Four teams clinched playoff spots last week. Three of those teams wrapped up a division win. The playoff picture could get a little more clarity in Week 14.
NFL playoff scenarios, Week 14: 49ers, Ravens looking to secure postseason bids
A few more NFL teams could get their playoff tickets punched in Week 14.
The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens can both lock down a postseason invitation with the right set of circumstances this week. A Ravens win over the Redskins this week combined with losses for both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati would give Baltimore the AFC North. The Bengals host the Cowboys, and the Steelers are at home against the Chargers. Losses for both those teams seem unlikely, but the Ravens can still clinch a playoff spot with a win and a loss by either one of those teams.
San Francisco welcomes the Miami Dolphins to town on Sunday. They can clinch a playoff spot with a win as well as losses by the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams, Buccaneers and Redskins. A Seattle loss or tie would replace the need for a Rams loss.
The 11-1 Falcons wrapped up the AFC South last week. This week, Atlanta has a chance to secure a first-round bye and even home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A Falcons win combined with a 49ers loss would give Atlanta the bye. So would a Falcons win and a Bears loss or tie as well as a Packers loss or tie. Home-field advantage would require a win and losses or ties by both the Bears and the Packers as well as a 49ers loss.
Houston is the best team in the AFC with an 11-1 record, but the Texans are still waiting to clinch a division title even after guaranteeing the team a playoff spot last week. Beating the Patriots this week as well as a Colts loss or tie to the Titans would give Houston the division. The Texans also have a chance to secure a bye and home-field advantage that would require a perfect alignment of outcomes.
Here’s a complete list of all the playoff scenarios this week (h/t to Cincy Jungle for the chart):
AFC
CLINCHED
| New England | AFC East |
| Denver | AFC West |
| Houston | Playoff Berth |
BALTIMORE RAVENS
| Clinch AFC North | Win plus loss by Steelers AND Bengals |
| Clinch Postseason Berth | Win plus Steelers loss or tie OR |
| Win plus Cincinnati Bengals loss or tie OR | |
| Tie plus loss by Steelers AND Bengals |
HOUSTON TEXANS
| Clinches AFC South | Win plus Colts loss (or tie) OR |
| Tie plus Colts loss | |
| Clinches First-Round Bye | Win plus losses (or ties) by Colts AND Ravens OR |
| Win plus losses (or ties) by Colts AND Broncos | |
| Clinch Homefield Adv. | Win plus losses (or ties) by Colts, Ravens and Broncos |
NFC
CLINCHED
| Atlanta | NFC South |
ATLANTA FALCONS
| Clinches First-Round Bye | Win plus losses (or tie) by Bears and Packers OR |
| Win plus losses (or tie) by 49ers OR | |
| Tie plus losses by Bears and Packers | |
| Clinch Homefield Adv. | Win plus losses (or tie) by Bears and Packers and loss by 49ers. |
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
| Clinches Playoff Berth | Win plus losses by Cowboys, Vikings, Buccaneers, Redskins and loss (or tie) by Rams OR |
| Win plus losses by Cowboys, Vikings, Buccaneers, Redskins and loss (or tie) by Seahawks OR |
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