Five weeks before the end of the regular season, three NFL teams have the opportunity to punch their playoff ticket early. ran shows how the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers can enter the playoffs already on the 14th game day.

Munich – Due to the extension of the season to 18 game days and the surprisingly balanced table constellation, the first opportunities for teams to qualify for the playoffs early in this NFL season will only come on the 14th game day.

However, this only applies to franchises from the NFC, the top teams from the AFC still have to be patient.

NFL News explains the various playoff scenarios.

Playoff scenarios in the NFC:

The Arizona Cardinals (10-2) will make the playoffs on Game 14 if …

… they don’t lose to the Los Angeles Rams or …

… the Minnesota Vikings don’t win and the San Francisco 49ers lose or …

… the Vikings don’t win, the Carolina Panthers don’t win and the New Orleans Saints don’t win or …

… the 49ers lose, the Saints don’t win and the Panthers and Atlanta Falcons tie in a head-to-head matchup.

The Green Bay Packers (9-3) will make the playoffs on Game 14 if …

… they beat the Chicago Bears and the Vikings don’t win or …

… they tie and the Vikings lose or …

… they win, the Saints don’t win and the 49ers lose or …

… they win, the Saints don’t win, the Los Angeles Rams lose and the 49ers tie.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) will make the playoffs on Day 14 if …

… they beat the Buffalo Bills and the Saints and Panthers don’t win or …

… they win, the Panthers, Vikings and Saints lose and the 49ers and Washington football team don’t win.