We're knee deep into playoff scenarios, and after three divisions were locked up in Week 15 (the AFC South, AFC West and AFC East), three more teams have clinched playoff spots so far in Week 16. It started on Saturday, when the Detroit Lions secured a spot in the postseason after the Philadelphia Eagles lost to Washington. The San Diego Chargers helped their cause later that night with a win over the San Francisco 49ers, though they are not yet guaranteed of playing in January.
NFL playoff picture 2014: Packers, Steelers clinch postseason berth
The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers both clinched postseason berths on Sunday, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Two more postseason spots were claimed after the first round of games Sunday. Although several of the later games remaining in Week 16 also carry plenty of postseason implications, there was more to pay attention to early on as the playoff picture became slightly clearer. However, each division in the NFC is still up for grabs and teams in both conferences are fighting for wild card spots.
The early slate featured eight games, and here’s what happened in the various playoff races:
AFC
While the AFC North won't be decided until the final week of the season, one team in the division has earned itself a spot in the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers will make their first postseason appearance since 2011 after beating the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-12, on Sunday. They've got a shot at taking the division when they host the Cincinnati Bengals next week, but a wild card berth is at least guaranteed.
The Bengals still lead the AFC North and will play the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, but they cannot clinch the division this week. They can, however, grab a playoff spot with a win thanks to the Baltimore Ravens' loss to the Houston Texans.
The New England Patriots had already clinched the AFC East in Week 15. They managed to take down the New York Jets in a surprisingly close game on Sunday, 17-16, and in doing so secured a first-round bye in the playoffs. If the Broncos fall to the Bengals on Monday, the Patriots will also receive homefield advantage throughout the postseason.
Pittsburgh's win also eliminated the Miami Dolphins from the playoff hunt. The Chiefs, despite coming up short Sunday, are still alive, though they need a lot of help to be able to play in January.
NFC
Heading into Week 16, only the Arizona Cardinals had clinched a playoff spot in the NFC. The Detroit Lions joined them after the Eagles' loss, but Detroit was hoping to clinch the NFC North and a first-round bye on Sunday.
Unfortunately for the Lions, that didn't happen, though they stayed ahead in the NFC North with a 20-14 comeback win over the Chicago Bears. Detroit also needed a loss by the Green Bay Packers, however. That was always a long shot, considering Green Bay was up against the two-win Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it was no surprise that the Packers handled their business.
With the 20-3 win in Tampa, Green Bay has officially punched its ticket to the postseason. The NFC North will come down to Week 17, when the Lions visit Lambeau Field. Whichever team walks away with the victory will also take the division title.
The same scenario will play out next week for the NFC South crown, but rather than two 11-4 teams fighting for the division, it'll come down to two below-.500 teams. The New Orleans Saints had the lead coming into Sunday, but they've now been eliminated from postseason contention after falling to the Atlanta Falcons, 30-14. With the Carolina Panthers taking down the Cleveland Browns, that sets up a showdown between the Panthers and Falcons in Week 17 to decide the dumpster fire that is the NFC South.
Neither team is competing for a wild card spot, so it’ll be a win-and-in situation in Atlanta.
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