With the league now entering the final stretch of the 2017 NFL season, there are a select few teams that have already made extremely promising bids for this year's playoffs. Ahead of them are the elite squads that are hoping to lock up their perspective division as soon as possible.
Although nothing in sports is ever set in stone, there are four teams that could potentially clinch a division title in Week 14. Here are the scenarios that would need to take place in order to do so, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk:
In the NFC, the Eagles will take the East with a win over the Rams or a Cowboys loss to the Giants. The Vikings will wrap up the North with a win or losses by both the Lions and Packers.
JAGUARS
If the Dolphins, Bills, Chargers and Jets all lose while the Jags beat the Seahawks, Jacksonville will have a playoff spot booked.
RAMS
If the Rams beat the Eagles, they’ll need losses from the Falcons, Packers, Lions, Panthers and Cowboys to ensure a playoff trip.
SAINTS
If the Saints beat the Falcons on Thursday night, a Panthers loss coupled with a loss by either the Lions or Cowboys would do the trick as would losses by the Lions and Packers.
It is clear to see that some teams will have it much harder than others. Thanks to the dominant play of the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings all year long, both are essentially locks to win their division. However, the same cannot be said for the other squads mentioned in the conversation.
Perhaps the most intriguing fight for a guaranteed playoff berth comes down to the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars. Both have showdowns with formidable opponents during the final four games of the year that are already waiting on their heels for them to slip up.
The Rams are currently one game ahead of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, while the Jaguars are tied for the top spot in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans.
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