Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Playoff Scenarios for Week 16

The official NFL word on the coming weekend’s postseason implications

Dec 12, 2000 at 07:00 PM

NFC CENTRAL

Minnesota has clinched a playoff berth. If Minnesota wins (vs. GB), they win the NFC Central and clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If Minnesota ties (vs. GB), they win the NFC Central and clinch a first-round playoff bye, and if New York Giants lose as well (vs Dallas), Minnesota clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If Minnesota loses (vs. GB), they still win the NFC Central with a Tampa Bay loss or tie (vs. St. Louis).

Tampa Bay clinches a playoff berth with a win (vs. St. Louis).

NFC EAST

New York Giants clinch the NFC East with a win (vs. Dallas) and clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win (vs. Dallas) and losses or ties by both St. Louis (vs. TB) and New Orleans (vs. Atlanta). If the Giants lose, they still clinch a playoff berth with a Detroit loss or tie (vs. NYJ) or a loss by either Tampa Bay (vs. St. Louis) or New Orleans (vs. Atlanta) or a New Orleans tie (vs. Atlanta) and a St. Louis loss (vs. TB).

Philadelphia has clinched a playoff berth.

NFC WEST

New Orleans clinches the NFC West with a win (vs. Atlanta) and a St. Louis loss (vs. TB). They clinches a playoff berth with a win (vs. Atlanta) and either a Detroit loss or tie (vs. NYJ) or a Tampa Bay loss (vs. St. Louis).

St. Louis clinches a playoff berth with a win (vs. TB).

AFC EAST

Miami clinches a playoff berth with a win or tie (vs. Indianapolis). Miami clinches the AFC East with a win (vs. Indianapolis) and a New York Jets loss or tie (vs. Detroit).

New York Jets clinch a playoff berth with a win (vs. Detroit) or with losses or ties by Pittsburgh (vs. Washington) and Buffalo (Sunday vs. NE) and a loss by Indianapolis (vs. Miami).

AFC CENTRAL

Tennessee has clinched a playoff berth. They clinch the AFC Central with a win (vs. Cleveland) and a Baltimore loss or tie (vs. Arizona). If Tennessee wins the AFC Central, they can clinch a first-round playoff bye with an Oakland loss (vs. Seattle) or a Miami loss or tie (vs. Indianapolis). If Tennessee wins the AFC Central and both Oakland loses (vs. Seattle) and Miami loses or ties (vs. Indianapolis), then Tennessee clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Baltimore has clinched a playoff berth.

AFC WEST

Oakland has clinched a playoff berth. Oakland clinches the AFC West with a win (vs. Seattle) and a Denver loss or tie (vs. KC). Oakland can also clinch the AFC West and a first-round playoff bye with a win (vs. Seattle) and a Denver loss or tie (vs. KC) and either a Miami loss or tie (vs. Indianapolis) or a loss by Tennessee (vs. Cleveland) and a loss or tie by Baltimore (vs. Arizona).

Denver has clinched a playoff berth.

• The following teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention: Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New England, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.

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