NFL tiebreakers ahead of week 16: Who has the advantage in the AFC and in the NFC?

As the regular NFL season barrels towards its conclusion, the playoff picture is quickly taking shape, and teams are battling it out for a desired spot in the postseason and a favorable seeding. Let’s dig deep into the AFC and NFC scenarios and examine the latest outcomes to determine who has the upper hand in both conferences.

AFC Playoff Picture

Despite strong contenders and potential pitfalls, there haven’t been any significant changes in the AFC landscape recently. The Baltimore Ravens remain at the top of the conference and secured their playoff spot with a substantial victory over Jacksonville on Sunday night. And they have already clinched a playoff spot; the Ravens will clinch the division next week if they win and the Browns lose.

The Miami Dolphins are hot on the Ravens’ heels, standing at 10-4 after a convincing win against the Jets. However, the Dolphins face a challenging stretch ahead, with upcoming matchups against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills. They can secure their postseason berth if they win against the Cowboys next week and the Bills lose or tie against the Chargers.

Despite being the ninth seed, the Bills are still in contention for an AFC East championship, setting the stage for a potential showdown with the Dolphins in Week 18.

The Kansas City Chiefs, currently at 9-5, steer an outstanding season and have a manageable schedule in the final three weeks. If the Dolphins stumble and the Ravens falter twice, the Chiefs could still vie for the number one seed.

A notable shift comes from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have experienced a three-game slide after an impressive 8-3 start. The AFC South, once seemingly secured, is now a battleground. The Jaguars, Colts, and Texans are locked in a tight race, each standing at 8-6. Despite recent struggles, the Jaguars hold the edge with tiebreakers, own the head-to-head over Indianapolis, and are ahead of Houston on tiebreakers despite the two splitting the series; none of the three teams can clinch the division next week. There are also uncertainties lingering with quarterback Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol.

Several teams are in the mix for the AFC wild-card race. Cleveland is in the lead with a 9-5 record, followed by Cincinnati at 8-6. Indianapolis is also in the running at 8-6, but they need a better record than Jacksonville to win their division. Houston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Denver are still in the hunt but must win their remaining games to secure a wild-card spot.

NFC Playoff Picture: Tight Races and Determined Contenders

In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers hold the top spot with a record of 11-3 and have already secured their place in the playoffs. They also have the No. 1 seed and head-to-head tiebreakers over Dallas (10-4) and Philadelphia (10-3). Despite a Christmas night matchup against the Ravens, the 49ers are in control of their destiny to remain at the top.

The Dallas Cowboys, despite a loss to the Bills, are still leading their division. The NFC East is still a competitive battleground, with the Eagles not far behind the Cowboys. Philadelphia (10-3) has a slight half-game lead over the Cowboys and has already secured a playoff spot regardless of whether they win the division or not. If the two teams finish with the same record, tiebreakers will come into play. The remaining schedule will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.

The Detroit Lions are making a comeback and are now strong contenders, standing at 10-4. They will win the division if they win against the Vikings in either of its Week 16 or 18 matchups. The Lions will also clinch a playoff spot if Seattle loses or ties against Philadelphia on Monday. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are holding steady at 7-8, thanks to Baker Mayfield’s stellar performance.

Minnesota and Los Angeles are in the wild card spots, with the Vikings ahead of the Rams and the Saints due to their better conference record. The Vikings can win the division if they win their remaining three games, whereas the Rams’ last three games are all against NFC opponents.

The New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Green Bay Packers are still in the hunt for a wild card spot, with the Falcons ahead of the Packers due to their better conference record.