Entering Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season, many teams are jockeying for playoff positioning. So far, the 10-2 Buffalo Bills and 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs are the only teams that have clinched a playoff berth.
However, three more squads can punch their playoff ticket this weekend: the 11-1 Detroit Lions, the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings, and the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles. What needs to happen for these franchises to secure a playoff spot in Week 14? Let’s use PFN’s Playoff Predictor to find out.
Detroit Lions’ Playoff-Clinching Scenarios in Week 14
The Lions were the first NFC team to reach double-digit wins, as they have only lost one game this season (Week 2 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). PFN’s model gives Detroit a 62.4% chance of winning the NFC North and a 30.4% chance of winning the Super Bowl — the highest odds of any team in the NFL (no other team is above 10%).
While the Lions can’t win the division on Sunday, they can clinch a playoff berth this week. Here’s how Dan Campbell’s squad can punch their ticket in Week 14:
- DET win or tie
- ATL loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
- ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
- ATL loss or tie + LAR loss or tie + PHI win
- ATL loss or tie + SEA loss + PHI win
- ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + PHI win + DET clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over PHI
- TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
- TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
- TB loss or tie + LAR loss or tie + PHI win
- TB loss or tie + SEA loss + PHI win
The Lions host the Green Bay Packers (9-3) on Thursday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime.
Minnesota Vikings’ Playoff-Clinching Scenarios in Week 14
Aside from losses in Week 7-8 to the Lions and Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings have been perfect this season, exceeding all preseason expectations.
In certain divisions, the 10-win Vikings would be a virtual lock to take the division crown. However, because Minnesota is in the NFC North, they trail Detroit. But there is good news for Kevin O’Connell’s crew: they can clinch a playoff berth this weekend.
PFN’s model gives the Vikings a 98% chance of making the playoffs, a 26.7% chance of winning their division, and 9.3% odds of winning the Super Bowl.
Here’s what needs to happen for the Vikings to punch their postseason ticket in Week 14:
- MIN win + SEA-ARI tie
- MIN win + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
- MIN tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss
- MIN tie + TB loss + ARI tie + LAR loss + PHI win or tie
The Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Playoff-Clinching Scenarios in Week 14
The 10-2 Eagles have now won eight consecutive games, and they have an excellent chance of improving that winning streak to nine this Sunday at home against the Carolina Panthers (3-9).
PFN’s model gives Philadelphia a 96.2% chance of winning the NFC East and a 9.7% chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Here’s how the Eagles can clinch a playoff spot in Week 14:
- PHI win + ATL loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
- PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
- PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
- PHI win + TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
- PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or lie
- PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
- PHI tie + ATL loss + SEA-ARI tie
- PHI tie + ATL loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
- PHI tie + TB loss + SEA-ARI tie
- PHI tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
For more possible playoff scenarios and to simulate the rest of the season, check out PFN’s Playoff Predictor!