.png?width=1200&height=630&fit=crop&enable=upscale&auto=webp&w=218&resize=218,150&ssl=1 "Helldivers 2 receives the first crossover with Killzone 2 cosmetics")
We’re just days away from Kris Kringle jumping on his sleigh, putting Rudolph in gear, and flying around the world to deliver gifts for the Christmas holidays. Hopefully the big white-bearded man has installed some streaming capabilities in that sled as the NFL gets better. This season, the league has a variety of pre-holiday games, including a doubleheader on Christmas Day.
While this is Santa’s busiest season, it’s also a defining moment across the NFL, with playoff spots solidifying. Four AFC teams have already sealed their tickets and three are locked in the NFC. Those spots are filling up quickly, but there’s still a glimmer of hope for some teams that have already been written off by the public, though not mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
Those are the clubs we’ll focus on here because we’ve got a look at their Christmas list. They all have the same thing at the top of their wish lists: a playoff berth. Below, we’ll look at the teams .500 or below that are still technically in contention for a playoff spot and highlight the Christmas miracle they’ll need to make the postseason.
FCA
- I need to win
- They need the Chargers to go 1-2 down the stretch.
*wildcard place only option
Indy’s path to an AFC South title closed last week, with the Houston Texans clinching the division following their win and the Colts’ loss to Denver. With that route closed, the Colts now need to sneak in as a wild card club. At 6-8, they enter Week 16 two games behind the Los Angeles Chargers for seventh place. If Indy wins and the Chargers go 1-2 down the stretch, they would both finish the season at 9-8. In that scenario, Indy would win the tiebreaker, thanks to what would be a superior record in the conference (7-5 vs. 6-6). The Colts also have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins, who are next on this list.
- I need to win
- They need the Colts to go 2-1 down the stretch
- They need the Chargers to go 1-2 down the stretch (OR) the Broncos to go 0-3 down the stretch
*wildcard place only option
Just like in Indy, any path to the playoffs for the Dolphins includes them winning their final three games. This week, they wrap up their final home game against the 49ers before a two-game road trip to end the season against the Browns in Cleveland (Week 17) and then the Jets in New York (Week 18). Those are games they must win to keep the playoff dream alive. After that, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that the Colts must lose at least one more game. So, the Chargers need to lose two or their last three games, either the Broncos lose down the stretch.
- I need to win
- I need foals and The Dolphins will go 2-1 down the stretch
- I need Broncos either Chargers will go 0-3 down the stretch
*wildcard place only option
Despite having the same records as the Colts and Dolphins, Cincinnati’s path is made much more difficult due to their poor conference record (3-6), which is one of the tiebreakers. Like the teams above them, the Bengals must win to get to 9-8 on the season. They would have to combine that with both the Colts and Dolphins losing at least one more game, which would put Cincy over them in the standings. So the Bengals would need either the Broncos or the Chargers to lose (h/t Cincinnati.com).
NFC
- I need to win
- Needs the Buccaneers to go 2-1 down the stretch (to win the NFC South)
- Need commanders and Seahawks will go 1-2 down the stretch (for wild card spot)
Of all these teams we’re discussing, the Falcons have the easiest path, and using the term “Christmas miracle” is certainly a stretch on stage, but they met the criteria to be on this list. Atlanta owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buccaneers, so if the Falcons win and Tampa Bay loses a game down the stretch, Kirk Cousins and company would win the NFC South. Even if they can’t reach the top of the division, there is still a path for Atlanta as a wild card entry. For that, they would need to win and for both the Commanders and the Seahawks to go no better than 1-2 in the last three weeks.
- I need to win
- I need rams and Seahawks will go 1-2 down the stretch (to win the NFC West)
- Needs Commanders to go 0-3 down the stretch, Seahawks to go 1-2 down the stretch, Falcons to go 2-1 down the stretch (for wild card spot)
Like Atlanta, Arizona has a path to the playoffs as a division-winning and wild-card team. At 7-7, they are one game behind the Rams and Seahawks in the loss column for first place, and currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles (they play again in Week 17). If Arizona wins and both the Rams and Seahawks finish the year no better than 1-2, the Cardinals are NFC West champions. As for the wild card route, Arizona would again need to win. From there, they would need the Commanders to lose, the Seahawks to finish no better than 1-2, and the Falcons to finish no better than 2-1.
San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
- I need to win
- Needs the Cardinals to lose or tie against the Panthers (Week 16) and then beat the Rams (Week 17)
- They need the Rams to lose to the Jets (Week 16) and Cardinals (Week 17)
- Needs the Seahawks to lose to the Vikings (Week 16) and Bears (Week 17)
- They need the Rams and Seahawks to tie in the Week 18 matchup
The 49ers have been snakebitten all season, which has the defending NFC champions on the brink of elimination from playoff contention. But there is still a chance, albeit slim, to make the playoffs as the winner of the NFC West. AZ Sports highlights the only previous scenario where the Niners can thread the needle down the stretch to win the division.
Yes, we are at the stage where we need links. Unlikely? Yes. Impossible? Not during the Christmas season!
- I need to win
- We need the commanders to go 0-3 down the stretch.
- I need sea hawks and Falcons will go 1-2 down the stretch
- They need the Cardinals to go 2-1 down the stretch.
*wildcard place only option
The NFC East is out of reach for the Cowboys, but they are technically still alive as a wild card in the NFC. If they win to get to 9-8 and the Commanders (currently the No. 7 seed) lose, they would end up with the same record and Dallas would own the head-to-head tiebreaker. So the Seahawks and Falcons (who own the head-to-head tiebreaker) would need to finish 1-2 each over the final three weeks, while the Cardinals can’t finish better than 2-1. In this scenario, Dallas (7-5) would surpass Arizona (5-7) and Seattle (5-7) due to their superior record in the conference.
- I need to win
- I need buccaneers and Falcons will go 0-3 down the stretch (to win the NFC South)
*wildcard place no option
Surprisingly, New Orleans is still technically alive as we enter Week 16, despite being four games under .500. However, that’s more of a criticism of the NFC South in general. A wild card path doesn’t exist for the Saints, but there is a small chance they end up being NFC South champions. For that, they would need to win and for both the Buccaneers and the Falcons to lose.
