NFL playoff picture: Scenarios for Saints, Seahawks others to clinch in Week 16

Tadd Haislop

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NFL playoff picture: Scenarios for Saints, Seahawks others to clinch in Week 16 image

The NFL playoff picture is becoming more clear as Week 16 continues. This week, clinching scenarios are in play for the Chiefs, Patriots, Texans, Steelers, Saints, Rams, Cowboys, Seahawks and Vikings.

With two weeks left in the season, only three teams — Saints, Rams and Bears — have clinched their divisions. The Chiefs, Texans, Patriots, Steelers and Cowboys have chances to join that group this week. At the top of each conference, Kansas City and New Orleans have chances to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC and NFC playoffs, respectively.

Below are the NFL playoff clinching scenarios in play for Week 16, plus the overall playoff picture as the 2018 postseason draws near.

NFL playoff clinching scenarios

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (clinched playoff berth)

(at Seahawks)

— ~~Chiefs clinch AFC West title and first-round bye in AFC playoffs with:~~

~~Chiefs win + Chargers loss~~

— ~~Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:~~

~~Chiefs win + Chargers loss + Texans loss/tie OR~~
~~Chiefs win + Chargers loss + Chiefs clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Texans~~

Houston Texans

(at Eagles)

— ~~Texans clinch AFC South title with:~~

~~Texans win/tie OR~~
~~Colts loss/tie + Titans loss/tie~~

— ~~Texans clinch first-round bye in AFC playoffs with:~~

~~Texans win + Patriots loss/tie OR~~
~~Texans tie + Patriots loss~~

— Texans clinch playoff berth with:

~~Ravens loss/tie OR~~
Steelers loss OR
~~Titans loss/tie + Texans clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Ravens~~

UPDATE: The Texans clinched a playoff berth with the Steelers' loss to the Saints on Sunday.

New England Patriots

(vs. Bills)

— Patriots clinch AFC East title with:

Patriots win/tie OR
Dolphins loss/tie

UPDATE: The Patriots clinched the AFC East title with their win over the Bills on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers

(at Saints)

— ~~Steelers clinch AFC North title with:~~

~~Steelers win + Ravens loss/tie OR~~
~~Steelers tie + Ravens loss~~

— ~~Steelers clinch playoff berth with:~~

~~Steelers win + Colts loss + Titans loss~~

NFC

New Orleans Saints (clinched NFC South)

(vs. Steelers)

— Saints can clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in NFC playoffs with:

Saints win OR
~~Saints tie + Rams loss/tie OR~~
~~Bears loss/tie + Rams loss~~

UPDATE: The Saints clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with their win over the Saints on Sunday.

— Saints clinch first-round bye in playoffs with:

~~Saints tie OR~~
~~Bears loss/tie OR~~
~~Rams loss~~

Los Angeles Rams (clinched NFC West)

(at Cardinals)

— ~~Rams clinch first-round bye in playoffs with:~~

~~Rams win + Bears loss/tie~~
~~Rams tie + Bears loss~~

Dallas Cowboys

(vs. Buccaneers)

— Cowboys clinch NFC East title with:

Cowboys win OR
Cowboys tie + Redskins loss/tie + Eagles loss/tie OR
Redskins loss + Eagles loss

UPDATE: The Cowboys clinched the NFC East title with their win over the Bucs on Sunday.

— ~~Cowboys clinch playoff berth with:~~

~~Cowboys tie + Vikings loss~~

Seattle Seahawks

(vs. Chiefs)

— Seahawks clinch playoff berth with:

Seahawks win + Redskins loss/tie OR
~~Seahawks win/tie + Vikings loss OR~~
Seahawks win + Seahawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Redskins OR
~~Seahawks win + Vikings tie + Seahawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Vikings OR~~
~~Seahawks tie + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie~~

UPDATE: The Seahawks clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Chiefs on Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings

(at Lions)

— ~~Vikings clinch playoff berth with:~~

~~Vikings win + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie~~