A look at the 2016 NFL Playoffs scenarios for Week 14, including the Oakland Raiders looking to clinch a berth.
With NFL Week 14 getting underway on Thursday night with a huge AFC West matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, it won’t take long for the postseason implications to start becoming apparent. As only four weeks remain in the regular season, the 2016 NFL Playoffs are essentially upon us. That means every game, every point, and every loss has some importance.
However, no results are created equal at the same time. In Week 14, a victory for one team followed by losses for others could mean clinching a playoff berth. Moreover, divisions could also be locked up given the right results on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.
That will begin on that Thursday night AFC clash with the Raiders and Chiefs. The West has been the best division in football to this point and the standings reflect that. Subsequently, a result in either team’s favor will go a long way in determining the division winner.
Starting with the Raiders and the AFC, let’s take a look at the 2016 NFL Playoffs scenarios that could play out in Week 14 (per Adam Schefter).
Oakland Raiders (at Chiefs – Thursday Night Football)
Coming into Thursday’s matchup against the Chiefs, the Raiders have a bit of a complicated road. They can’t yet clinch the AFC West. However, if they can redeem one of their two losses on the year, there’s a way they can clinch a postseason berth.
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With a win, the Raiders would need either a loss by the Miami Dolphins or Denver Broncos to thus clinch a playoff berth. Moreover, Oakland could also tie and still get that elusive berth. In that scenario, they would need a Dolphins loss and either a loss or tie by either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers.
New England Patriots (vs. Ravens – Monday Night Football)
The Patriots are in quite a favorable position in the AFC East entering their Week 14 showdown on Monday night against Baltimore. With a win, all they need is the Dolphins to lose or tie and they will clinch the AFC East. The Pats could also tie the Ravens and a Miami loss would give New England the division.
Moreover, Tom Brady and company could clinch a first-round bye in the NFL Playoffs this week. If they do top the Ravens, a Steelers loss or tie along with the Dolphins losing or tying will lock the Pats into either the No. 1 or 2 seed in the AFC
Seattle Seahawks (at Packers – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
In what was thought to potentially be one of the best divisional races in the league in the preseasons, the Seahawks can lock up the NFC West in Week 14. With a win, they only need an Arizona Cardinals loss or tie to wrap it up. However, Seattle could also clinch the division and a playoff berth with their second tie of the season if the Cardinals lose.
Dallas Cowboys (at Giants – Sunday Night Football)
Still boasting the best record in the NFL, the Cowboys have a chance to make a lot of things happen as they try to redeem their one loss in 2016. They’ve already clinched a postseason berth, but can clinch the NFC East on Sunday with a victory over the New York Giants. If they win and either the Seahawks or Detroit Lions lose, the Cowboys will clinch a first-round bye as one of the top-two seeds.
Perhaps the biggest thing that they could clinch—though it’s somewhat of a long-shot—is home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. With a win over New York and both Seattle and Detroit losing, home-field belongs to the Cowboys.
Next: NFL Picks, Predictions for Week 14
There you have it. The NFL Playoffs implications and scenarios will only get more complicated and numerous as the season rolls on throughout the remaining four weeks of the regular season. Truly, this is the best time of year.