NFL Week 15 Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Every NFL team has just 4 games remaining in the regular season. As the season winds to an end, we get playoff clinching scenarios pretty much every week. Last week the Philadelphia Eagles clinched their spot in the playoffs. That is the only team that has punched their ticket to the post season. Minnesota could have won the NFC North last weekend had they beat the Lions. But as we know this did not happen. Week 15 gives us 5 teams that can clinch their way into the playoffs. Buffalo, Kansas City, Dallas, Minnesota, and San Francisco. The 49ers travel to Seattle to face the struggling Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Buffalo host the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night on NFL Network. Those are the two teams playing on national television with NFL week 15 playoff clinching scenarios.

On the flip side of things, there aren't many teams eliminated from playoff contention. Chicago is the only NFC team that is mathematically eliminated. While in the AFC the Broncos and Texans are the only teams eliminated. For those of you who thought the 3rd Wild Card team was a bad idea, this is the reason it is not. 29 of the 32 teams still have chance at getting into the playoffs. So maybe the 7th seed gets routed in the playoffs, but they're playing meaningful games in December. That's the point. But enough about the teams fighting to get in. Let's focus on the team who can punch their ticket this weekend. Here are the NFL week 15 playoff clinching scenarios.

BUFFALO BILLS (10-3) (vs. Miami (8-5), Saturday night, 8:15 PM ET, NFLN)

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

1) BUF win OR
2) BUF tie + LAC loss OR
3) BUF tie + NYJ loss + NE loss OR
4) BUF tie + NYJ loss + NE tie + LAC tie

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-3) (at Houston (1-11-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:

1) KC win OR
2) LAC loss OR
3) KC tie + LAC tie

Kansas City clinches playoff berth with:

1) KC tie + NYJ loss + NE loss OR

2) KC tie + MIA loss + NE loss + NYJ tie OR
3) KC tie + MIA loss + NYJ loss + NE tie

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-3) (at Jacksonville (5-8), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Dallas clinches playoff berth with:

1) DAL win OR
2) DAL tie + NYG/WAS does not end in a tie OR
3) DAL tie + SEA loss or tie OR
4) SEA loss + DET loss or tie OR
5) SEA loss + WAS loss

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-3) (vs. Indianapolis (4-8-1), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, NFLN)

Minnesota clinches NFC North division title with:

1) MIN win or tie OR
2) DET loss or tie

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-4) (at Seattle (7-6), Thursday night, 8:15 PM ET, Prime Video)

San Francisco clinches NFC West division title with:

1) SF win