NFL Week 15 playoff clinching scenarios: Ravens, Cowboys, Lions, Eagles in mix

The San Francisco 49ers nailed down the NFL’s first playoff berth in Week 14. Which teams can lock in a playoff berth in Week 15?

Four more teams can secure postseason slots, and the 49ers can win the NFC West this weekend.

Here’s a look at the playoff clinching scenarios for Week 15:

AFC

Baltimore Ravens (10-3)

Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Advertisement

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

1. Ravens win + Broncos loss or tie + Bills loss or tie OR
2. Ravens win + Broncos loss or tie + Browns loss or tie OR
3. Ravens win + Broncos loss or tie + Steelers loss or tie OR
4. Ravens win + Broncos loss or tie + Texans loss or tie OR
5. Ravens win + Bills loss or tie + Browns loss or tie OR
6. Ravens win + Bills loss or tie + Steelers loss or tie OR
7. Ravens win + Bills loss or tie + Texans loss or tie OR
8. Ravens win + Browns loss or tie + Steelers-Colts tie OR
9. Ravens win + Texans loss or tie + Steelers-Colts tie

(Several additional scenarios involving a Baltimore tie and combination of other teams losing or tying would also clinch a Ravens playoff berth.)

GO DEEPER

NFL QB EPA rankings: In Jake Browning, Joe Flacco and Tommy DeVito we trust?

NFC

San Francisco 49ers (10-3)

49ers at Arizona Cardinals (3-10); Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

San Francisco clinches NFC West division title with:

1. 49ers win or tie OR
2. Rams loss or tie

Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

Cowboys at Buffalo Bills (7-6); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

Dallas clinches playoff berth with:

1. Cowboys win or tie OR
2. Rams loss or tie + Seahawks loss or tie OR
3. Packers loss + Rams loss or tie + Falcons loss or tie OR
4. Packers loss + Falcons loss or tie + Seahawks loss or tie OR
5. Packers loss + Falcons loss or tie + Lions win or tie OR
6. Buccaneers loss + Vikings loss or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
7. Buccaneers loss + Vikings loss or tie + Seahawks loss or tie OR
8. Buccaneers loss + Vikings loss or tie + Lions win or tie OR
9. Buccaneers loss + 49ers win or tie + Lions win or tie OR
10. Buccaneers loss + Lions win or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
11. Buccaneers-Packers tie + Rams loss or tie OR
12. Buccaneers-Packers tie + Seahawks loss or tie OR
13. Buccaneers-Packers tie + Lions win or tie OR
14. Seahawks loss or tie + Vikings loss + Cowboys clinches tie in strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Falcons

GO DEEPER

2023 NFL MVP odds: Dak Prescott slight favorite over Brock Purdy

Detroit Lions (9-4)

Lions vs. Denver Broncos (7-6); Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NFLN

Detroit clinches playoff berth with:

1. Lions win + Seahawks loss or tie + Packers loss or tie OR
2. Lions win + Seahawks loss or tie + Vikings loss or tie OR
3. Lions win + Seahawks loss or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
4. Lions win + Rams loss or tie + Vikings loss or tie + Buccaneers loss OR
5. Lions win + Rams loss or tie + Falcons loss or tie + Packers loss OR
6. Lions win + Rams loss or tie + Vikings loss or tie + Falcons loss or tie OR
7. Lions win + Packers-Buccaneers tie + Rams loss or tie OR
8. Lions tie + Buccaneers loss + Seahawks loss + Rams loss OR
9. Lions tie + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Rams loss OR
10. Lions tie + Rams loss + Seahawks loss + Falcons loss OR
11. Lions tie + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Falcons loss or tie OR
12. Lions tie + Vikings loss + Seahawks loss + Rams loss OR
13. Lions tie + Packers loss + Rams loss + Falcons loss or tie + Saints loss or tie OR
14. Lions tie + Packers-Buccaneers tie + Vikings loss + Seahawks loss + Rams tie OR
15. Lions tie + Packers-Buccaneers tie + Vikings loss + Seahawks loss + Falcons loss or tie OR
16. Lions tie + Packers-Buccaneers tie + Vikings loss + Rams loss + Falcons loss or tie

GO DEEPER

2024 Super Bowl odds: 49ers lead, Cowboys only at No. 5

Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)

Eagles at Seattle Seahawks (6-7); Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Philadelphia clinches playoff berth with:

1. Eagles win or tie OR
2. Packers loss + Falcons loss or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
3. Packers loss + Falcons loss or tie + 49ers win or tie + Lions win OR
4. Buccaneers loss + Vikings loss or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
5. Buccaneers loss + Vikings loss or tie + 49ers win or tie + Lions win OR
6. Vikings loss or tie + Falcons loss or tie + Rams loss or tie OR
7. Vikings loss or tie + Falcons loss or tie + 49ers win or tie + Lions win OR
8. Buccaneers-Packers tie + Rams loss or tie OR
9. Buccaneers-Packers tie + 49ers win or tie + Lions win

Required reading

(Photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images)