The clinching scenarios are highlighted by the Chiefs and Saints, who play a potential Super Bowl preview at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday. Both have already clinched spots in the postseason, with Kansas City controlling the AFC West, too, and looking for a first-round bye. The other six teams that have clinching possibilities in Week 15 are the Bills, Steelers, Titans, Seahawks, Rams and Buccaneers.
Below are all the NFL playoff clinching scenarios for the eight teams that have chances to stamp their postseason status in Week 15, followed by a complete playoff picture.
MORE: Explaining the NFL’s expanded playoffs
NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 15
Buffalo Bills (10-3)
(at Broncos)
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
Bills win OR Dolphins loss OR Bills tie AND Dolphins tie
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
Bills tie AND Ravens loss or tie OR Ravens loss
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
(at Saints)
Kansas City clinches first-round bye with:
Chiefs win AND Steelers loss AND Bills loss or tie
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
(at Bengals)
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:
Steelers win OR Browns loss OR Steelers tie AND Browns tie
Tennessee Titans (9-4)
(vs. Lions)
Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:
Titans win AND Ravens loss OR Titans win AND Raiders loss or tie AND Dolphins loss AND Browns win or tie OR Titans win AND Raiders loss or tie AND Dolphins loss AND Titans or Browns clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Dolphins
Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
(vs. Jets)
Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:
Rams win or tie OR Vikings-Bears tie
New Orleans Saints (10-3)
(vs. Chiefs)
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:
Saints win OR Buccaneers loss OR Saints tie AND Buccaneers tie
Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
(at Washington)
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
Seahawks win or tie OR Vikings-Bears tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
(at Falcons)
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:
Buccaneers win AND Vikings-Bears tie
NFL playoff picture 2021
AFC
In the hunt: Ravens (8-5), Raiders (7-6), Patriots (6-7)
NFC
In the hunt: Vikings (6-7), Bears (6-7), Giants (5-8)
