In an exciting turn of events, the Cleveland Browns have secured a spot in the playoffs after a triumphant win over the New York Jets on Thursday night. This marks the second time in four years that the Browns have earned a ticket to the postseason, defying their previous reputation as perennial underdogs.

With the Browns' entry, seven out of the NFL's 14 playoff spots have been clinched, leaving just one spot up for grabs in the AFC. However, the number of teams securing playoff berths could skyrocket to 13 as several key matchups this weekend could determine the postseason fate of several contenders.

Analyzing the playoff-clinching scenarios, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the opportunity to clinch the AFC South and secure a playoff berth if they defeat the Carolina Panthers, while the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans suffer losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans, respectively. In the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs can lock up the division and a playoff spot by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals or if the Raiders lose to the Colts, combined with a Denver Broncos loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills face 14 different scenarios that could lead to a playoff berth, but the simplest path involves them defeating the New England Patriots, while the Bengals fall to the Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the Seattle Seahawks. The Bills are also in contention for the AFC East title if they beat the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins lose to the Baltimore Ravens.

Over in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the opportunity to clinch both a playoff berth and the NFC South title with a victory over the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams can secure a playoff spot by defeating the New York Giants and having the Seahawks lose to the Steelers or if both the Rams win and the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers tie their game.

The playoff picture remains wide open in the NFC, with the Philadelphia Eagles having a chance to clinch the division title if they defeat the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys lose to the Detroit Lions. Additionally, the San Francisco 49ers can claim the No.1 seed in the NFC with a win over the Commanders coupled with losses by both the Eagles and Lions.

With the regular season drawing to a close, the NFL is setting the stage for breathtaking matchups that will determine the final playoff spots. As the Browns celebrate their well-deserved playoff berth, football fans around the country eagerly anticipate the intense battles that will unfold in Week 17. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving playoff picture and the exciting conclusion of the regular season.