The Arizona Cardinals only needed a win over the Los Angeles Rams to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2015 season. They lost that game and the other unlikely scenarios did not happen, so their ticket to the playoff remains unpunched.
Entering Week 15, the same thing applies — win and you’re in, as the saying goes.
There are nine scenarios in which the Cardinals can earn a playoff berth. The one that really matters most is beating the 1-11-1 Detroit Lions. If they beat the Lions, they make the playoffs.
If they don’t, there are eight other possible scenarios for the Cardinals to make the playoffs without beating the Lions.
They will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Lions or if any of the following happens:
- The Saints lose to or tie with the Buccaneers and the Vikings lose to or tie with the Bears. (plausible)
- A Saints loss or tie and a tie between Washington and the Eagles. (unlikely)
- The Saints lose to or tie with the Bucs, the Eagles lose to Washington, the Falcons lose to or tie with the 49ers and the Packer beat or tie with the Ravens. (possible, I suppose)
- The Saints lose to or tie with the Bucs, the 49ers and Falcons tie and the Rams lose to the Seahawks. (unlikely)
- The Vikings lose to or tie with the Bears and Eagles-Washington is a tie. (unlikely)
- The Vikings lose to or tie with the Bears and the 49ers lose to the Falcons. (possible)
- The 49ers lose to the Falcons and Eagles-Washington is a tie. (unlikely)
- The 49ers tie with the Falcons, the Rams lose to the Seahawks and Eagles tie with Washington. (super unlikely because of two ties)
In other words, the Cardinals just need to beat the Lions. After all, the Lions are 1-11-1 and the Cardinals are 10-3. Losing to them would be embarrassing.
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