NFL playoff clinching scenarios for 49ers, Cowboys, Ravens & more in Week 15

One team finally clinched an NFL playoff berth in Week 14 of the 2023 season. That was the 49ers, who guaranteed safe passage to the postseason after soundly beating the Seahawks 28-16.

Now, the 49ers have something more on the line in Week 15. They can wrap up the NFC West and spend the last few weeks of the season focusing on postseason preparation and fighting for the No. 1 seed.

The 49ers can become the NFL's first division winner of the 2023 season, but they aren't the only team that has a chance to wrap up a playoff berth. The Cowboys, Eagles and Lions are among the NFC contenders that have a chance to emerge from the week with postseason play guaranteed while the Ravens are the lone AFC team with a chance to win its way into the postseason.

While the 49ers are facing a simple win-and-in scenario, the other teams playing have more complex paths to get in. There are at least nine ways each of the other teams can qualify for the postseason, and the Lions' 16 ways to clinch a playoff berth are good for the most league-wide.

NFL WEEK 15 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread

What can you expect from each of these teams as they look to take the next step toward becoming Super Bowl contenders? Here are all the NFL clinching scenarios for Week 15

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 15

• AFC

Baltimore Ravens (10-3)

Games remaining: vs. Eagles, at Bills, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

1. Ravens win AND Broncos loss or tie AND Bills loss or tie OR
2. Ravens win AND Broncos loss or tie AND Browns loss or tie OR
3. Ravens win AND Broncos loss or tie AND Steelers loss or tie OR
4. Ravens win AND Broncos loss or tie AND Texans loss or tie OR
5. Ravens win AND Bills loss or tie AND Browns loss or tie OR
6. Ravens win AND Bills loss or tie AND Steelers loss or tie OR
7. Ravens win AND Bills loss or tie AND Texans loss or tie OR
8. Ravens win AND Browns loss or tie AND Steelers/Colts tie OR
9. Ravens win AND Texans loss or tie AND Steelers/Colts tie

• NFC

Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

Games remaining: at Bills, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders

Dallas clinches playoff berth with:

1. Cowboys win or tie OR
2. Rams loss or tie AND Seahawks loss or tie OR
3. Packers loss AND Rams loss or tie AND Falcons loss or tie OR
4. Packers loss AND Falcons loss or tie AND Seahawks loss or tie OR
5. Packers loss AND Falcons loss or tie AND Lions win or tie OR
6. Buccaneers loss AND Vikings loss or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
7. Buccaneers loss AND Vikings loss or tie AND Seahawks loss or tie OR
8. Buccaneers loss AND Vikings loss or tie AND Lions win or tie OR
9. Buccaneers loss AND 49ers win or tie AND Lions win or tie OR
10. Buccaneers loss AND Lions win or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
11. Buccaneers/Packers tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
12. Buccaneers/Packers tie AND Seahawks loss or tie OR
13. Buccaneers/Packers tie AND Lions win or tie OR
14. Seahawks loss or tie AND Vikings loss AND Cowboys clinches tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Falcons​

MORE: Expert model projects Steelers top Colts, Cowboys get past Bills in Week 15

Detroit Lions (9-4)

Games remaining: vs. Broncos, at Vikings, at Cowboys, vs. Vikings

Detroit clinches playoff berth with:

1. Lions win AND Seahawks loss or tie AND Packers loss or tie OR
2. Lions win AND Seahawks loss or tie AND Vikings loss or tie OR
3. Lions win AND Seahawks loss or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
4. Lions win AND Rams loss or tie AND Vikings loss or tie AND Buccaneers loss OR
5. Lions win AND Rams loss or tie AND Falcons loss or tie AND Packers loss OR
6. Lions win AND Rams loss or tie AND Vikings loss or tie AND Falcons loss or tie OR
7. Lions win AND Packers/Buccaneers tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
8. Lions tie AND Buccaneers loss AND Seahawks loss AND Rams loss OR
9. Lions tie AND Packers loss AND Seahawks loss AND Rams loss OR
10. Lions tie AND Rams loss AND Seahawks loss AND Falcons loss OR
11. Lions tie AND Packers loss AND Seahawks loss AND Falcons loss or tie OR
12. Lions tie AND Vikings loss AND Seahawks loss AND Rams loss OR
13. Lions tie AND Packers loss AND Rams loss AND Falcons or tie AND Saints loss or tie OR
14. Lions tie AND Packers/Buccaneers tie AND Vikings loss AND Seahawks loss AND Rams tie OR
15. Lions tie AND Packers/Buccaneers tie AND Vikings loss AND Seahawks loss AND Falcons loss or tie OR
16. Lions tie + Packers/Buccaneers tie AND Vikings loss AND Rams loss AND Falcons loss or tie

Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)

Games remaining: at Seahawks, vs. Giants, vs. Cardinals, at Giants

1. Eagles win or tie OR
2. Packers loss AND Falcons loss or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
3. Packers loss AND Falcons loss or tie AND 49ers win or tie AND Lions win OR
4. Buccaneers loss AND Vikings loss or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
5. Buccaneers loss AND Vikings loss or tie AND 49ers win or tie AND Lions win OR
6. Vikings loss or tie AND Falcons loss or tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
7. Vikings loss or tie AND Falcons loss or tie AND 49ers win or tie AND Lions win OR
8. Buccaneers/Packers tie AND Rams loss or tie OR
9. Buccaneers/Packers tie AND 49ers win or tie AND Lions win

San Francisco 49ers (10-3)

Games remaining: at Cardinals, vs. Ravens, at Commanders, vs. Rams

San Francisco clinches NFC West title with:

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

POWER RANKINGS: Why 49ers, Cowboys are currently the NFL's top teams

NFL playoff picture 2023

Here's how the standings in both conferences break down entering Week 14, along with the other teams that are still in the playoff hunt. 

• AFC

In the hunt: Texans (7-6), Broncos (7-6), Bengals (7-6), Bills (7-6), Chargers (5-8), Raiders (5-8), Jets (5-8), Titans (5-8)

• NFC

* - clinched playoff berth

In the hunt: Rams (6-7), Falcons (6-7), Seahawks (6-7), Saints (6-7),  Giants (5-8), Bears 5-8