Through Week 14, the New England Patriots are the only team that has clinched a playoff berth. But in Week 15, eight other teams have a chance to join the Patriots in the postseason.
The NFL distributed the complete list of playoff scenarios today, and although some of them involve convoluted situations involving tie games or the strength of victory tiebreaker, it basically breaks down like this: The Steelers, Jets, Jaguars and Ravens all have opportunities to clinch spots in the AFC playoffs, while the Falcons, Bears, Saints and Giants all could wrap up spots in the NFC playoffs.
The Patriots can clinch the AFC East and a first-round bye with a win and a Jets loss.
The Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Ravens loss, and Pittsburgh could also clinch a first-round bye if Jacksonville loses, too. But the Steelers’ scenarios for winning the division depend on clinching the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Ravens as well. If you’re a Steelers fan who doesn’t want to worry about the strength of victory tiebreaker, just know that if the Steelers win they’re in the playoffs, and that even if the Steelers lose they’re in the playoffs if the Colts and either the Chiefs or Chargers lose.
For the Jaguars, it’s simple: Beat the Colts Sunday and they win the AFC South.
The Jets can clinch a playoff spot if they win, the Dolphins lose, the Colts lose and either the Chargers or Chiefs lose.
The Ravens can clinch a playoff spot with a win, the Colts losing and a few different combinations of losses involving the Chargers, Chiefs and Dolphins.
In the NFC no team has clinched a playoff spot, but the Falcons are getting closest. Atlanta is in the playoffs with a win, or a loss by either the Giants, Bears or Packers.
The Bears clinch the NFC North if they win and the Packers lose.
The Saints are in the playoffs with a win and some help, involving a few different combinations of losses from the Buccaneers, Giants, Bears and Packers.
The Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a win and losses by the Bears, Packers and Buccaneers, although they’d also need to clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Bucs.
If it all sounds complicated, that’s a good thing: Complex playoff scenarios are the result of a lot of different teams still having a chance of making the playoffs. In recent years the last couple weeks of the season have become boring as fewer teams have anything to play for. This year it’s wide open.