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.