Week 15 playoff picture

Cold, Hard Football Facts for Dec 10, 2008

Wow, big week in terms of its impact on the playoff picture. As many as seven postseason spots could be wrapped up this week, as the Vikings, Bucs, Panthers, Broncos, Steelers, Colts and Ravens all have a chance to clinch.

Considering that three spots were secured last week (Giants, Titans, Cardinals), we could find ourselves in a very rare situation in the NFL: a season in which only two spots were up for grabs over the final two weeks of the season.

NFC

CLINCHED: N.Y. Giants – NFC East.

Arizona – NFC West.

ELIMINATED: Detroit, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle.

NEW YORK GIANTS

NY Giants clinch a first-round bye with:

1) NYG win or tie OR

2) MIN loss + ATL loss or tie OR

3) MIN loss + CAR win or tie OR

4) MIN-ARI game ends in a tie.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota clinches NFC North Division with:

· MIN win + CHI loss.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Tampa Bay clinches a playoff spot with:

1) TB win + DAL loss or tie OR

2) TB win + PHI loss or tie.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CAR win + DAL loss or tie OR

2) CAR win or tie + ATL loss or tie OR

3) CAR tie + DAL loss + PHI loss or tie OR

4) ATL loss + DAL loss + WAS loss or tie OR

5) ATL loss + DAL loss + CHI loss or tie OR

6) ATL loss + PHI loss + WAS loss or tie + CHI loss or tie.

AFC

CLINCHED: Tennessee – AFC South and first-round bye.

ELIMINATED: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Oakland.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Tennessee clinches homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) TEN win + PIT loss or tie OR

2) TEN tie + PIT loss.

DENVER BRONCOS

Denver clinches AFC West Division with:

1) DEN win or tie OR

2) SD loss or tie.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North Division and a first-round bye with:

· PIT win.

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) PIT tie + NE loss or tie OR

2) PIT tie + MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR

3) NE loss + NYJ loss or tie OR

4) NE loss + MIA loss or tie OR

5) NYJ loss + MIA loss.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Indianapolis clinches a playoff spot with:

1) IND win + NE loss + NYJ loss or tie OR

2) IND win + NE loss + MIA loss or tie OR

3) IND win + MIA loss + NYJ loss.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:

1) BAL win + NE loss + NYJ loss or tie OR

2) BAL win + NE loss + MIA loss or tie OR

3) BAL win + MIA loss + NYJ loss + IND loss or tie OR

4) BAL win + MIA loss + NYJ loss + IND clinches strength of victory

tiebreaker over MIA.

By Kerry Byrne

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