NFL Playoff Scenarios 2021: What Teams Can Officially Make The Postseason Picture In Week 15?

Scenarios exist for seven teams to clinch a spot in the 2021-2022 NFL playoff picture in Week 15. Every NFC division leader, as well as one wild-card team, is on the verge of making the postseason. Two AFC teams that sit in first place can get into the final bracket with a win and some help this weekend.

The Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit atop the NFC standings, tied for the best record in football. All three teams would clinch a division title with a victory Sunday.

As the biggest betting favorite on the Week 15 schedule, Arizona is expected to easily take care of the one-win Detroit Lions. Only the Cardinals are favored by more points than the Bucs, who are very likely to defeat the visiting New Orleans Saints. Green Bay has a tougher matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, though it isn’t certain that Lamar Jackson will start at quarterback.

If the Cardinals are somehow upset by the Lions, they would still clinch a playoff berth with losses by both the Saints and Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota visits the Chicago Bears Monday night.

A win for the Saints would delay the Bucs’ NFC South championship for at least one more week. In that scenario, Tampa Bay could make its way into the final playoff bracket with losses by the Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco hosts the Atlanta Falcons Sunday.

If the Packers lose to the Ravens, they can still win the NFC North with a Vikings loss Monday. A loss by both the Saints and 49ers would guarantee Green Bay a wild-card berth, at the very least.

The Los Angeles Rams trail the Cardinals by a game in the NFC West. If the Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks, they can clinch a postseason berth in a few scenarios. One includes losses by the Saints and Vikings.

The situation in the AFC South is simple. The Tennessee Titans clinch the division title with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and a loss by the Indianapolis Colts. If neither of those results happens, Tennessee has to wait until Week 16 for a shot at getting into the postseason.

Indianapolis hosts the New England Patriots Saturday. The Patriots can make the playoffs if they beat the Colts and a few things go their way.

Those scenarios include several games. The Patriots need losses by the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs and Ravens.

Kansas City is favored to beat the Los Angeles Chargers Thursday night.