NFL Week 16 playoff scenarios: Chiefs, Saints could wrap up home-field advantage
As Week 16 of the NFL season approaches, there are still some division titles up for grabs, while no team has yet sewn up a first-round bye.
That could all quickly change in the coming days.
Here's a full look at the clinching scenarios at stake for Week 16 after Saturday's games:
NFC
CLINCHED: Los Angeles Rams – NFC West, New Orleans Saints – NFC South, Chicago Bears – NFC North
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-2) (vs. Pittsburgh [8-5-1], Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
New Orleans clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) NO win OR
2) NO tie + LAR loss or tie OR
3) CHI loss or tie + LAR loss
New Orleans clinches a first-round bye with:
1) NO tie OR
2) CHI loss or tie OR
3) LAR loss
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-3) (at Arizona [3-11], Sunday, 4:05 PM ET, FOX)
Los Angeles clinches a first-round bye with:
1) LAR win + CHI loss or tie OR
2) LAR tie + CHI loss
DALLAS COWBOYS (8-6) (vs. Tampa Bay [5-9], Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Dallas clinches NFC East division title with:
1) DAL win OR
2) DAL tie + PHI loss or tie OR
3) PHI loss
Dallas clinches a playoff berth with:
1) DAL tie + MIN loss
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-6) (vs. Kansas City [11-3], Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Seattle clinches a playoff berth with:
1) SEA win OR
2) SEA win or tie + MIN loss OR
3) SEA win + MIN tie + SEA clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over MIN OR
4) SEA tie + PHI loss or tie
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-6-1) (at Detroit [5-9], Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with:
1) MIN win + PHI loss or tie
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AFC
CLINCHED: Kansas City Chiefs – playoff berth, Los Angeles Chargers – playoff berth
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-3) (at Seattle [8-6], Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and a first-round bye with:
1) KC win
Kansas City clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) KC win + HOU loss or tie OR
2) KC win + KC clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-4) (at Philadelphia [7-7], Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Houston clinches AFC South division title with:
1) HOU win or tie
Houston clinches a first-round bye with:
1) HOU win + NE loss or tie OR
2) HOU tie + NE loss
Houston clinches a playoff berth with:
1) PIT loss
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-5) (vs. Buffalo [5-9], Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
New England clinches AFC East division title with:
1) NE win or tie OR
2) MIA loss or tie