The Arizona Cardinals are off this weekend so Cardinals fans, if they will continue to pay attention to the rest of the NFL, can take note of playoff scenarios for the NFL this week.
Three NFL teams, all the NFC, can clinch playoff berths over the weekend, although there are some wild scenarios.
Let’s go over the Week 14 playoff-clinching scenarios below.
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Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys, who play the Eagles this weekend on Sunday night, can clinch a playoff berth in any of these three complicated scenarios:
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The Cowboys win, the Vikings lose to or tie Raiders and the Packers lose to or tie the Giants, the Seahawks lose to the 49ers, the Buccaneers lose to or tie Falcons, the Lions beat or tie the Bears and the Rams lose to or tie the Ravens (as long as both the Packers and Vikings tie their games.
- The Cowboys beat the Eagles, the Vikings lose to or tie the Raiders, the Packers lose to or tie the Giants, the Seahawks lose to the 49ers, the Bucs lose to or tie the Falcons, the Lions beat or tie the Bears and the Saints lose to or tie the Panthers.
- The Cowboys beat the Eagles, the Vikings lose to or tie the Raiders, the Packers lose to or tie the Giants, the Seahawks lose to the 49ers, the Bucs tie the Falcons and the Lions beat or tie the Bears (as long as both the Packers and Vikings have ties)
So….it’s complicated.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles can clinch a playoff berth in any of the following Week 14 scenarios:
- The Eagles beat the Cowboys and the Seahawks lose to or tie the 49ers
- The Eagles beat the Cowboys and the Rams lose to or tie the Ravens
- The Eagles beat the Cowboys, the Packers lose to or tie the Giants and the Vikings lose to or tie the Raiders
- The Eagles beat the Cowboys, the Packers lose to or tie the Giants and Lions lose to the Bears
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, the Rams and the Seahawks lose
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, the Rams lose and the Vikings lose or tie
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, Rams lose and the Packers lose or tie
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, the Seahawks lose and the Vikings lose or tie
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, the Seahawks lose and the Packers lose or tie
- The Eagles and Cowboys tie, the Vikings lose and the Packers lose
That’s a lot of possible scenarios, most of which seem improbable.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers can earn a playoff berth with any of these three scenarios:
- The 49ers beat the Seahawks and the Giants beat the Packers
- The 49ers beat the Seahawks and Raiders beat the Vikings
- The 49ers win and both the Vikings and Packers have tie games
