Tag: 2019 playoff picture

The whole playoff picture for Week 17

Touchdown Wire examines every NFL playoff scenario for Week 17.

We’re down to the final week of the season and there are still many playoff scenarios alive. There are still some berths to be earned. There are seeds to be clinched and decisions to be made on resting starters.

The NFL just put out its final release on every playoff scenario for the last week of the season. Let’s take a look, starting with the AFC.

Already clinched

The Baltimore Ravens have clinched the AFC North and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Houston Texans have clinched the AFC South.

The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West.

The New England Patriots have clinched the AFC East.

The Buffalo Bills have clinched a playoff berth.

AFC playoff scenarios

Kansas City can clinch a first-round bye with a win against the Chargers and a loss by New England.

New England can clinch a first-round bye with a tie or a win against Miami or a Kansas City loss or tie.

Oakland can clinch a playoff berth, but many things must happen. First, Oakland must win against Denver. Then, it needs losses by Pittsburgh and Tennessee and a win by Indianapolis. If all that happens, Oakland would hold a strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Pittsburgh if one of the following – Chicago, Detroit, the Chargers or New England win.

Pittsburgh can clinch with a win or a tie plus a Tennessee loss. A Tennessee loss plus and Indianapolis win plus an Oakland loss or tie a Colts win.

Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with a win against Houston, a tie against Houston plus a Pittsburgh loss or a Pittsburgh loss coupled with an Indianapolis loss or tie.

NFC already clinched

The Saints have won the NFC South.

The Packers have clinched a playoff berth.

The Vikings have clinched a playoff berth.

The 49ers have clinched a playoff berth.

The Seahawks have clinched a playoff berth.

NFC playoff scenarios

Dallas can clinch the NFC East with a win and a Philadelphia loss.

Green Bay can clinch a first-round by with a win against Detroit or a New Orleans loss or a Green Bay tie and a San Francisco loss or a Green Bay tie plus a New Orleans tie.

Green Bay also can clinch the home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a Green Bay win plus a San Francisco loss or tie or a Green Bay tie plus a San Francisco loss or a New Orleans loss or tie.

New Orleans can clinch a first-round bye with a win against Carolina plus a Green Bay loss or tie, a win plus a loss of tie by San Francisco, a tie plus a loss by Green Bay or San Francisco or a San Francisco loss plus a Green Bay win or tie.

New Orleans can clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win against Carolina plus a Green Bay loss or tie plus a San Francisco loss of tie or a New Orleans tie coupled with losses by Green Bay or San Francisco.

Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East with a win against the Giants or a Dallas loss or tie.

San Francisco can clinch the NFC West with a win against Seattle

The 49ers clinch a first-round by with a win or a tie coupled with a loss or tie by Green Bay or New Orleans.

San Francisco can clinch home field advantage through the playoffs with a win or a San Francisco tie plus a Green Bay loss or tie plus a New Orleans loss or tie.

Seattle can clinch the NFC West with a win against San Francisco.

Seattle clinches a first-round bye with a win and a Green Bay loss.

Seattle clinches home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win plus losses by Green Bay and New Orleans.

Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What Week 16 means to the NFL playoff picture

Touchdown Wire looks at what Week 16 means to the NFL playoff picture.

Heading into Week 16, nearly half of the NFL’s teams already have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The season essentially is over for the Bears, Cardinals, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Redskins, Panthers and Buccaneers in the NFC. In the AFC, the same is true for the Bengals, Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, Jets, Jaguars and Colts.

Only 17 teams still have a shot at the Super Bowl. That’s the lowest amount of teams in this position this late in the season since 2007. But that doesn’t mean there will be a lack of excitement. Many things remain undecided and some of them could be decided this week.

Let’s take a look into the playoff situation for this week.

The AFC playoff picture at the moment

Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ravens (12-2): The Ravens already have clinched the AFC North. They can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win against Cleveland or a tie paired with either a tie or a loss by either the Patriots or Chiefs.

2. Patriots (11-3): The Patriots already have clinched a playoff spot. They can clinch the division with a win or tie against Buffalo. They also can clinch a first-round by with a win or tie combined with a tie or loss by the Chiefs.

3. Chiefs (10-4): The Chiefs already have clinched the AFC West. They can’t clinch anything more this week.

4. Texans (9-5): The Texans haven’t clinched anything just yet. But they can clinch an AFC South title with a win against the Buccaneers combined with a tie or loss by the Steelers. A tie combined with a tie by the Steelers would earn Houston a wild-card spot.

5. Bills (10-4): The Bills already have clinched a playoff berth. They can’t clinch anything more this week.

6. Steelers (8-6): The Steelers haven’t clinched anything yet. But they currently hold the tiebreaker on the Titans due to a better conference record.

Still in the picture

Titans (8-6): Tennessee can’t be eliminated from playoff contention this week. But the Titans can be eliminated from AFC South contention if the Texans clinch the division.

Browns (6-8): Cleveland’s chances of making the postseason. If the Browns lose to or tie the Ravens this week, they’re out of the playoffs. They also will be eliminated with wins or ties by the Steelers, Titans or Colts.

Raiders (6-8): Oakland also is a long shot. A loss or tie to the Chargers will eliminate the Raiders. They also will be eliminated with wins or ties by the Steelers, Titans or Colts.

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