The 2022 NFL season is beginning to wind down, but there is still plenty to sort out in the standings and the playoff picture. Let’s run through the league and examine this week’s playoff-clinching scenarios for clubs like the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 15 NFL Playoff Scenarios
In Week 14, the Eagles became the first team to clinch a playoff berth. This week, five more squads will have the opportunity to punch their ticket.
Kansas City Chiefs Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
The Chiefs could have clinched their seventh consecutive AFC West had the Chargers lost the Dolphins on Sunday night, but they’ll get another chance in Week 15. Kansas City’s path to another division title will again involve Los Angeles.
Here’s how the Chiefs can win the AFC West on Sunday:
- Chiefs win
- OR Chargers lose
- OR Chiefs tie and Chargers tie
The Chiefs are heavily favored against the Texans, and while it will be a shock if Houston defeats Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, they almost took down the Cowboys in Week 14. Meanwhile, the Chargers are facing a home game against the Titans.
Kansas City also has three paths to clinching at least a Wild Card spot on Sunday, but they all involve a Chiefs tie.
Buffalo Bills Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
The AFC East is still tight enough that the Bills can’t clinch their division this week. However, they have a straightforward way to secure a playoff berth: beat the Dolphins on Saturday.
A win over Miami on what is expected to be a snowy night would put the Bills three games ahead of the Dolphins and all but give Buffalo the division title. The Bills also need the victory to retain the AFC’s No. 1 seed over the Chiefs, who currently hold the same 10-3 record as Buffalo.
The Bills have three other Week 15 scenarios that would lead to a playoff berth, but they all include a Buffalo tie.
Minnesota Vikings Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
After failing to beat the Lions and thus clinch the NFC North in Week 14, the Vikings will take another chance this week. Here’s what the Vikings need to happen to grab the division crown this weekend:
- Vikings win or tie
- OR Lions win or tie
Minnesota will open the Saturday slate by playing the Colts at home, while the Lions will travel to face the Jets on Sunday. The Vikings are unlikely to catch the Eagles for the top seed in the NFC, but they’ve essentially locked up either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, meaning they’ll get to avoid the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
The 49ers still look like a dangerous team with third-stringer Brock Purdy under center, but they’ll likely have to play the rest of the regular season without wide receiver Deebo Samuel after he suffered MCL and ankle injuries in Week 14.
If San Francisco beats the Seahawks on Thursday night, they’ll clinch at least a Wild Card slot. While they won’t have technically clinched the NFC West, the 49ers would be three games up on Seattle with only three games to go.
With a playoff spot locked up, San Francisco wouldn’t feel any pressure to bring Samuel back until the postseason begins.
Dallas Cowboys Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
While the Cowboys probably won’t be able to catch the Eagles in the NFC East, they look incredibly likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. Here’s how they can clinch a postseason berth on Sunday:
- Cowboys win
- OR Seahawks lose and Commanders lose
- OR Seahawks lose and Lions lose or tie
Dallas also has three more scenarios that include a Cowboys tie. After nearly suffering the most surprising loss of the season against the Texans in Week 14, Dallas will now take on another AFC South opponent, the Jaguars, who have much more to play for than Houston did.