The NFL’s Week 16 Playoff Scenarios

The Week 15 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals has eliminated the St. Louis Rams from playoff contention.  It would’ve been a long shot, but they would’ve had to have won out [Weeks 15-17] in order to have a realistic chance at making the postseason.  The loss, though, means a tenth consecutive season without a playoff game.

Four teams have already secured entry into the 2014 playoffs, but all are still vying to lock up the top seed and home field advantage.

Which 10-win team in the NFC sits at home and watches the winner of the NFC South play in a meaningful game beyond Week 17?

2014 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16

AFC

CLINCHED:
Denver – AFC West
Indianapolis – AFC South
New England – AFC East

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (at New York Jets)

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) NE win + DEN loss

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

1) NE win OR
2) NE tie + IND loss or tie OR
3) IND loss + CIN loss or tie + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie

DENVER BRONCOS (at Cincinnati)

Denver clinches a first-round bye with:

1) DEN win OR
2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie

CINCINNATI BENGALS (vs. Denver)

Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:

1) CIN win + PIT loss + BAL loss or tie

Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CIN win OR
2) CIN tie + BAL loss OR
3) CIN tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR
4) KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (vs. Kansas City)

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) PIT win

BALTIMORE RAVENS (at Houston)

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:

1) BAL win + PIT loss + CIN loss OR
2) BAL win + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR
3) BAL tie + KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie

NFC

CLINCHED: Arizona – playoff spot

ARIZONA CARDINALS (vs. Seattle)

Arizona clinches NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:

1) ARI win

DETROIT LIONS (at Chicago)

Detroit clinches NFC North division with:

1) DET win + GB loss

Detroit clinches a first-round bye with:

1) DET win + GB loss + DAL loss

Detroit clinches a playoff spot with:

1) DET win OR
2) DET tie + PHI loss or tie OR
3) PHI loss

DALLAS COWBOYS (vs. Indianapolis)

Dallas clinches NFC East division with:

1) DAL win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) DAL tie + PHI loss

Dallas clinches a playoff spot with:

1) DAL win + GB loss or tie + DET loss or tie as long as both don't tie

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (at Arizona)

Seattle clinches a playoff spot with:

1) SEA win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) SEA win + DET loss or tie OR
3) SEA win + GB loss or tie OR
4) SEA tie + PHI loss OR
5) SEA tie + DET loss + GB loss OR
6) PHI loss + DAL win or tie

GREEN BAY PACKERS (at Tampa Bay)

Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with:

1) GB win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) GB win + DAL win or tie OR
3) GB tie + PHI loss OR
4) GB tie + PHI tie + DAL win or tie OR
5) PHI loss + DAL win or tie

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (vs. Atlanta)

New Orleans clinches NFC South division with:

1) NO win + CAR loss