NFL Playoff Scenarios: AFC and NFC Teams That Can Clinch in Week 16

The possible playoff scenarios for the 2013 NFL season are the talk of the sport, and the focus heading into Week 16 has shifted to which AFC and NFC teams can clinch a postseason berth.

With Kansas City securing its spot in the playoffs with a dominant victory in Week 15 and several mediocre teams eliminated from contention—Oakland, Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tennessee and the New York Jets—the postseason picture is much clearer now.

After a wild week in the NFL, it’s time to break down the teams from the AFC and NFC that control their own destiny or need a little help to make the playoff Promised Land.

AFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Seed	Team	Remaining Opponents	Projected Final Record
1	Denver Broncos	at Houston, at Oakland	13-3
2	New England Patriots	at Baltimore, vs. Buffalo	11-5
3	Baltimore Ravens	vs. New England, at Cincinnati	10-6
4	Indianapolis Colts	at Kansas City, vs. Jacksonvile	10-6
5	Kansas City Chiefs	vs. Indianapolis, at San Diego	12-4
6	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Minnesota, vs. Baltimore	10-6

The AFC is the more talented conference this year, but the increased competition has made it harder for each team to make the postseason. This is how the entire AFC shakes out.

The New England Patriots clinch a berth in the playoffs with a Baltimore loss in Week 16. The franchise can also seal the division title with a victory and a Miami loss, but there is even more on the line for New England. If the Patriots can win and the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts both lose, Tom Brady and Co. will secure the AFC East title and a first-round bye.

Cincinnati is also looking to clinch a playoff spot of its own. If the team beats Minnesota on Sunday and the Miami Dolphins lose, the Bengals make the playoffs. The franchise can also win the AFC North title with a win and a Baltimore Ravens loss Sunday.

Speaking of the Ravens, the team can secure its spot in the postseason with some help. Not only must Baltimore secure a win over New England Sunday, but it also needs Miami and San Diego to lose.

The Broncos have already secured a spot in the playoffs but have the potential to clinch some major advantages this weekend. If Denver beats the Houston Texans and Kansas City loses, the team could clinch the AFC West and first-round bye or clinch the AFC West and home-field advantage with a Chiefs loss and a Patriots loss.

That’s not convoluted, right?

NFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Seed	Team	Remaining Opponents	Projected Final Record
1	Seattle Seahawks	vs. Arizona, vs. St. Louis	14-2
2	Carolina Panthers	vs. New Orleans, at Atlanta	12-4
3	Chicago Bears	at Philadelphia, vs. Green Bay	10-6
4	Philadelphia Eagles	vs. Chicago, at Dallas	9-7
5	New Orleans Saints	at Carolina, vs. Tampa Bay	11-5
6	San Francisco 49ers	vs. Atlanta, at Arizona	11-5

As wild as the AFC has been this year, the fierce competition in the NFC is just as intriguing.

While the Seahawks have proven to be the best team in the conference and secured a spot in the playoffs, Seattle needs a win or a San Francisco 49ers loss to clinch the NFC West title and home-field advantage.

The 49ers are looking to ensure a playoff spot of their own and control their own destiny. If San Francisco wins or the Arizona Cardinals lose, the team will successfully make the postseason. The picture gets much more complicated if the 49ers lose to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

Carolina is looking to secure its own playoff spot by beating the New Orleans Saints straight up this weekend. The team could also make the postseason with San Francisco and Arizona losses or the 49ers, Cardinals and Bears all coming up short.

New Orleans won’t go down without a fight, though. The Saints can clinch the NFC South and a first-round bye with a win but can also secure a playoff spot with 49ers and Cardinals losses or San Francisco, Arizona and Chicago all faltering.

That’s not all.

The Philadelphia Eagles have the ability to win the NFC East outright if the franchise is victorious on Sunday and the Dallas Cowboys fail again. The Bears also have a chance to win their division but need a victory over the Eagles Sunday night and losses from both the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

As we’ve seen for 15 weeks, strange occurrences happen every Sunday.

*All stats via NFL.com.

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