American Football

Breaking down the NFL playoff picture during Week 16

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Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Week 16 has impacted both the AFC standings and the NFC playoff picture. Check out what’s going on.

Week 16 started on Thursday night, continued on Saturday with a pair of games, then some big Sunday contests will all impact the NFL Playoff Picture with the Monday night game buttoning up the week.

The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers were both in wild card spots heading into the week, and LA’s win has shifted the seeding.

On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers played in a key AFC North matchup, with Baltimore coming out on top to even the two teams’ records. The Houston Texans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday in a battle of division leaders.

With Sunday’s action likely to further impact the standings, we have all the info you need right here:

NFC standings during Week 16

1. x-Detroit Lions (13-2, win over MIN, 9-1 NFC)
2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, 7-2 NFC)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6, win over SEA, 5-5 NFC)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, 6-3 NFC)

5. x-Minnesota Vikings (12-2, loss to DET)
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, 7-3 NFC)
10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7, 3-6 NFC)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8, win over DAL)
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8, loss to SF)*
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
14. Chicago Bears (4-11) — eliminated
15. Carolina Panthers (3-11) — eliminated
16. New York Giants (2-13) — eliminated

AFC standings during Week 16

1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, 7-3 AFC)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-6)

5. x-Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 6-4 AFC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LA)*

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
10. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eliminated
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eliminated
13. New England Patriots (3-11, losses to JAX) — eliminated
14. Cleveland Browns (3-12, 1-4 in common opoonents vs TEN) — eliminated
15. Tennessee Titans (3-12, 0-4 in common opponents with CLE) — eliminated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) — eliminated

Teams with an asterisk (*) have been eliminated from divisional contention
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division

Key playoff picture takeaways in Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs close to locking up the one seed

KC can’t seem to lose in close games, with 15 straight wins in one-score contests. They had another one on Saturday and their magic number to clinch the one seed is one. They can do it with a win on Christmas now.

Baltimore Ravens win huge AFC North game over Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ravens evened the record with the Steelers on Saturday, but Pittsburgh stays in the lead in the AFC North thanks to their conference record. The AFC North is going to come down to the wire, but both teams are in the postseason.

Los Angeles Rams keeps pace in the NFC West

The Rams defeated the New York Jets to stay in first place in the NFC West. Their defense stepped up in a big way in the last two weeks, holding the Jets and 49ers under 10 points.

Detroit Lions hold onto one seed with big win over Bears

The Lions are in a huge fight for the one seed in the NFC and the division crown in the NFC North, and they made easy work of the division-rival Bears on Sunday. Moving to 13-2 will keep them in first place until at least next weekend.

Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis stay alive in the AFC wild card race

The Bengals had another win on the arm of Joe Burrow, and moved to 7-8. The Colts took down the Titans to move to 7-8. With two games left, both teams are two games behind both the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos in the AFC wild card race.

Atlanta Falcons win Michael Penix’s debut to stay in NFC South race

The Falcons switched from Kirk Cousins this week and blew out the New York Giants. Atlanta is a half-game behind the Bucs for first place in the NFC South with Tampa playing on Sunday night football. We will keep following.

Which NFL teams have already clinched playoff spots?

When they moved to 11 wins in Week 13, the Kansas City Chiefs became the first NFL team in the NFL to clinch a playoff spot. The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East last Sunday night, ensuring a home playoff game. The Lions secured their playoff spot with the Thursday night win while the Philadelphia Eagles joined them on Sunday. The Houston Texans won the AFC South in Week 15 while the Minnesota Vikings sewed up their spot before they even played in Week 15. The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot in Week 15 despite losing. The Baltimore Ravens joined the part on Saturday of Week 16 by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Detroit Lions
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Houston Texans
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Baltimore Ravens

Which NFL teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

In Week 13, the Giants became the first team this season to be officially eliminated from the playoff race. On Black Friday, the Raiders joined them with their tenth loss of the season and they are also eliminated. On Sunday, the Patriots were also eliminated them with a loss and wins by the Chargers and Texans. With the Broncos win on Monday night, they eliminated the Jaguars from the playoffs. In Week 14, the Browns joined the list. The Week 15 elimination group includes the Bears and Panthers.

  • New York Giants
  • New England Patriots
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Cleveland Browns
  • New York Jets
  • Chicago Bears
  • Carolina Panthers

NFL Division Standings

AFC East standings

  1. Buffalo Bills, 11-3 — division clinched
  2. Miami Dolphins, 6-8
  3. New York Jets, 4-11 — eliminated from playoff contention
  4. New England Patriots, 3-11 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC North standings

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-5
  2. Baltimore Ravens, 10-5
  3. Cincinnati Bengals, 7-8
  4. Cleveland Browns, 3-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC South standings

  1. Houston Texans, 9-6
  2. Indianapolis Colts, 7-8
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-11 — eliminated from playoff contention
  4. Tennessee Titans, 3-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC West standings

  1. Kansas City Chiefs, 14-1 — division clinched
  2. Los Angeles Chargers, 9-6
  3. Denver Broncos, 9-6
  4. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC East standings

  1. Philadelphia Eagles, 12-2
  2. Washington Commanders, 9-5
  3. Dallas Cowboys, 6-8
  4. New York Giants, 2-13 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC North standings

  1. Detroit Lions, 13-2
  2. Minnesota Vikings, 12-2
  3. Green Bay Packers, 10-4
  4. Chicago Bears, 4-11 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC South standings

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-6
  2. Atlanta Falcons, 8-7
  3. New Orleans Saints, 5-9
  4. Carolina Panthers, 3-11 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC West standings

  1. Los Angeles Rams, 9-6
  2. Seattle Seahawks, 8-6
  3. Arizona Cardinals, 7-7
  4. San Francisco 49ers, 6-8

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