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Week 14 NFL Playoffs Scenarios: Four AFC Teams Can Clinch Berths

Four teams in the AFC and two teams in the NFC can clinch postseason berths. Seattle, having already clinched a postseason berth, can clinch a first-round bye.

By Josh Kirkendall
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Securing a two-game lead in the AFC North over the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals can't clinch a postseason berth this weekend, nor can they lose position in the existing playoff scenarios. However, four teams in the AFC have an opportunity to clinch postseason berths.

AFC

Denver Broncos can clinch a postseason berth with a:

  1. Denver win or tie OR
  2. Miami loss or tie OR
  3. Baltimore loss or tie
Kansas City Chiefs can clinch a postseason berth with a:
  1. Kansas City win plus a Miami loss or tie OR
  2. Kansas City win plus a Baltimore loss or tie OR
  3. Kansas City tie plus a Miami loss OR
  4. Kansas City tie plus a Baltimore loss

New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a:

  1. New England win and Miami loss or tie OR
  2. New England tie and Miami loss

New England Patriots can clinch a postseason berth with a:

  1. New England win plus a Baltimore loss or tie OR
  2. New England tie plus a Baltimore loss

Indianapolis Colts can clinch the AFC South with a:

  1. Indianapolis win OR
  2. Tennessee loss OR
  3. Indianapolis tie plus a Tennessee tie

NFC


CLINCHED: Seattle Seahawks - postseason berth

Seattle Seahawks can clinch the NFC West and a first-round bye with:
  1. Seattle win or tie
New Orleans Saints can clinch a postseason berth with:
  1. New Orleans win, plus a Philadelphia loss or tie, plus a Dallas loss or tie, plus an Arizona loss OR
  2. New Orleans win, plus a Philadelphia loss or tie, plus a Dallas loss or tie, plus a San Francisco loss plus an Arizona tie
NOTE: If Dallas and Philadelphia games end with a tie, Saints do NOT clinch.

Carolina Panthers can clinch a postseason berth with:
  1. Carolina win, plus Arizona loss, plus San Francisco loss, plus Philadelphia loss or tie, plus Dallas loss or tie.
NOTE: If Dallas and Philadelphia games end with a tie, Panthers do NOT clinch.

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