Sportsnaut
Two teams clinched playoff spots in Week 15, with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos each securing one of 14 spots in the postseason for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy. In Week 16, there are far more NFL playoff clinching scenarios that could see a number of spots secured.
As Week 15 draws to a close and we prepare for a weekend of football with games on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, let’s dive into the NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16. If a team isn’t listed, they can’t clinch this weekend. We’ll start with NFC teams and then wrap up with AFC clubs.
It’s been a roller-coaster kind of month for the Philadelphia Eagles. Back on Nov. 16, they were coming off wins over the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to hold an 8-2 record and seemingly had a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Then came a three-game losing streak, putting them in jeopardy of choking away the NFC East. Fortunately for Philadelphia, the Cowboys have imploded in the last two weeks and handed back a golden opportunity to the Eagles to clinch the division this week.
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We’re grouping the NFC North rivals together heading into their Week 16 head-to-head matchup at Soldier Field since they are in the same boat. The winner of Saturday’s Bears vs. Packers game will sit atop the division with just two weeks left in the regular season and effectively be in the driver’s seat to clinch it. Just as important, the team victorious on Saturday will be keeping a very close eye on the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions game, rooting for Aaron Rodgers.
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Just about everything is on the line for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16. Facing the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, this is an opportunity for revenge after what happened a few weeks ago at SoFi Stadium. Just as important, beating the Rams on Thursday would push Seattle into position for both the NFC West crown and the NFC’s No.1 seed, with the all-important first-round bye. Those are the long-term stakes, but a victory at home against Los Angeles also means Seattle is playoff bound. However, it’s not their only path in Week 16 to an automatic playoff spot.
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It seems unbelievable that the San Francisco 49ers could experience...
