There are two things we can be assured of: it’s the beginning of a new decade and the final week of the NFL regular season.

What we can’ be assured of is what teams will make the AFC playoffs; and the AFC playoff scenarios have seemingly endless possibilities.

What we do know is that four teams have clinched an AFC playoff spot: the Colts, Patriots, Bengals and Chargers. Six other teams are vying for the final two AFC playoff spots: the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Jaguars and Dolphins.

Here are the AFC playoff scenarios for week 16 of the NFL football season:

Indianapolis Colts (14-0)
Clinched the AFC South and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

San Diego Chargers
Clinched the AFC South and first round bye

Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)
Clinched the AFC North

New England Patriots (10-5)
Clinched the AFC East

New York Jets (8-7)
Clinch a playoff spot with a win

Baltimore Ravens (8-7)
Clinch a playoff spot with a win

Denver Broncos (8-7)
Clinch a playoff spot with:
win and New York loss or tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
win and New York loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie OR
win and New York loss or tie and Houston win OR
win and Baltimore loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie OR
win and Baltimore loss or tie and Houston win OR
Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Houston loss and Jacksonville loss OR
Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Jacksonville loss and New York loss OR
Pittsburgh loss and Houston loss and Jacksonville loss and New York loss OR
New York loss and Baltimore loss and Houston loss and Jacksonville loss or tie

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
Clinch a playoff spot with:
win and Houston loss or tie and New York loss or tie Or
win and Houston lossor tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
win and New York loss or tie and Baltimore loss or tie and Denver loss or tie

Houston Texans (8-7)
Clinch a playoff spot with:
win and New York loss or tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
win and New York loss or tie and Denver loss or tie OR
win and Baltimore loss or tie and Denver loss or tie

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
Clinch a playoff spot with:
win and Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Denver loss and Houston loss OR
win and Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Denver loss and New York loss OR
win and Pittsburgh loss and Baltimore loss and Houston loss and New York loss OR
win and Pittsburgh loss and Denver loss and Houston loss and New York loss OR
win and New York loss and Denver loss and Houston loss and Baltimore loss

Miami Dolphins
Clinch a playoff spot with:
win and New York loss and Baltimore loss and Houston loss and Jacskonville loss or tie

Additional Note: To make things even more complicated: New York, Baltimore,Denver, Pittsburgh and Houston can also make the playoffs if they tie in combination with various other results. But Jacksonville and Miami cannot make the playoff with a tie.

It will be interesting watching the NFL analysts go through these scenarios over and over as the day goes bye. But one thing we can be assured of, the AFC playoff scenarios will be cast in stone by 9:00 pm ET tomorrow night.

sources: nfl.com, espn.com foxsports, New York Daily News

Its week 15 of the NFL season and the AFC playoff picture remains wide open. Twelve teams are still in contention for the six AFC playoff spots available.

The AFC playoff picture is lead by the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (14-0) who are vying for a perfect NFL season record. They are followed by the Chargers (11-3), Patriots (9-5), Bengals (9-5), Ravens (8-6) and Broncos (8-6). Six other AFC teams (Dolphins, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Texans and Steelers) are still alive with 7-7 records but their fate is dependent on the outcome of other AFC teams.

Here is the AFC Playoff picture going into Week 15 of the NFL season:

Indianapolis Colts (14-0)

• Clinched the AFC South and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

San Diego Chargers (11-3)

• Clinched AFC West
• Clinches a first round bye with:
  win or tie OR
  New England loss or tie

New England Patriots (9-5)

• Clinches AFC East Division title with:
  win or tie OR
  Miami loss or tie

Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)

• Clinches AFC North Division title with:
  win OR
  tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
  Baltimore loss

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  tie OR
  Jacksonville loss or tie and Jets lose or tie and Houston-Miami tie

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Jets loss or tie OR
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Denver loss OR
  win and Miami loss or tie and Jets loss or tie and Denver loss OR
  tie and Jets loss and Jacksonville loss and Tennessee loss or tie and Houston-Miami tie

Denver Broncos (8-6)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Miami loss or tie and Jets loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie

There are just too many AFC playoff picture possibilities for those teams with a 7-7 record. Week 15 of the NFL season will help unravel the complex AFC playoff picture.

sources: NY Daily News, nfl.com,espn.com