Despite losses, several teams have NFL playoff shot

Despite losses, several teams have NFL playoff shot
December 22
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"contenders couldn't clinch for losing.

Several teams went into this weekend with postseason berths on the line. Plenty of them lost.

The Cowboys lost. The Jets lost. The Broncos lost. The Eagles lost. The Buccaneers lost. The Vikings lost.

All of them, amazingly enough, are still alive heading into the final weekend of the season.

The Falcons and the Colts clinched wild-card berths in Week 16. And Atlanta still can win the NFC South with a victory over St. Louis at home and a loss by the Panthers.

The Giants and the Titans have first-round byes and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Steelers also have a first-round bye and will host a divisional playoff game.

The Chargers and the Broncos play this week in San Diego to decide the AFC West.

The only other spots up for grabs are the final wild-card berths in both conferences. The Cowboys, despite their loss to the Ravens on Saturday night, find themselves in the same spot they were in before this weekend: needing a victory to qualify. Dallas travels to Philadelphia, which lost to the Redskins and needs lots of help to get in.

The Bears, who play the Packers tonight, and the Buccaneers still are alive.

The Ravens, who play the Jaguars on Sunday, control their destiny in the AFC wild-card race. The Patriots are the only other potential wild-card team.

The Jets, Dolphins and Patriots still are vying for the AFC East title. The Dolphins win it with a victory over the Jets on Sunday. The Patriots need a victory and a Dolphins' loss. The Jets need a victory and a Patriots' loss."
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