The Patriots have clinched the AFC East and at least one home playoff game. They are the top-seeded team in the AFC (and the NFL), and if they keep winning will have home field throughout the AFC playoffs because they have a better conference record than Kansas City.
If New England and KC were to lose once each and finish at 13-3, then Indianapolis becomes a possible barrier to the Patriots' home-field advantage, because Indy can wind up 13-3 as well and some three-way tiebreakers favor the Colts and Chiefs.
A look at the leading contenders in the AFC and NFC playoff pictures. Four division winners and two wild-card teams make the playoffs in each conference. The key tiebreakers in two-way ties are head-to-head, division record, and conference record.
AFC
WHAT CAN BE CLINCHED THIS WEEKEND
Indianapolis: Clinches South title with a win combined with a Tennessee loss. Clinches playoff berth with one of the following: (a) a win; (b) a Miami loss; (c) a tie combined with a Miami tie; (d) a tie combined with a Denver loss.
Tennessee: Clinches playoff berth with a win combined with a Miami loss and a Cincinnati loss or tie.
Kansas City: Gets West title with one of the following: (a) a win or tie; (b) a Denver loss or tie.
NFC
WHAT CAN BE CLINCHED THIS WEEKEND
Philadelphia: Clinches East title with one of the following: (a) a Dallas loss; (b) a win combined with a Dallas tie. Clinches first-round bye with a win combined with losses or ties by Dallas, Minnesota, and Carolina.
Minnesota: Clinches North title with a win combined with a Green Bay loss.
Carolina: Clinches South title with one of the following: (a) a win; (b) a New Orleans loss combined with a Tampa Bay loss; (c) a tie combined with a New Orleans tie and Tampa Bay tie.
St. Louis: Clinches West title with a win. Clinches first-round bye with one of the following: (a) a win combined with losses or ties by Carolina and Minnesota; (b) a win combined with losses or ties by Carolina and Dallas and a loss by Philadelphia. c-clinched division title; p-clinched playoff spot; d-division leader
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If New England and KC were to lose once each and finish at 13-3, then Indianapolis becomes a possible barrier to the Patriots' home-field advantage, because Indy can wind up 13-3 as well and some three-way tiebreakers favor the Colts and Chiefs.
A look at the leading contenders in the AFC and NFC playoff pictures. Four division winners and two wild-card teams make the playoffs in each conference. The key tiebreakers in two-way ties are head-to-head, division record, and conference record.
AFC
WHAT CAN BE CLINCHED THIS WEEKEND
Indianapolis: Clinches South title with a win combined with a Tennessee loss. Clinches playoff berth with one of the following: (a) a win; (b) a Miami loss; (c) a tie combined with a Miami tie; (d) a tie combined with a Denver loss.
Tennessee: Clinches playoff berth with a win combined with a Miami loss and a Cincinnati loss or tie.
Kansas City: Gets West title with one of the following: (a) a win or tie; (b) a Denver loss or tie.
NFC
WHAT CAN BE CLINCHED THIS WEEKEND
Philadelphia: Clinches East title with one of the following: (a) a Dallas loss; (b) a win combined with a Dallas tie. Clinches first-round bye with a win combined with losses or ties by Dallas, Minnesota, and Carolina.
Minnesota: Clinches North title with a win combined with a Green Bay loss.
Carolina: Clinches South title with one of the following: (a) a win; (b) a New Orleans loss combined with a Tampa Bay loss; (c) a tie combined with a New Orleans tie and Tampa Bay tie.
St. Louis: Clinches West title with a win. Clinches first-round bye with one of the following: (a) a win combined with losses or ties by Carolina and Minnesota; (b) a win combined with losses or ties by Carolina and Dallas and a loss by Philadelphia. c-clinched division title; p-clinched playoff spot; d-division leader
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