NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Ravens, Bills, 49ers, others in Week 14

Tadd Haislop

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Ravens, Bills, 49ers, others in Week 14 image

NFL playoff clinching scenarios are growing in numbers as we near the end of the 2019 regular season, and in Week 14, six teams have chances to clinch either postseason berths or division titles.

The Saints last week became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff spot when they beat the Falcons to win the NFC South title. This week, the Ravens and Chiefs are the only teams that can clinch their respective division titles. The Bills, Patriots, Seahawks and 49ers have scenarios in which they would clinch playoff berths but not the AFC East or NFC West.

MORE: Full NFL playoff picture for Week 14

There's also a wacky scenario in which the Bills, not the Ravens, the Patriots or the Chiefs, would become the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot. It's an unlikely scenario that would have to begin with Buffalo upsetting Baltimore on Sunday, but it's a possibility nonetheless.

If Buffalo beats Baltimore, Tennessee beats Oakland, Denver beats or ties Houston and Tampa Bay beats or ties Indianapolis, then the Bills would clinch a playoff berth before the Patriots and Chiefs get their chances to do so in the late Sunday afternoon window. You never know.

Here are all the Week 14 NFL playoff clinching scenarios for the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, Patriots, 49ers and Seahawks.

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 14

Baltimore Ravens

(at Bills)

Ravens clinch AFC North title with:

  1. Ravens win AND Steelers loss or tie OR
  2. Ravens tie AND Steelers loss

Ravens clinch playoff berth with:

  1. Ravens win OR
  2. Ravens tie AND Texans loss or tie OR
  3. Ravens tie AND Titans loss or tie OR
  4. Texans loss AND Colts loss or tie AND Raiders-Titans tie

Buffalo Bills

(vs. Ravens)

Bills clinch playoff berth with:

  1. Bills win AND Raiders loss or tie AND Texans loss AND Colts loss or tie

Kansas City Chiefs

(at Patriots)

Chiefs clinch AFC West title with:

  1. Chiefs win AND Raiders loss

New England Patriots

(vs. Chiefs)

Patriots clinch playoff berth with:

  1. Patriots win OR
  2. Patriots tie AND Steelers loss OR
  3. Patriots tie AND Texans loss or tie OR
  4. Patriots tie AND Titans loss or tie OR
  5. Texans loss AND Colts loss or tie AND Raiders-Titans tie

San Francisco 49ers

(at Saints)

49ers clinch playoff berth with:

  1. 49ers win AND Rams loss or tie OR
  2. 49ers tie AND Rams loss

Seattle Seahawks

(at Rams)

Seahawks clinch playoff berth with:

  1. Seahawks win or tie

AFC playoff picture

  1. Ravens (10-2)
  2. Patriots (10-2)
  3. Texans (10-2)
  4. Chiefs (8-4)
  5. Bills (9-3)
  6. Steelers (7-5)
  • In the hunt: Titans (7-5), Raiders (6-6), Colts (6-6), Browns (5-7)

NFC playoff picture

  1. Saints (10-2)
  2. Seahawks (10-2)
  3. Packers (9-3)
  4. Cowboys (6-6)
  5. 49ers (10-2)
  6. Vikings (8-4)
  • In the hunt: Rams (7-5), Bears (6-6), Eagles (5-7), Buccaneers (5-7), Panthers (5-7)

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.