Things are starting to get serious for the Cardinals. They lost their third consecutive game on Saturday night, this time by a score of 22-16 to the depleted Colts, and in the process have fallen out of first place in the NFC West. They could clinch a playoff spot as early as Sunday, but it’s fair to question the future of any team playing the way the Cardinals are during the stretch run.
The NFL still has only two confirmed playoff teams — the Packers and Cowboys — but a total of six teams that have playoff clinching scenarios for Sunday. That list includes the Chiefs, Patriots, Titans, Rams, Buccaneers and Cardinals.
What follows is a preview of our weekly snapshot of the NFL’s playoff picture, incorporating ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and a bit of our own instincts to give you a sense of the stakes. We’ve threaded playoff and/or division clinching scenarios for a handful of…
