NFL 2008 Week 16: Playoff Races & Playoff Scenarios
The Giants and Titans secured the top-seeds in their respective conferences at home on Sunday.
The Titans defeated the Steelers 31-14, while the Giants defeated the Panthers in overtime, 34-28. Despite the loss, the Steelers will hold on to the 2nd seed in the AFC and the Panthers have clinched an NFC playoff spot. However, the Panthers (11-4) may well need to win their final game to ensure the number 2 seed in the NFC as the Falcons are now only one game behind in the NFC South after their 24-17 victory over the Vikings in Minnesota.
The Vikings are now only one game ahead of the Bears in the NFC North who play this evening on Monday Night Football
The Chargers (7-8) road victory upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-24 combined with the Broncos (8-7) loss at home to the Bills 30-23, sets up a showdown on Sunday night between the Chargers and Broncos in San Diego for the AFC West division title.
In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins (10-5) are in first place with their win over the Chiefs, 38-31. The Patriots kept pace record-wise with their 47-7 dismantling of the Cardinals at home, while the Jets lost in Seattle 13-3 to fall a game behind in the AFC East standings.
This season's playoff scenarios and playoff races are even tighter and more unpredicatble than seasons past. This year, it may well go down to the final game of the regular season.
To date, 7 teams have clinched a playoff birth. In the AFC, the Titans (13-2) and Steelers (11-4) have clinched playoff spots by winning their respective divisions. The Titans also have earned home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
On Thursday, the Colts (11-4) clinched the 5th seed in the AFC with their 31-24 win over the Jaguars.
In the NFC the Giants (12-3) have clinched the NFC East and NFC homefield advantage, while the Cardinals (8-7) won the NFC West. The Panthers and Falcons have both clinched at least a wildcard playoff birth. One of the two will wind up winning the NFC South division.
Playoff Races & Playoff Scenarios (NFL 2008 Final Week)
Teams eliminated so far from NFC playoff contention include the winless Detroit Lions (0-14), Saint Louis Rams (2-12), the Seattle Seahawks (3-11), the San Francisco 49ers (5-9), the Green Bay Packers (5-9) and the New Orleans Saints (7-7)
In the AFC the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1), Kansas City Chiefs (2-12), Oakland Raiders (3-11), Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9), Cleveland Browns (4-10), Houston Texans (7-7) and Buffalo Bills (6-8) have been officially elimiated from the playoffs.
A look at who can clinch what & how they can clinch:
NEW YORK GIANTS (12-3) NFC East Division Champs, 1st Round Bye & NFC Homefield Advantage
The New York Giants clinched a first-round bye and home field advantage in the NFC playoffs with their 34-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (11-4)
The Carolina Panthers clinched a NFC playoff spot despite their loss.
The Carolina Panthers can clinch the NFC South division title and the second seed with:
- - Panthers win or tie OR
- - Atlanta Falcons loss or tie
ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5)
The Atlanta Falcons clinched a NFC playoff spot with their 24-17 victory over the Vikings
The Atlanta Falcons can clinch the NFC South division title and the second seed with:
- - Atlanta Falcons win + Carolina Panthers loss
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9-6)
The Minnesota Vikings can win the NFC North Division:
- - Vikings win OR
- - Chicago Bears loss
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-6)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch an NFC playoff spot with:
- - Buccaneers win + Falcons loss + Eagles loss or tie OR
- - Buccaneers win + Falcons loss + Cowboys loss or tie
DALLAS COWBOYS (9-6)
The Dallas Cowboys can clinch an NFC playoff spot with:
- - Cowboys win + Eagles loss or tie + Bears loss or tie + Falcons loss OR
- - Cowboys win + Eagles loss or tie + Bears loss or tie + Buccaneers loss OR
- - Cowboys win + Bears loss or tie + Falcons loss + Buccaneers loss OR
- - Falcons win + Eagles loss + Buccaneers loss or tie as the Cowboys clinch on strength of victory tiebreaker over the Bears
TENNESSEE TITANS (13-2) AFC South Division Champs, 1st Round Bye & AFC Homefield Advantage
With their victory over the Steelers, the Tennessee Titans have clinched homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs.
DENVER BRONCOS (8-7)
The Denver Broncos clinch the AFC West Division title with:
- - Denver Broncos win over the Chargers
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-8)
The San Diego Chargers can clinch the AFC West Division title with:
- - San Diego Chargers win over the Denver Broncos
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-4) AFC North Division Champs & 1st Round Bye
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-4)
The Indianapolis Colts clinched an AFC playoff spot with their victory over the Jaguars on Thursday night.
Following is the remaining schedules, records and strength of schedule for the NFC teams still alive in the playoff hunt:
NFC EAST
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Giants (12-3) | 33-21-1 (.609) | W | L | L | W | @Vikings |
| Cowboys (9-6) | 32-22-1 (.591) | W | L | W | L | @Eagles |
| Eagles (8-6-1) | 35-20-0 (.636) | W | W | W | L | Cowboys |
| Redskins (8-7) | 26-27-2 (.491) | L | L | L | W | @49ers |
NFC NORTH
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Vikings (9-6) | 30-25 (.545) | W | W | W | L | Giants |
| Bears (8-6) | 25-30 (.455) | L | W | W | Packers | @Texans |
NFC SOUTH
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Panthers (11-4) | 35-20 (.636) | W | W | W | L | @Saints |
| Falcons (10-5) | 26-29 (.473) | W | L | W | W | Rams |
| Bucs (9-6) | 28-27 (.509) | W | L | L | L | Raiders |
NFC WEST
The Arizona Cardinals (8-6) have clinched the NFC West Division.
The remaining schedules, records and strength of schedule for the AFC teams:
AFC EAST
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Dolphins (10-5) | 20-35 (.363) | W | W | W | W | @Jets |
| Patriots (10-5) | 26-29 (.473) | L | W | W | W | @Bills |
| Jets (9-6) | 23-32 (.418) | L | L | W | L | Dolphins |
AFC NORTH
The Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) have clinched the AFC North Division
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Steelers (11-4) | 35-20 (.636) | W | W | W | L | Browns |
| Ravens (10-5) | 27-27-1 (.500) | W | W | L | W | Jaguars |
AFC SOUTH
The Tennessee Titans (13-2) have clinched the AFC South Division, 1st Round Bye and AFC Homefield Advantage.
The Indianapolis Colts (11-4) have clinched an AFC Wildcard birth.
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Titans (13-2) | 23-32 (.418) | W | W | L | W | @Colts |
| Colts (11-4) | 19-35-1 (.345) | W | W | W | W | Titans |
AFC WEST
| Team | Opponents Record | Week 13 | Week14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 |
| Broncos (8-7) | 27-28 (.491) | W | W | L | L | @Chargers |
| Charger (7-8) | L | W | W | W | Broncos |
2008 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
The New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans clinched their respective division titles in NFL 2008 Week 14. The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC North in Week 15 defeating the Ravens 13-9 in Baltimore.
NFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
CLINCHED: Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) , New York Giants (NFC East), Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
ELIMINATED: Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints
AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
CLINCHED: Tennessee Titans (AFC South), Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North), Indianapolis Colts
ELIMINATED: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills
National Football Conference - 2008 Regular Season Standings
| Team | Record | |
| 1. | z- New York Giants | 12-3-0 |
| 2. | y- Carolina Panthers | 11-4-0 |
| 3. | Minnesota Vikings | 9-6-0 |
| 4. | z- Arizona Cardinals | 8-7-0 |
| 5. | y- Atlanta Falcons | 10-5-0 |
| 6. | Dallas Cowboys | 9-6-0 |
| 7. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9-6-0 |
| 8. | Chicago Bears | 8-6-0 |
| 9. | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-6-1 |
| 10. | Washington Redskins | 8-7-0 |
American Football Conference - 2008 Regular Season Standings
| Team | Record | |
| 1. | z- Tennessee Titans | 13-2-0 |
| 2. | z- Pittsburgh Steelers | 11-4-0 |
| 3. | Miami Dolphins | 10-5-0 |
| 4. | Denver Broncos | 8-7-0 |
| 5. | y- Indianapolis Colts | 11-4-0 |
| 6. | Baltimore Ravens | 10-5-0 |
| 7. | New England Patriots | 10-5-0 |
| 8. | New York Jets | 9-6-0 |
| 9. | San Diego Chargers | 7-8-0 |
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NFL 2008 Week 16: Playoff Races & Playoff Scenarios - NFL 2008