NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 16: Cowboys, Chiefs, Buccaneers clinch with win

Here are the NFL playoff-clinching scenarios entering Sunday, including the impact from the Christmas Day games.

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios in the AFC for Week 16

CLINCHED: None

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-4) (vs. Pittsburgh (7-6-1), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:

1. KC win + LAC loss or tie OR
2. KC tie + LAC loss

Kansas City clinches playoff berth with:

1. KC win OR
2. KC tie + BUF loss OR
3. KC tie + IND loss OR
4. KC tie + CIN-BAL does not end in a tie

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-5) (vs. Buffalo (8-6), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)

New England clinches AFC East division title with:

1. NE win + MIA loss or tie

New England clinches playoff berth with:

1. NE win + LV loss or tie + LAC loss OR
2. NE win + IND loss or tie + CIN loss OR
3. NE win + IND loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
4. NE win + IND loss or tie + LAC loss OR
5. NE win + BAL loss + CLE loss or tie + PIT loss or tie

TENNESSEE TITANS (9-5) beat San Francisco (8-6)

Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:

1. MIA loss or tie + BUF loss + DEN loss or tie + CLE loss or tie + PIT loss OR
2. MIA loss or tie + BUF loss + DEN loss or tie + CLE loss or tie + BAL loss or tie

NOTE: There are other scenarios in which Tennessee can clinch a playoff berth that involve a Dolphins loss or tie, a Bills loss, and a combination of other teams losing and various strength-of-victory clinchings.

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios in the NFC for Week 16

CLINCHED: Green Bay Packers – NFC North division title, Dallas Cowboys playoff berth

ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-4) lost to Indianapolis (8-6)

Arizona clinches playoff berth with:

1. PHI loss or tie
2. PHI loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR
3. PHI loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
4. MIN loss or tie
5. MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
6. NO loss or tie

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4) (vs. Washington (6-8), Sunday night, 8:20 PM, NBC)

Dallas clinches NFC East division title with:

1. DAL win or tie OR
2. PHI loss or tie OR
3. DAL clinches at least a tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI

LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-4) (at Minnesota (7-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Los Angeles Rams clinch playoff berth with:

1. LAR win or tie OR
2. PHI loss or tie + NO loss or tie

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-4) (at Carolina (5-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:

1. TB win or tie OR
2. NO loss or tie

Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:

1. MIN loss or tie + PHI loss or tie OR
2. MIN loss or tie + DAL win or tie OR
3. MIN loss or tie + DAL clinches at least a tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios data courtesy of NFL Communications