PHI tie OR
• DAL win + WAS loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI

Dallas can clinch a playoff berth with the following scenarios:

• DAL win + NO loss or tie OR
• DAL win + SF loss OR
• DAL tie + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR
• MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
• MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay is in the same boat as the Cowboys, but the Packers control their own destiny. It’s win and you’re in for the Cheeseheads.

Green Bay clinches NFC North division title with:

• GB win or tie OR
• MIN loss or tie

Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:

• NO loss or tie + SF loss OR
• NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• NO loss or tie + LAR loss + SF tie OR
• SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
• LAR loss + SF tie + PHI-WAS tie

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:

Tampa Bay also has the luxury of controlling its own destiny. As long as the Buccaneers get the win, they won't have to worry about any of the other scenarios.

• TB win or tie

Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with;

• MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR
• MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• SF loss + PHI-WAS tie

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams can't win the division, but they can get a wild card spot this week, and that would be huge in itself.

L.A. Rams clinch playoff berth with:

• LAR win + NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR
• LAR win + NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• LAR win + MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
• LAR tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie