In the penultimate week of the regular season, there are playoff scenarios aplenty. The fun part for the Houston Texans is that they are a part of the conversion as opposed to being apart from it.
houston texans
The Texans are in the playoffs by virtue of winning the AFC South if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium.
Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they tie with the Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans tie with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they lose and the Titans also lose.
The Texans can get a playoff berth, but not necessarily win the division, if they tie and the Steelers tie, or if the Steelers just flat out lose.
the rest of the afc
The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West; they’re in.
The Baltimore Ravens have won the AFC North; they’re in. The Ravens can clinch a first-round bye if they win or tie against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, or if the Chiefs win or tie, or the New England Patriots simply lose.
The Ravens can also clinch home-field advantage with a win, or a tie plus a Patriots loss or tie, or a Chiefs loss or tie plus a Patriots loss.
Speaking of the Patriots, all they have done is simply clinch a playoff berth as the AFC East is still technically up for grabs. The Buffalo Bills have also clinched a playoff berth. This is why their Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT matchup on NFL Network is so consequential.
If New England wins, they win the division.
If New England wins plus the Chiefs lose or tie, or the Patriots tie and the Chiefs loss, the Patriots will get a first-round bye.
nfc playoff scenarios
The New Orleans Saints are the only team to have won their division, the NFC South. The Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks have all simply earned playoff berths.
If the Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, or tie with them, they win the NFC North.
If the Vikings beat or tie with the Packers, they get a playoff berth. They also get in if the Los Angeles Rams lose or tie with the 49ers on Saturday night.
The Dallas Cowboys can win the NFC East with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT.
