Week 16 playoff scenarios
Published: December 20th, 2011 | Tags: Playoff scenarios, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Tim Tebow
Seven teams have clinched playoff spots and four more can do so this weekend: The Cowboys, Falcons and Lions in the NFC and — that’s right — Tim Tebow and the Broncos in the AFC. Of course, there’s still plenty of jockeying for playoff position – home-field advantage, byes, etc.
Here’s how it all breaks down heading into Week 16:
NFC
CLINCHED:
Green Bay Packers — North Division and first-round bye.
San Francisco 49ers — West Division.
New Orleans Saints — Wild-card spot.
ELIMINATED:
Carolina, Minnesota, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Washington.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs:
1) GB win or tie
2) SF loss or tie
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
San Francisco clinches a first-round bye:
1) SF win + NO loss
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New Orleans clinches NFC South Division:
1) NO win or tie
DALLAS COWBOYS
Dallas clinches NFC East Division:
1) DAL win + NYG loss or tie
2) DAL tie + NYG loss
ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta clinches a wild-card spot:
1) ATL win or tie
2) DAL loss or tie + CHI loss or tie + ARI loss or tie
3) NYG loss or tie + CHI loss or tie + ARI loss or tie
DETROIT LIONS
Detroit clinches a wild-card spot:
1) DET win or tie
2) CHI loss or tie + ARI loss or tie + SEA loss or tie + DAL loss or tie
3) CHI loss or tie + ARI loss or tie + SEA loss or tie + NYG loss or tie
4) CHI loss or tie + ARI loss or tie + SEA loss or tie + ATL win or tie
AFC
CLINCHED:
Houston Texans — South Division.
New England Patriots — East Division.
Baltimore Ravens — Wild-card spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Wild-card spot.
ELIMINATED:
Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Miami, Jacksonville.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England clinches a first-round bye:
1) NE win + HOU loss or tie
2) NE win + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie
3) NE tie + HOU loss
4) NE tie + PIT loss + BAL loss
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs:
1) NE win + HOU loss or tie + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches AFC North Division:
1) BAL win + PIT loss
Baltimore clinches a first-round bye:
1) BAL win + PIT loss + HOU loss
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver clinches AFC West Division:
1) DEN win + OAK loss or tie
2) DEN tie + OAK loss + SD loss or tie
Denver clinches a wild-card spot:
1) DEN win + NYJ loss + CIN loss + TEN loss or tie