NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 16, 1996 12 AM PT

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How the NFL playoff picture is shaping up entering tonight’s Buffalo-Miami game and the final week of the regular season:

AFC

* Denver (13-2)--Clinched division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

* Pittsburgh (10-5)--Clinched division title. Clinches first-round bye with win at Carolina AND New England loss to N.Y. Giants on Saturday.

* New England (10-5)--Clinched a playoff berth. Clinches division title with a win at N.Y. Giants on Saturday OR one Buffalo loss. Clinches first- round bye with a win OR one Buffalo loss and a Pittsburgh loss at Carolina.

* Buffalo (9-5)--Clinches division title with two wins AND a New England loss at N.Y. Giants on Saturday. Clinches playoff berth with a win or tie at Miami tonight OR one Jacksonville loss or tie.

* Indianapolis (9-6)--Clinches playoff berth with a win at Cincinnati OR one Jacksonville loss OR two Buffalo losses OR Kansas City loss at Buffalo.

* Kansas City (9-6)--Clinches playoff berth with a win at Buffalo or one Jacksonville loss.

* Jacksonville (8-7)--Clinches playoff berth with a win AND EITHER an Indianapolis loss at Cincinnati or two Buffalo losses or a Kansas City loss at Buffalo.

NFC

* Green Bay (12-3)--Clinched division title and first-round bye. Clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win vs. Minnesota OR a Carolina loss or tie vs. Pittsburgh OR with a loss to Minnesota by 17 or fewer points.

* Carolina (11-4)--Clinched playoff berth. Clinches division title with a win vs. Pittsburgh OR a San Francisco loss vs. Detroit on Dec. 23. Clinches first-round bye with a win vs. Pittsburgh OR a San Francisco loss vs. Detroit on Dec. 23 AND if Dallas doesn’t beat Washington by 78 or more points. Clinches home field throughout the playoffs with a win vs. Pittsburgh AND a Green Bay loss to Minnesota by 19 or more points.

* Dallas (10-5)--Clinched division title. Clinches first-round bye with a win at Washington by 78 or more points AND a Carolina loss vs. Pittsburgh AND a San Francisco loss vs. Detroit on Dec. 23.

* San Francisco (11-4)--Clinched playoff berth. Clinches division title and first-round bye with a win vs. Detroit on Dec. 23 and a Carolina loss vs. Pittsburgh.

* Philadelphia (9-6)--Clinched playoff berth.

* Minnesota (9-6)--Clinched playoff berth.