Cardinals, Packers, Buccaneers can be first to seal spots

The NFL playoff picture for the 2021 season could start to take shape this week.

No team has sealed a spot in the postseason through the first thirteen weeks of the regular season, but three franchises could have the opportunity this weekend. The Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers could all punch their playoff ticket – but beyond winning their upcoming contests, all three NFC teams will need some help to make it into the field. In the AFC, things should remain murky, as no team can be the conference’s first to clinch just yet.

Here are the NFL’s full playoff clinching scenarios for Week 14:

NFC (clinched: none)

Arizona Cardinals (10-2) [vs. L.A. Rams (8-4), Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET]

Cardinals clinch playoff berth with:

1. Cardinals win or tie OR

2. 49ers loss + Saints loss or tie + Falcons/Panthers tie

Green Bay Packers (9-3) [vs. Chicago (4-8), Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET]

Packers clinch playoff berth with:

1. Packers win + Saints loss or tie + 49ers loss OR

2. Packers win + Saints loss or tie + Rams loss + 49ers tie

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) [vs. Buffalo (7-5), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET]

Buccaneers clinch NFC South division title with:

1. Buccaneers win + Saints loss or tie + Panthers loss or tie

AFC (clinched: none)

No clinching scenarios in Week 14

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff clinching scenarios in Week 14: 3 teams can get in