NFL Week 15 NFC Playoff Scenarios: What Can Be Clinched This Weekend and Teams Still in Hunt
With just three weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, it is all or nothing for teams looking to make that final playoff push. On the flip side, it is also time for teams who surged out of the gate to begin punching their tickets to the NFL playoffs next month. In a shorter than usual article, we will take a look at what NFC teams currently in the playoff picture can lock up this weekend and their remaining schedule as well as those teams still in the playoff hunt and their remaining schedules.
National Football Conference (NFC)
#1 New Orleans Saints
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ TB (28-14 W)
Next Game: 12/17 @ CAR, 8:15 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15):
Clinch first-round bye w/
1. Week 15 win + Bears loss/tie OR
2. Tie + Bears loss
Remaining Schedule: vs. PIT, vs. CAR
#2 Los Angeles Rams
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) vs. CHI (6-15 L)
Next Game: 12/16 vs. PHI, 8:20 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15):
Clinch first-round w/
1. Week 15 win + Bears loss/tie OR
2. Tie + Bears loss
Remaining Schedule: @ ARI, vs. SF
#3 Chicago Bears
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ LAR (15-6 W)
Next Game: 12/16 vs. GB, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15):
Clinch NFC North w/
1. Week 15 win OR
2. Vikings loss OR
3. Tie + Vikings tie
Clinch playoff berth w/
1. Tie OR
2. Redskins loss/tie
Remaining Schedule: @ SF, @ MIN
#4 Dallas Cowboys
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) vs. PHI (29-23 W)
Next Game: 12/16 @ IND, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15):
Clinch NFC East w/
1. Week 15 win OR
2. Tie + Eagles loss/tie + Redskins loss/tie OR
3. Eagles loss + Redskins loss
Remaining Schedule: vs. TB, @ NYG
#5 Seattle Seahawks
Last Game: Monday (12/10) vs. MIN (21-7 W)
Next Game: 12/16 @ SF, 4:25 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15):
Clinch playoff berth w/
1. Week 15 win OR
2. Tie + Vikings loss + Panthers loss/tie OR
3. Tie + Vikings loss + Eagles loss/tie + Redskins loss/tie OR
4. Tie + Panthers loss/tie + Eagles loss/tie + Redskins loss/tie
Clinch No. 5 seed in playoffs w/
1. Week 15 win + Vikings loss
Remaining Schedule: vs. KC, vs. ARI
#6 Minnesota Vikings
Last Game: Monday (12/10) @ SEA (7-21 L)
Next Game: 12/16 vs. MIA, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (Heading Into Week 15): None
Remaining Schedule: @ DET, vs. CHI
In The Hunt
#7 Carolina Panthers (6-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ CLE (20-26 L)
Next Game: 12/17 vs. NO, 8:15 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: vs. ATL, @ NO
#8 Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ DAL (23-29 L)
Next Game: 12/16 @ LAR, 8:20 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: vs. HOU, @ WAS
#9 Washington Redskins (6-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) vs. NYG (16-40 L)
Next Game: 12/16 @ JAX, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ TEN, vs. PHI
#10 Green Bay Packers (5-7-1)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) vs. ATL (34-20 W)
Next Game: 12/16 @ CHI, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ NYJ, vs. DET
#11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) vs. NO (14-28 L)
Next Game: 12/16 @ BAL, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ DAL, vs. ATL
#12 New York Giants (5-8)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ WAS (40-16 W)
Next Game: 12/16 vs. TEN, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ IND, vs. DAL
#13 Detroit Lions (5-8)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ ARI (17-3 W)
Next Game: 12/16 @ BUF, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: vs. MIN, @ GB
#14 Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
Last Game: Sunday (12/9) @ GB (20-34 L)
Next Game: 12/16 vs. ARI, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ CAR, @ TB
Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
San Francisco 49ers (3-10)
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