NFL playoff clinching scenarios for 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys in Week 14
Somehow, some way we are already down to the final five weeks of the 2023 NFL season. That means that soon, the NFL playoffs will be upon us, so crunch time is here as teams across the league look to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Thus far, no AFC team has had a chance to clinch any sort of playoff berth. However, the NFC will see three teams have a chance to lock down a playoff spot in Week 14: the Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers
While none of those teams can yet wrap up their divisions, the Eagles and Cowboys are playing against one another on “Sunday Night Football.” That marquee matchup will go a long way toward deciding which team has the edge to win the NFC East — and with it, potentially the No. 1 seed in the conference.
If the Eagles can pull off a victory, they will have a two-game lead on the Cowboys in the standings. They will also own a head-to-head tiebreaker over them, effectively giving them a three-game lead.
But if the Cowboys win? That would open the door for a bit of chaos atop the NFC. The 49ers might benefit most from this, as it would give them a chance to have the same record as the NFC East rivals.
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Below is a look at the NFL’s playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 14 as the 49ers, Cowboys and Eagles fight to make the postseason.
NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 14
Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
Games remaining: at Cowboys, at Seahawks, vs. Giants, vs. Cardinals, at Giants
Philadelphia clinches playoff berth with:
- Eagles win AND Seahawks loss or tie OR
- Eagles win AND Rams loss or tie OR
- Eagles win AND Packers loss or tie AND Vikings loss or tie OR
- Eagles win AND Packers loss or tie AND Lions loss OR
- Eagles tie AND Rams loss AND Seahawks loss OR
- Eagles tie AND Rams loss AND Vikings loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie AND Rams loss AND Packers loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie AND Seahawks loss AND Vikings loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie AND Seahawks loss AND Packers loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie AND Vikings loss AND Packers loss
Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
Games remaining: vs. Eagles, at Bills, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders
Dallas clinches playoff berth with:
- Cowboys win AND Vikings loss or tie AND Packers loss or tie AND Seahawks loss AND Buccaneers loss or tie AND Lions win or tie AND LAR loss or tie (as long as Packers and Vikings both don’t tie) OR
- Cowboys win AND Vikings loss or tie AND Packers loss or tie AND Seahawks loss AND Buccaneers loss or tie AND Lions win or tie AND NO loss or tie (as long as Packers and Vikings both don’t tie) OR
- Cowboys win AND Vikings loss or tie AND Packers loss or tie AND Seahawks loss AND Buccaneers tie AND Lions win or tie (as long as Packers and Vikings both don’t tie)
San Francisco 49ers (9-3)
Games remaining: vs. Seahawks, at Cardinals, vs. Ravens, at Commanders, vs. Rams
San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:
- 49ers win + Packers loss OR
- 49ers win + Vikings loss OR
- 49ers win + Packers tie + Vikings tie
POWER RANKINGS: Where Eagles, Cowboys, others rank among NFL’s best teams in 2023
NFL playoff picture 2023
Here’s how the standings in both conferences break down entering Week 14, along with the other teams that are still in the playoff hunt.
