NFL
NFL playoff implications in Week 14: which teams can clinch or be eliminated
As we head into Week 14, two teams have clinched a playoff berth and four have been eliminated. Here are the teams whose fates could be decided this week.
The Kansas City Chiefs were the first to clinch a spot in the NFL postseason (and No. 1 in the AFC West) with an ugly win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday. The Buffalo Bills followed, clinching their own spot as well as the AFC East division with their win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
Four teams have now been eliminated from playoff contention as well: The New York Giants, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Week 14 comes with implications of its own. Let’s have a look at some scenarios that could clinch or eliminate teams from the playoffs.
NFL teams who can clinch or be eliminated from postseason in Week 14
NFL teams that can clinch:
There are three teams which can clinch a playoff in Week 14: The Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles.
They can each do so in a number of ways. Let me count them for you.
- Minnesota Vikings
- Vikings win + Cardinals tie
- Vikings win + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Vikings tie + Buccaneers loss + Rams loss + Cardinals loss
- Vikings tie + Buccaneers loss + Rams loss + Cardinals tie + Eagles win/tie
- Detroit Lions
- Lions win on TNF over Packers
- Falcons loss/tie + Rams loss/tie + Eagles win
- Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Falcons loss + Cardinals loss + Eagles win + wins from Cowboys, Bears, Steelers, Titans
- Falcons loss + Cardinals loss + Eagles win + Bears win + Steelers/Titans win
- Falcons tie + Cardinals loss + Eagles/Cowboys/Bears/Steelers/Titans wins
- Buccaneers loss/tie + Rams loss/tie + Eagles win
- Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win/tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win/tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals tie
NFL teams that can be eliminated:
There is one team which can be eliminated this week, and that’s the 3-9 Carolina Panthers. They would be knocked out of the race if they lose to the Eagles and the Falcons lose to the Vikings.
NFL playoff picture 2024 ahead of Week 14
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs* - 11-1
- Buffalo Bills* - 10-3
- Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-3
- Houston Texans - 8-5
- Los Angeles Chargers - 8-4 (WC)
- Baltimore Ravens - 8-5 (WC)
- Denver Broncos - 8-5 (WC)
*clinched playoff spot
NFC
- Detroit Lions - 11-1
- Philadelphia Eagles - 10-2
- Seattle Seahawks - 7-5
- Atlanta Falcons - 6-6
- Minnesota Vikings - 10-2 (WC)
- Green Bay Packers - 9-3 (WC)
- Washington Commanders - 8-5 (WC)
A look at the full picture: NFL standings after week 13: The playoff picture for the AFC and NFC divisions starting to take shape
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