The AFC Playoff Picture Could Come Into Focus This Weekend

So, the NFC is nearly locked up with five of its seven slots filled — and bothy San Fransisco and Philly could lock them up this weekend. The AFC, however, is a mess. Only the Kansas City Chiefs have guaranteed itself a spot. There are a ton of scenarios that could change that.

And… so… here they are:

Buffalo can clinch its playoff berth with:

1. BUF win + BAL loss or tie OR
2. BUF win + LAC loss or tie + LV loss or tie OR
3. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss + LV loss OR
4. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
5. BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
6. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC Loss + LV loss OR
7. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
8. BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
9. BUF tie + LAC loss + LV loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie

Cincinnati clinches AFC North division title with:

1. CIN win OR
2. CIN tie + BAL loss or tie OR
3. BAL loss + CLE-PIT tie

Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:

1. CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + MIA loss or tie OR
2. CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + NE loss OR
3. CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + MIA loss or tie + NE win OR
4. CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE tie + MIA tie + BUF win or tie OR
5. CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE loss + MIA win + BUF win or tie

There are like seven other clinching scenarios for Cincinnati that involve multiple tie games. So, we will ignore those.

Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:

1. IND win OR
2. IND tie + BAL loss + NE loss or tie OR
3. IND tie + BAL loss + MIA loss or tie

New England clinches playoff berth with:

1. NE win + MIA loss or tie OR
2. NE win + LV loss or tie OR
3. NE tie + MIA loss + LV loss + LAC loss or tie OR
4. NE tie + MIA loss + BAL loss or tie OR
5. NE tie + LV loss + LAC loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
6. NE tie + LV loss + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss or tie + MIA win + BUF win

Like Cincinnati, there are a handful of other clinching scenarios for New England that involve multiple tie games.

Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:

1. TEN win OR
2. IND loss OR
3. TEN tie + IND tie

Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:

1. TEN tie OR
2. LAC loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR
3. LAC loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
4. BAL loss or tie + NE loss or tie