The Cleveland Browns are 3-9 and technically not eliminated from the NFL playoff picture. They aren’t the only team with an insanely outside shot at making the playoffs, either. There are just as many teams that are essentially playoff locks and others needing a unique path to get into the NFL postseason. Either way, Week 14 in the NFL should be exciting as we get one step closer to the postseason and one step closer to more clarity in the playoff picture. Here’s a look at the playoff clinching and elimination scenarios with a month left in the season.
Week 14 playoff clinching scenarios
While there are quite a few teams that are basically in the playoffs, barring massive collapses, no one has officially solidified the first spot in the upcoming playoffs. That won't change this weekend either. Teams like the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills enter with at least 90 percent odds to be one of the eight seeds in the AFC, but none of them can clinch just yet.
Surprisingly, the NFC has a lot more clarity of who will get in, but a lot could happen as far as seeding. The Chicago Bears are alone atop the NFC playoff picture, for now, but have the lowest odds (76 percent) to get to the playoffs. That jumps up to more than 90 percent with a win this week. Every other team in the NFC playoff race has at least an 84 percent chance to make it, not including the Bears.
Week 14 elimination scenarios
With five games left in the season, there are five teams already eliminated from the playoffs. In the NFC, the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and the Arizona Cardinals are all eliminated and then the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans are eliminated from the AFC picture.
Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
Remaining schedule
WEEK OPPONENT |
|---|
14 vs. Commanders |
15 at Cowboys |
16 at Giants |
17 vs. Lions |
18 vs. Packers |
Elimination scenarios
- Vikings loss OR
- Vikings tie and Packers win/tie
The way this season is going for Kevin O’Connell’s crew in Minnesota, I doubt they have a five-game win streak in them. That said, for now, all they have to do is either win or tie and hope Green Bay loses or ties and their season is still intact. With the Commanders this week, they could keep their season alive, even if rookie quarterback Max Brosmer didn’t exactly instill faith among Vikings fans.
While the next three games are winnable, ending the year against the Packers and the Detroit Lions isn’t ideal. The Vikings will need the version of J.J. McCarthy we’ve all been waiting on to arise if they want to extend their season.
Washington Commanders (3-9)
Remaining schedule
WEEK OPPONENT |
|---|
14 at Vikings |
15 at Giants |
16 vs. Eagles |
17 at Cowboys |
18 at Eagles |
Elimination scenarios
- Commanders loss/tie OR
- Eagles win/tie
A lot will happen between the Vikings and Commanders game this week. One team will get eliminated and honestly both teams should be eager for the offseason. It’s been a season from hell for the Commanders, who reached the NFC title game a year ago. They are without star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his elbow in Week 9. Washington has lost the last seven games as well. There isn't much to play for in Washington, but they technically could still return to the playoffs for the second-straight season.
Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Remaining schedule
WEEK OPPONENT |
|---|
14 vs. Seahawks |
15 at Buccaneers |
16 at Cardinals |
17 vs. Rams |
18 vs. Saints |
Elimination scenarios
- Falcons loss OR
- Falcons tie and Buccaneers win/tie and Packers win/tie
Much like the Vikings and Commanders, quarterback health has marred the Falcons this year. Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t necessarily playing great, but his third ACL injury in his football career cut his first full season as the starter short. Atlanta has no choice but to play for the playoffs at this point because they don’t have a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Kirk Cousins can resurrect his career if he leads the Falcons on a miraculous run, but on the heels of six losses in the last seven games, the odds are not in his favor.
New York Jets (3-9)
Remaining schedule
WEEK OPPONENT |
|---|
14 vs. Dolphins |
15 at Jaguars |
16 at Saints |
17 vs. Patriots |
18 at Bills |
Elimination scenarios
- Jets loss/tie OR
- Texans win and Bills win/tie OR
- Texans win and Jaguars/Colts tie OR
- Bills win/tie and Jaguars win/tie
Somehow, the season from hell for the New York Jets could still end their postseason drought. Though they need more help than they’ll probably ever be able to get, there’s still a chance. Tyrod Taylor has replaced Justin Fields at quarterback and the Jets are fresh off their first win since beating the Cleveland Browns. There’s not a lot to be excited about in New York right about now, but if they somehow make the postseason, it might finally absolve the Jets for being known for the butt fumble.
Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Remaining schedule
WEEK OPPONENT |
|---|
14 vs. Titans |
15 at Bears |
16 vs. Bills |
17 vs. Steelers |
18 at Bengals |
Elimination scenarios
- Browns loss
The Browns might not know who their long term quarterback is, but they still have a chance at the playoffs. And if they somehow end up in the postseason, there’s no other quarterback they should be looking at other than Shedeur Sanders. The Browns have one of the simplest paths in that all they need to do is win out. The AFC North is so bad this year, the Browns could win the division at 8-9.
Realistically the only way the Browns get into the postseason is by winning the division. They have the defense to do it, they just can’t figure out offensive consistency. It doesn’t help that Kevin Stefanski refuses to name a starter for the rest of the season despite there being a clear difference between Sanders and Dillion Gabriel.