Generally speaking, “must-win” is among the most overused phrases in sports – just ask Brian Regan – except at this time of the NFL season, it begins to have literal relevancy.
With each team having only three games remaining before the wild-card round, this stretch run is going to result in some exciting jockeying for position. Green Bay became the first team to clinch a post-season ticket last week – the Packers locked up the NFC North too – but Arizona, Dallas and Tampa Bay couldn’t clinch. The Cards and Bucs were upset and the Cowboys needed help in addition to beating the Giants.
Arizona, Dallas and Tampa are again among the teams that can clinch this week, while at the other end of the NFC standings, the Giants, Panthers and Seahawks are on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from post-season contention.
The action begins Thursday with the streaking 49ers visiting the struggling Titans before a doubleheader Saturday featuring Browns-Packers and Colts-Cardinals. Notable Sunday games include key AFC divisional matchups Bills-Patriots, Raiders-Broncos and Ravens-Bengals before the Dolphins and Saints wrap up the week on Monday.
As of Thursday morning, no games had been rescheduled, unlike last week but with frequent COVID cases, make sure to be on the lookout for updates from the league.
With all that in mind, here are the playoff-clinching scenarios ahead of Week 16:
NFC CLINCHING SCENARIOS: CARDINALS, COWBOYS, RAMS, BUCCANEERS
Arizona Cardinals clinch a playoff berth with:
• Cardinals win or tie; OR
• Eagles loss or tie + 49ers loss; OR
• Eagles loss or tie + Vikings loss or tie; OR
• Eagles loss or tie + Saints loss or tie; OR
• Vikings loss or tie + 49ers loss; OR
• Vikings loss or tie + Saints loss or tie; OR
• Saints loss or tie + 49ers loss
Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East title with:
• Cowboys win or tie; OR
• Eagles loss or tie; OR
• Cowboys clinch at least tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Eagles
Cowboys clinch a playoff berth (but not division title) with:
• Saints loss or tie; OR
• 49ers loss; OR
• Bucs win or tie
Los Angeles Rams clinch a playoff berth with:
• Rams win or tie; OR
• Eagles loss or tie + Saints loss or tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch the NFC South title with:
• Buccaneers win or tie; OR
• Saints loss or tie
Buccaneers clinch a playoff berth (but not division title) with:
• Vikings loss or tie + Eagles loss or tie; OR
• Vikings loss or tie + Cowboys win or tie; OR
• Vikings loss or tie + Cowboys clinches at least a tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Eagles
AFC CLINCHING SCENARIOS: CHIEFS, PATRIOTS, TITANS
Kansas City Chiefs clinch the AFC West title with:
• Chiefs win + Chargers loss or tie; OR
• Chiefs tie + Chargers loss
Chiefs clinch a playoff berth (but not division title) with:
• Chiefs win; OR
• Chiefs tie + Bills loss; OR
• Chiefs tie + Colts loss; OR
• Chiefs tie + Bengals-Ravens does not end in a tie
New England Patriots clinch the AFC East title with:
• Patriots win + Dolphins loss or tie
Patriots clinch a playoff berth (but not division title) with:
• Patriots win + Raiders loss or tie + Chargers loss; OR
• Patriots win + Colts loss or tie + Bengals loss; OR
• Patriots win + Colts loss or tie + Ravens loss + Steelers loss or tie; OR
• Patriots win + Colts loss or tie + Chargers loss; OR
• Patriots win + Ravens loss + Browns loss or tie + Steelers loss or tie
Tennessee Titans clinch the NFC South title with:
• Titans win + Colts loss
Titans clinch a playoff berth (but not division title) with:
• Titans win + Dolphins loss or tie + Bills loss + Broncos loss or tie + Browns loss or tie + Steelers loss OR
• Titans win + Dolphins loss or tie + Bills loss + Broncos loss or tie + Browns loss or tie + Ravens loss or tie
