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NFL Week 15 Playoff Scenarios: Now It Becomes A Headache

The Cincinnati Bengals won't clinch any spots for the 2012 playoffs just yet, but there are implications that involve them this weekend.

Joe Robbins

The 2012 postseason picture is getting muddy, complicated and convoluted.

The Baltimore Ravens can clinch the AFC North with a win (or if the Bengals and Steelers both lose). However in order to clinch a postseason berth, they only need to tie or have either the Bengals and Steelers lose. Sensing the pattern?

The Colts can clinch one of the wild card spots with a win this weekend.

AFC

CLINCHED

New England AFC East
Denver AFC West
Houston Playoff Berth

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Clinch AFC North Win OR
Tie plus Steelers loss (or tie) AND Bengals loss (or tie) OR
Steelers loss AND Bengals loss
Clinch Postseason Berth Tie OR
Bengals loss (or tie) OR
Steelers loss (or tie)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Clinches AFC South Win
Clinches First-Round Bye Win plus loss by Broncos AND Patriots (or tie)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Clinch Postseason Berth Win OR
Tie plus Bengals loss (or tie) OR
Tie plus Steelers loss (or tie) OR
Tie plus Ravens win OR
NYJ loss or tie plus Bengals loss OR
NYJ loss (or tie) plus Ravens win plus Bengals tie plus Steelers tie

NFC

CLINCHED

Atlanta NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS

Clinches First-Round Bye Win plus Packers loss (or tie) OR
Win plus 49ers loss OR
Tie plus Packers loss
Clinches Homefield Adv. Win plus Packers loss (or tie) plus 49ers loss

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Clinches NFC West Win plus Seahawks loss
Clinches Postseason Berth Win OR
Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Redskins loss (or tie) plus Vikings loss (or tie) OR
Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Redskins loss (or tie) plus Packers/Bears does not in tie OR
Tie plus Cowboys loss (or tie) plus Vikings loss (or tie) plus Bears loss OR
Tie plus Giants loss plus Vikings loss (or tie) plus Bears loss OR
Vikings loss plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Seahawks loss (or tie)

Green Bay Packers

Clinches NFC North Win
Clinches Postseason Berth Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Rams/Vikings tie OR
Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Vikings loss plus 49ers win (or tie) OR
Tie plus Cowboys loss plus Redskins loss plus Vikings loss plus Seahawks not ending in tie