NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Scenarios for AFC and NFC 2015 Postseason Matchups

While there is still one month remaining in the 2015 NFL regular season, Week 14 promises to be significant, as a number of teams have an opportunity to clinch playoff spots or even division titles.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals are all comfortably in the playoffs for now but have plenty to play for, since clinching spots ahead of time will allow them to rest their starters down the stretch.

Ahead of Week 14's intriguing slate of games, here is a rundown of the current NFL playoff standings, along with a look at each of the clinching scenarios that could play out.

AFC Playoff Standings

Rank	Team	Wins	Losses
1	Cincinnati Bengals	10	2
2	Denver Broncos	10	2
3	New England Patriots	10	2
4	Indianapolis Colts	6	6
5	Kansas City Chiefs	7	5
6	New York Jets	7	5
7	Pittsburgh Steelers	7	5
8	Buffalo Bills	6	6
9	Houston Texans	6	6
10	Oakland Raiders	5	7
11	Miami Dolphins	5	7
12	Jacksonville Jaguars	4	8
13	Baltimore Ravens	4	8
14	San Diego Chargers	3	9
15	Tennessee Titans	3	9

NFC Playoff Standings

Rank	Team	Wins	Losses
1	Carolina Panthers	12	0
2	Arizona Cardinals	10	2
3	Green Bay Packers	8	4
4	Washington Redskins	5	7
5	Minnesota Vikings	8	4
6	Seattle Seahawks	7	5
7	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	6
8	Atlanta Falcons	6	6
9	Philadelphia Eagles	5	7
10	New York Giants	5	7
11	Chicago Bears	5	7
12	St. Louis Rams	4	8
13	Detroit Lions	4	8
14	New Orleans Saints	4	8
15	San Francisco 49ers	4	8
16	Dallas Cowboys	4	8

Week 14 Playoff Scenarios

Cincinnati Bengals

While three teams are tied at the top of the AFC at 10-2, the Bengals are currently the de facto No. 1 seed due to tiebreakers.

They will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in arguably the biggest game of Week 14, as Pittsburgh needs a win to keep pace in the wild-card race. If Cincinnati wins, however, it will clinch the AFC North title.

Even if the Bengals lose, though, they have a chance to clinch a playoff berth Sunday. In order to do so, they need the New York Jets to lose to the Tennessee Titans or the Kansas City Chiefs to fall to the San Diego Chargers.

Denver Broncos

The 2015 season hasn't gone exactly according to plan for the Broncos. Defense has taken center stage, and Brock Osweiler has taken over at quarterback for the injured Peyton Manning. Even so, Denver is 10-2 and has some clinching scenarios to look forward to in Week 14.

An AFC West title could be in the offing if the Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders and the Chiefs lose to or tie the Chargers, or if Denver ties Oakland and KC loses outright.

The Broncos can also clinch a playoff berth without finishing off the divisional race. That would be accomplished by winning along with either a Jets loss to or tie with the Titans, or a Steelers loss or tie with the Bengals.

Denver could even get in this week with a tie, provided one of the Jets or Steelers are defeated.

New England Patriots

Despite losing back-to-back games after a 10-0 start, the Patriots could stamp their ticket into the postseason Sunday, but their clinching scenarios are by far the most complex among the five teams with a chance to secure a playoff spot in Week 14.

Most of the scenarios involve the Pats' earning a win over the Houston Texans, which is no guarantee considering how they have played recently, including last week's loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. In that one, they were done in by conceding three defensive or special teams touchdowns.

Injuries to key players such as tight end Rob Gronkowski certainly contributed to the loss, but quarterback Tom Brady isn't making any excuses. He expects the team to perform better moving forward, via WEEI's The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show (h/t Mike Cole of NESN.com):

"

We're going to have to play, certainly, a hell of a lot better (next Sunday in Houston) than we played (Sunday versus Philadelphia). That's what we've got to focus on. You know, 10-2 is obviously not terrible. It's not where we would have liked to have been two weeks ago. But our whole season is ahead of us. We've just got to make some corrections and understand the issues that we're facing and try to do a lot better and go out there and play a lot better than we've played the last couple of weeks.

"

If the Patriots win Sunday, they can clinch the AFC East with either a Jets loss or tie or a scenario in which they secure a tie in the strength-of-victory tiebreaker with Gang Green.

New England can also take the division with a tie if the Jets lose to Tennessee or if the Pats clinch a tie in the aforementioned tiebreaker. Even a loss would suffice for the Patriots if the strength-of-victory tiebreaker falls into their favor. In order for that to happen, though, two of the Buffalo Bills' winning, Steelers' winning, Miami Dolphins' losing and Cleveland Browns' losing must happen.

Clinching a playoff spot is a bit less complicated, as a win gets the Patriots in. Failing that, a tie coupled with a Chiefs loss, Steelers tie or Jets tie would secure a spot, as would the Steelers' losing to Cincinnati regardless of what New England does.

Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

MVP candidate Cam Newton and the Panthers are undoubtedly the NFL's biggest surprise this season with a record of 12-0, and their fantastic start has put them in an extremely advantageous position entering Week 14.

Carolina has remarkably already clinched the NFC South division title but can also lock in a first-round bye Sunday if it either beats or ties the Atlanta Falcons at home.

While a loss to Atlanta would be disappointing, since it would ruin the Panthers' perfect season, they can still clinch a bye, provided the Minnesota Vikings lose to or tie the Arizona Cardinals Thursday night and the Green Bay Packers lose to or tie the Dallas Cowboys.

Arizona Cardinals

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

The Cardinals have an uphill climb when it comes to tracking down the Panthers for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, as they are two games back with four left to play, but they still find themselves in an advantageous position ahead of Week 14.

Also, despite having two losses to their credit, the Cardinals are considered the Super Bowl favorites by ESPN's Football Power Index, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

Arizona can clinch the NFC West title this weekend if it wins and the Seattle Seahawks lose to or tie the Baltimore Ravens. A tie would even be enough for the Cards to clinch, provided the Seahawks lose outright to the Ravens, although that seems unlikely, considering Seattle's recent roll.

Clinching a playoff berth will be much easier, as the Cardinals need only to beat or tie Minnesota Thursday in order to make that happen.

Should the Cards lose, they can still lock down their place in the postseason with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss or tie coupled with a Falcons loss or tie, or a Bucs loss or tie combined with a Packers victory or tie.

All clinching scenarios courtesy of CBS Sports' Joe Ferreira.