NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Latest AFC, NFC Standings and Bracket Scenarios

A marquee NFC North showdown is set to open the NFL's Week 14 slate on Thursday. And it's possible the NFC will have its first playoff berth clinched by the end of the night.

The Green Bay Packers are going on the road to face the Detroit Lions, who could secure their spot in the 14-team playoff field with either a win or tie. If the Packers win, then the Lions could still clinch a berth later in the weekend, but it would require help from other teams.

The first two playoff berths were clinched in Week 13, when the Kansas City Chiefs secured their spot and the Buffalo Bills captured their fifth consecutive AFC East title.

More teams could clinch berths by the time Week 14 is over. Here's a look at the current playoff picture heading into the week, along with a breakdown of clinching scenarios.

Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)

No. 2 Buffalo Bills (10-2) vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos (8-5)

No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) vs. No. 6 Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

No. 4 Houston Texans (8-5) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Miami Dolphins (5-7), Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), Cleveland Browns (3-9), Tennessee Titans (3-9), New York Jets (3-9)

The Chiefs' period of AFC West dominance has reached nearly a full decade. They're closing in on their ninth straight division title, which they could clinch as soon as Sunday night.

If Kansas City records a primetime home win over the Los Angeles Chargers, then the AFC West race will be over. The Chiefs will again be crowned the champions, and their focus will fully shift to trying to capture the No. 1 seed in the conference.

It seems inevitable that Kansas City will win the AFC West again this season. It would take a big collapse by the Chiefs and a surge from either the Chargers or Broncos to prevent it from happening.

Kansas City's lone loss so far this season was a 30-21 defeat at Buffalo in Week 11. The Chiefs already own a win over the Chargers, as they notched a 17-10 victory in Los Angeles in Week 4.

There are no other clinching scenarios in the AFC in Week 14. So if the Chargers are victorious, then the AFC landscape will look the same at the end of the week.

Some of the conference's top teams have a bye this week, as the Texans, Ravens and Broncos will all be out of action.

Bye: No. 1 Detroit Lions (11-1)

No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) vs. No. 7 Washington Commanders (8-5)

No. 3 Seattle Seahawks (7-5) vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers (9-3)

No. 4 Atlanta Falcons (6-6) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), Arizona Cardinals (6-6), Los Angeles Rams (6-6), San Francisco 49ers (5-7), Dallas Cowboys (5-7), New Orleans Saints (4-8), Chicago Bears (4-8), Carolina Panthers (3-9)

If the Lions can beat the Packers for a second time this season, then they will become the first NFC team to clinch a playoff berth. Detroit won 24-14 in Green Bay in Week 9.

If the Lions lose, then they'll need help to clinch their spot in the postseason in Week 14. There are quite a few possibilities, but a combination of losses by Atlanta, Arizona and Los Angeles would allow Detroit to clinch. So would the combos of Atlanta/Los Angeles/Carolina, Atlanta/Seattle/Carolina, Tampa Bay/Arizona/Los Angeles, Tampa Bay/Los Angeles/Carolina or Tampa Bay/Seattle/Carolina.

The Eagles and Vikings could also clinch playoff berths in Week 14. However, they would each need help in order for that to happen.

If Philadelphia beats Carolina, then it would clinch with any of the following combinations of losses: Atlanta/Arizona/Los Angeles, Atlanta/Arizona/Green Bay, Tampa Bay/Arizona/Los Angeles or Tampa Bay/Arizona/Green Bay.

If Minnesota beats Atlanta, then it would clinch if both Arizona (vs. Seattle) and Los Angeles (vs. Buffalo) are defeated.

It remains possible that no NFC teams will have clinched a playoff berth heading into Week 15.