NFL Playoff Races Intensify

NFL 2008 Week 14 was a week in which three teams clinched NFL playoff spots. The Tennessee Titans (12-1) clinched the AFC South by defeating the Cleveland Browns 28-9. The Arizona Cardinals won the NFC West by winning 34-10 over the Saint Louis Rams.

And even though, they lost to the Eagles 2-14, the Giants clinched the NFC East by virtue of the Dallas Cowboys 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ten NFL teams have now been eliminated from playoff contention due to results of NFL 2008 Week 14 contests.

The NFL playoff picture can become even clearer after this week.

The New York Giants (11-2) can secure a first-round bye this weekend. The Titans (12-1) can earn homefield advantage throughout the playoffs on Sunday when they face the Texans in Houston.

As the NFL enters Week 15, 12 NFC teams are still alive for a playoff berth in the NFC.

The NFL 2008 Week 15 schedule features a number of NFC teams vying for a playoff spot.

On Thursday night, the New Orleans Saints (7-6) visit the Chicago Bears (7-6). Two NFC East rivals will meet on Sunday night when the Dallas Cowboys (8-5) host the Giants. And on Monday night, the Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1) look to extend their winning streak to three games and keep their playoff drive alive when they face the Cleveland Browns at home.

In the AFC 10 teams are squeezed into the playoff picture.

Miami Dolphins rookie head coach TONY SPARANO, whose club is in the heat of the AFC East playoff push, says the focus is to believe in "now."

"I learn an awful lot from this team every single week and this week [after a 16-3 win over Buffalo] they taught me that they really focus on the 'now,'" says Sparano. "I think they have done a nice job focusing on the 'now,' not worrying about anything down the road. Every day we come to work, there's a new challenge in front of us, the stakes get bigger and bigger."

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) and Denver Broncos (8-5) can clinch division titles this weekend while the Indianapolis Colts (9-4) and Baltimore Ravens (9-4) are on the cusp of earning playoff berths.

The New York Jets (8-5), New England Patriots (8-5) and Miami Dolphins (8-5) are battling for the AFC East title.

The San Diego Chargers (5-8) chances may be slim, but they still have a shot at catching the Broncos for the AFC West division title.

NFL 2008 Week 15: Playoff Races & Playoff Scenarios | NFL Playoff Births

Teams eliminated so far from NFC playoff contention include the winless Detroit Lions (0 - 13), Saint Louis Rams (2 - 11), the Seattle Seahawks (2 -11) and the San Francisco 49ers (5-8).

In the AFC the Cincinnati Bengals (1-11-1), Kansas City Chiefs (2 - 11), Oakland Raiders (3-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9), Cleveland Browns (4-9) and Houston Texans (6-7) have been officially elimiated from the playoffs.

A look at who can clinch & how they can clinch:

NEW YORK GIANTS (11-2) NFC East Division Champs

The New York Giants can clinch a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs with:

1) New York Giants win or tie OR

2) Minnesota Vikings loss + Falcons loss or tie OR

3) Minnesota Vikings loss + Panthers win or tie OR

4) Minnesota Vikings - Arizona Cardinals game ends in a tie.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-5)

The Minnesota Vikings can win the NFC North Division:

1) Vikings win plus a Bears loss

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-4)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch an NFC playoff spot with:

1) Buccaneers win + Dallas Cowboys loss or tie OR

2) Buccaneers win + Eagles loss or tie.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (10-3)

1) Panthers win + Dallas Cowboys loss or tie OR

2) Panthers win or tie + Falcons loss or tie OR

3) Panthers tie + Dallas Cowboys loss + Eagles loss or tie OR

4) ATL loss + Dallas Cowboys loss + Redskins loss or tie OR

5) ATL loss + Dallas Cowboys loss + Bears loss or tie OR

6) ATL loss + Eagles loss + Redskins loss or tie + Bears loss or tie.

TENNESSEE TITANS (12-1) AFC South Division Champs & 1st Round Bye

Tennessee clinches homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) Titans win + Steelers loss or tie OR

2) Titans tie + Steelers loss.

DENVER BRONCOS (8-5)

Denver clinches AFC West Division title with:

1) Broncos win or tie OR

2) Chargers (5-8) loss or tie

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-3)

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North Division and a first-round bye with:

1) Steelers win over the Ravens (9-4)

 

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) Steelers tie + Patriots loss or tie OR

2) Steelers tie + Dolphins loss or tie + Jets loss or tie OR

3) Patriots loss + Jets loss or tie OR

4) Patriots loss + Dolphins loss or tie OR

5) Jets loss + Dolphins loss.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-4)

Indianapolis clinches a playoff spot with:

1) Colts win + Patriots loss + Jets loss or tie OR

2) Colts win + Patriots loss + Dolphins loss or tie OR

3) Colts win + Dolphins loss + Jets loss.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-4)

Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:

1) Ravens win + Patriots loss + Jets loss or tie OR

2) Ravens win + Patriots loss + Dolphins loss or tie OR

3) Ravens win + Dolphins loss + Jets loss + Colts loss or tie OR

4) Ravens win + Dolphins loss + Jets loss + Colts clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Dolphins.

Five teams in the NFC are within one game or less of the final NFC Wildcard playoff spot entering the final three weeks of the regular season. The Eagles and Carolina Panthers have the toughest remaining schedule of the contenders, facing opponents with a combined 35-20 (.636) mark.

In the AFC, the NFL 2008 playoff picture is becoming clearer as nine AFC teams are at least one game above .500. The Tennessee Titans face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day (CBS, 12:30 PM ET) and can become the first AFC team to secure a playoff berth. With a Titans win and an Indianapolis loss on Sunday, Tennessee would clinch its first AFC South Division title since 2002.

Among the AFC clubs seeking to strengthen their position in a competitive field are the AFC East-leading New York Jets. Jets head coach ERIC MANGINI is cognizant of what is at stake as the NFL season turns to the stretch run. "Every game becomes that much more important. I don't think that anybody is satisfied with what they've done to this point" says Mangini.

 

Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the NFC teams still alive in the playoff hunt:

NFC EAST

 

NFC NORTH

 

NFC SOUTH

 

NFC WEST

The Arizona Cardinals (8-5) have clinched the NFC West Division.

Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the nine AFC teams with an above .500 record:

AFC EAST

 

AFC NORTH

 

AFC SOUTH

The Tennessee Titans (12-1) have clinched the AFC South Division

Team	Opponents Record	Week 13	Week14	Week 15	Week 16	Week 17
Titans (12-1)	23-32 (.418)	W	W	@Texans	Steelers	@Colts
Colts (8-4)	19-35-1 (.345)	W	W	Lions	@Jaguars	Titans

 

AFC WEST

Team	Opponents Record	Week 13	Week14	Week 15	Week 16	Week 17
Broncos (8-5)	27-28 (.491)	W	W	@Panthers	Bills	@Chargers

 

2008 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

The New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans clinched their respective division titles in NFL 2008 Week 14.

NFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

CLINCHED: Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) , New York Giants (NFC East)

ELIMINATED: Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers

AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

CLINCHED: Tennessee Titans (AFC South)

ELIMINATED: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders

 

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NFL Playoff Scenarios - NFL 2008 Week 15