The Bills clinched the AFC East, the Lions and Chiefs clinched a playoff berth, and 11 more playoff spots are up for grabs. This is how the NFL playoff photo takes care of Thursday of week 14:
NFC Playoff Photo
DIVISION HEADS
1. Detroit Lions (12-1): Big victory Thursday night against the Packers.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2): A 2.5-game lead in the NFC East is probably insurmountable. But can they catch the Lions for first place?
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5): Took a big step toward winning the NFC West by winning Sunday while the Cardinals and 49ers both lost.
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
WILD CARDS
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2): A home loss to the Lions would hurt their chances, but a Week 18 rematch in Detroit looms.
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4): Getting swept by the Lions virtually eliminates them from NFC North contention.
7. Washington Commanders (8-5): A big win against the Titans reversed their recent slide.
ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOK IN
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6): Own tiebreakers against the Cardinals and Rams.
9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): Set up a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Rams.
10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6): Stayed alive with a victory against the Saints.
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-7): The NFC preseason favorites are unlikely to make the playoffs.
12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7): The Thanksgiving win kept them alive.
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8): Two games eliminated in the NFC South.
14. Chicago Bears (4-8): New interim head coach Thomas Brown takes over a team that sits in last place in the NFC North.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-9): Playing much better football lately.
16. New York Giants (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.
AFC Playoff Photo
DIVISION HEADS
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1): They have clinched a playoff spot, but a loss to the Bills could cost them in the race for the No. 1 seed.
2. Buffalo Bills (10-2): They won the AFC East, and now they want the Chiefs to lose a game.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): A 1.5-game lead and tiebreaker advantage in the AFC North.
4. Houston Texans (8-5): They’re not playing well, but they should win the AFC South by default.
WILD CARDS
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4): Tough victory on the road in Atlanta.
6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5): Lack of time to catch up with the Steelers.
7. Denver Broncos (8-5): Bo Nix led them in the wild card race.
ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOK IN
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7): Catching the Texans in the AFC South will be a longshot.
9. Miami Dolphins (5-7): The loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving hurt their hopes of a late season success.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8): They might not make the playoffs even if they lead the standings.
11. Cleveland Browns (3-9): Deshaun Watson has dug a hole that Jameis Winston will not be able to get the Browns out of.
12. New York Jets (3-9): Aaron Rodgers’ experiment is a disaster.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-9): A big surprise against the Texans on Sunday.
14. New England Patriots (3-10): Mathematically eliminated.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.
Decisive scenarios
The following Week 14 playoff scenarios have been distributed by the NFL:
AFC
DECLINED:
Buffalo Bills (10-2) – AFC East
Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) – playoff berth
Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Kansas City wins AFC West division title with:
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KC victory
NFC
DECLINED:
Detroit Lions (12-1) – playoff berth
Minnesota Vikings (10-2) against the Atlanta Falcons (6-6); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Minnesota clinches playoff spot with:
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MIN victory + SEA-ARI draw
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MIN victory + ARI defeat + LAR defeat or draw
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equality MIN + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss
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MIN tie + TB loss + ARI tie + LAR loss + victory or PHI tie
Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) against the Carolina Panthers (3-9); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Philadelphia clinches playoff spot with:
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PHI victory + ATL defeat or tie + SEA-ARI tie
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PHI victory + ATL defeat or tie + ARI defeat + LAR defeat or tie
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PHI victory + ATL defeat or tie + ARI defeat + DET victory or tie
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PHI victory + defeat or TB tie + SEA-ARI tie
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PHI victory + defeat or tie TB + defeat ARI + defeat or tie LAR
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PHI victory + defeat or tie TB + defeat ARI + victory or tie DET
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PHI tie + ATL loss + SEA-ARI tie
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PHI tie + ATL loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
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PHI tie + TB loss + SEA-ARI tie
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PHI tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
