NFL playoff scenarios, Week 15: Ravens, Texans, Packers & 49ers can clinch a division title

The playoff picture could get a little clarity in Week 15. Then again, it might not just get even more confusing.

Dec 11, 2012, 9:35 PM UTC

Patrick McDermott

The NFL playoff picture is starting to get some clarity. Actually, it’s not. A total of four teams have clinched a playoff berth. Another handful of teams are trying to lock down postseason tickets this weekend with more playoff scenarios than Thomas Pynchon could imagine.

For a few teams, clinching this weekend is straight forward enough. The Houston Texans, already assured of a spot in the playoffs, can wrap up the AFC South with a win over the Colts this weekend. A Colts win would guarantee Andrew Luck a postseason spot thanks in no small part to his rookie efforts.

Baltimore can wipe the slate from two straight losses with a win this weekend over the Broncos. That would give the Ravens the top spot in the AFC North. A loss by the Steelers or Bengals is all the Ravens need to clinch a playoff spot.

Over in the NFC, the surging Packers can clinch the NFC North with a win over the Bears this week. Losing to the Bears means Green Bay has to wait another week to sew up a fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

If the 49ers can beat the visiting Patriots, it would give head coach Jim Harbaugh his second postseason appearance in his two seasons at the helm. A 49ers win and a Seattle loss, the Seahawks are in Buffalo, would make San Francisco the NFC West champs again.

The Atlanta Falcons have already made good on Matt Bryant's invitation to the Carolina Panthers to watch the NFC South winners play in January. Atlanta can go one step further clinching a first-round bye or even home-field advantage with a win over the Giants and some losses elsewhere in the NFC.

The chart below, courtesy of Cincy Jungle, outlines the mind-numbing playoff possibilities for Week 15:

AFC

CLINCHED

New England	AFC East
Denver	AFC West
Houston	Playoff Berth

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Clinch AFC North	Win OR
	Tie plus Steelers loss (or tie) AND Bengals loss (or tie) OR
	Steelers loss AND Bengals loss
Clinch Postseason Berth	Tie OR
	Bengals loss (or tie) OR
	Steelers loss (or tie)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Clinches AFC South	Win
Clinches First-Round Bye	Win plus loss by Broncos AND Patriots (or tie)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Clinch Postseason Berth	Win OR
	Tie plus Bengals loss (or tie) OR
	Tie plus Steelers loss (or tie) OR
	Tie plus Ravens win OR
	NYJ loss or tie plus Bengals loss OR
	NYJ loss (or tie) plus Ravens win plus Bengals tie plus Steelers tie

NFC

CLINCHED

Atlanta

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS

Clinches First-Round Bye	Win plus Packers loss (or tie) OR
	Win plus 49ers loss OR
	Tie plus Packers loss
Clinches Homefield Adv.	Win plus Packers loss (or tie) plus 49ers loss

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Clinches NFC West	Win plus Seahawks loss
Clinches Postseason Berth	Win OR
	Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Redskins loss (or tie) plus Vikings loss (or tie) OR
	Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Redskins loss (or tie) plus Packers/Bears does not in tie OR
	Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Vikings loss (or tie) plus Bears loss OR
	Tie plus Giants loss plus Vikings loss (or tie) plus Bears loss OR
	Vikings loss plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Seahawks loss (or tie)

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Clinches NFC North	Win
Clinches Postseason Berth	Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Rams/Vikings tie OR
	Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Vikings loss plus 49ers win (or tie) OR
	Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Vikings loss plus Seahawks not ending in tie