[Editor’s note: The NFL distributed this list of playoff scenarios for Week 16.]
AFC
CLINCHED: Denver – playoff spot
Indianapolis – AFC South
Kansas City – playoff spot
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver clinches AFC West division and a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win + KC loss
Denver clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) DEN win + KC loss + NE loss or tie
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England clinches AFC East division with:
1) NE win or tie OR
2) MIA loss or tie
New England clinches a first-round bye with:
1) NE win + CIN loss or tie + IND loss or tie OR
2) NE tie + CIN loss + IND loss
New England clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CIN loss or tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:
1) CIN win + BAL loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + BAL loss
Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CIN win + MIA loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + MIA loss
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + MIA loss + SD loss or tie
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Miami clinches a playoff spot with:
1) MIA win + BAL loss + CIN loss
NFC
CLINCHED: Seattle – playoff spot
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle clinches NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win or tie OR
2) SF loss or tie
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New Orleans clinches NFC South division and a first-round bye with:
1) NO win
New Orleans clinches a playoff spot with:
1) ARI loss OR
2) NO tie + SF loss or tie OR
3) NO tie + ARI tie OR
4) SF loss + ARI tie
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Carolina clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CAR win OR
2) CAR tie + ARI loss OR
3) CAR tie + SF loss OR
4) ARI loss + SF loss
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
San Francisco clinches a playoff spot with:
1) SF win OR
2) ARI loss OR
3) SF tie + ARI tie
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division with:
1) PHI win + DAL loss or tie OR
2) PHI tie + DAL loss
CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago clinches NFC North division with:
1) CHI win + DET loss or tie + GB loss