For weeks, the NFC East has appeared to be the division no team wanted to win.
The Dallas Cowboys bounced back from a dreadful run that included losses to the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears to trounce the Los Angeles Rams last week. The victory sets the Cowboys up for a win-and-in scenario against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Meanwhile the Rams are going to need some help to sneak into the postseason after winning the NFC but losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last season.
In the ultra-competitive NFC West, a Week 17 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Seahawks in Seattle figures to decide the division. Both teams are 11-3 and have already clinched playoff spots.
On the AFC side, the Baltimore Ravens (12-2) can lock up the No. 1 seed but need their closest competition for home field to falter.
2019 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16
AFC
CLINCHED:
Baltimore Ravens – AFC North division
Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division
Buffalo Bills – playoff berth
New England Patriots – playoff berth
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-2) (at Cleveland (6-8), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Baltimore clinches a first-round bye with:
1. BAL win or tie OR
2. KC loss or tie OR
3. NE loss
Baltimore clinches homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1. BAL win OR
2. BAL tie + NE loss or tie OR
3. KC loss or tie + NE loss
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-3) vs. Buffalo (10-4), Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, NFL Network)
New England clinches AFC East division with:
1. NE win or tie
New England clinches a first-round bye with:
1. NE win + KC loss or tie OR
2. NE tie + KC loss
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-5) (at Tampa Bay (7-7), Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, NFL Network)
Houston clinches AFC South division with:
1. HOU win OR
2. HOU tie + TEN tie OR
3. TEN loss
Houston clinches a playoff berth with:
1. HOU tie + PIT tie OR
2. PIT loss
NFC
CLINCHED:
New Orleans Saints – NFC South division
Green Bay Packers – playoff berth
San Francisco 49ers – playoff berth
Seattle Seahawks – playoff berth
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-3) at Minnesota (10-4), Monday, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN)
Green Bay clinches NFC North division with:
1. GB win or tie
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-7) (at Philadelphia (7-7), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Dallas clinches NFC East division with:
1. DAL win
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-4) (vs. Green Bay (11-3), Monday, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN)
Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with:
1. MIN win or tie OR
2. LAR loss or tie