NFL Playoff Picture 2021: Scenarios For Cowboys, Chiefs, Patriots, Titans, Bucs, Rams In Week 16

The Green Bay Packers are the only team that is firmly in the final playoff picture for the 2021 NFL season, but that is about to change. There are scenarios for seven teams to clinch postseason berths in Week 16.

The Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs can all clinch playoff spots by either winning or tying their Week 16 games. The New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans are on the verge of making the postseason, though they’ll need some help to officially do so over the next few days.

Heading into the Thursday night matchup between Tennessee and the San Francisco 49ers, the Titans have a one-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. Because Tennessee owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indianapolis, the Titans would win the division with a victory over the 49ers and a loss by the Colts.

There are a couple of scenarios in which Tennessee can clinch a wild-card berth, at worst, if the Titans and Colts both win. Indianapolis visits Arizona on Saturday night.

New England takes the AFC East if it wins in Week 16 and the Miami Dolphins either lose or tie their game. The Patriots are set to host the Buffalo Bills, who trail New England by a game in the division. The Patriots have already beaten the Bills once this season.

If both the Patriots and Miami win, there are five different scenarios in which New England can clinch a playoff spot but not the AFC East championship. They involve losses by the Colts, Los Angeles Chargers and AFC North teams.

Kansas City is in the playoffs with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. The Chiefs can clinch the AFC West with a victory and loss by the Chargers. Los Angeles is a heavy favorite in its game against the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys would clinch the NFC East title by defeating the Washington Football Team. Even if Dallas loses, it can win the division with a loss or a tie by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys clinch a postseason berth if either the New Orleans Saints or 49ers lose, regardless of what happens in an NFC East matchup.

A Tampa Bay victory would also put Dallas in the final playoff picture. The Bucs are set to visit the Carolina Panthers, and they’ll win the NFC South if they are victorious. The defending Super Bowl champs also win the division if the Saints either tie or lose to the Dolphins Monday night.

The Cardinals and Rams are tied atop the NFC West. If Arizona loses to Indianapolis, six scenarios still exist for the Cardinals to get into the final playoff bracket in Week 16. If the Rams lose or tie the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, L.A. can still clinch a wild-card spot with losses by the Eagles and Saints.

The AFC North and NFC West are the only division titles that are guaranteed to be up for grabs in Week 17.