NFL Playoff Picture and Clinching Scenarios – Week 16

There have already been 15 complete weeks in the 2022 NFL season and when every team has three games left to play in Brand English we present the Playoff Picture and Clinching Scenarios for Week 16 in both the AFC and the NFC:

AFC Playoff Picture

Divisional Leaders:

1.- Buffalo Bills (11-3) (East)

2.- Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) (West)

3.- Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) (North)

4.- Tennessee Titans (7-7) (South)

Wild Cards:

5.- Baltimore Ravens (9-5) (North)

6.- Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) (West)

7.- Miami Dolphins (8-6) (East)

In the hunt:

8.- New England Patriots (7-7) (East)

9.- New York Jets (7-7) (East)

10.- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8) (South)

11.- Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) (West)

12.- Cleveland Browns (6-8) (North)

13.- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8) (North)

14.- Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1) (South)

Eliminated:

15.- Denver Broncos (4-10) (West)

16.- Houston Texans (1-12-1) (South)

AFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Buffalo Bills (clinched playoff berth)

* Clinches the AFC East title if:

– BUF win or tie OR

– MIA loss or tie

Kansas City Chiefs (clinched AFC West, playoff berth)

* No playoff clinching scenarios for week 16

Cincinnati Bengals

* Clinches a playoff berth if:

– CIN win or tie OR

– NYJ loss or tie

Baltimore Ravens

* Clinches a playoff berth if:

– BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR

– BAL win + MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR

– BAL win + NE loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR

– BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR

– BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + LAC win OR

– BAL tie + NE loss + MIA loss + NYJ tie OR

– BAL tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + LAC win OR

– BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss OR

– BAL tie + NE tie + NYJ tie + MIA loss + LAC win OR

– NE loss + NYJ loss + CLE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + TEN loss or tie + LAC win

Los Angeles Chargers

* Clinches a playoff berth if:

– LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ loss OR

– LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE loss + NYJ tie + MIA loss OR

– LAC win + LV loss or tie + NE tie + NYJ loss + MIA loss

NFC Playoff Picture

Divisional Leaders:

1.- Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) (East)

2.- Minnesota Vikings (11-3) (North)

3.- San Francisco 49ers (10-4) (West)

4.- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) (South)

Wild Cards:

5.- Dallas Cowboys (10-4) (East)

6.- New York Giants (8-5-1) (East)

7.- Washington Commanders (7-6-1) (East)

In the hunt:

8.- Seattle Seahawks (7-7) (West)

9.- Detroit Lions (7-7) (North)

10.- Green Bay Packers (6-8) (North)

11.- Carolina Panthers (5-9) (South)

12.- New Orleans Saints (5-9) (South)

13.- Atlanta Falcons (5-9) (South)

Eliminated:

14.- Arizona Cardinals (4-10) (West)

15.- Los Angeles Rams (4-10) (West)

16.- Chicago Bears (3-11) (North)

NFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Philadelphia Eagles (clinched playoff berth)

* Clinches first round bye and homefield advantage if:

– PHI win OR

– PHI tie + MIN loss or tie

* Clinches the NFC East title if:

– PHILIPPINES

Minnesota Vikings (clinched NFC North, playoff berth)

* No playoff clinching scenarios for week 16

San Francisco 49ers (clinched NFC West, playoff berth)

* No playoff clinching scenarios for week 16

Dallas Cowboys (clinched playoff berth)

* No playoff clinching scenarios for week 16

New York Giants

* Clinches a playoff berth if:

– NYG win + WAS loss + DET loss OR

– NYG win + WAS loss + SEA loss OR

– NYG win + DET loss + SEA loss