Week 16 of the 2015 NFL season figures to be an exciting one when it comes the playoff race in the AFC and below are the playoff scenarios that revolve around the upcoming games.
As you will notice below, the Pittsburgh Steelers scenario is pretty cut and dry as they will secure a playoff spot with a Sunday win over the Baltimore Ravens combined with the New York Jets losing to the New England Patriots.
It’s worth pointing out that the Jets cannot clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 and that also means that the Steelers cannot be eliminated from contention should they lose to the Ravens and New York beats the Patriots.
You will also notice that the Cincinatti Bengals can clinch the AFC North Monday night with a win or tie against the Denver Broncos. They can also clinch the division if the Steelers lose Sunday to the Ravens.
2015 AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16
CLINCHED: New England – AFC East and a first-round bye; Cincinnati – playoff berth
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (at New York Jets, Sunday)
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
NE win OR
NE tie + CIN loss or tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (at Denver, Monday)
Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:
CIN win or tie OR
PIT loss or tie
Cincinnati clinches a first-round bye with:
CIN win or tie
DENVER BRONCOS (vs. Cincinnati, Monday)
Denver clinches AFC West division with:
DEN win + KC loss or tie OR
DEN tie + KC loss
Denver clinches a playoff spot with:
DEN win + NYJ loss or tie OR
DEN win + PIT loss or tie OR
DEN tie + NYJ loss OR
DEN tie + PIT loss
HOUSTON TEXANS (at Tennessee, Sunday)
Houston clinches AFC South division with:
HOU win + HOU clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over IND OR
HOU win + IND loss or tie OR
HOU tie + IND loss
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (vs. Cleveland, Sunday)
Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with:
KC win + NYJ loss OR
KC win + PIT loss
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (at Baltimore, Sunday)
Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:
PIT win + NYJ loss
