Saints clinch playoff berth, as Lions and Falcons are eliminated

The Saints are back in the playoffs. (Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)

The three Thanksgiving Day games created some movement in the NFL’s playoff picture, with two NFC teams getting officially eliminated while another, the Saints, clinched a playoff spot.

In the AFC, only one team can clinch a playoff berth this weekend, and only one more team can be eliminated along with the already-done Bengals. The NFC, meanwhile, has a number of teams that are in excellent postseason shape, while the Lions and Falcons can already begin their plans for next season after losses on Thursday.

Here’s how the postseason scenarios are shaping up. Thanks to Joe Ferreira and NFL Playoff Scenarios for doing what they do.

CURRENT AFC PLAYOFF FIELD

1. Patriots (10-1)

2. Ravens (9-2)

3. Texans (7-4, own tiebreaker over Chiefs because of head-to-head win on Oct. 13)

4. Chiefs (7-4)

5. Bills (8-3)

6. Steelers (6-5, own tiebreaker over Raiders because of better conference record)

AFC CLINCHING SCENARIOS

Patriots (10-1): New England will clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Texans combined with a Raiders loss/tie; or a win combined with a Steelers loss/tie; or a tie combined with a Raiders loss and Steelers loss; or a tie combined with a Raiders loss and a Colts loss; or a tie combined with a Steelers loss and a Colts loss.

AFC ELIMINATION SCENARIOS

Dolphins (2-9): Miami will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss or tie against the Eagles; or a Steelers win; or a Titans win, Chiefs tie and Texans win; or a Raiders win, Titans win/tie and Texans win/tie.

ALREADY ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: Bengals.

CURRENT NFC PLAYOFF FIELD

1. 49ers (10-1)

2. Saints (10-2)

3. Packers (8-3, own tiebreaker over Vikings in NFC North because of head-to-head win on Sept. 15)

4. Cowboys (6-5)

5. Seahawks (9-2)

6. Vikings (8-3)

NFC CLINCHING SCENARIOS

49ers (10-1): San Francisco will clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Ravens and a Rams loss/tie; or a tie and a Rams loss.

Saints (10-2): New Orleans clinched the NFC South title with Thursday’s 26-18 win over the Falcons.

NFC ELIMINATION SCENARIOS

Cardinals (3-7-1): Arizona will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Rams; or with a Packers win combined with a Vikings win/tie; or with a tie combined with numerous other scenarios.

Redskins (2-9): Washington will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Panthers, or a tie combined with an Eagles win.

Giants (2-9): New York will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Packers, or a tie combined with an Eagles win.

ALREADY ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION:

Lions (3-8-1): Detroit was eliminated from playoff contention with its loss to the Bears.

Falcons (3-9): Atlanta was eliminated from playoff contention with its loss to the Saints.

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