NFL Week 15: Playoff Scenarios, Wild Card Picture
The NFL playoff picture is starting to fill itself out with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the AFC North Division and the Philadelphia Eagles winning the NFC East Division. Other division champions will be determined next week.
The 49ers, Bears, Broncos, Browns, Buccaneers, Colts, Giants and Redskins have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Here's a quick look at playoff picture and scenarios going into Week 15. (These only cover scenarios for Week 15 games.)
Steelers Home Field Advantage
In order for Pittsburgh to lock up home field advantage for the AFC, they must beat the Patriots and the Jaguars must lose or tie against the Texans.
Steelers First Round Bye
The Steelers can clinch a first round bye with a win or with a tie combined with a Jaguars loss.
Eagles Home Field Advantage
In order for Philadelphia to lock up home field advantage for the NFC, they must beat the Giants and the Vikings must lose to the Bengals.
Patriots AFC East Title
In order for the Patriots to lock up the AFC East, they just need to beat the Steelers or the Bills must lose to the Dolphins.
Patriots Playoff Berth
The Patriots can clinch a playoff berth simply with a Ravens loss or tie.
Jaguars Playoff Berth
The Jaguars can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Texans. They can clinch with a tie if Buffalo loses or ties or Baltimore loses or ties. The Jaguars can also clinch a playoff berth if the Bills lose to the Dolphins and the Ravens lose to the Browns, or if the Ravens lose and the Chiefs and Chargers don't tie.
Vikings NFC North Title
Minnesota can clinch the NFC North title with a win over Cincinnati. They can also clinch the division title with a loss by Detroit to Chicago as well as Green Bay losing to Carolina.
Vikings Playoff Berth
Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot under five scenarios. If the Seahawks, Falcons and Saints lose, they're in. They also qualify if the Seahawks, Falcons and Panthers lose. Other ways to qualify: Losses by the Seahawks and Falcons combined with a Lions loss or tie; losses by the Seahawks and Saints combined with a Lions loss or tie and a Falcons tie; and losses by the Seahawks, Saints and Panthers combined with a Falcons tie.
Rams Playoff Berth
The Rams can clinch a playoff berth with a win combined with a Lions loss or tie, Packers loss or tie, Saints loss and Falcons loss.
Wild Card Race
The following teams remain in the running for the AFC Wild Card race: Titans (8–5), Bills (7–6), Ravens (7–6), Chargers (7–6), Raiders (6–7), Dolphins (6–7), Jets (5–8), Bengals (5–8) and Texans (4–9).
The following teams remain in the running for the NFC Wild Card race: Panthers (9–4), Falcons (8–5), Seahawks (8–5), Lions (7–6), Packers (7–6), Cowboys (7–6) and Cardinals (6–7).
