Congratulations to the red-hot Detroit Lions who officially clinched a playoff berth thanks to their thrilling win over the rival Green Bay Packers last night.
The Lions join the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills as the only teams who are guaranteed a seat at the playoff table as of now.
As we near the time of year where clinching scenarios become more frequent, this Sunday presents us with only two teams who can potentially punch their ticket to the postseason: the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota Vikings
At 10-2, the Vikings have exceeded expectations, but they remain second in the NFC North, trailing the Lions.
Despite this, Minnesota is on the brink of a playoff berth.
The simplest clinching scenario for the Vikings involves defeating the 6-6 Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, coupled with a tie in the Seahawks-Cardinals game.
Other combinations of losses by Arizona, Tampa Bay, and the Los Angeles Rams could also push Minnesota into the playoffs.
MIN win + SEA-ARI tie
MIN win + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
MIN tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss
MIN tie + TB loss + ARI tie + LAR loss + PHI win or tie
Philadelphia Eagles
Riding an eight-game winning streak, the 10-2 Eagles are poised to clinch not only a playoff berth but also a commanding position in the NFC East.
A win against the 3-9 Carolina Panthers on Sunday, combined with certain outcomes involving Atlanta, Seattle, and Arizona, could clinch the Eagles a postseason spot.
PHI win + ATL loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or lie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
PHI tie + ATL loss + SEA-ARI tie
PHI tie + ATL loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
PHI tie + TB loss + SEA-ARI tie
PHI tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
What are your thoughts on the different scenarios?
Will the Vikings and/or Eagles officially be playoff teams by the end of the weekend?
More importantly, what is your early Super Bowl prediction???
