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NFL Playoff Picture: Clinching scenarios in Week 15

Five teams across the NFL can punch their postseason tickets this weekend.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Playoffs are just a few weeks away, now, and we are advancing to that time of year when more and more teams can officially lock themselves into the postseason tournament. In Week 14, two teams could have clinched their playoff berths, but the scenarios did not work out in their favor. In Week 15 the number of teams has jumped to five, while some of the scenarios have gotten a lot easier, with win and in starting to show up.

Here are all of the scenarios for this week:

AFC

Denver Broncos

Clinches AFC West division with:

1. Denver win or tie

Clinches first-round bye with:

1. Denver loss and Indianapolis loss and Cincinnati loss and Pittsburgh loss/tie OR

2. Denver loss and Indianapolis loss and Cincinnati loss and Denver clinches strength of victory tiebreak over Pittsburgh

Clinches playoff spot with:

1. Miami loss or tie and Houston loss or tie and Cincinnati loss and Pittsburgh loss OR

2. Miami loss or tie and Houston loss or tie and Balimore loss and Cleveland loss or tie OR

3. Miami loss or tie and Houston loss or tie and Baltimore loss and PIttsburgh win

New England Patriots

Clinches AFC East division with:

1. New England win or tie

Clinches first-round bye with:

1. New England win and Indianapolis loss and Pittsburgh loss or tie and Cincinnati loss or tie OR

2. New England win and Indianapolis loss and Pittsburgh loss or tie and Denver loss

Clinches playoff spot with:

1. Buffalo loss or tie and Cincinnati loss and Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Houston loss or tie OR

2. Buffalo loss or tie and Cincinnati loss and Pittsburgh loss and Kansas City loss or tie and San Diego loss OR

3. Buffalo loss or tie and Houston loss or tie and Kansas City loss or tie and San Diego loss and Baltimore loss

Indianapolis Colts

Clinches AFC South division with:

1. Indianapolis win or tie

NFC

Arizona Cardinals

Clinches playoff spot with:

1. Arizona win and Dallas/Philadelphia do not tie OR

2. Arizona win and Detroit loss and Arizona clinches strength of victory tiebreak over Green Bay OR

3. Arizona win and Detroit loss and Green Bay win or tie

Green Bay Packers

Clinches playoff spot with:

1. Green Bay win and Dallas loss and Green Bay clinches strength of victory tiebreak over Dallas