NFL playoff clinching scenarios: Lions, Eagles, Vikings can join playoff field in Week 14
Bills secure AFC East, Ravens continue with self-inflicted wounds
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 13 in the NFL.
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Entering Week 14, two NFL teams – the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills – have secured playoff spots. By the end of the weekend, three more franchises can join the postseason field.
The Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles all have clinching scenarios on tap, with the Lions having the earliest and most straightforward chance to wrap up a berth with a win or tie Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. Even if they lose, though, Detroit could still find seal a spot with several different combinations that depend on other NFC teams failing to gain ground. The Vikings (hosting the Atlanta Falcons) and Eagles (home against the Carolina Panthers) each need to not only grab a win or tie against their respective opponents but also receive help elsewhere. And the Chiefs, meanwhile, can extend the second-longest divisional reign in NFL history by sealing their ninth consecutive AFC West title.
Here are all the possible playoff outcomes this week.
NFL Week 14 clinching scenarios
Kansas City Chiefs
- Clinch AFC West title with:
Detroit Lions
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Lions win or tie
- Falcons loss or tie + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Falcons loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Falcons loss or tie + Rams loss or tie + Eagles win
- Falcons loss or tie + Seahawks loss + Eagles win
- Falcons loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Eagles win + Lions clinch at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over Eagles
- Buccaneers loss or tie + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Buccaneers loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Buccaneers loss or tie + Rams loss or tie + Eagles win
- Buccaneers loss or tie + Seahawks loss + Eagles win
Minnesota Vikings
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Vikings win + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Vikings win + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Vikings tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss
- Vikings tie + Cardinals tie + Rams loss + Eagles win or tie
Philadelphia Eagles
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Eagles win + Falcons loss or tie + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win or tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss or tie + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss or tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win or tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Seahawks-Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss or tie
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