NFL playoff scenarios for Week 13

Week 13 is here, and NFL playoff clinching scenarios are in play for the Saints, Rams and Chiefs, arguably the three best teams in the NFL this season and the squads sitting prettiest in the current playoff picture.

New Orleans was up first with a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a win in Dallas on Thursday night. Not only did the Saints fail to do that with their loss to the Cowboys, but they also lost their chance to win the NFC South this week.

That leaves the Rams as the only team with a chance to clinch their division this week, while the Chiefs, still being stalked by the Chargers in the AFC West, can only clinch a playoff berth.

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Below are the NFL playoff clinching scenarios in play for Week 13, plus the overall playoff picture as the fourth quarter of the 2018 season arrives.

NFL playoff clinching scenarios

New Orleans Saints (10-2)

(at Dallas)

— New Orleans clinches NFC South title with:

1. NO win + CAR loss or tie OR
2. NO tie + CAR loss

— New Orleans clinches a playoff berth with:

1. NO win OR
2. NO tie + WAS loss + SEA loss OR
3. NO tie + WAS loss + MIN loss OR
4. NO tie + WAS loss + SEA tie + MIN tie

Los Angeles Rams (10-1)

(at Detroit)

— Los Angeles clinches NFC West title with:

1. LAR win OR
2. SEA loss OR
3. LAR tie + SEA tie

Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with:

1. LAR tie + WAS loss + MIN loss or tie OR
2. LAR tie + WAS loss + CAR loss OR
3. LAR tie + DAL loss + MIN loss or tie OR
4. LAR tie + DAL loss + CAR loss OR
5. LAR tie + MIN loss or tie + CAR loss

Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

(at Oakland)

— Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with:

1. KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss + TEN loss or tie OR
2. KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR
3. KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + LAC loss

NFL playoff picture

AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)
3. New England Patriots (8-3)
4. Houston Texans (8-3)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

In the hunt:
Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
Miami Dolphins (5-6)
Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
Denver Broncos (5-6)
Tennessee Titans (5-6)
Cleveland Browns (4-6-1)
Buffalo Bills (4-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)
New York Jets (3-8)
Oakland Raiders (2-9)

NFC
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-2)
3. Chicago Bears (8-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1)
6. Washington Redskins (6-5)

In the hunt:
Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
Carolina Panthers (6-5)
Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)
Green Bay Packers (4-6-1)
Atlanta Falcons (4-7)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
Detroit Lions (4-7)
New York Giants (3-8)
Arizona Cardinals (2-9)
San Francisco 49ers (2-9)