Dolphins, Chiefs, Lions, and Browns Could All Lock Up Postseason Berths This Week

In Week 16, there are six NFL teams who have a playoff-clinching scenario this week. Four of those teams can clinch postseason berths, while the other two are looking to lock up a division or a No. 1 seed after locking up a playoff spot last week.

Below are all of the Week 16 NFL playoff-clinching scenarios that are in play across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this week.

NFL Playoff Clinching Scenario for Week 16

The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth last week but have two scenarios this week for locking up the AFC North division title:

1. Baltimore win + Cleveland Brown loss or tie OR
2. Baltimore tie + Cleveland loss

The Browns could join the Ravens in the playoff this week, but they need quite a lot of things to go their way. The following eight scenarios would see the Browns clinch a playoff berth this week:

1. Cleveland win + Cincinnati Bengals loss + Denver Broncos loss or tie + Buffalo Bills loss + Miami Dolphins win or tie + Indianapolis Colts loss or tie OR
2. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh Steelers loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Miami win or tie + Denver loss or tie OR
3. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Miami win or tie + Jacksonville Jaguars loss + Indianapolis win OR
4. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Jacksonville loss + Indianapolis win OR
5. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Kansas City Chiefs win + Indianapolis win + Jacksonville loss OR
6. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Miami win or tie + Indianapolis loss OR
7. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Miami win or tie + Jacksonville loss OR
8. Cleveland win + Cincinnati-Pittsburgh tie + Buffalo loss + Indianapolis win + Jacksonville loss

The Chiefs are in the somewhat strange spot of all-or-nothing this week. They can either clinch the division or nothing due to the various records and tiebreakers of the teams involved. The following two scenarios would see the AFC West title heading to Kansas City again this season:

1. Kansas City win OR
2. Kansas City tie + Denver loss

The Dolphins have a total of eight playoff-clinching scenarios this week. The first two scenarios will see them clinch the AFC East, while the other six will see them clinch a Wild Card playoff berth.

MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor

Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

1. Miami win + Buffalo loss or tie OR
2. Miami tie + Buffalo loss

Miami clinches a playoff berth in the following scenarios:

1. Miami win OR
2. Miami tie + Jacksonville loss OR
3. Miami tie + Indianapolis loss + Houston loss OR
4. Miami tie + Indianapolis loss or tie + Cleveland loss OR
5. Miami tie + Houston loss or tie + Cincinnati loss or tie OR
6. Miami tie + Cincinnati loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Much like the Dolphins, the Lions also have two sets of clinching scenarios, one for the division and one for a Wild Card berth. In total, there are just three scenarios for the Lions this week, and they are all fairly simple.

Detroit clinches the NFC North division title with:

1. Detroit win or tie

Detroit clinches playoff berth with:

1. Los Angeles Rams loss or tie OR
2. Seattle loss or tie

The San Francisco 49ers already have a playoff spot, and the AFC West locked up. Now, they are looking to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a week to spare.

There is only one set of scenarios that would ensure the 49ers a Wild Card Weekend bye this week:

1. San Francisco win + Philadelphia loss + Dallas loss + Detroit loss

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