There are three teams that can clinch playoff spots this weekend: Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. Pittsburgh and Buffalo play each other Sunday night, and strangely both teams can still get in with one scenario.
A total of four teams can clinch division titles this weekend: Pittsburgh (AFC North), Kansas City (AFC West), Green Bay (NFC North) and New Orleans (NFC South).
Oddly enough, four teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention—all from the AFC: New York Jets (0-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-11), Cincinnati Bengals (2-9-1) and Los Angeles Chargers (3-0).
Strangely enough, all teams in the NFC East have losing records, and all are still in contention for the division title, which guarantees the winner a first-round home game. The other three teams likely will miss the playoffs. The NFC East looks like this: New York Giants (5-7), Washington Football Team (5-7), Philadelphia Eagles (3-8-1) and Dallas Cowboys (3-9).
But this story is about who has a shot at making the playoffs and winning division titles this weekend. Here are the teams and their scenarios to get there.
BUFFALO BILLS (9-3)
Clinch Playoff Berth with:
Win vs. Pittsburgh, combined with losses by Baltimore, Miami, Las Vegas and New England (loss or tie by the Patriots)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-1) — Already clinched playoff spot
Clinch AFC West with:
Win or tie against Miami, ORLas Vegas loses or ties
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-1)
Clinch Playoff Berth with:
A win over Buffalo, ORA Las Vegas loss or tie, ORA Miami loss or tie, ORA Tennessee loss
Clinch AFC North with:
A win over Buffalo, combined with a Cleveland loss
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-3)
Clinch Playoff Berth with:
A win over Detroit, combined with an Arizona loss or tie, ORA win over Detroit, combined with a LA Rams loss or tie, ORA win over Detroit, combined with a Seattle loss or tie, ORA tie with Detroit, combined with an Arizona loss, ORA tie with Detroit, combined with a LA Rams loss and Arizona tie, ORA tie with Detroit, combined with a Seattle win or tie and an Arizona tie
Clinch NFC North with:
A win over Detroit, combined with a Minnesota loss or tieA tie with Detroit, combined with a Minnesota loss
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-2) — Already clinched playoff spot
Clinch NFC South with:
Win over Philadelphia, ORA Tampa Bay loss, ORNew Orleans and Tampa Bay both tie
Week 14 schedule (all times ET)
Thursday (Dec. 10) 8:20 p.m. New England at LA Rams
Sunday (Dec. 13) 1 p.m. Houston at Chicago 1 p.m. Dallas at Cincinnati 1 p.m. Kansas City at Miami 1 p.m. Arizona at NY Giants 1 p.m. Minnesota at Tampa Bay 1 p.m. Denver at Carolina 1 p.m. Tennessee at Jacksonville 4:05 p.m. Indianapolis at Las Vegas 4:05 p.m. NY Jets at Seattle 4:25 p.m. Green Bay at Detroit 4:25 p.m. New Orleans at Philadelphia 4:25 p.m. Atlanta at LA Chargers 4:25 p.m. Washington at San Francisco 8:20 p.m. Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Monday (Dec. 14) 8:15 p.m. Baltimore at Cleveland