Firstly, in regards to playoff implications, there are two games that go without saying.
One is the NFC South Championship Game between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, and the other is AFC North Championship Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.
For the Falcons vs Panthers, it’s simple: winner goes to the playoffs and loser doesn’t. Though both of these teams have dubious below .500 records, due to the NFL’s division format, one of these teams will not only make the playoffs, but will have the favorable situation of hosting a wild-card matchup against a better team. The 9-6 Eagles must be furious right about now.
On November 16th the Falcons beat the Panthers in Carolina 19-17.
For the Steelers vs Bengals, its also simple. Both the Bengals and Steelers have clinched a playoff spot, but the winner will clinch the division and subsequently have homefield advantage for their wild-card game.
On December 7th, the Steelers beat the Bengals 42-21 in Cincinnati.
Now for all other scenarios:
DENVER BRONCOS (vs. Oakland)
Denver clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win or tie OR
2) CIN loss OR
3) CIN tie + IND win
ARIZONA CARDINALS (at San Francisco)
Arizona clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie + GB/DET tie
Arizona clinches a first-round bye with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie OR
3) ARI tie + SEA loss + GB/DET tie
Arizona clinches NFC West with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (at Kansas City)
San Diego clinches a playoff spot with:
1) SD win OR
2) SD tie + BAL loss or tie
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (vs. San Diego)
Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with:
1) KC win + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie
DALLAS COWBOYS (at Washington)
Dallas clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) DAL win + ARI loss or tie + DET/GB tie
Dallas clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DAL win + SEA loss or tie + ARI loss or tie OR
2) DAL win + DET/GB tie OR
3) DAL tie + SEA loss + ARI loss OR
4) DAL tie + SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DET/GB does not end in a tie
DETROIT LIONS (at Green Bay)
Detroit clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) DET win + SEA loss or tie + ARI loss or tie OR
2) DET tie + SEA loss + ARI loss + DAL loss or tie
Detroit clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DET win OR
2) DET tie + DAL loss or tie OR
3) DET tie + SEA loss + ARI loss
Detroit clinches NFC North with:
1) DET win or tie
GREEN BAY PACKERS (vs. Detroit)
Green Bay clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) GB win + SEA loss or tie
Green Bay clinches NFC North and a first-round bye with:
1) GB win
BALTIMORE RAVENS (vs. Cleveland)
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + SD loss or tie OR
2) BAL tie + SD loss
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (vs. St. Louis)
Seattle clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win + DET/GB game does not end in a tie OR
2) SEA win + DAL loss or tie OR
3) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DAL loss or tie + GB/DET tie
Seattle clinches a first-round bye with:
1) SEA win OR
2) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DAL loss OR
3) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + GB/DET tie
Seattle clinches NFC West with:
1) SEA win OR
2) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie OR
3) ARI loss
HOUSTON TEXANS (vs. Jacksonville)
Houston clinches a playoff spot with:
1) HOU win + BAL loss + SD loss
