NFL Releases Official Playoff Scenarios Ahead of Week 16

Sort through the NFL playoff picture as Week 16 approaches.
NFL Releases Official Playoff Scenarios Ahead of Week 16
NFL Releases Official Playoff Scenarios Ahead of Week 16 /

The playoff field is anything but settled as Week 16 approaches, with a number of divisions still up for grabs ahead of the regular season's final weeks.

The Patriots and Bills remain in a heated battle for the AFC East crown, while in the other conference, the Rams are locked in a race with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals for the NFC West title. With just three weeks left in the season, we could see some real chaos down the stretch.

So who has already clinched a playoff spot and who still has some work to do? Check out the full list of playoff scenarios for Week 16 below, courtesy of NFL.com.

AFC:

Clinched: None

Chiefs:

Kansas City clinches the AFC West title with either:

  1. KC win + LAC loss or tie 
  2. KC tie + LAC loss

Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with one of:

  1. KC win
  2. KC tie + BUF
  3. KC tie + IND
  4. KC tie + CIN-BAL does not end in a tie

Patriots:

New England clinches the AFC East title with a:

  1. NE win + MIA loss or tie

New England clinches a playoff berth with one of:

  1. NE win + LV loss or tie + LAC loss
  2. NE win + IND loss or tie + CIN loss
  3. NE win + IND loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie
  4. NE win + IND loss or tie + LAC loss
  5. NE win + BAL loss + CLE loss or tie + PIT loss or tie

Titans:

Tennessee clinches the AFC South title with a:

  1. TEN win + IND loss

Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with either:

  1. TEN win + MIA loss or tie + BUF loss + DEN loss or tie + CLE loss or tie + PIT loss 
  2. TEN win + MIA loss or tie + BUF loss + DEN loss or tie + CLE loss or tie + BAL loss or tie

NFC

Clinched: Packers 

Cardinals:

Arizona clinches a playoff berth with one of:

  1. ARI win or tie 
  2. PHI loss or tie + SF loss 
  3. PHI loss or tie + MIN loss or tie 
  4. PHI loss or tie + NO loss or tie 
  5. MIN loss or tie + SF loss 
  6. MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie 
  7. NO loss or tie + SF loss

Cowboys:

Dallas clinches the NFC East title with either:

  1. DAL win or tie 
  2. PHI loss or tie 

Dallas clinches a playoff berth with one of:

  1. NO loss or tie 
  2. SF loss 
  3. TB win or tie

Rams:

Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with either:

  1. LAR win or tie 
  2. PHI loss or tie + NO loss or tie

Buccaneers

Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South title with either:

  1. TB win or tie 
  2. NO loss or tie

Tampa Bay clinches a playoff berth with one of:

  1. MIN loss or tie + PHI loss or tie
  2. MIN loss or tie + DAL win or tie

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Michael Shapiro
MICHAEL SHAPIRO

Michael Shapiro is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated. He is a Denver native and 2018 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.