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2023 NFL playoff clinching scenarios heading into Week 17 (2023). Which teams can secure a spot to the postseason this week?
After an eventful holiday week in the NFL, we are just two weeks away from the start of the playoffs. The playoff picture is finally starting to take shape, and we are gaining insight into where each team will stand in the postseason.
In the AFC, the Ravens and Dolphins secured playoff berths with their significant Week 16 wins, while the Browns and Bills clearly have an advantage in the Wild Card race. Currently, six teams in the AFC with seven or eight wins are vying for the seventh seed.
On the NFC side, the Lions secured their first division title since 1993, and the race for the top seed is coming down to the wire with four teams at 10 or 11 wins. Tampa Bay gained the edge in the NFC South race, while the Wild Card race features six teams with seven or eight wins competing for the sixth and seventh spots.
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AFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios
CLINCHED:
1). Baltimore Ravens (12-3): playoff berth
2). Miami Dolphins (11-4): playoff berth
Baltimore Ravens (12-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-4)
Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:
1). BAL win or tie
2). CLE loss or tie
Baltimore clinches AFC #1 seed with:
1). BAL win
Buffalo Bills (9-6) vs. New England Patriots (4-11)
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
1). BUF win + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie
2). BUF win + PIT loss or tie + JAX loss or tie
3). BUF win + PIT loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie
4). BUF win + CIN loss or tie + JAX loss or tie
5). BUF win + CIN loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie
6). BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + JAX loss
7). BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + HOU loss or tie
8). BUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + IND loss or tie
9). BUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie
10). BUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie
11). BUF tie + PIT loss + HOU loss + IND loss
12). BUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie
13). BUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie
14). BUF tie + CIN loss + HOU loss + IND loss
Cleveland Browns (10-5) vs. New York Jets (6-9)
Cleveland clinches playoff berth with:
1). CLE win or tie
2). PIT loss or tie
3). BUF loss
4). JAX loss or tie
5). HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-13)
Jacksonville clinches playoff berth and AFC South division title with:
1). JAX win + IND loss + HOU loss
Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West division title with:
1). KC win or tie
2). LV loss or tie + DEN loss or tie
Miami Dolphins (11-4) at Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
Miami clinches AFC East division title with:
1). MIA win or tie
2). BUF loss or tie
NFC Playoff Clinching Scenarios
CLINCHED:
1). San Francisco 49ers (11-4): NFC West division title
2). Detroit Lions (11-4): NFC North division title
3). Philadelphia Eagles (11-4): playoff berth
4). Dallas Cowboys (10-5): playoff berth
Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at New York Giants (5-10)
L.A. Rams clinch playoff berth with:
1). LAR win + SEA loss
2). LAR win + GB-MIN tie
Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:
1). PHI win + DAL loss or tie
2). PHI tie + DAL loss
San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Washington Commanders (4-11)
San Francisco clinches NFC #1 seed with:
1). SF win + DET loss + PHI loss
Seattle Seahawks (8-7) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
1). SEA win + GB-MIN tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-8)
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth and NFC South division title with:
1). TB win
2). TB tie + ATL loss
Eliminated Teams from NFL Playoffs
- Arizona Cardinals
- Carolina Panthers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New York Jets
- New York Giants
- New England Patriots
- Tennessee Titans
- Washington Commanders
NFL Playoffs Tiebreaking Procedures
- Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
- Strength of victory in all games.
- Strength of schedule in all games
- Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
- Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
- Best net points in common games.
- Best net points in all games.
- Best net touchdowns in all games.
- Coin toss
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