As we get closer to the end of the 2023 season, more and more NFL playoff-clinching scenarios are going to continue to arise. Week 15 sees five teams with clinching scenarios.
Four of those, the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles, can clinch playoff spots in Week 15, while the San Francisco 49ers could lock up the division.
Playoff Clinching Scenarios – Week 15 Update
Note that this article was published on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7:40 a.m. ET before Saturday’s games began. The results of this week’s games are below and will continue to be updated throughout the day. We will also strike out any scenarios that are no longer relevant as they become such.
Saturday Games
Bengals (8-6) defeated Vikings (7-7)
Colts (8-6) defeated Steelers (7-7)
Lions (10-4) defeated Broncos (7-7)
1 p.m. Games Update
Panthers (2-12) defeated Falcons (6-8)
The Dallas Cowboys have clinched a playoff spot thanks to the Falcons loss.
Buccaneers (7-7) defeated Packers (6-8)
Saints (7-7) defeated Giants (5-9)
Dolphins (10-4) defeated Jets (5-9)
Chiefs (9-5) defeated Patriots (3-11)
4 p.m. Games Update
Bills (8-6) defeated Cowboys (10-4)
Rams (7-7) defeated Commanders (4-10)
49ers (11-3) defeated Cardinals (3-11)
The San Francisco 49ers have clinched the NFC West.
The Philadelphia Eagles have clinched a playoff spot thanks to a combination of results.
Sunday Night Football Update
Ravens (11-3) defeated Jaguars (8-6)
The Baltimore Ravens have clinched a playoff spot thanks to a combination of results.
Monday Night Football Update
Seahawks (7-7) defeated Eagles (10-4)
Baltimore Ravens Playoff Clinching Scenarios
Editor’s Note: The Ravens have clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Jaguars following earlier losses by the Broncos and Steelers on Saturday.
The Ravens have 25 different clinching scenarios this week. Nine of those involve the Ravens winning, and then there are a further 16 scenarios that could come into play if the Ravens tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week.
Heading into their Sunday Night Football game, the Ravens will know definitively whether they can clinch a playoff spot this week or if they will have to wait until next week. The following scenarios involve the Ravens winning in Week 15:
Ravens win, Denver Broncos lose or tie, and Buffalo Bills lose or tie.- Ravens win, Broncos lose or tie, and Pittsburgh Steelers lose or tie.
Ravens win, Bills lose or tie, and Steelers lose or tie.Ravens win, Bills lose or tie, and Texans lose or tie.Ravens win, Browns lose or tie, and Steelers-Indianapolis Colts tie.Ravens win, Texans lose or tie, and Steelers-Colts tie.Ravens win, Broncos lose or tie, and Houston Texans lose or tie.Ravens win, Bills lose or tie, and Browns lose or tie.Ravens win, Broncos lose or tie, and Cleveland Browns lose or tie.
The following scenarios involve a Ravens’ tie in Week 15:
Ravens tie, Broncos lose, and Bills lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Steelers lose, Texans lose or tie, and Browns lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Steelers lose, Browns lose, Bills win, and Dolphins win or tie.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Steelers lose, Texans lose or tie, and Browns lose.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Steelers lose, Texans lose or tie, and Kansas City Chiefs lose.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Steelers lose, Browns lose, and Chiefs lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Colts lose, and Texans lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Colts lose, Texans tie, and Browns lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Colts lose, Browns lose, Bills win, and Miami Dolphins win or tie.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Steelers lose Texans lose or tie, and Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Steelers lose, Browns lose, and Bengals lose or tie.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Colts lose, and Texans lose.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Colts lose, Texans tie, and Browns lose.Ravens tie, Bills lose, Steelers lose, Texans lose or tie, and Bengals lose or tie.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Steelers lose, Bengals lose or tie, and Browns lose.Ravens tie, Broncos lose, Steelers lose, Bengals lose or tie, Bills win, and Dolphins win or tie.
Dallas Cowboys Playoff Clinching Scenarios
Editor’s Note: The Cowboys have clinched thanks to losses by the Packers and Falcons and a win for the Lions.
The Cowboys have a very simple playoff-clinching scenario this week. If they win, they are in. However, the Cowboys could also clinch a playoff spot with a loss and certain combinations of results. In total, there are 14 scenarios for the Cowboys to clinch a playoff spot this week.
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- Packers lose, Falcons lose or tie, and Detroit Lions win or tie.
- Cowboys win or tie.
- Los Angeles Rams lose or tie, and Seattle Seahawks lose or tie.
- Green Bay Packers lose, Rams lose or tie, and Atlanta Falcons lose or tie.
- Packers lose, Falcons lose or tie, and Seahawks lose or tie.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose, Minnesota Vikings lose or tie, and Rams lose or tie.
- Buccaneers lose, Vikings lose or tie, and Seahawks lose or tie.
- Buccaneers lose, Vikings lose or tie, and Lions win or tie.
- Buccaneers lose, San Francisco 49ers win or tie, and Lions win or tie.
- Buccaneers lose, Lions win or tie, and Rams lose or tie.
- Buccaneers-Packers tie, and Rams lose or tie.
- Buccaneers-Packers tie, and Seahawks lose or tie.
- Seahawks lose or tie, Vikings lose, Cowboys clinch tie in strength-of-victory over Falcons.
Buccaneers-Packers tie, and Lions lose or tie.
Detroit Lions Playoff Clinching Scenarios
The Lions had 16 scenarios for clinching a playoff spot in Week 15. Seven of those scenarios involved them winning (which they did), and the other nine would have come into play if they had tied with the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
Detroit did not know when they took to the field if they could clinch a playoff spot this week. All of their scenarios involve teams playing on Sunday or Monday, meaning the Lions will have to sit and wait after winning on Saturday. The following scenarios come into play following the Lions win in Week 15:
Lions win, Seattle Seahawks lose or tie, and Green Bay Packers lose or tie.Lions win, Seahawks lose or tie, and Minnesota Vikings lose or tie.Lions win, Seahawks lose or tie, and Los Angeles Rams lose or tie.Lions win, Rams lose or tie, Packers lose, and Atlanta Falcons lose or tie.Lions win, Rams lose to tie, and Falcons lose or tie.Lions win, Rams lose or tie, and Packers-Buccaneers tie.Lions win, Rams lose or tie, Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose, and Vikings lose or tie.
Philadelphia Eagles Playoff Clinching Scenarios
Editor’s Note: The Eagles have clinched thanks to various results as noted below.
The Eagles’ simplest playoff-clinching scenario is a win when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. However, they may already have a playoff spot locked up before they take to the field on Monday.
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There are a total of eight scenarios across Saturday and Sunday that could see the Eagles clinch before they suit up in Week 15:
- Eagles win or tie.
Green Bay Packers lose, Atlanta Falcons lose or tie, and Los Angeles Rams lose or tie.- Packers lose, Falcons lose or tie, San Francisco 49ers win or tie, and Detroit Lions win.
Vikings lose or tie, Falcons lose or tie, and Rams lose or tie.- Vikings lose or tie, Falcons lose or tie, 49ers win or tie, and Lions win.
Buccaneers-Packers tie, and Rams lose or tie.Buccaneers-Packers tie, 49ers win or tie, and Lions win.Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose, Minnesota Vikings lose or tie, and Rams lose or tie.Buccaneers lose, Falcons lose or tie, 49ers win or tie, and Lions win.
San Francisco 49ers NFC West Clinching Scenarios
Editor’s Note: The 49ers have clinched the NFC West thanks to their win over the Cardinals.
The 49ers have the opportunity to be the first team to clinch their division in 2023. Both of the games that could clinch the division for San Francisco kick off at 4:05 p.m. ET. Therefore, the 49ers may win the NFC West while they are still playing against the Arizona Cardinals this week.
- 49ers win or tie.
Los Angeles Rams lose or tie.
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