We are mere days away from when Kris Kringle jumps into his sleigh, will get Rudolph in gear and flies throughout the globe to ship presents for the Christmas vacation. Hopefully, the large man with the white beard has put in some streaming capabilities to that sleigh as a result of the NFL is ramping up. This season, the league has an array of video games main as much as the vacation, which features a doubleheader on Christmas Day.
While that is Santa’s busy season, it is also crunch time throughout the NFL, with playoff spots being solidified. Already, 4 groups within the AFC have stamped their tickets, and three are locked in over within the NFC. Those spots are filling up quick, however there may be nonetheless a glimmer of hope for some groups which have already been forged apart by the general public, albeit not mathematically eradicated from postseason competition.
Those are the golf equipment that we’ll deal with right here as a result of we received a peak at their Christmas listing. All of them have the identical factor atop their want lists: a playoff berth. Below, we’ll have a look at the groups .500 or under which are nonetheless technically in competition for a playoff spot and spotlight the Christmas miracle they’re going to have to get into the postseason.
AFC
- Need to win out
- Need Chargers to go 1-2 down stretch
*wild-card spot solely choice
Indy’s path to an AFC South title was closed off final week, with the Houston Texans clinching the division following their win and the Colts’ loss to Denver. With that avenue closed, the Colts now have to sneak in as a wild-card membership. At 6-8, they arrive into Week 16 two video games behind the Los Angeles Chargers for the No. 7 seed. If Indy wins out and the Chargers go 1-2 down the stretch, they’d each end the season at 9-8. In that situation, Indy would win the tiebreaker, due to what can be a superior convention file (7-5 vs. 6-6). The Colts additionally maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins, who’re subsequent on this listing.
- Need to win out
- Need Colts to go 2-1 down stretch
- Need Chargers to go 1-2 down stretch (OR) Broncos to go 0-3 down stretch
*wild-card spot solely choice
Similar to Indy, any path ahead to the playoffs for the Dolphins contains them successful their last three video games. This week, they wrap up their last sport at dwelling towards the 49ers earlier than a two-game street journey to finish the season towards the Browns in Cleveland (Week 17) after which the Jets in New York (Week 18). Those are must-win video games with a purpose to hold the playoff dream alive. After that, the South Florida Sun Sentinel relays that the Colts should lose not less than another sport. Then, the Chargers have to drop two or their last three video games, or the Broncos lose out down the stretch.
- Need to win out
- Need Colts and Dolphins to go 2-1 down stretch
- Need Broncos or Chargers to go 0-3 down stretch
*wild-card spot solely choice
Despite having the identical data as each the Colts and Dolphins, Cincinnati’s path is made rather more troublesome on account of its poor convention file (3-6), which is likely one of the tiebreakers. Like the groups above them, the Bengals should win out to get to 9-8 on the season. They’d have to couple that with each the Colts and Dolphins dropping not less than another sport, which might see Cincy leapfrog them within the standings. Then, the Bengals would wish both the Broncos or Chargers to lose out (h/t Cincinnati.com).
NFC
- Need to win out
- Need Buccaneers to go 2-1 down stretch (to win NFC South)
- Need Commanders and Seahawks to go 1-2 down stretch (for wild-card spot)
Out of all these groups that we’re discussing, the Falcons have the best path, and utilizing the time period “Christmas miracle” is admittedly a stretch within the situation, however they met the factors to be on this listing. Atlanta owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buccaneers, so if the Falcons win out and Tampa Bay loses one sport down the stretch, Kirk Cousins and Co. would win the NFC South. Even if they can not get atop the division, there’s nonetheless a path for Atlanta as a wild-card entry. For that, they’d have to win out and have each the Commanders and Seahawks go no higher than 1-2 over the ultimate three weeks.
- Need to win out
- Need Rams and Seahawks to go 1-2 down stretch (to win NFC West)
- Need Commanders to go 0-3 down stretch, Seahawks to go 1-2 down stretch, Falcons to go 2-1 down stretch (for wild-card spot)
Similar to Atlanta, Arizona has a path to the playoffs each as a division winner and a wild-card group. At 7-7, they’re a sport behind each the Rams and Seahawks within the loss column for first place, and so they presently maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles (they play once more in Week 17). If Arizona wins out and each the Rams and Seahawks end the 12 months no higher than 1-2, the Cards are NFC West champions. As for the wild-card avenue, Arizona would once more have to win out. From there, they’d want the Commanders to lose out, the Seahawks to complete no higher than 1-2, and the Falcons to complete no higher than 2-1.
San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
- Need to win out
- Need Cardinals to lose or tie vs. Panthers (Week 16) after which beat the Rams (Week 17)
- Need Rams to lose to Jets (Week 16) and Cardinals (Week 17)
- Need Seahawks to lose to Vikings (Week 16) and Bears (Week 17)
- Need Rams and Seahawks to tie in Week 18 matchup
The 49ers have been snakebitten all season, which has the defending NFC champions getting ready to elimination from playoff competition. But there’s nonetheless an opportunity — albeit slim — to get into the playoffs because the NFC West winner. AZ Sports highlights the one situation above the place the Niners can thread the needle down the stretch to win the division.
Yes, we’re on the stage the place we want ties. Unlikely? Yes. Impossible? Not throughout the vacation season!
- Need to win out
- Need Commanders to go 0-3 down stretch
- Need Seahawks and Falcons to go 1-2 down stretch
- Need Cardinals to go 2-1 down stretch
*wild-card spot solely choice
The NFC East is out of attain for the Cowboys, however they’re nonetheless technically alive as a wild-card entry within the NFC. If they win out to get to 9-8 and the Commanders (presently the No. 7 seed) lose out, they’d end with the identical file, and Dallas would personal the head-to-head tiebreaker. Then, the Seahawks and Falcons (who personal the head-to-head tiebreaker) would every have to go 1-2 over the ultimate three weeks, whereas the Cardinals cannot end any higher than 2-1. In this situation, Dallas (7-5) would edge out Arizona (5-7) and Seattle (5-7) on account of their superior convention file.
- Need to win out
- Need Buccaneers and Falcons to go 0-3 down stretch (to win NFC South)
*wild-card spot not choice
Remarkably, New Orleans remains to be technically alive as we enter Week 16, regardless of being 4 video games below .500. However, that is extra of an indictment on the NFC South at massive. A wild-card path is nonexistent for the Saints, however there is a slim likelihood they may find yourself the NFC South champions. For that, they’d have to win out and have each the Buccaneers and Falcons lose out.
