Five division leaders can clinch playoff berths this weekend

Published: Dec 15, 2010 at 09:51 AM

NEW YORK -- Five division leaders can clinch playoff berths this weekend, and the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers can secure first-round byes in the AFC.

The Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC, and the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and New York Giants in the NFC all are in position to earn postseason spots. The Jaguars simply have to win at Indianapolis to take the AFC South.

New England claims the AFC East and earns a bye if it wins at home against the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets lose at Pittsburgh. The Patriots were the first team to clinch a playoff berth last week.

The Steelers receive the AFC North crown with a win and a Baltimore loss and also can grab a bye if they have the strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Ravens and Jaguars after this weekend's games.

If Chicago wins Monday night at Minnesota and Green Bay loses, the Bears take the NFC North.

Atlanta, which leads the NFC South by one game over New Orleans, makes the playoffs with a victory or a tie at Seattle. The Falcons get in even if they lose if the Giants fall to the Philadelphia Eagles or tie, or the Bears lose or tie, or the Packers lose or tie.

For the Giants to qualify, they must beat the Eagles at the Meadowlands -- the teams currently are tied atop the NFC East at 9-4 -- and have Chicago, Green Bay and Tampa Bay (home for Detroit) all lose, plus clinch the strength-of-victory component over the Buccaneers.

Three division runners-up also have shots at securing playoff berths this weekend.

The Saints do it with a win and losses or ties by the Giants and Bucs, or by the Bears and Bucs, or by the Packers and Bucs. They also get in with a tie and losses by the Bucs and Packers, or a tie and losses by the Bucs, Bears and Giants.

Baltimore needs to win and have the Colts and Chargers (at home against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night) lose or tie, or win and see the Colts and Dolphins (home for Buffalo) lose or tie while the Chiefs (at St. Louis) lose. A tie does it for the Ravens if Miami, San Diego and Indianapolis all lose.

As for the Jets, a victory at Pittsburgh combined with a loss or tie by the Dolphins and Colts and a loss by the Chiefs get them into the postseason. They also qualify with a win and losses or ties by the Dolphins, Colts and Chargers, or with a tie and losses by Miami, Indianapolis and San Diego.

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