The playoff matchups are almost set as we headed into the second half of the NFL’s Week 16 games. After very entertaining games in the early afternoon (including wins by both Green Bay and Detroit that guaranteed Green Bay a playoff spot and made next week’s Lions-Packers game a de facto title game for the division), Dallas’ matchup against the Colts was the most critical of the late afternoon for playoff purposes.
NFL playoff picture 2014: Cowboys clinch NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys won their division for the first time since 2009 on Sunday.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
AFC
The Buffalo-Oakland game was still ongoing when the Cowboys game finished. Even with a win over the Raiders, the Buffalo Bills still need to beat the Patriots in Week 17 and they need the Ravens, Bengals and Chargers to all lose (the Bengals have to lose to both the Broncos and Steelers to guarantee a Bills playoff spot).
The Steelers clinched a playoff spot earlier in the day with a win over the Chiefs. They’re still in a race with the Bengals for the AFC North title.
1. New England Patriots (12-3) AFC East winner, clinched playoff berth
2. Denver Broncos (11-3) AFC West winner, clinched playoff berth
3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1) AFC North leader
4. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) AFC South winner, clinched playoff berth
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) wild card, clinched playoff berth
6. San Diego Chargers (9-6) wild card
NFC
Dallas rode a 28-0 halftime lead over the AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts to a 42-7 win in AT&T Stadium. Playing against backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the second half, the Cowboys completely overwhelmed the Colts in one of their best games of the season.
The Cowboys won the NFC East, finishing with more than eight wins for the first time since the 2009 season, which was also the last time they won the division. In addition, Dallas’ win eliminates the Philadelphia Eagles from the playoffs.
Dallas could get a bye in the first round, depending on how things play out in the Sunday night game between Seattle and Arizona. A Cardinals win locks Dallas into the third seed, unless next week’s game between the Packers and Lions ends in a tie. If Seattle wins Sunday night, Dallas’ hopes for a bye rest with a win against Washington next week as well as losses from both Arizona and Seattle in Week 17, or a tie between Green Bay and Detroit.
With the Dallas victory and Philadelphia’s loss to Washington on Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks have clinched a playoff berth even before their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have already clinched a playoff spot, but would win the NFC West and receive a 1-seed with a win over Seattle.
1. *Arizona (11-3): NFC West leader, clinched playoff berth
2. Detroit (11-4): NFC North leader, clinched playoff berth
3. Dallas (11-4): NFC East winner, clinched playoff berth
4. Carolina (6-8-1): NFC South leader
5. Green Bay (11-4): wild card No. 2, clinched playoff berth
6. *Seattle (10-4): wild card No. 1, clinched playoff berth
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