Week 16 Playoff Scenarios: A Win and Broncos Loss Gives Pats Home Field
With the 2014 NFL season entering its final two weeks, teams are making their last push to make the playoffs – or further positioning themselves for a deep postseason run. The Patriots, Broncos, and Colts all clinched their respective AFC division titles last week, while in the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals claimed a playoff berth, the only team in the NFC to have already guaranteed their spot. Here’s a rundown of who can secure their place in the postseason Week 16.
AFC
Patriots
The Patriots claimed their sixth straight AFC East crown after beating the Miami Dolphins Week 15, now they look to position themselves to makes sure the AFC’s road to the Super Bowl runs through Foxborough. The Pats can clinch a first-round bound bye, guaranteeing they wouldn’t have to travel until at least the AFC title game – in one of these scenarios:
1. A win 2. A tie AND a Colt loss or tie 3. A Colts loss AND a Bengals loss or tie AND a Steelers loss or tie AND a Ravens loss or tie
The Patriots can also wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but they’ll need some help from the Bengals, as a Pats win AND a Bengals win over the Broncos would give them home-field for the entire AFC playoffs.
Broncos
The Broncos won their third AFC West title since Peyton Manning took over as quarterback, and like the Patriots, are in the driver’s seat for a first-round bye. They can clinch a bye though the first round of the playoffs this way:
1. A win 2. A tie AND a Colts loss or tie
Bengals
The Bengals – whose tie has given them the inside track on both the Steelers and Ravens – can take the AFC North with a win AND a Steelers loss AND Ravens loss or tie. But they can also secure a playoff spot in a few different scenarios:
1. A win 2. A tie AND a Ravens loss 3. A tie AND a Chiefs loss or tie AND a Chargers loss or tie 4. A Chiefs loss AND a Chargers loss AND a Bills loss or tie
Steelers, Ravens
The Steelers control their own destiny, clinching a playoff spot with a win over the Chiefs, while the Ravens need some help. They can make the playoffs in one of these ways:
1. A win AND a Steelers loss AND a Bengals loss 2. A win AND a Chiefs loss or tie AND a Chargers loss or tie 3. A tie AND a Chiefs loss AND a Chargers loss AND a Bills loss or tie
NFC
Cardinals, Seahawks
Despite losing their starting quarterback Carson Palmer for the season, as well as their backup Drew Stanton for the foreseeable future, the Cardinals have a huge opportunity with this week’s game against the Seahawks, as a win over Seattle will clinch the NFC West and home-field throughout the NFC playoffs.
The Seahawks would do themselves a huge favor in their hunt to defend their Super Bowl title by winning that game. Seattle will qualify for the playoffs in any of these half-dozen scenarios:
1. A win AND an Eagles loss or tie 2. A win AND a Lions loss or tie 3. A win AND a Packers loss or tie 4. A tie AND an Eagles loss 5. A tie AND a Lions loss AND a Packers loss 6. An Eagles loss AND a Cowboys win or tie
Lions
With all the troubles the Lions have had this year, they can end this weekend knowing that not only will they be playing in January, but will automatically be in the NFC final four. The Lions can clinch the NFC North with a win AND a Packers loss, while they can clinch a first-round bye if the previous scenario occurs AND the Cowboys lose as well.
The Lions can also simply clinch a playoff spot with one of three ways:
1. A win 2. A tie AND an Eagles loss or tie 3. An Eagles loss
Packers
The Packers suffered a letdown against the Buffalo Bills last week, but they can still make the playoffs in several different ways this Sunday:
1. A win AND an Eagles loss or tie 2. A win AND a Cowboys loss or tie 3. A tie AND an Eagles loss 4. A tie AND an Eagles tie AND a Cowboys win or tie 5. An Eagles loss AND a Cowboys win or tie
Cowboys
The Cowboys can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win AND a Packers loss or tie AND a Lions loss or tie OR as long as both results don’t tie.
The Cowboy can do one better, and win the NFC East, in one of these two scenarios:
1. A win AND an Eagles loss or tie 2. A tie AND an Eagles loss
Saints
Despite their weak 6-8 record, the Saints have the inside track to a division title and a first-round home game. The Saints can claim the NFC South title with a win AND a Panthers loss.
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